5 day cruises in december

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TIS THE SEASON FOR ADVENTURE

Holiday cruises.

Fill the December holidays with tropical, action-packed days and unforgettable memories. Start a new tradition with the biggest holiday cruise celebration at sea.

This year, spend the holidays in a warm winter wonderland with your favorite holiday traditions — plus some epic new ones — onboard the world’s boldest ships. Bring everyone together for Thanksgiving memory-making that the whole family will be grateful for. Sailings in December keep magical Christmas celebrations dancing through your head. And it all culminates in the hottest New Year’s Eve party at sea. So get onboard and deck the holidays with us.

EXPLORE AVAILABLE HOLIDAY CRUISES

Enjoy the ultimate holiday celebration with loved ones this festive season.

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MAXED OUT IN NEW TRADITIONS

A holiday at sea is filled with epic new traditions in the making. Onboard, have a blast hanging ten on the FlowRider®* or gasping in awe at a high-diving AquaTheater spectacular. And on shore, you’ll be glad you ditched the cold for extra bold experiences from ATV jungle treks to underwater snorkel discoveries and more.

tropical holiday fun

You don’t need snow for plenty of whoa this December. Choose an island-hopping getaway for winter fun under the sun. All of the best holiday cruises for families spend one glorious day at CocoCay.

DASH THROUGH THE WHOA

It’s the most thrilling time of the year — with exclusive adrenaline-pumping experiences you won’t find on any other cruise line. Try skydiving right on deck, take on The Perfect Storm℠ waterslides and more!

REVELRY AND RIVALRY

Holiday time is family time. Discover incredible ways to take togetherness — and competitive spirit— to new heights. Cheer each other on while scaling the signature Rock Climbing Wall, or see who’s brave enough to plunge down the tallest slide at sea, Ultimate Abyss℠.

PUTTING THE SEA in seasonal favorites

Holidays onboard are decked out with everything you love most about the season. Gather 'round for a sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner — without lifting a finger. Wander through a winter wonderland as the Royal Promenade comes alive with Christmas cheer. Ring in the New Year with a massive balloon drop plus sensational beats. And that’s just a taste of the celebrations in store. 

HOME STYLE HOLIDAYS

Pack your appetite — all your favorite flavors of the holiday season are onboard. Savor mouthwatering Thanksgiving staples like oven-roasted turkey and old-fashioned pecan pie. And  Christmas dinner classics, like honey baked ham and homemade sides.

LIGHTING UP THE SEA

Whether you celebrate Christmas or Hannukah, you’ll find your most treasured holiday traditions at sea — with festive tree and menorah lighting ceremonies on every sailing in December.

NEW WAYs TO NEW YEAR

Ring in the new year with an enchanting countdown to the massive balloon drop. Plus, score an invitation to the hottest New Year’s Eve party at sea, where jam-worthy live music starts the year on just the right note.

STRESS-FREE HOLIDAY BLISS

Need a no-pressure family getaway? A romantic beach adventure for two? Whatever style you're looking to celebrate in, you'll cruise through this year's holiday season stress-free.

FAMILY FUN FOR EVERYONE

Make sure you stop at  Perfect Day at CocoCay  for an action-packed adventure that everyone will love. Kiddies can splash to their heart's content at Splashaway Bay or head to the swashbuckling Captain Jill's Cannon for the ultimate pirate experience. See who's brave enough to conquer all 13 waterslides at  Thrill Waterpark , or relax along the  Oasis Lagoon . Get the whole family together on a hot air balloon ride and make holiday memories to last a lifetime.

BABY, IT'S NOT COLD OUTSIDE!

All you want for Christmas is a tropical vacation? Get away from holiday pressure and expectations with a romantic December cruise to the Caribbean! Explore local traditions together, swim in secret waterfalls and unwind on powdery Caribbean sands. Romantic beach picnics are just the beginning of your holiday escape.

SPEND THE HOLIDAYS ON THE BOLDEST CRUISE SHIPS AT SEA

Incredible is on the itinerary when you set sail on one of our Oasis Class cruise ships. Get your adrenaline fix with two onboard water slides, a wave park and the only boomerang slide at sea. Dash through the seas and launch into the holiday spirit with themed parties and daily shows. 'Tis the season to indulge! Enjoy one of our specialty restaurants where you'll find traditional favorites and new holiday-themed dishes and delights.

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GET INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT

The ship's crew is there to make sure you have the best holiday cruise. At the start of your voyage, take part in the time-honored tradition of lighting the massive ship's tree. Join Santa's hardest working elves for the ultimate Christmas celebration and a surprise Christmas giveaway. Get up on deck for a festive walk in support of World Wildlife Fund's Arctic programs, presented by Coca-Cola. Decorate your own gingerbread cookies and unleash your creativity with DIY ornament classes.

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5-NIGHT ROUND-TRIP SAILING FROM MIAMI

Underwater exploration and sun-drenched mezcal tasting in Mexico

The Riviera Maya is a dreamer’s gateway to Cozumel (Playa del Carmen) and Tulum. Arriving from Miami and departing late with an additional day and night spent at The Beach Club at Bimini, you’ll have plenty of time to see each port from every sun and moonlit angle.

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7 of the Best Places to Cruise in December

Last updated: November 29th, 2023

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December is one of the best times to take a cruise. Whether you’re looking to escape the winter cold or just prefer to celebrate the holiday season at sea , the end of the year is the perfect opportunity to relax and unwind on a ship.

So what are some of the best places to cruise in December? Considering the winter season, year-round beach destinations like the Caribbean land at the top of the list. Unexpected locales, such as New Zealand and Patagonia, are worth considering, too.

Whether you’re looking for family-friendly cruises, are planning a romantic couples’ getaway, or looking for a unique adventure, here are some of December’s best cruise destinations.

1: The Bahamas

Blue Lagoon Island, Bahamas

One of the best places to cruise in December is to The Bahamas , where the pristine white sand and turquoise water will melt away any thoughts of chilly weather back home. Kids will enjoy snorkeling around coral reefs, while adults can relax and read a book while swinging in a hammock.

In December, days drift by with clear skies and warm sunshine. Enjoy the perfect weather by kayaking off Balmoral Island Beach, or bathing in the clear waters of Blue Lagoon Island.

Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas

If you’re looking for holiday gifts, stop by the Nassau Straw Market, which offers plenty of items made by local vendors such as straw hats, jewelry, and souvenirs. For upscale shopping, head to Paradise Island.

Sleepy Bimini is a wonderful contrast to the bustle of Nassau, with dreamy white-sand beaches and superb snorkeling. If you’re seeking thrills, join a snorkel tour among reef sharks, or try your hand at game fishing.

CocoCay, Bahamas

Speaking of thrills, many of our Bahamas cruises call at CocoCay , our award-winning private Bahamian island. Here, you’ll find everything from hair-raising waterslides and ziplining to a blissful lagoon pool, stylish beach clubs, and even overwater cabanas in the style of the South Pacific.

Read: Best Warm Places to Visit in December

2: The Caribbean

Aruba, Caribbean

The Caribbean , with its picture-perfect beaches, is another wonderful winter escape. There is no better place to cruise in December than the Caribbean, as the weather is generally perfect everywhere. It’s simply a matter of choosing the individual islands that appeal to you.

Take a Southern Caribbean cruise and admire the Dutch-built waterfront of Willemstad, Curaçao’s rainbow-colored capital. Snorkel over colorful reefs and shipwrecks in Aruba, or rest and recharge at Castries in St. Lucia, which was once called “the most beautiful bay in the Caribbean” by novelist James A. Michener.

Stingray City, Grand Cayman

Plan a Western Caribbean cruise vacation and stop in Cozumel, Mexico, where beachside restaurants and bustling bars beckon. Swim with stingrays (don’t worry, they’re friendly!) in the warm waters off Grand Cayman.

Enjoy fresh seafood and piña colada in the artsy port of Key West , or discover an astonishing variety of marine life as you dive or snorkel the enormous Belize Barrier Reef in Belize City.

Watch: Eastern Caribbean Cruise on Celebrity Cruises

If you choose to go east, there’s St. Maarten , divided between France and The Netherlands. Here, you can sunbathe on Orient Beach and take in the restaurants and patisseries of Marigot, the capital of the French side of the island.

In the British Virgin Islands , take a break from lounging on the sand on Tortola and enjoy a rum tasting at a local distillery. Or visit St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, where you can board a catamaran and sail towards the idyllic Honeymoon Beach, regarded as one of the most beautiful in the region.

Read: Best Beaches in December to Visit

3: Baja California

Land’s End in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Sail south to the sunshine and glittering blue seas around Cabo San Lucas , the glamorous town at the tip of Mexico’s long, thin Baja Peninsula.

There are gorgeous beaches in Cabo to explore, along with dramatic coastal scenery like El Arco, a towering rock arch at Land’s End.

ATV Ride in Cabo, Mexico

Some of the best things to do in Cabo include heading into the desert on an ATV or admiring the landscape from above on a parasailing trip. You could even spot whales and schools of dolphins from above.

Cabo has a fine culinary scene where you can sample anything from pan-fried lobster to tasty fish tacos, washed down with a margarita.

4: South America

Buenos Aires, Argentina

If you want to explore further south, consider a cruise around South America with stops in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. Here you’ll find summer temperatures, extraordinary scenery, culture, and cuisine, making this one of the best places to cruise in December.

Soak in the sophisticated vibe of Buenos Aires by visiting the city’s museums, taking in a show at the Teatro Colon, or enjoying a dinner featuring Argentina’s world-famous steaks and red wines. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, take your partner to a milonga and schedule a tango lesson for two.

La Mano in Punta del Este, Uruguay

In Punta Del Este , surf at Playa Brava and enjoy a cocktail at one of the many bars in La Barra neighborhood. Don’t forget to take a photo at La Mano, a massive hand-shaped sculpture that emerges from the sand on the beach.

Ushuaia, Argentina

Adventurers will love Ushuaia , a town at the southern tip of South America that is considered the gateway to both Antarctica and the jagged mountains of Patagonia.

Hike around Tierra del Fuego National Park, where the snow-capped peaks will take your breath away, or hop aboard a catamaran to the Beagle Channel, where you can spot Magellanic penguins and sea lions.

5: The Galapagos

Thanks to its location on the equator, the Galapagos archipelago and its unique flora and fauna can be enjoyed year-round. In December, the cooler season is approaching its end. Sometimes, as cool water and warm air meet, the islands are draped in a light mist, creating an almost mystical feel.

December is the best time to visit the Galapagos to see the endemic plants and animals that inhabit this volcanic archipelago. This being the equator, the sea will be warm enough for swimming, and the sunny days are perfect for hiking and exploring by Zodiac inflatable.

Galapagos tortoise

Spot a wide variety of Galapagos animals , from giant tortoises to land and marine iguanas, Galapagos penguins, lava lizards, and Darwin’s finches, named after scientist Charles Darwin, who formulated his theory of evolution by natural selection based on his time here.

December is the last month when you can usually see blue whales, humpback whales, and whale sharks in the Galapagos before they migrate to different feeding grounds, which is another reason to visit then.

6: Southeast Asia

Ha Long Bay in Hanoi, Vietnam

December is a great time to take a cruise to Southeast Asia because the humidity of the summer and the monsoon rains have abated, leaving tropical but pleasant temperatures that give you plenty of energy for sightseeing.

A December cruise to Southeast Asia will take you to the best ports in the region. Explore the wonders of Hanoi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and cruise on a traditional junk boat among the limestone rock stacks of Halong Bay.

Imperial City in Hue, Vietnam

In the ancient Vietnamese city of Hue, tour the walled Imperial City and Citadel, built over 200 years ago when Hue was the country’s capital.

In the south, cosmopolitan Ho Chi Minh City shimmers with energy. You’ll find thought-provoking museums, sizzling street food, and serene temples wafting incense, all against a backdrop of futuristic skyscrapers. End your stay with a warm bowl of pho or a full-body massage before returning to the ship.

Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand

See the landmarks in Bangkok , where there are dazzling floating markets and lavish temples to discover. Explore lush Phuket, where you can shop, sunbathe, or cruise the dramatic karst scenery of Phang Nga Bay. Take in the ultramodern architecture of Singapore and snap pictures of the city’s jaw-dropping giant “trees” at the Gardens By The Bay.

George Town in Penang, Malaysia

Some itineraries visit Malaysia , with a chance to visit mystical, mountainous Langkawi and historic George Town, the capital of Penang. Indonesia is another thrilling destination, and a chance to take in Lombok’s volcanic beauty, where forested slopes give way to dreamy golden beaches.

7: New Zealand

Milford Sound, New Zealand

December is one of the best months of the year to visit New Zealand , when the weather is warm and sunny and locals head to the beaches and out into the lush countryside for hiking and cycling.

The scenery is truly spectacular, especially in Milford, Dusky, and Doubtful Sounds, where mountains and ribbon-like waterfalls plunge straight into the still water.

Wine tasting in New Zealand

New Zealand is known for its fantastic food scene, whether you want to taste the famous lamb, learn about artisan coffee, or tour the cellar doors around Hawkes Bay to sample the region’s prized wines.

There’s a lively culture here, with plenty of opportunities to learn about the history and traditions of the Māori people, or to explore the Scottish influences around Dunedin. Visit art galleries and museums and take in the otherworldly beauty of “Middle Earth” and the associated famous movie locations.

8: India & Sri Lanka

Spice market in Goa, India

Escape the cold northern winter for the balmy shores around the Indian Ocean, cooled by tropical breezes. You’ll be dazzled by the vibrancy of Goa’s colorful markets, a riot of sounds, sight, and scents.

Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

Try the local food, which blends Indian and Portuguese influences. In Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka , you can learn about Buddhism while admiring shimmering temples. Nearby Hambantota is where you can embark on a safari to the Yala National Park, with a chance of seeing elephants, leopards, and sloth bears.

9: Canary Islands & Morocco

Teide in Tenerife, Canary Islands

Basking in the Atlantic off the west coast of Africa, the Spanish-owned Canary Islands enjoy year-round sun and make the perfect winter escape. Each island is different, although they’re all volcanic.

In Tenerife , you could take the cable car up Teide, Spain’s highest mountain, and throw a snowball before descending for evening beers on the beach in the sunshine.

La Geria in Lanzarote, Canary Islands

Lanzarote is almost desert-like, with vines and potatoes thriving in the black, volcanic soil, where they’re grown in pits to protect them from the winds that make this such a great spot for wind and kite surfing.

You can also admire the work of Cesar Manrique on Lanzarote. This famous architect created graceful, whitewashed forms that are the perfect contrast to the stark scenery.

Chefchaouen, Morocco

Discover the ancient culture of Morocco , where the cities bustle with colorful markets, and graceful minarets pierce the sky. Visit Chefchaouen, a town that’s painted entirely in brilliant blue, or shop for colorful ceramics and hand-woven rugs in Tangier.

These cruises also call at ports in Spain , where the North African Moorish culture is still evident, especially in glorious Seville. The city’s historic center is packed with exquisite palaces built by the Moors, and narrow alleys where the sounds of flamenco music are carried on the breeze.

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Browse our December cruises and book your next winter getaway today.

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Cabo Cruises – Cabo San Lucas Getaway

Beaches by day and celebrations by night on cruises to cabo.

Say hello to sunny beaches and adventure-filled exploration on a Cabo cruise with Princess®. Dive below the water’s surface to see colorful marine life, or zipline through the canyons to take in the views from above. During an overnight stay in Cabo, shop for artisan crafts by day, then dine beachside by night. With convenient roundtrip travel from Los Angeles, relaxation and adventure is never too far away.

Cruise to Cabo San Lucas port

Located at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, Cabo is surrounded by clear waters, sun-kissed beaches and the majestic rock formation, El Arco. While it’s one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, El Arco is also a haven for sea lions. On a Cabo cruise, sail by catamaran under the famous arch to see these wildlife, and enjoy an afternoon relaxing on the secluded shores of Lover’s Beach.

What to Do on a Cruise to Cabo

On a Cabo cruise with Princess, bring your wildest vacation dreams to life.

Medano Beach

Deep sea fishing, san jose del cabo.

No cruise to Cabo is complete without a trip to El Arco. Separating the Pacific Ocean from the Sea of Cortez, this landmark is more than just a rock formation, it’s an emblem of the Baja Peninsula. Travel past El Arco on board a catamaran and look for the sea lions that play nearby. Then make your way to Lover’s Beach and relish in relaxation as you unwind shoreside.

As one of the most popular beaches in Cabo, Medano Beach is an adventurer’s playground. Relax on the golden shores, kayak with loved ones or set out on a parasailing expedition, where you can enjoy views of the shore from above. With plenty of restaurants and shops nearby, Medano Beach is the perfect outing for the entire family during your Cabo cruise.

Reel in endless treasures and memories during your Mexico cruise to Cabo. From marlin and swordfish to tuna and grouper, these waters are home to a wide variety of marine life, making it one of the finest sportfishing destinations in the world. With a local fisherman as your guide, embark on a deep-sea exploration and cast your rod into adventure.

Teeming with charm and character, San Jose del Cabo invites you to step back in time as you tour its colorful streets. With preserved 18th-century architecture, the city still holds true to its Spanish colonial personality. On a Mexico cruise to Cabo, enjoy a scenic car ride from the port to this historical town. Wander along La Plaza, stroll through art galleries and visit the San Jose del Cabo Church.

Cabo excursions

Our shore excursions redefine cruise vacations. Board a pirate ship and sail along the coast to learn about the Riviera’s rich history. Snorkel through the turquoise waters alongside your guide, who can bring you up close to coral reefs and colorful marine life. Or horseback ride along the sun-kissed shores while admiring the beauty and wildlife around you. See the city by land and sea on a cruise to Cabo with Princess.

More ashore

Enjoy every second in Cabo with More Ashore overnight stays. On our 5-day Cabo San Lucas cruise getaways, enjoy two full days in Mexico’s resort city. Sip on a cocktail while watching the sun set over the ocean. Dance the night away in one of the bustling bars. Or taste Mexican street-food — including smoked fish, tacos and chicken tamales — at any of the city’s restaurants.

Ships on this itinerary

Our Princess fleet includes ships that offer a multitude of amenities and feature the innovative MedallionClass™ experience. From a balcony stateroom, take in the sights and sounds of the colorful cultures ashore before enjoying the “sabor” of local cuisine in one of our many eateries during your Cabo San Lucas cruise.

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Experience the country’s unique character the second you step on the ship with traditional Mexican cuisine, events and activities.

Mariachi and margaritas

Sip, savor and sway to the music with onboard activities that give you a taste of Mexican tradition. Sample tequila while learning about the drink’s history from a local expert, and indulge your taste buds with tacos and fajitas. Or let loose with your loved ones during a mariachi performance, and dance to the lively tune of violins and guitars. On a cruise to Mexico with Princess, activities lie around every corner.

Every reason to celebrate

On select sailings in October and November, discover the region’s heritage with our Mexican Fiesta. Celebrate the Day of the Dead, a holiday to commemorate loved ones who have passed. From face-painting to Aztec flower-making, there are activities for the whole family on a cruise to Mexico. Learn a traditional dance, decorate marzipan skulls and make a skeleton out of pasta. Or watch dancers perform ‘The Procession of the Dead.’

Mexican and Spanish Cuisine

Famous for a reason

Recognized by UNESCO for its cultural heritage and preservation of culinary technique, Mexican and Spanish cuisine is a big part of the region’s culture. Sample the bold flavors and creative combinations for yourself on a cruise to Mexico with Princess. In many of our dining rooms, enjoy Mexican-themed dishes — like ceviche, fajitas and coconut cocadas — for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

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5-Day Cruises from New York

This is the complete schedule of 5 day cruises out of New York. Departures are from terminals in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Cape Liberty.

Cruise for five days to Bermuda, and take another day or two to explore New York.

We also have all of the 4-day cruises from NYC and 7-day cruises from NYC .

5-night cruise on Norwegian . Round-trip from New York to Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda). • 2024 departure: April 9.

5-night cruise on Royal Caribbean . Round-trip from Cape Liberty (NJ) to Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda). • 2024 departure: May 4.

5-night cruise on Royal Caribbean . Round-trip from Cape Liberty (NJ) to Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda). • 2024 departure: May 18.

5-night cruise on Royal Caribbean . Round-trip from Cape Liberty (NJ) to Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda). • 2024 departure: June 1.

5-night cruise on Royal Caribbean . Round-trip from Cape Liberty (NJ) to Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda). • 2024 departure: June 6.

5-night cruise on Royal Caribbean . Round-trip from Cape Liberty (NJ) to Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda). • 2024 departure: June 15.

5-night cruise on Royal Caribbean . Round-trip from Cape Liberty (NJ) to Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda). • 2024 departure: June 29.

5-night cruise on Royal Caribbean . Round-trip from Cape Liberty (NJ) to Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda). • 2024 departure: July 13.

5-night cruise on Royal Caribbean . Round-trip from Cape Liberty (NJ) to Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda). • 2024 departure: July 18.

5-night cruise on Royal Caribbean . Round-trip from Cape Liberty (NJ) to Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda). • 2024 departure: July 27.

5-night cruise on Royal Caribbean . Round-trip from Cape Liberty (NJ) to Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda). • 2024 departure: August 1.

5-night cruise on Royal Caribbean . Round-trip from Cape Liberty (NJ) to Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda). • 2024 departure: August 10.

5-night cruise on Carnival . Round-trip from New York to King's Wharf (Bermuda). • 2024 departure: August 22.

5-night cruise on Royal Caribbean . Round-trip from Cape Liberty (NJ) to Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda). • 2024 departure: August 24.

5-night cruise on Norwegian . Round-trip from New York to Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda). • 2024 departure: August 28.

5-night cruise on Royal Caribbean . Round-trip from Cape Liberty (NJ) to Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda). • 2024 departure: September 7.

5-night cruise on Royal Caribbean . Round-trip from Cape Liberty (NJ) to Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda). • 2024 departure: September 21.

5-night cruise on Norwegian . Round-trip from New York to Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda). • 2024 departure: October 2.

5-night cruise on Royal Caribbean . Round-trip from Cape Liberty (NJ) to Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda). • 2024 departure: October 5.

5-night cruise on Norwegian . Round-trip from New York to Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda). • 2024 departure: October 11.

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The Most Beautiful Stations on the Moscow Metro

You might have heard that there are some beautiful metro stations in Moscow. Soviet decorations, chandeliers, mosaic painting and statues are common in many of the stations. The good news is that the Moscow Metro does not cost a lot of money and many of the most beautiful stations on the Moscow metro are on the same line, so you can almost get on and off at each station to visit these. Over the New Year holidays, I had a free afternoon and decided to visit some of these stations. Check out what I found below…..

The main stations that you will want to visit are on the Number 5 line, also known as the Circle Line. An advantage of this line is that you can get to it very easily and quickly no matter where you are in Moscow. The announcements on the metro are in Russian as well as English so you don’t need to worry if your Russian language skills are not good.

If, like me, you arrive in Moscow via train from Kyiv , then you will arrive at a metro station which many Muscovites believe to be the most beautiful of them all…..

Kievskaya metro station was opened in 1954 and features white marble walls which curve upwards and have with large mosaics surrounded by a gold trim in a very classical style. The mosaics depict life in Ukraine and was designed by a Ukrainian who wanted to display Ukraine’s influence and contribution to Soviet Russia.

Kievskaya, one of the most beautiful stations on the Moscow metro

Soviet era artwork between the arches

Mosaic with golden trim

People carrying flags is a common theme

Going into battle

Belorusskaya

If you look at a map of the metro , you will want to go in a clockwise direction on the circle line. So you will want to get on the train going in the Barrikadnaya direction and not Park Kultury. Stay on this line until you reach the 2nd station, Belorusskaya. This station was built in 1952 and like Kievskaya also features white marble pylons and a plaster ceiling.

The ceiling features 12 mosaics in an octagonal shape depicting Belarusian life, while the tiling on the floor is said to resemble a Belarusian quilt. One of the passageway exits of the station has a statue called ‘Belarusian Partisans’ of three men wearing long coats, holding guns and carrying a flag.”

Belorusskaya metro platform

Soviet artwork on the roof

The hammer and sickle features prominently in the metro artwork

Three men carrying guns, holding the flag…

Mayakovskaya

To get to the next station, we need to change onto the green line (line 2) and go just one stop to the station of Mayakovskaya. This station has an art deco theme and, for some, resembles an elaborate ballroom. The columns are faced with stainless steel and pink rhodonite while the marble walls and ceiling have 34 mosaics with the theme “24-hour Soviet Sky. Apparently, Stalin resided here during the 2nd World War as the station was used as a command post for Moscow’s anti-aircraft regiment.

Mayakovskaya metro

24-Hour Soviet Sky mosaic

Bomber planes

It looks like planes flying over Red Square

Novoslobodskaya

It’s time to get back on the metro and return to Belorusskaya. At Belorusskaya, change to the circle line again and continue clockwise to the next station, Novoslobodskaya. With its 32 stained glass panels, this station reminds me of a church. The panels were designed by Latvian artists and are surrounded by a brass border.

Novoslobodskaya metro

The platform of Novoslobodskaya metro

Stained glass artwork

The golden trim around artwork is also very common

Prospekt Mira

Back on the metro and again just one stop until our next station, Prospekt Mira. This station was originally called Botanichesky Sad after the nearby Botanical Gardens of the Moscow State University. The pylons are covered in white marble and decorated with floral bas-relief friezes. The ceiling is decorated with casts and several cylindrical chandeliers.

Prospekt Mira metro station

Notice the floral decoration

Komsomolskaya

On the metro once more and once more we are going just one stop to the next station – Komsomolskaya. This station is famous for its its yellow ceiling. The chandeliers in this station are huge. The photos below do not do this station justice.  For me, this station resembles a presidential palace.  You hace to see it for yourself to truly appreciate it.

Because of it’s location, this is one of the busiest stations in the Moscow metro as it serves three of the main train stations in the city – Leningradsky, Yaroslavsky, and Kazansky so be prepared for a lot of people.

Komsomolskaya metro

The yellow ceiling seems to go on forever

Yellow ceiling and artwork

One of the ceiling mosaics

Elektrozavodskaya

When you are ready to leave Komsomolskaya metro station behind, then get back on the circle line and go one stop to Kurskaya and change to the blue line (line 3) and go to two stops to the Elektrozavodskaya station. This station gets it’s name from a nearby electric light bulb factory and has a somewhat industrial but also futuristic style, with 6 rows of circular lamps (there are 318 lamps in total). I think this is one of the most beautiful stations on the Moscow metro for how unique it is. The station was opened in 1944 after a delay because of the 2nd World War and features 12 marble bas-reliefs of the struggle on the home front during the war.

The Komsomolskaya metro station

The struggles of war at home

Fixing machinery

Hard at work

Making weapons

Building a tank

Even the station sign is elaborate

Ploschad Revolyutsii

Back on the metro line 3 (but in the other direction), getting off at the 3rd stop – Ploschad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square). This is located underneath the square in Moscow of the same name and is a short walk from Red Square in the city centre. It is the perfect place to end a visit around Moscow’s metro. The station features red and yellow marble arches with a total of 76 sculptures in between each arch. The sculptures are supposed to represent the people of the Soviet Union and include soldiers, farmers, industrial workers, children etc… I noticed a lot of people touching the golden chicken in the photo below as well as the show of the woman. I am assuming that this is for good luck.

Industrial worker

Touch the chicken for good luck

Sculpture of the people of the Soviet Union

Woman reading a book – touch the shoe for good luck

In education

Parent and child

These are some of what I think are the most beautiful stations on the Moscow metro. Which ones are your favourite? Would you add any to this list?

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19 comments.

Kievskaya definitely caught me off guard. Didn’t know Moscow metro stations were THIS extravagant! Mayakovskaya is gorgeous too with the marble walls and mosaics. I might just need to book a flight over to admire all of these!

Do it! Kievskaya was my first introduction to the Moscow metro as I got an overnight train from Kyiv.

You know, in the States, all we ever hear is bad stuff about Russia. It’s nice to see other (and lovely!) dimensions of such a controversial place.

It’s the same in the UK which is why I prefer going to see somewhere and making up my own mind. It’s all ‘politics and bullshit’ as I say

I went to Moscow about 13years for Christmas and went to train stations, so I can see these amazing mosaics and chandeliers. I agree with you that are beautiful Stations for sure and I could of wandered around for days. I think Kievskaya is definitely my favourite out of them all and I even have some similar pictures as you.

I imagine Moscow would have been a little different 13 years ago but these stations have probably always looked beautiful

Food and Footprints

You chose some great stations for this write up! Beautiful details in these stations and would love to visit them sometime. Particularly like the Komsomolskaya station with that yellow ceiling!

Thank you very much. Komsomolskaya seems to be a lot of peoples favourite stations too

Sumit Surai

Wow! Without the text I would have thought them to be some museum or gallery.

I know exactly what you mean!

Rosie Fluskey

Wow, it is just stunning! How does anyone get to work with so much to look at. I’m surprised at the very bourgeois-looking Komsomolskaya station. I would have thought it was all too Tzarist looking, but then I haven’t been to Russia yet lol. This has just made me want to go more!

Wow, that’s a lot of artwork. I wonder how old some of these pieces are?

Generally most of the stations are from 1940-1960 approximately. The later stations are more functional than style.

My mother-in-law was in Moscow fifty years ago and still raves about the metro stations. So far, I could not imagine much. But now! The pictures are great and I think it’s almost a pity that this splendor is underground. But for every user of the Metro can enjoy a free trip to the world of art. Susanne

True. It is like having a free trip to an art museum/gallery. I hope that you can one day visit Moscow and see for yourself.

Oh wow, I would never have known that these were metro stations. The ceilings remind me of how you need to look up sometimes, even in the commuter rush!

It is true about life in general, we just go from A to B looking directly in front of us instead of around us

Wow, I would have never guessed that these were stations. The decor is so pretty and not one I’m used to seeing at metro stations. Love the ceiling at The Komsomolskaya metro station.

They certainly don’t look like metro stations. The ceiling there is one of my favourites too!

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FinanceBuzz

15 Incredible Cruises That Are Nearly 100 Days or More

Posted: February 24, 2024 | Last updated: February 24, 2024

If you're lucky enough to have time and money, a months-long cruise that visits far-flung ports is a dream come true. How else can you see so much of the world in one fell swoop?

These cruises include everything from epic regional explorations to journeys that literally circle the globe. They can be pricey — we've noted pricing where available — but it's worth it.

So, if you're ready to truly savor the open seas, step up your travel game and explore the most incredible places on earth with these cruise vacations.

Earn Points and Miles: Find the best travel credit card for nearly free travel

Azamara World Voyage

See all Seven Wonders of the World on this 155-night cruise that stops in 37 countries.

Depart from San Diego and head through the South Pacific to Australia, Asia, and the Middle East before debarking in England.

You can extend your trip if you opt in for the Panama Canal pre-cruise segment. Prices begin at $39,999 and top out at around $156,999.

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Crystal World Cruise

Set sail on the Crystal Serenity from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for 123 nights, with 62 stops in 31 countries.

Visit Mexico and Central America before crossing the Panama Canal. Next, you will circle South America before heading to East Africa and South Asia.

Finish by going through the Suez Canal to Europe. To get pricing, you must request a quote.

Cunard Maiden World Voyage

This round-trip journey begins and ends in Hamburg, Germany, and will take you on a grand 111-night adventure on the Queen Anne.

From Europe, you'll head to many different places — including New York, Central America, Honolulu, Sydney, and Malaysia — before returning to Europe.

Passage starts at $17,869 — a good deal for such an extensive cruise.

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Holland America Grand World Voyage

Board the Zuiderdam in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for a 124-day cruise that visits 32 countries on six continents.

Head through the South Pacific to Australia and Asia. Then, explore South Africa and East Africa before heading to the Middle East.

Cruise through Europe, then return to Fort Lauderdale.

Holland America Grand Voyage: Pole-to-Pole

The Volendam is your home on this 133-day voyage to 28 countries on five continents.

Leave Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and explore the entire coast of South America before swooping across to West Africa and up to Europe, including Scandinavia and Greenland.

This trip also includes a stop in Antarctica.

Hurtigruten Pole to Pole Adventure

This 96-day journey takes you from the Arctic to Antarctica, beginning in Vancouver and ending in Argentina.

Destinations across 13 countries include Canada, Alaska, Greenland, the U.S. East Coast, Central America, and South America.

Scenery and wildlife promise to be highlights, along with visits to UNESCO sites. Pricing begins at $51, 773.

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MSC World Cruise

Leaving from Rome on the MSC Magnifica, this boat sails for 116 nights to 21 countries, with 50 stops and seven overnight strips.

Featured destinations on this global voyage include the Mediterranean, the South Pacific, Australia, Asia, and beyond.

Fifteen excursions on land are also included.

Oceania Kaleidoscope of Your World

Spend 200 days cruising from Miami to New York on the Insignia.

Start in the Caribbean and South America before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Africa. You will then visit Asia before heading down through the South Pacific.

Finish by visiting Central America before returning to the U.S. Fares begin at $54,099.

Princess Around the World Cruise

This 116-day adventure starts in either Fort Lauderdale, Florida, or Los Angeles.

The ship sails to six continents, making 51 stops in 26 countries. New stops include the Greek islands of Patmos and Volos, Montenegro, and Taranto, Italy.

The cruise promises hidden gems along with featured destinations.

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Regent Navigate the World (Away in Wonder)

Departing from Miami, this cruise sails for 168 nights aboard the Seven Seas Mariner and includes 465 shore excursions.

Sail through the Caribbean, then around South America to Australia, East Asia, Alaska, Canada, and the U.S. West Coast.

Return to Miami via Mexico and Central America. Fares begin at $101,199.

Royal Caribbean Ultimate World Cruise

This 274-night adventure — the longest on this list — on Serenade of the Seas sails on a round-trip journey from Miami and stops at 11 wonders in more than 60 countries.

Highlights include Iguazú Falls, the Great Wall, the ancient city of Petra, Christ the Redeemer, Machu Picchu, the Great Barrier Reef, and more.

There is even a stop in Antarctica. Prices start at $53,999.

Seabourn Grand Africa Voyage

Circle the African continent for 90 days, departing from Barcelona. You'll visit 26 countries across three continents on this cruise.

Enjoy wildlife, explore spice markets, witness ceremonies, tour ruins, and go on safari as you circumnavigate the continent, crossing over the equator twice.

Your adventure ends in Egypt and Israel. Currently, pricing begins at $93,999.

Seabourn Extraordinary Horizons

Sail on the Seabourn Sojourn from Los Angeles to Athens, Greece, on this 145-day voyage that visits 28 countries with 20 overnight stays.

You will stop at 72 ports in the South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, East Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

Excursions include snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, touring Luxor, and exploring Puerto Princesa.

Silversea Controtempo

Enjoy 136 days abroad the Silver Dawn as it sails from Tokyo to New York City.

The ship stops in East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, including Scandinavia and Greenland. Eventually, it arrives in the Big Apple.

You will visit 59 total ports in 30 countries. Fare begins at $81,900

Viking World Cruise Voyage I

Spend 180 days exploring 37 countries and enjoying 83 guided tours during this journey, which departs from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Destinations include everywhere from the Caribbean to the South Pacific to Asia, through the Red Sea Europe. Spend the night in cities such as London, Istanbul, and Singapore.

Your tour ends in New York City. Prices begin at $79,995.

Bottom line

The opportunity to spend months at sea stopping at world wonders, famous cities, and gems of nature is not to be missed. So, if you get the chance, take it.

But if your budget is not unlimited right now and you are trying to build wealth instead, remember there are plenty of shorter and more affordable cruises.

When you have the time and money to spend, the epic cruises on this list will be waiting for you.

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Cecilia Bobrovskaya Twenty Years in Underground Russia: Memoirs of a Rank-and-File Bolshevik

VIII. Moscow

FROM Baku I went to recuperate a little at the estate in Zhiroslavka near Kostroma which I have already mentioned, whose mistress, Elizaveta Kolodeznikova, considered it her mission in life to provide a haven for all tired and homeless Party workers. About midsummer 1905, after I had had a short rest, I left for Moscow. According to the decision of the Moscow Committee I was to start work as district organizer. I was to take up my new duties after the city conference, at which I hoped to gain a better knowledge of Moscow Party work. The conference was to be held on a Sunday in the woods near Obiralovka on the Nizhnenovgorod line.

When our group of comrades alighted at the suburban terminus of Obiralovka, the station was crowded with gendarmes, detectives, spies, and other police department officials. The "splendour" of the scene petrified us for a moment. Then we began to pretend that we were all strangers to each other. But the police only laughed at us. One of the delegates to our conference had betrayed us, so that the police knew everything to a detail. Notwithstanding all the information they had, however, they arrested only fifteen comrades. The others, who had come by an earlier train, managed to escape the trap laid for us at the station. I was arrested with several workers employed at the Guzhon Works in Moscow. I particularly recollect one dark-haired young worker with squinting eyes, who kept us merry all the way from Obiralovka to Moscow whither the police were taking us. At every stop the holiday crowd tried to get into our car. The police zealously attempted to drive the crowd away, while the dark-haired Guzhon worker cried to the newcomers:

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is strictly forbidden to come into this carriage. The ambassadors from Portsmouth are here!" (This happened at the time of the peace negotiations with Japan.)

At the police headquarters we were closely crossexamined. But I could not say anything for myself. I had just recently arrived in Moscow and had had no time to obtain a passport. I lived without being registered, at the home of my husband's mother, Sophia Bobrovskaya, and avoided the janitor. This apartment was very convenient for secret work because the house had two exits, one of which was particularly useful because it led into a yard in which there was a postoffice. If anything happened one could always pretend to be going to the postoffice. These features were taken into consideration when Sophia and her younger daughter, Nina, rented the apartment. It often happened that mother and daughter, not having had time to consult each other, both offered the apartment for meeting purposes on the same day. Once, for example, a secret meeting of soldiers--representatives of the army--was held in one room, which Sophia had lent for the purpose, while in another room the girl cashiers of the Chichkin dairies met to discuss the forthcoming strike of the employees of that firm. Nina had consented to let them have the room without consulting her mother. The house was always used as a temporary hiding place for illegal literature and weapons. Furthermore, workers frequently made appointments at the house without telling the Bobrovskys beforehand because they knew that the latter would acquiesce.

Hence, when I was arrested I could not possibly give the Bobrovsky address. The only thing I could do was to refuse point blank to give any information about myself. I was immediately charged under Article 102 of the Criminal Code and sent to the Watch Tower in the Butirsky prison. Before me was the prospect of a quiet life (as a rest from my roving one) for a lengthy period, and I planned to take advantage of this to improve my theoretical knowledge. My deficiencies in this respect hindered me in my Party work. But this dream was not realized, owing to the breathless events that occurred on the other side of the prison bars. These events freed me from the Watch Tower--a freedom gained under strikingly happy circumstances. Each day the rumours which reached us in the Watch Tower as to the growing revolutionary spirit among the broad proletarian masses were more and more confirmed, particularly after we heard the singing of revolutionary songs in the main yard (the Watch Tower looked out into the hospital yard). They were sung by the arrested Philipov bakers. The crowds of workers in the neighbouring yard which we could see from our tower, and the snatches of speeches that were carried to us also helped confirm the fact. Besides these joyously disturbing signs, during the first days of October a group of Poles were imprisoned in the Watch Tower (because there was no room in the deportation prison) in the next flight above my cell. I learned from these comrades that they had been exiled from Warsaw to the Vyatka province and had been on their way there, but, owing to the strikes on the railroads, they had had to stop for an indefinite time in Moscow. Any day now, they predicted, Russia would be in the threes of a general strike; then we would not be in prison very much longer.

The Poles were in very high spirits and from the moment they arrived, our isolated yard in the Watch Tower changed as if by magic. For example, a few days before October 17 a very curious thing happened. It had snowed the previous night, and one of the Poles who was a sculptor made an excellent snow figure of Nicholas II. When the figure began to melt, another of the Poles approached my window and said audibly:

"Look, comrade, the autocracy is melting, let's give a cheer!"

The guard in the yard informed the governor of this. The assistant governor came, spoke briefly to the Poles and to me, then, apparently feeling the insecurity of the autocracy, limited himself to a mild lecture about our "disgraceful conduct" and returned to the office scratching his head. But not all the warders were so pessimistically inclined. The governor of the Butirsky prison still held aloft the banner of autocracy. My husband had been exiled to Siberia and I expected that he would stop at the Butirsky prison on his way there from the Caucasus. I asked the governor to permit me to see my husband if he came. The governor replied haughtily: "Prisoners are forbidden to talk to each other." A week later, after this haughty refusal, I met my husband in Moscow--both of us were free. He had been released on the road by the rebellious Rostov workers.

The last few days before October 17, the cream of the Moscow proletariat gathered about our Butirsky prison. There was not a workshop nor a trade that was not represented there. Prison life became unusually intense. The senior prison officials went about looking cross and gloomy. The middle ranks looked frightened and apologetic while the lower officials, warders and the rest went about gloatingly. They would forget to lock our cells (the corridors, of course, were locked), and we became so bold, that we not only carried on conversation with the Poles, but two of them even came to my cell for a few minutes. The prison officials visited us several times a day. Representatives of the public prosecutor often came to ask if we had "any complaints to make". At night our guardians had no rest. Lights flickered in the yard and in the corridors all night. It was apparent that they were profoundly disturbed. This filled us with fierce joy and, we were curious to know how it would all end. I was not very clear as to what was happening outside and things were still very vague to me even when a vast revolutionary Moscow crowd moved toward the Butirsky prison and demanded our release. The day before rumours had reached us that a royal manifesto would be issued granting us freedom. But we were indignant at the very suggestion of such a mark of the tsar's favour and would hear nothing of it.

On the morning of October 18 everything in the prison seemed as usual. Keys rattled in the corridor. The "hot water" was brought at the usual hour, but I could not think of drinking it--there was no time for such trifles. I made my morning survey from the window sill--endangering my ribs, because the sill was very high above the ground and there was nothing to grasp but the bars--and looked out into the yard; but I scarcely recognized it. It had changed into a military camp. Machine-guns, cannon and other death dealing instruments filled the yard. Gallant officers, ready for battle, shouted orders. They all looked as though they expected the enemy at any minute. It was not difficult to conjecture what enemy. Anyway, I was not kept guessing long, for very soon I saw a huge crowd moving down Dolgorukovskaya and Lesnaya streets towards our prison. But what agitated me most was the sea of red banners. A red banner meant a great deal to an underground professional. At that moment the sight of so many red banners seemed strange to me.

The exulting revolutionary crowd approached so near that I could actually see expressions on individual faces. In front of the crowd, threading his way toward my window, was my friend Makar. He was saying something to me that I could not quite understand. He was saying that he was afraid I might be kept in prison till the evening because no telegrams had yet been received from the Minister Witte, or something to that effect. His tone implied that it was the hardest thing in the world for me to have to stay in prison until the evening--I, who had been planning a bare week ago to stay in prison for more than a year!

The most inexplicable and surprising thing about Makar and all the others was their utter disregard for any consequences their conduct might entail--a disregard that was not the least shaken by my mentioning the cannon and machine-guns which awaited them on the other side of the prison. They simply laughed in reply, exclaiming, "They won't dare!"

When the crowd demanded the release of all political prisoners, the first to be freed were the Philipov strikers. These had been thrown into the prison in whole groups. A barrel was placed at the gates of the prison to serve as a platform for speakers. One of the released bakers mounted this barrel and delivered the following "speech": "Comrades, I am a Philipov baker! That is all I have to say!" This avowal was greeted with tremendous enthusiasm. After the baker, a few railroad workers spoke. No one tried to understand what they were saying. The speeches were not important in themselves--it was the circumstances in which they were delivered that were important.

I must admit that at that triumphant moment I was afraid of being released. I was afraid that I should have to make a speech from that barrel in my thin high-pitched voice. But the god of revolution preserved me--a voiceless underground worker--from this ordeal. I was released in the evening, when the crowd had dispersed, without being forced to deliver an agitational speech--a thing I never could, nor can do. I was permitted to leave the prison quietly. Although we had been freed by the revolutionary masses, we still had to pass through all the prison formalities at the prison office. That office had an unusual appearance. It was filled with tables at which officials sat who, apparently, had been hastily appointed. They rapidly checked us off the prisoners' list. The released comrades introduced themselves to each other, congratulated one another, laughed, and tied red ribbons on their arms. At the office I had a short but very characteristic talk with the prison officials. It seemed somewhat strange to go out of prison with a valise. The first thing I wanted to do in leaving the prison was to rush to a meeting, to be out in the street; a valise would only be a hindrance. So I asked permission to leave it in the office. The warder looked at me in surprise at my request and said: "Do you still have faith in us? To which I answered, "Of course, for most probably I will have to return to you very soon".

To tell the truth, I was not at all certain that this freedom would last very long. When I found myself at the University that evening, I became still more confused by the atmosphere. Going through the University corridors. I met many comrades, but none of them could explain to me what waS actually taking place. At last I saw Martin Lyadov (Mandelstamm), a member of the Moscow Committee. I showered questions upon him about the Moscow Committee and what I was to do with myself, but he merely answered:

"Tomorrow we are burying Bauman. You must come to the funeral; go to a meeting now and make a speech. All the comrades who were released today are doing that."

The news of our Comrade Bauman's death communicated to me in such a calm tone, was a great blow to me. I recalled his cheerful disposition in Geneva and was deeply distressed at the thought hat this brave, energetic revolutionary was no longer among the living. I met Zemlyachka, another member of the Moscow Committee, and began to question her. She also replied, "Tomorrow is Bauman's funeral," and then pushed me into a meeting saying, "You go and speak after that comrade. You're just out of prison, you know," whereupon she hurried off.

"That's a fine way for the Moscow Committee to get me to understand the situation," I thought, to myself. "To speak at a big meeting without the faintest gift of oratory and with my head still in a muddle." I pondered a while and decided not to become an "object of the celebrations," but instead to mingle with the crowd.

Next day, however, during Bauman's funeral, which was far more stirring and demonstrative than I had expected, I realized that Lyadov and Zemlyachka had been right. The organization of this funeral was a big Party task with which the Moscow Committee of our Party had coped admirably. I also understood that ones own individual sorrow at the loss of even such a dear comrade as Nikolai Bauman had to give precedence to the historical significance of the funeral.

I was unable to begin my work in the Moscow district for some time after the funeral. I was dreadfully unstrung by all that had happened and became ill and suffered from insomnia. In the moments of forgetfulness I still seemed to be walking from the Technical School to the Vagankovsky Cemetery with that solid mass of workers united by a single revolutionary aim. I could still see the coffin under its velvet pall sway on the shoulders of the men who carried it and the words of the funeral march still rang in my ears:

"Dying like soldiers, fighting for labour so did you fall ..."

My illness prevented me from working for three weeks--a very long time for that period.

On November 8, 1905, Lenin wrote in the paper Novaya Zhizn:

"The state that Russia is in at present is often expressed with the word 'anarchy'. This wrong and false term in reality expresses the fact that there is no established order in the country. The war of the new, free Russia against the old serf-autocratic Russia is being waged along the whole line; the autocracy is no longer capable of conquering the revolution, but the revolution is not yet capable of conquering tsarism. The old order is shattered, but it is not yet destroyed, and the new, free order is existing unrecognized, half hiding, often persecuted on all sides by the henchmen of the autocratic system."

Towards the end of November the scales definitely swung in favour of the revolution; deep in one's heart one felt that the great struggle between the working class and the tsarist autocracy would at any moment break out in open armed conflict on the Moscow streets.

In all save the most backward districts the atmosphere reached white heat. Proletarian Moscow was impregnated with the spirit of revolt.

Our Bolshevik organizations carried on feverish preparatory work, mustering the working masses, agitating the troops, and getting the workers' armed units which had been organizing since October into military shape.

The leading figure on the Moscow Committee at that time was Comrade Shantser, or "Marat," as we called him, but all the information I have is the meagre data found in the documents of the Moscow Secret Police obtained by Comrade Minitsky for a biographical dictionary of Moscow Committee members who had fallen in the revolution. From this data we learn that Comrade Shantser was born in 1867, that his father was a German and his mother a Frenchwoman, who had become Russian citizens and had settled in Odessa. He began doing cultural work among the workers while he was still a gymnasium student and, after finishing school, was arrested in 1887 for participating in the organization of a workers' library in Nikolayev. In 1895 he was arrested again, this time for conducting propaganda in workers' circles in Odessa and for making collections for political prisoners. Later, when he was a junior barrister, in Moscow, he maintained constant touch with workers who used to come to his home and among whom he distributed illegal literature. In September 1901 he was arrested at the home of Comrade Nikiforov, another old comrade now dead, for taking part in the preparations for a demonstration in Moscow; and he was exiled to Fast Siberia for three years where he was kept under the strict surveillance of the police. From there he returned to Moscow in November 1902 and worked with even greater energy in the Party, playing a leading role in the Moscow organization whose leader he was in the November-December days of 1905.

During the uprising he was arrested for the fourth and last time at his home where a meeting of the Federative Committee--a body organized to co-ordinate the activities of all the revolutionary organizations and on which Comrade Shantser represented the Bolsheviks--was to have been held. Since all evidence about this case was lost during the days of the rebellion, he got off with administrative exile to the Turukhansk region.

Here he suffered a nervous breakdown but, ill as he was, he nevertheless managed to escape abroad where the nervous disease developed into an incurable mental disorder. Due to his hopeless condition Shantsers wife, Natalia, managed to get permission to return to Russia with her sick husband in 1910. But the tsarist officials loved to spite their disarmed foes. When he returned to his native land, this hopelessly sick and emaciated comrade was not allowed to be placed in a private hospital, but was sent to the central police lunatic asylum. Comrade Shantser, whose memory should be preserved by the Moscow workers, died on January 29, 1911.

I personally worked as the organizer of the Lefortovo district where I met many comrades, some of whom, like myself, had been sent by the Moscow Committee, while others were local workers--representatives from the mills and factories.

The Moscow Committee regarded the Lefortovo district as one of the backward ones. And in truth, as the December days drew nearer, one could witness in Lefortovo more than in any other district the heartbreaking sight of individual workers, and even whole groups of them, with bundles on their backs--turning their faces towards the village--and their backs upon the revolution.

To make the Lefortovo workers fall into step with the more militant districts (Presnya, Zamoskvorechye) we had to carry on intensive agitational work. We organized meetings from morn till night at the Vedensky People's Palace to which the workers came in crowds. Before we could clear the hall of one group, another group would pour in, while crowds of workers would be waiting their turn on the Vedensky Square.

We organizers found it very difficult to provide agitators for all these meetings. In 1905 the Party in general, and the Moscow organization in particular, had an extremely limited number of agitators at their disposal. Not every underground Party worker who was accustomed to speaking at small workers' meetings held in the woods or on a boat, or in some out of way barn, could get up before a mass meeting of several thousand and speak from a high platform in a brilliantly lit hall.

We had to resort to all sorts of ruses to get an extra agitator from the centre. Thus, for example, early in the morning I would go to Fidler's house, the headquarters of the Central Board of Agitators of the Moscow Committee led by Comrade Stanislav. There I would catch one of the agitators and earnestly plead that today was the decisive day, that the Lefortovo district was not stable, that if we managed to carry off one or two successful meetings the Lefortovites would be roused, etc.

Having played upon the feelings of my agitator in this fashion, I would obtain his promise to come to Lefortovo, knowing all the while that he could only go where the centre sent him, and not where each district organizer wanted him to go. But such is the mentality of a district worker that it always seems to him that his district is more important than any other. These difficulties were eased somewhat in the days that followed, when, besides the official agitators, speakers appeared from among the masses themselves. At our meetings in the Vedensky People's Palace, workers would get up from the audience to address the meeting. I remember a worker from the Rontaller factory who once came over to me and said timidly that he would like to speak. He wound up his long and fairly able speech with the following words: "We button makers are a big power. If we choose we can leave all Moscow without a button."

A middle-aged working woman agitator in the audience spoke about the low wages paid to women, and to illustrate the point she said: "When I, a woman, am hungry and go to buy a cucumber, do I pay half a kopek, or do they charge me a kopek the same as they charge a man?" Her speech created a tremendous impression upon the audience. It was a rare thing for a woman worker, and an old one at that, to get up on a platform and speak before a big audience.

Our Party headquarters were located in the Vedensky People's Palace and we members of the District Committee were in the office day and night: from early morning till late at night we received delegations from factories and mills who came to us with all kinds of problems.

I vividly recall a group of workers from the Dufurmantel factory, five of them, led by a middle-aged, red-bearded worker. They were sent by the illiterate workers who had organized themselves and demanded that we immediately teach them to read and to write. "It's a crime not to be able to read at such times," they declared to us. This "illiterate" delegation made a deep impression upon us. We explained to them that we could not possibly teach them to read and write in so short a time as they desired, but that we would organize a school for this purpose without delay. And indeed we organized such a school for the workers in our district, using the nearest public school for this purpose and mobilizing teachers--our own people--to help. Despite the disturbed time, regardless of the fact that towards the end of November we had reached the verge of an armed uprising, our Party organization continued, as it had done in times of peace, to organize schools, lectures, clubs, in short, all sorts of cultural work. This work was carried on "under fire," so to speak, and was often intermingled with purely military work.

For example, during the barricade fighting in the Zamoskvorechye District, furniture which was being delivered to the club was seized and used for building barricades. The club organizers began to protest against the misuse of club property, but later, realizing the urgent necessity, they not only helped to pile up the furniture on the barricade but even removed the gate of the house where the club was situated and piled that on also.

Our Lefortovo unit of armed workers, with Comrade Rublevkin at its head, was a small, poorly equipped, but extremely militant group, which together with the District Committee members was very keen on getting the backward Lefortovo district to catch up with the other districts. Later, during the uprising, when fighting was taking place in the centre in the Presnya District, and in Zamoskvoretsky District, and when we Lefortovites were still holding meetings, our armed workers went off to help the other districts.

Towards the end of November the first Moscow Soviet of Workers' Deputies, uniting 134 industries with about 100,000 workers, was organized. On December 14 this Soviet passed a resolution to the effect that: "Moscow workers must hold themselves ready at any moment for a general political strike and for an armed uprising."

In accordance with the decision of the Soviet on the morning of the fifth, meetings were held in all the factories and mills where the question of the strike and the uprising were discussed and put to a vote; and in the evening of the same day the Lefortovites went to the Bolshevik Moscow City Conference where the question was to be decided.

At this time even the Lefortovo district had become aroused and the referendum we took in all the factories on the question of the strike and uprising gave positive results. But we all realized that when the forces were counted up at the Conference, the Lefortovo district would be found to be the weakest. This knowledge filled our hearts with bitterness.

Those who were present at the conference on the night of December 5, 1905, will remember what a militant spirit reigned there, with what eagerness the factory delegates were listened to, and how they all in one voice declared that the workers were ready to revolt. The deep conviction of the inevitability of the uprising was not shaken even when the military organizer, Comrade Andrey, in his report on the conditions of the Moscow garrison announced that though the soldiers would not go against us, he was not certain that they would go with us. A few comrades urged restraint on the grounds that the workers were almost unarmed, but all their arguments were unavailing, for everybody was convinced that the uprising was inevitable.

On December 7, the first issue of the Izvestia of the Moscow Soviet of Workers' Deputies was published containing a manifesto signed by all the revolutionary organizations in Moscow calling for "a general political strike on Thursday, December 7, at It o'clock noon" and for every effort to be made to "convert it into an armed uprising".

The Moscow Committee of our Party elected an Executive Committee which was entrusted with all authority; the rest of the committee members had to go back to work in their districts. From the very first days of the uprising reliable means of communication were established between the centre and the districts through the medium of comrades who were called couriers. At first the couriers were able to penetrate into the districts despite the difficulties, but later on they were unable to do so. Thus all communication between the centre and the districts was cut off and the latter were left to their own devices. At Presnya, fighting was going on under the leadership of Comrade Sedoy (Litvin), the Zamoskvoretsky District lived its own revolutionary life....

Our first Lefortovo courier was an old comrade, Alexander Blagonravov, who later worked in the Vladimir organization and died of typhus in 1919. I can clearly recall Blagonravov with his sad smile reporting about the affairs in other districts and delivering the instructions of the centre for the coming day. The proletariat must not forget its couriers who selflessly devoted their lives to maintaining communication between the various sections of the city during the memorable days of struggle.

But soon even Comrade Blagonravov was unable to reach us, and our district was completely isolated. We, however, continued to hold meetings and to organize demonstrations. Once we marched by the Spassky barracks from which some disarmed and imprisoned soldiers cheered us. Our armed workers' units had several clashes with the Black Hundreds who were numerous in Lefortovo, but the latter were not remarkable for their bravery even though they were armed as well as, if not better, than the police.

One morning, while the insurrection was still in progress, we were waiting for the workers to come to a meeting in the People's Palace. There were only about five or six of us District Committee members in the hall. Suddenly we saw a crowd of the Black Hundreds approaching and it looked as if we were going to be lynched. Fortunately, one of our comrades had a revolver. He fired one shot over the heads of the mob and this was enough to set the whole gang running.

We began to feel that we were really taking part in the insurrection only when barricades were put up in our district, but this was very belated, when the beginning of the end had set in the rest of the city.

That day, we commenced the usual round of meetings, but we all felt that there was nothing more to be said. I remember that I was particularly irritated by the "rational" appeals of the Menshevik Semyon who continued to shout, "comrades, build up the trade unions!" The answer to this trivial appeal came from someone in the audience. It was an appeal to us all to go out into the streets and build barricades. The whole audience responded to a man and the whole mass hurried out into the street. On the square it was joined by those who had been awaiting their turn to come into the hall, and all of us moved in close ranks to the Pokrovskaya Zastava where we overturned the tram cars that were standing as they had been left in the street when the general strike was declared. We erected a huge barricade--our own Lefortovo barricade. Our armed workers' units remained to guard it, although no one threatened to attack it that night, while the rest of the workers dispersed to their homes.

That evening, a comrade from the committee, who went by the name of Alexey, and I planned to make our way to the city without fail; it was a long time since our courier had visited us and we were completely cut off from the centre. We did not know what was happening there and had no means of keeping the centre informed of events in our district-we wanted to boast about our tardy barricade. Such a trip at night was risky, it being particularly dangerous to pass the posts of the so-called Committees of Residents set up by the Black Hundreds ostensibly for the purpose of protecting property, but in reality to catch, insult and beat up every passerby who had the least resemblance to a revolutionary.

We passed several streets in comparative safety, although we frequently got entangled in the telegraph wires which had been torn down and were scattered everywhere. Not far from Basmannaya we encountered a group of civilians who stopped us. They declared themselves members of the Residents' Committee, and demanded to know who we were and where we were going. I invented a story on the spur of the moment about my husband and myself trying to go from Cherkozovo into the city to Zhivoderka to visit our daughter-in-law who was seriously ill and needed immediate help. Because of the wires and the darkness we could not find our way to Krasnye Vorota. Alexey, "my husband," beside me also muttered something about a daughter-in-law and Zhivoderka. They believed us. It was our outward appearance that saved us. I was dressed like an old woman in a wide blouse and with a shawl over my head, while Alexey was also very poorly clad.

The Black Hundreds had so little suspicion of who we were that they even warned us not to fall into the hands of the workers' units who would be sure to shoot us at the first sight. We proceeded on our journey until we had almost reached Krasnye Vorota, where we saw a group of soldiers sitting around a bonfire and were obliged to turn aside and step into the Olkhov school where we were sure to find our own people.

The school resembled a dosshouse that night--on all the desks, tables, chairs and floors sprawled comrades who had been unable to get home and were obliged to remain at the school. We too decided that it would be wiser to stop at the school. I cannot refrain from mentioning a little incident in that night's adventure. One of the teachers, whom I had never seen before, called me into the kitchen, took a pot of broth from the stove, placed me on a stool, and, without even asking my name, declared: "You have eaten nothing all day; eat this broth!" And indeed, I had had absolutely no time for eating or drinking and was feeling very weak until the broth revived me.

Early next morning the bonfire at Krasnye Vorota burned out, the soldiers were withdrawn, probably for some strategic purposes, and we began cautiously to creep out one by one from our school dosshouse. I wanted to change my clothes and wash myself before going into the city. I went to my sister Rose who lived nearby on Kalanchovsky Street, but whose house I had been unable to reach the night before. She had rented a room among our own people, at the home of the worker Polumordvinov. When I reached her room I found her table, bed and bookshelves loaded with weapons. These had been taken from Torbek, the gunsmith, whose shop our unit had raided. A group of our men were lovingly handling these revolvers, parts of guns, sabres and cartridges and they were so merry that despite my weariness, I was cheered by the mere sight of them.

On the other hand, when at last I got to the Moscow committee, the mood prevailing was anything but cheerful. I learned that our affairs were in a very precarious condition, that St. Petersburg, exhausted by the November strike, was not in a position to support us. I also learned that the promises of the railroad union leaders had proved to be empty phrases, that the Nikolayev railway was in the hands of the government, that hostile troops from Tver and the Semyonovsky regiment from St. Petersburg had either already arrived or were on their way, I cannot recall which.

I hated to return to my district with such news--a district which had only just risen to the level of insurrection and whose active workers had been exulting over their "own" barricade the evening before. I decided to spend the night at my sister's as I needed a good night's rest; but I was not destined to get any sleep. When I returned to her apartment, the weapons were no longer there, the workers having cleared them away during the day. But the police had now got wind of the fact that the weapons seized at Torbek's had been taken to this apartment. So we were subjected to a raid which was carried off with great pomp--a squad of armed policemen with a police officer at their head broke into the room. The police were obviously afraid, thinking that we were armed to the teeth. They were extremely nervous and threatened to shoot us on the spot if we did not surrender our weapons. They bullied my sister and me because we were women, but they were unmistakably afraid of the worker, Glotov, who rented the corner of the room near the stove, especially when they stumbled over a pile of coal in his dark corner. With extreme caution the officer flashed his searchlight on Glotov's "dwelling place." To the officer's tremulous "What's there?" Comrade Glotov rolled out sonorously: "This is the study of his proletarian highness!"

Finding no weapons, the police left the place without arresting any of us, even though we were all in some way connected with the insurrection.

When on the morrow I reached our district headquarters--the People's Palace--I found Alexey had been there since the previous night. He had already communicated the bad news to the other comrades; but they were surprisingly little depressed by it. Indeed, it was difficult, after yesterday's enthusiasm, to take that sharp psychological jump and become immediately conscious of the fact that our struggle was weakening, that a temporary defeat was inevitable. But we, the backward Lefortovites, were not long comforted by our illusions. The defeat of the uprising approached, and when our last stronghold fell, when our heroic Presnya--the pride of the Moscow uprising of 1905--was wrecked and burned by the Semyonovsky regiment, the Soviet of Workers' Deputies had to declare an end to the strike and uprising, and temporarily haul down the scarlet banner which, after twelve more years of stubborn struggle, was again unfurled to blaze victoriously over Red Moscow in 1917.

When the revolt had been crushed, an orgy of the Black Hundred reaction broke loose, the Moscow prisons and police headquarters were overcrowded with arrested revolutionaries. Hideous rumours were abroad that the police headquarters had been turned into torture chambers by the brutalized victors and that our comrades were being subjected to unheard of torments; and along the Moscow suburban railroads the brutal gangs of the tsarist hangman, Riman, ran riot. The spirits of the workers in the district were extremely low, and it was under these unfavourable circumstances that the Moscow comrades who had survived the defeat were obliged to renew their Party work. Once more began the painful process of returning underground. At the first meeting of the Moscow Committee held in the early days of January 1906, it was decided to send the more "notorious" comrades to other cities, while the less prominent ones were to be transferred from one district to another. Thus it happened that I was sent from the Lefortovo District to the Zamoskvoretsky District where I had many comrades even before the uprising, both among the professionals and the factory workers.

During my first days in the Zamoskvoretsky District I set myself a very concrete though modest organizational task, namely, to re-establish at least in the larger factories our former illegal factory committees. But this proved to be an incredibly difficult task. I still remember the endless visits to individual workers' homes, the arrangement of a few small meetings with the representatives of the various factories, meetings which hardly ever took place, either because our meeting place was being watched, or because the landlady who had promised us the use of her room had funked it and refused to let us in when we arrived, or because only one or two of half a dozen who were expected, arrived. It is difficult to imagine anything more trying than the knowledge that the work was constantly slipping out of our hands, that the eyes of our comrades which had burned with such revolutionary courage, with such faith in the imminent victory of their cause not so very long ago, were now utterly weary and hopeless.

However, not all our efforts were in vain. The Moscow Bolshevik organization continued to work intensively, adapting itself to the new methods of struggle even though it often had to deal with extremely dejected and morbid moods among the district comrades. I recall several of the more poignant moments which I personally had to undergo, as characteristic of these moods.

I went to visit the family of a worker in the Danilov factory, with whom I had been formerly acquainted, hoping to renew connections with the Danilov factory through them. Both husband and wife greeted me joyously and promised to assist me, but as the attempts to resuscitate the organization grew more and more futile, the worker (I cannot remember his name) became gloomier and less frank with me. Once I arrived at dinner time when their little ten-year old daughter was bustling about prettily and setting the table for her parents who were due any minute. She placed four wooden spoons on the table--one for "auntie". When my hosts returned from the factory, both the mother and the daughter insisted that I stay for dinner.

We sat around the table eating cabbage soup out of a common bowl, fishing up bits of meat from the bottom of the dish with our spoons and conversing peacefully at first about the necessity of starting Party work in the district. But towards the end of the meal, the worker became agitated, suddenly banged on the table with his clenched fist and, raising his voice, exclaimed:

"Why in the world do you come here to disturb us? I am tired, do you understand--tired, and I can't do any more!"

The little girl became frightened and started to cry. Her mother begged me not to take offence, while I in the most unexpected and ignominious fashion burst into tears and left the place.

Some time later a similar incident occurred in the tiny room, or rather the cubicle, of a young worker who was employed in the Jako factory. He had displayed a splendid fighting spirit before the uprising, had participated in many battles during the barricade days and, did not appear to be particularly depressed after the defeat. I called on him towards the end of February, or in the early days of March, I don't quite remember which. It was about ten o'clock in the evening, I believe. The apartment was used as a sort of lodging house, the lodgers living in tiny cubicles. The stairs were indescribably filthy and from the rooms emerged a veritable Sodom of drunken voices, smoke and stench. But the cubicle to which I went was very neatly kept, almost pretentiously--the bed was covered with a pink cotton blanket, the walls were decorated with pictures and embroidered towels, and there was a canary in a cage suspended from the ceiling. Near the bed hung a guitar tied with a pink bow. I surprised my acquaintance while he sat on a bench holding a pocket mirror to his face; on the table before him stood a jar of cream for sunburn and freckles with which he was diligently smearing his face. He did not cease his occupation as I entered, but motioning me to a seat, continued to rub his cheeks with greater vigour than ever, casually remarking, "My respects, Olga Petrovna, what news have you? I bet you're here about what I have already long forgotten because I've lost all my faith in it". When I suggested that he stop playing the fool, wipe his face, and talk sensibly, the fellow answered: "You shouldn't talk that way about the cream because it's wonderful for getting rid of freckles. It is called 'metamorphosis' and costs a ruble and a half. I strongly recommend it to you, Olga Petrovna, for you, too, have a lot of freckles. Now's the time to think about yourself a little. You're still harping on old days that will never return; and if they do, we won't be there to see them." I wonder whether this comrade lived to see the great October Revolution and, if he did, whether he recalled the words he uttered in 1906?

The metamorphosis of this Jako worker, who so recently had been a brave comrade in our ranks, had a most depressing effect on me. I left his room at about eleven o'clock with such a crushed feeling that it mattered little to me where I went. There were moments when I felt that there was no place for me to go and I wandered aimlessly about the streets in the Zamoskvoretsky District.

These difficulties were not merely characteristic of Moscow. The disillusionment not only spread among the working masses, but was communicated to many of our individual active comrades, both workers and intellectuals.

As for the Mensheviks, who during the heroic October-December days of 1905 were forced to go against their Menshevism and temporarily join us, the defeat immediately restored them to their natural shape and gave them many opportunities to expiate their short-lived iniquity by bitter criticism of our revolutionary Bolshevik tactics.

At the beginning of 1906 the conditions in the Party organization were complicated. The split in the Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party, which took definite shape at the Third Bolshevik Congress in May 1905 and the Conference of the Mensheviks, that was held concurrentiy with the latter, did not hinder but helped the formation of a united proletarian front during the heroic last months of 1905. To co-ordinate activities, the Mensheviks were forced to join the Federative Committees.

What was happening in the districts was beginning to take place in the centre. Preparations for a Unity Congress of the Party were being made, but these preparations coincided with the defeat of the uprising and with the weariness of the proletariat who had been pressing for a united front before the uprising. Thus, a twofold process could be observed at the beginning of 1906--preparations for a Unity Congress were continued by inertia, while at the same time new disagreements with the Mensheviks on the cardinal questions of party tactics were constantly cropping up and becoming more sharply defined (estimation of the uprising, attitude towards the State Duma, etc).

In March we Muscovites were eagerly awaiting the arrival of Lenin who was to acquaint us with the resolutions he had drafted for the forthcoming Unity Congress of the Party, which was to be held in April.

Besides the natural interest in Lenin's report, the prospect of meeting Lenin in Moscow, on Russian soil, was particularly alluring. Imagine my distress when, a few days before his arrival, while walking about in the sleet and mud, I caught a severe cold, and was not in a condition to go to the meeting of the Moscow active workers at which Lenin was to speak. I was lying in bed grieving over my disappointment when a comrade burst into the room and told me for reasons of secrecy the meeting had to be transferred to other premises and that Lenin had expressed a desire to see me during the enforced intermission.

My joy knew no bounds when in half an hour Ilyich himself appeared, filling the room with his jests and laughter and with that comradely simplicity so characteristic of him when talking with the most insignificant Party workers if he felt that the latter were connected with the actual life of the Party.

The joy I felt that Lenin was sitting in my room prevented me from studying his mood, the more so that as I was ill he spoke to me only about pleasant trifles. But I clearly recall that he was very cheerful "as if nothing had happened," although what had happened was nothing more nor less than the defeat of the 1905 uprising!

Table of Contents: Twenty Years in Underground Russia