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Galveston Cruise Terminal 10 Sailing Guide (Location, Parking, Photos, & More)

Cruise Terminal 10 at the Port of Galveston marks the biggest leap in cruising from the island since it became a regular departure point roughly two decades ago.

Through a $125 million partnership between the port and Royal Caribbean, the state of the art terminal opened in late 2022 to much fanfare. And it’s easy to understand why. On its own the terminal is open, airy, and beautifully designed. It marks a great way to start your cruise. But compare Cruise Terminal 10 to the other two terminals in Galveston, and the difference is even more impressive.

Add to that the fact that with the new dedicated Royal Caribbean terminal the cruise line placed its largest class of ships on the island. The Oasis-class vessels aren’t just larger (holding upwards of 6,000 passengers at double occupancy). They offer an experience that’s unrivaled in the amount of things you can see, do, and experience onboard. Whether you want to zipline across a cruise ship or just take a quiet stroll in a lush, green park, it’s possible on these ships.

All this is to say that Cruise Terminal 10 is without a doubt a major addition to Galveston cruising. But with the new terminal also come a lot of new changes, including everything from the terminal location to where to park. For everything to know, we have you covered.

Cruise Terminal 10 Location

The first thing that you should know — especially if you’ve sailed from Galveston before — is that the terminal is not located right next to the older cruise terminals. So if you’ve sailed on a Royal Caribbean cruise in the old terminal, you’ll need to go to a different spot.

Cruise Terminal 10 sits about a mile east of the other terminals. The entrance is at the intersection of Harborside Drive and Royal Caribbean Way (which is 14th Street south of Harborside).

If driving to the port, the address to use is 1152 Royal Caribbean Way . For other transportation options to Cruise Terminal 10, you can see our Galveston transportation page here .

Cruise Terminal 10 Photo Tour

If you’ve sailed from Galveston before but not Cruise Terminal 10, then prepared to be wowed.

The first thing that you’ll notice is the large blue façade with the massive Royal Caribbean logo sitting proudly at the center. On either side of the main terminal building are luggage drop-off areas and plenty of space to pull up and drop off passengers or baggage.

Step inside the main terminal doors and you’re greeted by a large open atrium. At the center is another Royal Caribbean logo, flanked on either side by two massive video boards showing videos to get you excited about the cruise.

But the real centerpiece of this entrance are the two massive propellers suspended from the ceiling. (We don’t blame you if you’re a little hesitant to walk directly beneath them!)

On either side of the entrance is a stairway and escalators to the check-in area. Head up and you’ll reach the second floor of the terminal that leads to boarding the ship.

Once on the check-in level, you’ll be guided to an agent that will confirm your details, check any required documents and get your ready to board. From there, it’s a quick pass through security, and then you’re on your way to the ship.

This embarkation hall is open and airy, with tons of seating just in case the ship isn’t ready for passengers just yet. Continue down the walkway and you’ll get your first glimpse of the ship. But before you head down the gangway to board, be sure to check out the “Galveston Beach Trio.”

This art installation of a band composed of a pelican, sea turtle, and crab is a great spot to grab a quick photo before you start your cruise.

Parking at Cruise Terminal 10

Driving in for your cruise? Then you’ll need a place to park your car. Galveston is known for having a number of parking options — including lots of independent lots that can help save you money .

In this case you can park at an independent lot, which can then shuttle you to the cruise port. However, the most convenient option will be parking at the on-site lots at the terminal that are operated by the Port of Galveston.

Along with the cruise terminal, four different parking lots were built that put you a short distance from the ship. The lots then offer a short shuttle over to the terminal or you can just walk. Each lot is close enough that walking is extremely easy. As well, there are newly constructed covered walkways between the lots and the terminal.

The parking options at the terminal include:

• Pier 14 Lot (Orange): $20 per day
• South Lot (Green): $20 per day
• North Lot (Pink): $22 per day
• North Premium Lot (Yellow; Covered): $27 per day

All prices will have taxes and fees in addition. For example, parking at the Pier 14 Lot runs $153.55 for a one-week cruise. Major cards are accepted, but cash is not. If there is a certain lot that you want to park, it’s a good idea to reserve online ahead of time through the Port of Galveston to ensure that you get a space.

Want to save some money? You can find less expensive Galveston cruise parking elsewhere, but just keep in mind it may take longer to shuttle between the ship and your parking given the location of the terminal.

Picking Up/Dropping Off at the Terminal (Including Luggage)

Dropping off someone at the terminal? Or maybe you just want to unload those heavy suitcases before you park. Either way, it’s easy at the new terminal.

In this case, you’ll enter the terminal area at the intersection of Harborside and 14th Street/Royal Caribbean Way. Then, you can follow Royal Caribbean Way to Royal Caribbean Circle (and just follow the signage to the terminal). This will lead you right to the front of the terminal where you will see the large area for luggage drop-off. You can also drop passengers here.

There is also a second spot to drop passengers and luggage if you simply follow Royal Caribbean Way around the right side of the terminal. There you’ll find a loop that allows you to drop off and then head back toward the exit of the terminal area.

Transportation From the Terminal

Need a ride from the terminal back home or to the airport? In that case, just like with dropping off, there are two different areas for pick-up. You’ll just need to communicate with your ride where to meet.

First there is the area right in front of the terminal entrance. This spot has numbered stations that should help you identify where you will be picked up.

The other area is on the east side of the terminal where larger shuttle buses park to shuttle passengers, but there are also lanes for picking up similar to what you see at an airport.

Need a taxi? During our cruise we saw a taxi stand with waiting cabs on Royal Caribbean Way, in between the North Lot and South Lot.

Interested in a rideshare? You should know that Lyft is allowed to pick up at the terminal, but Uber is not. If you want, you can walk outside of the terminal area to catch an Uber.

More on Sailing from Galveston:

• 20+ Easy Galveston Park & Cruise Hotels (Free/Discounted Parking)
• Complete Guide to Cruising From the Port of Galveston
• Galveston Cruise Parking (Where to Park): Prices, Profiles, & Map

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Read next: park & cruise hotels for every port in america, popular: 107 best cruise tips, secrets, tricks, and freebies, related articles more from author, galveston cruise parking (where to park): prices, profiles, & map, msc cruises sailing from texas starting 2025, galveston cruise parking discounts, coupons, and promo codes, carnival jubilee arrives in galveston; first new cruise ship to call texas home, ncl makes history with first seasonal sailing from galveston, texas, full list: galveston hotels with cruise shuttles to the port.

do you need to make a reservation in advance for pier 10? we are going on Dec 3rd and need parking.

You don’t have to, but often there is a slight discount if you reserve ahead of time.

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Cruises from Galveston, Texas: Gateway to Caribbean Adventures

Discover the best times to cruise from Galveston in 2024 with our month-by-month weather guide. Plan your ideal Western Caribbean voyage with ease.

Official Port of Galveston Parking

Your trusted choice for cruise parking.

Parking Options at the Port of Galveston

• North and South Lots: The primary parking areas, located conveniently close to the cruise terminals .
• Pier 14 Lot: An additional parking area near the eastern end of the port, offering more parking spaces .

Why Choose Official Port of Galveston Parking?

• Convenience: Strategically located near the cruise terminals, these parking lots reduce the hassle of transportation on the day of your departure. With easy access from major roads and clear signage, reaching the parking lots is straightforward and stress-free.
• Security: The safety of your vehicle is paramount. The Official Port of Galveston Parking lots are well-lit, regularly patrolled, and under constant surveillance, giving you peace of mind while you enjoy your cruise.
• Shuttle Service: The added convenience of complimentary shuttle service to and from the cruise terminals ensures a smooth transition with your luggage. This service is especially beneficial for families, elderly passengers, or those with a lot of luggage.
• Pre-Paid Options: To streamline your parking experience, the Port of Galveston offers the ability to pre-pay for your parking spot. Often, this comes with the benefit of discounted rates and guarantees your parking space even during busy seasons.

Cruise Line Recommendations

Many cruise lines that depart from Galveston, including industry giants like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Disney Cruise Line, recommend using the Official Port of Galveston Parking due to its proximity, reliability, and the range of services offered. While cruise lines do not have their own dedicated parking facilities, their partnership with the Port of Galveston ensures that their passengers receive quality parking services.

North and South Lots

• Description: The North and South Lots are the primary parking areas managed by the Port of Galveston. They are conveniently situated near the cruise terminals, making them a popular choice for passengers.
• Location: These lots are located near the intersection of Harborside Drive and 33rd Street for the North Lot, and Harborside Drive and 25th Street for the South Lot.
• Accessibility: Easily accessible from Harborside Drive, which is the main thoroughfare leading to the cruise terminals.
• North Lot: 33rd Street and Harborside Drive , Galveston, TX.
• South Lot: 25th Street and Harborside Drive , Galveston, TX.
• From Houston, take I-45 S toward Galveston Island. Continue onto Broadway Avenue J, turn left onto 25th Street or 33rd Street, and then turn right onto Harborside Drive.
• Local directions can be navigated via GPS by inputting the specific lot address.
• Secure, well-lit, and patrolled areas.
• Complimentary shuttle service to and from the cruise terminals.
• Pre-paid parking available, often at discounted rates if booked online.
• Capacity: These lots offer a large number of parking spaces, but booking in advance is recommended, especially during peak cruise seasons.

Pier 14 Lot

• Description: The Pier 14 Lot serves as an additional parking area, supplementing the North and South Lots. It provides ample parking space for cruise passengers.
• Location: Located closer to the eastern end of the port, near Pier 14.
• Accessibility: Accessible via Harborside Drive, with clear signage leading to the lot.
• Address: Pier 14, Harborside Drive, Galveston, TX.
• Follow the same route as for the North and South Lots, continuing along Harborside Drive toward the eastern end of the port.
• For specific directions, use GPS with the address for Pier 14.
• Similar to the North and South Lots, offering security and lighting.
• Shuttle services may be available, depending on the cruise schedule and lot operations.
• Capacity: While smaller than the North and South Lots, Pier 14 still offers a considerable number of parking spaces.

These detailed descriptions provide cruise passengers with essential information about the primary parking options at the Port of Galveston. Knowing the location, accessibility, services, and directions for each parking area will help travelers plan their parking arrangements with ease and convenience.

Private Parking Lots

• Types: Various private companies offer both covered and open-air parking with competitive rates.
• 81st Dolphin Parking
• Falstaff Cruise Parking
• EZ Cruise Parking
• Cruise Park
• Locations: Scattered around the port area, within a short distance of the cruise terminals.
• Accessibility: Most are located off Harborside Drive, with easy access to the port.
• Shuttle Service: Many private lots offer shuttle services to the cruise terminals.
• Additional Features: Some lots provide valet services, car washes, and other amenities.

Hotel Parking Packages

• Description: Several hotels in Galveston offer stay-and-park packages, allowing guests to park their vehicles during the cruise.
• Benefits: Convenient for travelers who wish to stay in Galveston before or after their cruise.

Tips for Cruise Parking in Galveston

• Advance Booking: Consider reserving your parking spot in advance, especially during peak seasons.
• Compare Rates: Look at various options to find the best rate and services that suit your needs.
• Check for Discounts: Some parking lots offer discounts for online booking or extended parking.

Lighthouse Parking Galveston

Galveston’s Premier Covered Cruise Terminal Parking Lighthouse Cruise Parking in Galveston, Texas, is another great options for cruise parking. Lighthouse is the premier cruise parking facility in Galveston, Texas offering the only fully covered cruise parking lot on the island.[…]

Galveston Discount Cruise Parking

DCP Galveston Information Discount Cruise Parking, conveniently located on Harborside Drive is safe, secure, and convenient discount parking, + Free Shuttle Service for passengers & their luggage, to & from Port of Galveston Cruise Terminals. They will take you to the Port with[…]

Galveston VIP Indoor Cruise Parking

VIP Indoor Cruise Parking Information VIP (very important parker) Cruise Parking offers indoor, secure parking just steps from the Port of Galveston’s cruise terminals for cruise passengers departing from Galveston, Texas. Vehicles at VIP Indoor Cruise Parking will be protected from the elements[…]

Galveston Park N Cruise

Galveston Park N Cruise Information Galveston Park N Cruise ia the closest parking lot to the cruise ship terminal. Galveston Park N Cruise is so convenient because you literally walk down the alley and across the street and you are[…]

Galveston Cruise Ship Terminal and Parking for Carnival Cruise Lines

Galveston Cruise Ship Terminal and Parking directions Cruise parking for Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Cruise Lines use Texas Cruise Ship Terminal on Galveston Island. The Port of Galveston lots are the only parking lots recognized by the Carnival Cruise Line. Parking[…]

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• Allen's Club D'elegare
• Courville Stadium
• Chimney Marine Hospital
• Shriners Burns Hospital
• John Sealy Hospital
• University of Texas Medical Branch Hospital

11 Reason To Sail on Cruises From Galveston

I n no uncertain terms, a cruise port makes all the difference regarding your entire vacation. After all, the location of your departure sets the tone for your trip moving forward, determining which destinations you’ll reach once you’re on the high seas.

While specific destinations like Miami or Canaveral boast unique strengths, something might also be said for the Port of Galveston, Texas. A smaller port overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, Galveston may not be the largest or busiest destination from which to depart. Yet, there are plenty of amicable reasons to look into this idyllic Texan island for your next cruise-going experience.

1. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Disney Offer Cruises From Galveston

Looking at it plainly, Galveston has three cruise terminals making up its port. In contrast, far larger alternatives, like the Port of Miami, have eleven terminals. Because of this, Galveston unfortunately cannot house many of the industry’s prestigious cruise lines. However, the port’s terminals support several large-scale cruise corporations, with Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Norwegian, MSC, and Disney Cruises departing from Galveston regularly.

2. The Nearby Cruise Destinations Are Well Worth It

Admittedly, inevitable drawbacks are attached to cruises from Galveston. Considering how much farther west it is than ports in Florida or along the East Coast, most cruise lines out of Galveston cannot travel to their company’s private islands as many are in the Eastern Caribbean. However, Galveston’s location along the Gulf of Mexico has its distinct perks, including ready access to the Western Caribbean and parts of South and Central America. Though some guests might regret losing a chance at CocoCay, it’s hard to be upset when trekking along the shores of Mexico, Honduras, or Belize.

3. It’s Easier To Navigate Than Larger Ports

There’s no simple answer when it comes to determining the total cost of cruises from Galveston over any other port in the U.S. Like most ports, the final cost of the cruise depends on numerous factors, including the time of year you’re sailing, the location of your cabin, and the cruise line you plan on traveling with. However, the convenience of navigating the port itself makes Galveston a perfect option for anyone new to cruise vacations. Avoiding the large-scale crowds and tedious boarding lines as other major ports, Galveston remains a hassle-free destination for most novice travelers out there.

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4. galveston is conveniently located in the central u.s..

Given Galveston’s distinct location in eastern Texas , it’s one of the most readily accessible ports for travelers across the U.S. Located in the heart of America, travelers from the Western U.S. will have just as easy time reaching it as vacationers from the Midwest or East Coast. After all, who wants to sit on a lengthy plane ride to reach their port of call? Also, Galveston lacks the same high value of traffic as Miami or other popular ports, making it relatively hassle-free to reach.

5. The Port Terminal Is Reasonably Close to the Airport

Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport is the closest airport to Galveston. Roughly 41 miles northwest of the port, travelers can easily navigate from the airport to their cruise terminal in under an hour. Galveston is also close to several major cities, making it an option, albeit a farther one, for anyone flying into Austin or Dallas. However, given Houston’s short driving distance to Galveston, William P. Hobby Airport is your best bet for air travel.

6. The Boarding Process Is Quick and Seamless

As mentioned above, Galveston doesn’t have the same volume of passengers flooding through its port as Miami, Canaveral, or Port Everglades. As a result, boarding a ship is comparatively tamer—especially since the port opened up its third and latest terminal in 2022. Having been constructed in the past two decades and carefully refurbished, these terminals are in fantastic shape, making the onboarding process much more efficient for vacationers. The terminals also come equipped with innovative new features, with Terminal 3 offering mobile check-in and state-of-the-art facial recognition devices.

7. There Are Plenty of Hotels Nearby

Another notable feature of Galveston is the number of hotels near the port. (Because let’s face it: what’s more accessible than simply waking up, hopping in your car, and practically walking onto the ship without worrying about losing track of time?) What’s more, many of the hotels in the Galveston area have special offers for anyone traveling onboard a cruise ship. These offers include free or discounted parking rates and a helpful shuttle that ferry passengers back and forth from the hotel to the ship. While several hotels in Galveston have these amenities, some of the best include the Hilton Galveston Island Resort and the San Luis Resort .

8. Parking Is Easy

Don’t let Galveston’s size fool you—the port itself has plenty of options when it comes to parking. As previously suggested, anyone staying at a nearby hotel might want to consider leaving their car parked there and taking a shuttle, taxi, or Uber over to their terminal. Additionally, travelers can reserve a space in the port’s parking lot ahead of their trip. These parking spaces are safe and secure, and port employees will assist with any luggage brought aboard on cruises from Galveston.

9. Galveston Itself Is a Beautiful Place To Visit

The main reason we believe you should depart from Galveston on your next cruise is the opportunity you’ll have to see what it has to offer. Like most major cities, there’s plenty to do and see around town, with every prospective sight catering to travelers’ interests. For those interested in shopping, the Strand Historical District has plenty of independently owned stores that feature everything from odd tchotchkes to essential beach items. Galveston’s famous Moody Gardens is an educational park built around natural wonders such as exotic sea life, immaculate flowers, roaming monkeys, and sloths.

10. You’re Bound To Find Some Great Last-Minute Deals

As previously mentioned, Galveston is a more scaled-down port than Miami or Port Canaveral, but its three terminals still receive cruise ships constantly. Because of this constantly moving schedule, most travelers will find it incredibly easy to find last-minute deals on select cruises from Galveston—often days before the ship is booked to leave. Sure, it may not be practical for those traveling from longer distances to book something last-minute. Yet these last-minute deals are well worth it for anyone within a short distance of Galveston.

11. Galveston Is Steeped in Rich Maritime History

Galveston is a city rich in history, having first been settled by Indigenous Natives of the Akokisa and Karankawa tribes before the Europeans arrived in the 1600s. Over the next several centuries, Galveston became a hub for maritime trade, eventually attracting such notable figures as French buccaneer Jean Lafitte. All that being said, history buffs will delight at the chance to visit Galveston, taking in some of the numerous historical sights around town—like Lafitte’s personal hideaway at Maison Rouge or the Michael B. Menard House, named after one of Galveston’s original American settlers. Even those who don’t care for history will find these areas fascinating.

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• Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

Moscow: question for those who have gone from St Petersburg

By Wayfairers , August 22, 2019 in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

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I have read many of the threads that discuss whether or not Moscow is worth the expense and long day, especially when there are only 2 days in port.  I realize there are two strong opinions from people with one side saying it is worth it and the other side says stay in St Petersburg. We have decided to go Moscow on day 1 of our visit. 

So, those who have done the long trip to Moscow....did you go with the cruise ship or a private guide?   If a private guide, who and would you recommend them?  Did you take the train both ways or fly one direction?  

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On 8/22/2019 at 9:28 AM, Wayfairers said: I have read many of the threads that discuss whether or not Moscow is worth the expense and long day, especially when there are only 2 days in port.  I realize there are two strong opinions from people with one side saying it is worth it and the other side says stay in St Petersburg. We have decided to go Moscow on day 1 of our visit.    So, those who have done the long trip to Moscow....did you go with the cruise ship or a private guide?   If a private guide, who and would you recommend them?  Did you take the train both ways or fly one direction?  

Been to Moscow several times. We have used the Sapsan both ways and have also flown both ways - never a combo of the train/plane. We enjoyed the Sapsan more than the flight. We have NOT travelled to Moscow when arriving by cruise ship so have no comment on your particular situation regarding a one day tour with only 2 days in St. Pete.  Good luck - hope the visit meets your expectations.

Thanks for the info.  Good to know you enjoyed the train more than the plane - I would expect we would too as flying is typically more hassle than taking the train.  

We decided to book the trip to Moscow with the cruise ship after learning that if we miss the train or plane we don’t get a refund in addition to missing Moscow.  And, I’ve had friends who’s ship missed the St Petersburg stop due to weather.

Moscow is a great city but I would rather spend all two days in St Petersburg. Some years ago we had almost a week there and still it doesn’t seem enough. We also had one day in Moscow and the journey arranged by the local travel agency was well organized and comfortable. In a view of time restrictions of the journey (we spent almost 8 hours on the train and just 6-7 hours in the city) one day in Moscow still felt a little rushed. Anyway, enjoy planning your trip and hope you have a great time in Russia!

Just make sure the day you are going to Moscow, it is not one of their holidays or even a day before a holiday.

Moscow is an amazing city but it is frustrating when Red Square is closed for parades, etc.... It is hard to determine when they close it but it is definitely closed for their holidays. When it is closed - you can only walk around the exterior of the square and look in.

Thanks!   I will check.  We are in Moscow May 16.  I know May 9 is a holiday. 

AngelDisney

I have 2 days in St. Petersburg and am thinking about this possibility. I think it’s hard to do this with 2 days. The first day will take longer time to go ashore because of the immigration process. The second day is not possible due to the early all abroad time. It seems that it’s only worth doing it if there are 3 days in St. Petersburg especially when a full day of touring in Moscow is preferred. 

1 hour ago, AngelDisney said: I have 2 days in St. Petersburg and am thinking about this possibility. I think it’s hard to do this with 2 days. The first day will take longer time to go ashore because of the immigration process. The second day is not possible due to the early all abroad time. It seems that it’s only worth doing it if there are 3 days in St. Petersburg especially when a full day of touring in Moscow is preferred. 

For 2 days - spend the time in St. Petersburg. There is so much to see there. Save this for a 2nd trip.

When we were in St. Petersburg we were also very interested in visiting Moscow. We were already in Russia why not visit as much places as we could, right? We used Anastasia Travel for our St. Petersburg tour and also asked them to include Moscow. They were very helpful and were very much willing to arrange a day trip to Moscow for us but they suggested we just stay in St. Petersburg since we only had 2 days. They were kind enough to explain that we would just waste time and money if me push through with the Moscow trip. We would spend more time on the train instead of using the time to explore and enjoy the sights. They were actually correct and we ended up enjoying a wonderful 2-day tour in St. Petersburg. I guess we'll have to go back to see Moscow and make sure to stay longer! 

angie7911922

When we went to St Petersburg we had the same dilemma. We decided not to go to Moscow and didn’t regret it one bit. There is so much to see! If you spend the 2 days in St Petersburg you can go and see Peterhof Palace on one of the days. We were on a Princess cruise and like flowslow, we booked our private tours with Katharina from Anastasia Travel.   This way we used our time to the fullest to see as much as possible at our pace with a personal guide. (We are not fond of the big group tours from the cruise lines).

9 hours ago, angie7911922 said: When we went to St Petersburg we had the same dilemma. We decided not to go to Moscow and didn’t regret it one bit. There is so much to see! If you spend the 2 days in St Petersburg you can go and see Peterhof Palace on one of the days. We were on a Princess cruise and like flowslow, we booked our private tours with Katharina from Anastasia Travel.   This way we used our time to the fullest to see as much as possible at our pace with a personal guide. (We are not fond of the big group tours from the cruise lines).

We have two days and decided only staying in SPB for both days. We are thinking of forming a private tour with other cruisers on another forum as the CC roll call for that cruise is so quiet. We are looking into Anastasia Travel as well. Very excited to go!

On 9/1/2019 at 8:09 PM, AngelDisney said: We have two days and decided only staying in SPB for both days. We are thinking of forming a private tour with other cruisers on another forum as the CC roll call for that cruise is so quiet. We are looking into Anastasia Travel as well. Very excited to go!

Great idea to form a small group!! Have a fantastic time and I am sure you wont regret that decision!! 

luvtravel88

I'm not sure about customs when coming in on a cruise ship. We were told that if we wanted to leave the ship, we would have to be on a tour, either a ships tour or private tour. I know we had to show our tour tickets at customs to be allowed to go further. We chose Alla tours and they were fantastic. We were docked in St. Petersburg for 3 days and we did go to Moscow on the Capsan train on the 2nd day. It was a VERY long day. We had to meet our group at 6:00am and were on the train at 7:00am. We arrived back at to our cabin at 1:30am the next day. It was a wonderful day and we're so glad we went but if we were in St. Petersburg for only 2 days, I probably wouldn't spend a day in Moscow. It is a 4 hour train ride each way, and if you need to be back to the ship to depart, it may not leave you much time in Moscow. The 8 hours we spent there, wasn't nearly enough. Traffic is horrible and we ended up getting off our bus and taking the subway to Red Square. Those 8 hours allowed us a tour of Red Square, which was phenomenal as well as a quick walk through GUM department store and a ride on the subway with several stops to see the mosaics, sculptures and chandeliers that are in the corridors of the subway stops.

But.....there is so much to see in St. Petersburg , the 2 days we spent there, were a whirl.

Whatever you decide to do, be sure you're in line to get off the ship before the ship arrives in port. We were in line an hour early and there were still about 20 people ahead of us. We found that the cruise ship allowed their tour groups to get off the ship first, so when we got to customs, the lines were outrageous. It took us about an hour in line and we were late starting our tour. I had organized the tour with Alla and had advertised it on our cruise forum here at Cruise Critic. There were 12 of us and we met up on the ship each morning and went through customs together so we all met the tour bus at the same time. That was very helpful!

The lines the first day were the worst and days 2 and 3 went much more quickly. Also, everyone was getting off the ship at the same time on Day 1, but tours met and left at different times on Days 2 and 3.

16 minutes ago, luvtravel88 said: . Whatever you decide to do, be sure you're in line to get off the ship before the ship arrives in port. We were in line an hour early and there were still about 20 people ahead of us. We found that the cruise ship allowed their tour groups to get off the ship first, so when we got to customs, the lines were outrageous. It took us about an hour in line and we were late starting our tour. ! The lines the first day were the worst and days 2 and 3 went much more quickly. Also, everyone was getting off the ship at the same time on Day 1, but tours met and left at different times on Days 2 and 3.

This is one of the reasons that we decided to use the cruise ship to go to Moscow our first day in St Petersburg. 

25 minutes ago, Wayfairers said: This is one of the reasons that we decided to use the cruise ship to go to Moscow our first day in St Petersburg. 

I believe that the ship tours to Moscow go via air, right?

Yes, as others have noted, there is MUCH to see in Saint Petersburg and in spending a week there one will barely scratch the surface - the same is true for Moscow.

It sounds like you want to get a "taste" of both cities - don't allow anyone to "throw water" on your plans as you best know what you want to do. You can always return for an extended visit.  😉

4 hours ago, dogs4fun said: I believe that the ship tours to Moscow go via air, right? Yes, as others have noted, there is MUCH to see in Saint Petersburg and in spending a week there one will barely scratch the surface - the same is true for Moscow. It sounds like you want to get a "taste" of both cities - don't allow anyone to "throw water" on your plans as you best know what you want to do. You can always return for an extended visit.  😉

No, our ship tour is going by train there and back unless I misread something.  You are right...we just want a taste of both cities.  In fact, that is what we get from all cruise port stops - just a taste.  We are never there long enough to the see the area completely.

2 hours ago, Wayfairers said: No, our ship tour is going by train there and back unless I misread something.  

Interesting - I thought that the ship tours flew to Moscow when in port for only 2 days. Hope you will post upon return and let us know how it went.

16 hours ago, dogs4fun said: Interesting - I thought that the ship tours flew to Moscow when in port for only 2 days. Hope you will post upon return and let us know how it went.

Double checked and it says we go to Moscow on the high speed train.   Come back the same way.   From all I’ve read it takes a little longer (ship to Moscow sites) to fly than to take the train.  

I've been thinking about that - and I might be wrong, but it seems to me an SPB-Moscow combo over a 3-day cruise is one of the few remaining cases where obtaining a full-fledged Russian visa actually makes sense (especially for families/groups and especially if one is willing to do some DIY trip planning). 

Just to make sure, though - for those staying on the ship, is there some kind of curfew, or are you able to come and go as you please?

4 minutes ago, napoxoguk said: I've been thinking about that - and I might be wrong, but it seems to me an SPB-Moscow combo over a 3-day cruise is one of the few remaining cases where obtaining a full-fledged Russian visa actually makes sense (especially for families/groups and especially if one is willing to do some DIY trip planning).    Just to make sure, though - for those staying on the ship, is there some kind of curfew, or are you able to come and go as you please?  

If you have a Russian visa there is no curfew - you may come and go as you wish. In fact, if you so choose, you can spend the entire time in the city (staying at a hotel in either Moscow or St. Petersburg) rather than returning to your ship each evening - but ONLY if you have a visa.

6 minutes ago, dogs4fun said: If you have a Russian visa there is no curfew - you may come and go as you wish. In fact, if you so choose, you can spend the entire time in the city (staying at a hotel in either Moscow or St. Petersburg) rather than returning to your ship each evening - but ONLY if you have a visa.

That is what my research shows too.  A quick google search showed the tourist visas for US citizens are $160.  I’m willing to pay for a tour rather than get the visa.  We’ve gotten most of the visas that are a pain to get and I’m tired of doing that. 

2 minutes ago, Wayfairers said: I’m willing to pay for a tour rather than get the visa

I understand. Ru visa process can be expensive and time consuming, especially if you live far away from one of the visa centers.

I'm just trying to come up with a reasonably conservative number - what can one realistically expect to pay for a mad 1-day Moscow dash if they go DIY.

For a regular SPB-only itinerary, visa doesn't seem to make sense - not only price-wise, but also from the standpoint of convenience - all the local operators have their itineraries down to a science.

With Moscow, though, it's not so clear-cut.

I found that most of the tour operators will give you a tour but no guarantee that you make it to Moscow because you will miss the train if debarkation is too slow.  I found one tour that offers a 2 day tour with a flight to Moscow day 1 and train back and St Petersburg day 2.   Seriously considered them.   I briefly thought about getting a visa and spending the night in Moscow but never priced everything out. If you look into that I would love to see what you find. Probably not for us though because I want to see some of both cities.  

2 hours ago, napoxoguk said: I understand. Ru visa process can be expensive and time consuming, especially if you live far away from one of the visa centers. I'm just trying to come up with a reasonably conservative number - what can one realistically expect to pay for a mad 1-day Moscow dash if they go DIY.

I have visited Russia multiple times. I received my latest 3 year visa in May and here are the associated costs:

Single/Double/Multiple entry visa, consular fee = $198

Visa Center Processing fee = $50

Total = $248   (this is your total if you apply in person at one of the 4 consulates located in the USA - since I don't live near a Russian consulate, I must use the more costly mail option)

SO ... here is what I actually paid:

Multiple entry visa, consular fee = $198

Visa Center Processing fee by mail = $120

Return shipping/handling fee = $35

Total = $353

Totally worth the fee as I spend multiple weeks in Russia yearly and prefer DIY - personally, I would not consider a visa if it was a one time visit via cruise.

So, for DIY, added to the visa expense, one must add the cost of the sapsan train (or flight), Moscow transportation (metro is great), food & associated entrance fees to the Kremlin (and whatever else one has the time/desire to visit).

FYI: There is a HOHO in both Moscow & St. Petersburg.

Okay, I think the diy budget might be something like ₽20,000 (about $300) per person. This includes:

Train tickets: ₽9000 (5+4); Kremlin+armory: 1700 (1000+700)

Boat ride:600

Meals: 3000 (1500 per casual meal)

Contingencies (Uber ride if needed, etc): 2500. 

It's based on a number of assumptions, so real-life mileage will vary - please let me know if you identify some glaring omissions or errors.

Assumptions:

Done on day 2 of three.

Good weather (lots of outside/walking time)

Earliest Sapsan to Moscow, overnight double decker from Moscow (no hotel stays)

Train tickets purchased at least 30 days in advance, economy for Sapsan and economy plus for the double decker (includes a bottle of water and a piece of gingerbread).

All group members are adults

Done on a day when the Kremlin, Red Sq, and other Moscow attractions are actually open.

Boat ride via watertrams-radisson.ru (the cheapest option with English audio guide)

Sample itinerary:

leave SPB on Sapsan 743a (5:30am), sleep on the train.

Arrive Moscow 9am

DIY Metro tour until 11am

Kremlin excursion (cathedral Sq, DIY) 11:30

Armory excursion (audioguide) 12:30 

Quick lunch (at GUM stolovaya or fast food chains at Manezhnaya sq) : 2 to 3pm.

Walk to Zaryadye boat pier via Alexander's garden, Red Sq, Zaryadye. Boats leave every 30 minutes. Route: Zaryadye- Gorky Park - luzhniki- Ukraina - turnaround - sparrow hills - Gorky Park. Time on board: 2 hrs. 

Gorky Park/muzeon (5:30 to 7:30). 

Head back (metro) towards red sq for evening walk/dinner (tverskaya-kamergersky-b.dmitrovka-metropol-nikolskaya area)

Need to be back at the train station by 10:30 to catch the 006aa train departing at 10:50. 

Back to SPB at 6:47 am.

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Where seas are rising at alarming speed

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One of the most rapid sea level surges on Earth is besieging the American South, forcing a reckoning for coastal communities across eight U.S. states, a Washington Post analysis has found.

Recent sea level rise

2010 to 2023

At more than a dozen tide gauges spanning from Texas to North Carolina, sea levels are at least 6 inches higher than they were in 2010 — a change similar to what occurred over the previous five decades.

Scientists are documenting a barrage of impacts — ones, they say, that will confront an even larger swath of U.S. coastal communities in the coming decades — even as they try to decipher the precise causes of this recent surge.

The Gulf of Mexico has experienced twice the global average rate of sea level rise since 2010 , a Post analysis of satellite data shows. Few other places on the planet have seen similar rates of increase, such as the North Sea near the United Kingdom.

“Since 2010, it’s very abnormal and unprecedented,” said Jianjun Yin, a climate scientist at the University of Arizona who has studied the changes. While it is possible the swift rate of sea level rise could eventually taper, the higher water that has already arrived in recent years is here to stay.

“It’s irreversible,” he said.

As waters rise, Louisiana’s wetlands — the state’s natural barrier against major storms — are in a state of “drowning.” Choked septic systems are failing and threatening to contaminate waterways. Insurance companies are raising rates, limiting policies or even bailing in some places, casting uncertainty over future home values in flood-prone areas.

Roads increasingly are falling below the highest tides, leaving drivers stuck in repeated delays, or forcing them to slog through salt water to reach homes, schools, work and places of worship. In some communities, researchers and public officials fear, rising waters could periodically cut off some people from essential services such as medical aid.

The Drowning South

While much planning and money have gone toward blunting the impact of catastrophic hurricanes, experts say it is the accumulation of myriad smaller-scale impacts from rising water levels that is the newer, more insidious challenge — and the one that ultimately will become the most difficult to cope with.

“To me, here’s the story: We are preparing for the wrong disaster almost everywhere,” said Rob Young, a Western Carolina University professor and director of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines .

“These smaller changes will be a greater threat over time than the next hurricane, no question about it,” Young said.

In December, Charleston, S.C., saw its fourth-highest water level since measurements began in 1899. It was the first time on record that seas had been that high without a hurricane. A winter storm that coincided with the elevated ocean left dozens of streets closed. One resident drowned in her car. Hundreds of vehicles were damaged or destroyed, including some that were inundated in a cruise terminal parking lot.

The average sea level at Charleston has risen by 7 inches since 2010, four times the rate of the previous 30 years.

Jacksonville, Fla., where seas rose 6 inches in the past 14 years, recently studied its vulnerability. It found that more than a quarter of major roads have the potential to become inaccessible to emergency response vehicles amid flooding, and the number of residents who face flood risks could more than triple in coming decades.

Galveston, Tex., has experienced an extraordinary rate of sea level rise — 8 inches in 14 years. Experts say it has been exacerbated by fast-sinking land. High-tide floods have struck at least 141 times since 2015, and scientists project their frequency will grow rapidly. Officials are planning to install several huge pump stations in coming years, largely funded through federal grants. The city manager expects each pump to cost more than $60 million — a figure that could eclipse the city’s annual tax revenue.

For this analysis, The Post relied on tide gauge data, which reflects the rise in sea level and sinking of land. Satellite data, which solely measures the height of oceans, was used for global measurements.

“The phenomenon is so new, we still don’t necessarily even have the vocabulary for it,” Christopher Piecuch, a sea level scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, said of the unrelenting nature of flooding confronting more and more communities. “This is something that quite literally didn’t happen two decades ago.”

But it undoubtedly is happening now. The number of high-tide floods is rapidly increasing in the region, with incidents happening five times as often as they did in 1990, said William Sweet, an oceanographer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“We’re seeing flooding in a way that we haven’t seen before,” said Sweet, who leads the agency’s high-tide flooding assessments. “That is just the statistics doing the talking.”

Projections suggest that the flooding of today will look modest compared with what lies ahead. High-tide floods in the region are expected to strike 15 times more frequently in 2050 than they did in 2020, Sweet said.

Here are glimpses at three spots along a roughly 200-mile stretch of the U.S. Gulf Coast that are already confronting this new reality:

St. Tammany

New Orleans

Mobile, Ala. , 5.9 inches of sea level rise since 2010

The inequity of rising water, ‘people of color are more likely to experience flooding’ — and the city is working to adapt..

The inequities of the past and the changing threats of the present are colliding in this centuries-old port city.

Here, as in other cities, the legacy of unequal federal housing policies dating to the 1930s, known as redlining — a discriminatory practice that in particular targeted Black Americans — left minority and low-income residents confined to certain areas. Over time, they faced the heavy burden of industrial pollution. Some of these same neighborhoods are now grappling with rising waters.

“The acknowledgment and acceptance of these historic inequities and their present-day impacts is a necessary, critical step,” city officials wrote in a recent report , adding: “[P]eople of color are more likely to experience flooding in Mobile.”

That’s partly due to relatively flat topography that allows higher water levels to travel farther inland and cause more severe flooding than in the past. The report said that many of the affected neighborhoods are low-lying and have decaying storm water systems, making them particularly vulnerable.

Rodneyka Lofton has lived in the same house on St. Emanuel Street, along a swath of Mobile’s heavily industrialized waterfront, for “a majority of my life,” she said.

“Sometimes, it makes me feel not safe,” Lofton said one morning of the floodwaters that often submerge her street and other roads that lie about a quarter-mile from the Mobile River near where it ends at Mobile Bay.

“On my street, and on the back street over there, it looks like a small lake. And a lot of cars get stuck,” said Lofton, a nursing assistant. Only a handful of residents remain here, amid rows of semitrailers, a junkyard and a large container facility.

Along some areas of the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, recent research suggests, low-income and minority residents are likely to face a deepening burden as climate change fuels rising seas and more intense rainfalls.

“Flood risk is not borne equally by all,” wrote the authors of a 2022 study in the journal Nature Climate Change . In particular, they wrote, “The future increase in risk will disproportionately impact Black communities , while remaining concentrated on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.”

Near Lofton’s home, recent data suggest the burden already is increasing.

The tide gauge at the nearby Mobile State Docks has registered about 6 inches of sea level rise since 2010.

Texas Street, around the corner from Lofton’s home, was once again inundated one morning earlier this year. A car was inching through deep water.

Rain had fallen the previous night, but the flooding was destined to linger due to high seas. A coastal researcher from the University of South Alabama, Bret Webb, had recently outfitted a sensor in one of the street’s drains. It showed that the base of the drain is now frequently lower than the waters in the Mobile River, preventing drainage.

As Mobile’s chief resilience officer, Casi Callaway works to gird the city’s residents and its infrastructure for the growing stresses posed by climate change and other challenges. She said Mobile has been steadily upgrading roads and the pipes beneath them — and aims to do so near Lofton’s home.

But she said it will take at least $30 million to fix drainage problems in an area where some storm water pipes are over a century old and made of wood. The city has applied for several grants to perform the work but has not yet received funding.

“Every dollar we invest should be a dollar spent preparing for what is coming,” said Callaway, who previously headed a local environmental group.

Over a century of history and memory also lie in the path of floodwaters.

That is evident in the Old Plateau Cemetery in Africatown. The neighborhood in Mobile was founded by formerly enslaved people who arrived in 1860 on the Clotilda — the last known slave ship to leave Africa for the United States — and their descendants.

The historic burial ground dates to 1876, and appears to have been warped by sinking land and repeated flooding. Many graves now rest at angles. Some are sunken and fill regularly with rainwater, and those at the lowest-lying points are in disrepair.

While multiple factors probably play a role in the cemetery’s flooding problems, there are two ways rising seas can make them worse, said Alex Beebe, a geologist at the University of South Alabama who has studied the cemetery. As waters in Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico rise, the water flowing downhill through Africatown to the coast will have more trouble escaping, he said. A higher ocean is also causing groundwater tables to rise, making it harder for rainfall to penetrate the soil.

For Yuvonne Brazier, the flooding is just part of a bigger inequity in Africatown, which also is hemmed in by heavy industry.

Brazier’s grandfather and her sister, who died when she was young, are buried in the cemetery, along with many of the founders of the community.

But Brazier can no longer find the graves. She used to be able to sit on her mother’s front porch and see the cemetery where her loved ones were buried. That familiar landscape has grown less familiar over time.

“It’s all different now,” she said.

St. Tammany Parish, La. , 6.1 inches of sea level rise since 2010

A $5.9 billion plan to hold back water, the u.s. government wants to protect a fast-growing region from flooding. homeowners don’t agree on the plan..

Cody Bruhl looked out over the boat launch in Madisonville, which he had reached only after driving through a mile of flooded road in his pickup truck. Behind him, fish swam through a submerged parking lot.

Here on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, residents can drive 24 miles south across one of the world’s longest bridges to reach New Orleans. But they lack that city’s human-made protections against water. Now high tides had caused yet another flood, an increasingly common occurrence due to 6 inches of sea level rise in the lake — which is directly connected to the Gulf of Mexico — since 2010.

Bruhl, a 37-year-old avid duck hunter, loves this place. But he also worries about its future.

“That’s what I’m trying to get my own grip around for myself and my family,” said Bruhl, a member of the St. Tammany Levee, Drainage and Conservation District whose home flooded in 2021’s Hurricane Ida. “If we’re going to continue to live here, we’ve got to find a protection that can mitigate a lot of this, because at some point it becomes not sustainable anymore.”

It is a predicament reverberating throughout the vulnerable parish, home to about 275,000 people. A home building boom since Hurricane Katrina has replaced vast stretches of land with asphalt and other surfaces that can worsen flooding. Some communities, crisscrossed with canals, are difficult to defend. Mandeville has a sea wall and Slidell has a few inland levees. But it’s nothing like the protections engineered for New Orleans.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wants to change that. It has outlined plans to spend an estimated $5.9 billion protecting St. Tammany Parish alone.

Under the plans, which are years from becoming reality, Slidell would get its own nearly 19-mile-long levee and floodwall, and officials would raise parts of Interstate 10. A significant expenditure would go toward raising or flood-proofing more than 6,400 structures, mostly homes, in the parish. One of those, Bruhl said, would be his own.

The changes, the Corps has said, are aimed at mitigating repeated flood events that have “caused major disruptions, damages, and adverse economic impacts to the parish.” While the plan factors in sea level rise, it is centrally targeted at stopping hurricanes and river-driven floods — not necessarily the sunny-day flooding that happens with increased regularity.

In parts of St. Tammany, homeowners remain divided about the massive undertaking.

Donna and Kevin McDonald, who run a construction company in the Slidell area, are “on the fence” about the project, Donna said. They’re not sure it is the solution, but they certainly recognize the problem.

Part of the filming of “ Where the Crawdads Sing, ” a hit 2022 film set in North Carolina, took place in May 2021 behind their home on Bayou Liberty, where moss dangles over the dark waters from the branches of live oaks.

The film crew built a shack along the dock as part of a set that would represent the bait shop of Jumpin’, one of the film’s characters. But soon, heavy rains coincided with a days-long tidal surge in Lake Pontchartrain and the set was inundated, delaying production. The surge was the 10th-highest water level recorded at the tide gauge in New Orleans, and the highest that didn’t come from a hurricane or tropical storm.

It was just another reminder of how water — more and more of it — is altering life here.

Kevin McDonald has lived in this same house for all his 71 years. The home never flooded before 1995, he says. Not even in historic hurricanes like Camille and Betsy.

“Now,” he said, “we’ve flooded seven times.”

Pensacola, Fla. , 6.5 inches of sea level rise since 2010

Water with no place to go, the city is one of many in the region contending with outdated and overmatched infrastructure systems..

In the early morning, the rising tide in Pensacola Bay swallowed an outfall pipe that is supposed to empty water from a downtown neighborhood called the Tanyard.

Water sat near the tops of the drains along S. De Villiers Street — a telltale sign of the higher ocean creeping backward up pipes and a predicament plaguing a growing number of coastal communities.

“As far as the water’s ability to get out, it’s going to have to literally take on Pensacola Bay,” Brad Hinote, the city engineer, said as he surveyed the scene.

It wasn’t raining. But when it rains hard enough, waters swallow this street entirely.

Nearby residents know the unceasing battle better than anyone.

“The water tries to go down, but it has no place to go,” Gloria Horning said outside the home she has owned on S. De Villiers Street since 2016. “The infrastructure is so low, so old, it just explodes because it can’t take the water. And it doesn’t take but a couple of inches for that to happen every time.”

Horning has put up silt fencing along her property to try to stop the wake from the cars that drive through standing water, sending waves across her yard. A longtime environmental and social justice activist, Horning has focused on flooding issues since water first entered her home in 2016.

Horning said her home last flooded during a strong rainstorm in June. But it is the more incessant nuisance floods that keep her on edge.

“Now, when it rains, I’m getting up in the middle of the night, packing my dogs up and going,” said Horning, who has pushed for more stringent environmental and flood regulations in the city. “Because just a few inches of rain, and I’m sitting in water and sewage.”

Pensacola is hardly an outlier. As sea levels rise, experts say, there are many cities with outdated and overmatched infrastructure systems.

“Storm water flooding is getting worse and is unsustainable,” said Renee Collini, director of the Community Resilience Center at the Water Institute. “Almost all our systems are gravity fed, and they were built out a long time ago.”

Hinote, like his counterparts facing similar predicaments, has struggled with how best to solve the changes that are happening — and the even more dramatic ones scientists say are on the way.

“Everybody says, ‘Well, put in pumps.’ And that’s definitely a solution,” he said. But pumps can fail, especially in saltwater environments. And, he added, “they are exorbitantly expensive.”

Pensacola, one of the nation’s oldest cities, has offered some residents the opportunity to elevate their homes or take buyouts, Hinote said. It has considered elevating the roadway through the neighborhood, but that might only push more water toward nearby houses. And it has requested an engineering analysis to study solutions in the area — and their cost.

“It’s a difficult position to be in as a city official,” Hinote said. “My goal is to fix this situation.”

But, as he gazed over the flood-prone neighborhood , he saw no easy answers.

“When you’re up against an obstacle …” Hinote said as he looked down at an overmatched drain, “how do you overcome it?”

About this story

Jahi Chikwendiu contributed to this report.

Design and development by Emily Wright .

Photo editing by Sandra M. Stevenson and Amanda Voisard. Video editing by John Farrell . Design editing by Joseph Moore .

Editing by Anu Narayanswamy , Katie Zezima and Monica Ulmanu . Additional editing by Juliet Eilperin . Project editing by KC Schaper . Copy editing by Frances Moody.

Additional support from Jordan Melendrez, Erica Snow , Kathleen Floyd, Victoria Rossi and Ana Carano.

Methodology

The Washington Post used monthly tide gauge data for 127 gauges from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for relative mean sea levels in the United States. This is adjusted for seasonal signals for ocean temperature, currents, and other marine and atmospheric variables.

For its analysis, The Post relied on dozens of tide gauges along the coasts of the United States, measurements that are affected both by the rising ocean and slow but persistent movement of land. It also took into account satellite data for global sea level rise, which measures ocean heights independent of land movement.

Annual means for two time periods — 1980 to 2009 and 2010 to 2023 — were calculated. Only gauges that had at least eight months of data for a given year and 70 percent of the years were used. Three gauges used in this analysis are not currently in service but had sufficient data for the 1980 to 2023 time period to include in the analysis.

A linear regression model was applied to the annual means for each gauge to determine the trends for each time period and calculate an annual rate of relative mean sea level rise. Because readings from tide gauges are also influenced by the rising or sinking of land, these findings are referred to as changes in relative mean sea level.

To analyze changes in sea level around the globe, The Post used data based on satellite altimetry readings produced by NOAA. Annual means were calculated for 1993 through 2023 for the global data and for each ocean. The Post applied a linear regression model estimating the annual rates of change in mean sea level for each ocean and the global average. The data from the satellite altimeters are measures of ocean height independent of any land movement, or absolute means.

The Post is displaying data for tide gauges on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts that showed significant trends in mean sea level change from 2010 to 2023.

Scientists have studied regional trends in sea level rise, including Jianjun Yin and Sönke Dangendorf , among others. The Post’s analysis builds on this body of work and compares trends for the 2010-2023 and 1980-2009 time periods to drive home the rate of acceleration in recent years. The Post also presents the trends for each tide gauge included.

More on climate change

Understanding our climate: Global warming is a real phenomenon , and weather disasters are undeniably linked to it . As temperatures rise, heat waves are more often sweeping the globe — and parts of the world are becoming too hot to survive .

What can be done? The Post is tracking a variety of climate solutions , as well as the Biden administration’s actions on environmental issues . It can feel overwhelming facing the impacts of climate change, but there are ways to cope with climate anxiety .

Inventive solutions: Some people have built off-the-grid homes from trash to stand up to a changing climate. As seas rise, others are exploring how to harness marine energy .

What about your role in climate change? Our climate coach Michael J. Coren is answering questions about environmental choices in our everyday lives. Submit yours here. You can also sign up for our Climate Coach newsletter .

Moscow Boat Tour

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Description

See all the gems of historical and cultural center of the capital in short time and without traffic jams or tiresome walking.

Depending on the itinerary and duration of the Moscow River boat trip, the tour can be 3 or 5 hours.

Highlights of the tour

• St Basil’s Cathedral;
• Stalin skyscraper on Kotelnicheskaya (Tinkers) embankment;
• The Kremlin;
• “House on the Embankment” Stalin skyscraper;
• Monument to Peter I;
• The Central House of Artists;
• Christ the Savior Cathedral;
• Gorky Park;
• Moscow State University;
• Russian Academy of Sciences;
• Luzhniki stadium;
• Novodevichy Monastery;
• Kiev railway station;
• Europe Square;
• Moscow City Hall;
• Government House;
• Expocentre Exhibition Complex;
• and other famous sights.

You will learn about the different epochs of the city from the foundation in 1147 till Soviet times of 20 th  century.

Moscow River

Moskva river has the form of a snake and is the main waterway of Moscow, consisting of a cascade of reservoirs. Within the city, Moskva river is 80 km long, 120 m - 200 m wide and up to 14 m deep. The narrowest part of the river is the Kremlin area in the city center, and the most extensive is around the Luzhniki Stadium in the south. 

Bridges in Moscow

Undoubtedly, bridges and embankments are among the most scenic spots and main attractions of Moscow. Plus, they are so romantic.

• Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge –  Great Stone Bridge –  is the main bridge of Moscow . The first stone bridge was constructed here in the 17th century.
• Patriarshy Bridge  is one of the youngest pedestrian bridges, built in 2004. The bridge connects the iconic Christ the Saviour Cathedral with funky Bersenevskaya embankment, extremely popular place among locals for its trendy art galleries, cafes and panoramic views. Patriarshy Bridge used to be a shooting location for ex-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's New Year speech to the nation.
• Borodinsky Bridge,  erected in honor of the 100th anniversary of the glorious victory in the Battle of Borodino (which every Russian kid knows about), a fierce legendary battle during the Russo-French war of 1812.
• Bagration Bridge  one of the  pedestrian bridges with most picturesque views of the Moskva River with its numerous upper-level observation platforms. The bridge was erected to celebrate the 850th anniversary of Moscow city in 1997.
• Krymsky Bridge  used to be in Top 5 Europe’s longest bridges some 100 years ago. The bridge got its name after the ancient Krymsky ford which Crimean Tartars used to invade Moscow in the 16 th  century.

Embankments of Moscow

Moscow river boats 37 embankments, the most popular being Kremlevskaya, Sofiyskaya, Pushkinskaya, Vorobyovskaya and Kolomenskaya.

You can get the most spectacular views of the Kremlin from  Kremlevskaya and Sofiyskaya embankments.

• Pushkinkaya embankment  is the most romantic in Moscow. It meanders along Gorky Park and Neskuchnyi garden and is rich for all kinds of entertainment as well as cozy nooks, including Olivkovy beach, the famous Zeleny theater as well as a pier for river cruisers.
• Vorobyevskaya embankment  is part of Sparrow Hills nature reserve. This place opens a beautiful panorama of the river and city from the observation deck and is considered to be the place for taking serious decisions in life.
• Embankment in Kolomenskoye  Museum-Reserve has a special charm due to its peculiar geographical relief. The boat trip around Kolomenskoye would be the most peaceful in your life.
• Taras Shevchenko embankment  is popular among photographers for its modern Moscow City skyscrapers. Highly recommended for your night boat trip.
• Embankments of Moscow are the pride of the capital. A distinctive feature of each of the promenades is its architecture and beautiful views. In addition, almost all the embankments of Moscow have a rich history and a lot of notable buildings.

Different epochs

Taking a walk along the Moskva River by boat, you will witness the architecture of Moscow from different eras and styles. Archaeological studies indicate that already in the XI century there stood a fortified settlement on Borovitsky hill, which is now called the Kremlin. Little fortress could not accommodate all the residents of the rapidly growing city, and the Grand Duke ordered the construction of a new Kremlin, larger than the former.

Boat trip around Kolomenskoe Park

Moscow river boat trip starts from the pier Klenovy (Maple) Boulevard and provides reat views of Nicholas Perervinsky monastery.

Nicholas Perervinsky monastery was founded at the time of the Battle of Kulikov (1380). The monastery, got its name from the surrounding area – “Pererva”, which can be translated like “tear off” and because of the location –  here it abruptly changed its course, turning to Kolomna, standing on the opposite bank.

Nowadays Kolomenskoye is State Art, Historical, Architectural and Natural Landscape Museum-Reserve, which doors are open to everyone who wants to get in touch with the ancient history of Russia.

Take a break from the big city hustle in the shady parks and gardens of the Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve. Don’t miss a wonderful Church of the Ascension and Tsar Alexey’s Palace in Kolomenskoye!

Monasteries and temples

• Novospassky Monastery
• Founded in the 13th century on the site where now is located the Danilovsky monastery. After a few decades, in 1330, Ivan Kalita moved the monastery onto the Borovitskii hill of the Kremlin. However, in the 15th century, Spassky Monastery again moved, this time to a more spacious place on Krasnoholmskaya waterfront.
• Church of St. Nicholas in Zayaitskom
• Erected in the middle of the XVIII century in baroque style. The building survived after the 1812 fire, but the utensils were destoyed. Parishioners collected donations and restored the temple on their own. In Soviet times, it was closed and re-opened only in 1992.
• Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• The church was originally erected in honor of the victory over Napoleon and was being under construction for long 44 years. Notoriously demolished in 1937 to be a giant swimming pool under open sky. The current building was constructed in 1990s. It is the tallest and one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world.
• The temple was built in 1679-82, during the reign of Tsar Fedor Alekseevich, in late Muscovite Baroque style and can be characterized as bonfire temple. Each gable is a symbol of a heavenly fire.
• Novodevichy Convent
• The most famous concent and monastery in Moscow, presumably founded in 1524. Novodevichy’s status has always been high among other monasteries, it was in this monastery where the women of the royal blood, the wives of Tsars and local rulers of Moscow were kept in prison as nuns.
• St. Andrew’s church  (male acts as Compound Patriarch of Moscow)
• St. Andrew’s church stands right on the slopes of the Sparrow Hills, on the way down to the Moskva River, on the territory of the Nature Reserve “Sparrow Hills”. The monastery is small in size but is very cozy. It’s situated in a quiet courtyard surrounded by temples, fruit trees and flowers.

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow river cruise.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

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