vodohod russian cruises

About Vodohod

A leader in the cruise industry

Vodohod is a full-service russian river cruise tour operator and the largest cruise operator in Russia. For 19 years, we have been organizing cruises visiting the most interesting cities and locations of our country, providing the highest service and maintaining high quality standards as well as increasing the popularity of cruises as a comfortable and modern way of enjoying your holidays.

Vodohod is the undisputed leader in the cruise industry in Russia, and one of the leaders in Europe in terms of the number of fleet units and passenger capacity. Every year about 110 thousand guests travel on our ships.

We are proud that in 2021, Vodohod was deservedly recognized as the “Industry Leader” among passenger shipping companies in Russia.

Luxury brand-new ship

In 2020 we launched our brand-new river-sea flagship Mustai Karim, the first luxurious 5-star vessel built in Russia in 60 years. Featuring modern European design, the ship interior resembles a five-star hotel with floor-to-ceiling windows, SPA area, restaurants and bars with specially created menus designed by multi-award-winning chefs.

Exquisite cuisine and a premium wine list to be enjoyed in several stunning panoramic bars are just a glimpse of the delights to be found on board. With our gracious service, extensive animation program, exclusive excursions we’ve crafted especially for our guests, you’ll experience a true masterpiece in river cruising. 

New type of vessel

The navigation of 2021 is marked by a new vessel that has become part of the Vodohod’s fleet. The hovercraft Biryusa has been built in the Leningrad region at the Parma shipyard to operate on the Baikal Lake. The craft has a cushion height of 0.9 m, which allows it to navigate over water, ice or even land, with passengers resting comfortably in reclining seats until they reach their destination. The propellers allow the craft to turn on site, reverse, and disembark passengers at any unequipped shore, allowing travellers to access the most beautiful and inaccessible spots along the itinerary. Guests are able to travel the entire route of the Baikal Expedition in comfort.

Wild Life expeditions

Discover untouched lands and sail unshared waters, only with Vodohod – the first and only Wild Life river expedition cruise launched in 2020 to travel the spectacular Yenisei River through the heart of Siberia.

Vodohod’s mission is to show the undiscovered rivers and hard-to-reach regions of wild Russia. This unique travel experience will be even more delightful onboard our newly renovated 5-star ship Maxim Gorky. Intricately designed to showcase Siberia at its most authentic, Maxim Gorky is a luxurious floating paradise – the perfect place to unwind after a day of new discovery.

The ship sails from Krasnoyarsk to Dudinka and vice versa visiting ethno cultural complexes, local tribes and old believers’ villages, wild nature of Siberia including the Putorana Plateau, huge basalt massif with the UNESCO World Heritage status. This is once-in-a-lifetime adventure that deserves to be on your bucket list. 

Our mission is not only to create the highest quality product, but to put together delightful journeys to show you destinations that will take your breath away. You will definitely want to come back there again, but we have so much more to offer! Russia is amazing, different and unusual, and we know how to show it at its best. Authentically Russian. Unforgettably Vodohod.

• Call a River Cruise Artist today to customize your dream vacation! 1.800.259.7612

Vodohod Russian River Cruises

**River Cruise Your Way no longer offers river cruises to Russia effective 02/22/2022**

Vodohod russian river cruises is a russian owned and operated company with a fleet of ships sailing the volga and svir rivers and other lakes and waterways through the heart of this enchanting country. vodohod’s mission is to deliver excellent river cruise adventures to their guests in russia with the hospitality of the open and generous soul of russia. vodohod has a staff of quality-trained crew that are experts cruising the waterways of russia, as well experts at customer service., the vodohod group of itineraries not only features the most common russian river cruise itinerary – sailing between moscow and st. petersburg, but also offers cruises south from moscow to astrakhan as well as nizhny novgorod. the moscow to st. petersburg cruise offers guests the very best of russia with the kremlin in moscow to the hermitage and peterhof palace in st. petersburg. the port stops in between include historical wonders like uglich, yaroslavl, goritsy, the island of kizhi, and mandrogi., the ships that vodohod sails range from 3-star to 5-star. most north american travelers will find the 4-star and 5-star ships most comfortable. the prince vladimir (launching in 2020) and the mstisalv rostropovich are their 5-star ships and offer the best of comfort to their river cruise guests. among their 4-star ships are the kronshtadt, the nizhny novgorod, the lev tolstoy, the nikolay chernishevsky, and the konstantin fedin. onboard the ships you will enjoy live folk shows, classical music concerts, nightly live music, as well as russian language and song lessons. exciting lectures on the history and contemporary life of russia as well as traditional russian dance lessons are also available., your vodohod russian river cruise awaits, are you ready to start planning your vodohod russian river cruise vacation your way a river cruise artist at river cruise your way is ready to be your vacation concierge. contact us today at 1-800-259-7612 or use the form below and let us know when it is most convenient to call you, we will confirm via e-mail, and then reach out at the agreed upon time and date..

Vodohod Russian River Cruises

• Oldest ships 1974
• Newest ships 2021
• Flag Russia
• Language English

Vodohod is a Russian river cruise tour operator, which is the largest cruise operator in Russia. For 17 years it has been offering itineraries that visit the country's most interesting cities and towns while providing a service with high quality standards. Vodohod has 12 ships that are continuously renovated to offer the best comfort on board by investing in high quality interior solutions, modern design, spacious cabins and maximum comfort for guests. Every year Vodohod introduces new destinations that allow guests to broaden their horizons and visit the most interesting corners of Russia. The mission is to showcase unknown rivers and hard-to-reach regions, creating a quality product and experiences that leave you breathless. In 2020, the brand new river and sea flagship Mustai Karim was launched, the first luxury 5-star ship built in Russia in 60 years. A new type of ship was introduced in 2021 - a vessel with an inner tube of 0.9m, enabling it to sail on water, ice or even land. Propellers allow the vessel to turn in place, reverse and disembark passengers on any unequipped shore, giving travellers access to the most beautiful and inaccessible places along the route.

Mustai Karim

Maxim Gorky

Nizhny Novgorod

Konstantin Korotkov

Nikolay Chernishevsky

Zosima Shashkov

GoNOMAD Travel

Inspiration and links to plan your trip.

Vodohod Russian River Cruises: Discover the Soul of Siberia

Russia’s Divided Geography Provides a Fascinating New Cruise Destination

By Jared Shein

Seventy-three percent of the Russian population lives west of the Ural mountains. This fairly industrial and densely populated land area offers reasonably temperate climates, populated and connected cities, and is home to the vast majority of Russian industry and commerce.

Cross over the Ural mountain range however and you will find yourself at the doorstep of an entirely different region.

The Ural range is the official border between the European and Asian continents, and east of the Russian Urals lies the desolate, sparsely populated region of Siberia .

Harsh Winters

With an area of 13.1 million square kilometers, Siberia comprises 77% of the total Russian landmass, but its remote location and harsh winters make it a less than ideal place to live. Only 27% of the Russian population lives in this region, making Siberia one of the least densely populated areas in the world.

The sparse human population, however, allows for nature and wildlife to flourish, and while Siberia isn’t an ideal place to live, it is a great place for nature lovers. The region is home to a host of different natural features and animal species, from deer and huskies to tigers and leopards.

Vodohod Cruises

One of the best and most compelling ways to view Siberia’s natural majesty is with Vodohod Russian River Cruises . The company offers a number of different cruise options, but the voyage along the Yenisei River in Northern Siberia is particularly spectacular.

This Krasnoyarsk to Dudinka cruise takes passengers through some of the most remote and untouched places on earth and is a truly unforgettable experience.

“This trip can perhaps be considered to be the most diverse and remote water-based trip in the world,” says John Warner, Marketing Director at Vodohod. “From the 6-hour helicopter trip around the mind-blowing Plateau Putorana to the vast expanse of the Taiga, Siberia is a land of extraordinary contrasting nature.”

Cruising Down The Yenisei

The Krasnoyarsk to Dudinka cruise begins with a bus tour of Krasnoyarsk “the city of incredible combinations” that features both industry and nature side by side. The next day brings guests to the stunning UNESCO heritage site and one of the seven wonders of Russia, The Pillars Reserve with its exotic volcanic rocks.

The ship then leaves Krasnoyarsk and heads through Galanino, where guests meet the indigenous Cossack people; Nikulino, where the local people live a traditional lifestyle without internet or television; Baht, where guests fish and pick berries with locals; Ermakovo, where guests get a glimpse of the horrors of Stalin’s Gulag; and a handful of other unique remote places.

The cruise ends 10 days after it began in the city of Dudinka where guests visit a museum, an ethnocultural complex, and take a helicopter tour.

The remoteness and diversity of the 11-day cruise make it a truly unique and exciting experience. “This is not your usual river cruise,” notes Warner, “This is a river expedition. The lack of mooring infrastructure means that we need to use zodiacs in order to disembark at places that no tourists have ever had the chance to visit!”

Maxim Gorky

All Dudinka to Krasnoyarsk and Krasnoyarsk to Dudinka cruises take place aboard the luxurious Maxim Gorky cruise ship. The four-deck state of the art ship was built in 1974 and has recently been refurbished into a 5-star expedition vessel with a maximum occupancy of 98 guests.

The ship features a colorful interior design that mirrors the colors and materials of the Siberian landscape, 48 luxurious cabins, a restaurant, and entertainment complex (that includes a karaoke bar, Siberian bar, and wine library), and a spa and gym area with a sauna, yoga room, jacuzzi and massage room.

There are three accommodation options on board. The cheapest option is the standard cabin, which includes two single or one double bed, elegant natural decor, a fridge, radio, TV, and hairdryer as well as two large windows for watching the scenery. Passengers may also book a deluxe cabin with a bigger bed and more space or a suite with a separate bedroom and sitting room.

The Yenisei River

Warner offers a history and overview of the area. “The Yenisei is the largest river system flowing to the Arctic Ocean and the fifth-longest river in the world, with 1.5 times the flow of the Mississippi. Rising in Mongolia, it follows a northerly course to the icy waters of the Kara Sea.

Nomadic tribes have lived along the banks of the Yenisei river since ancient times, before being assimilated politically into Russia during the 17th through 19th centuries, after Russians first arrived in the upper Yenisei in 1605.”

Vodohod saw something unique and exciting in the rich history and landscape of the river and is currently the only touring company that offers an expedition dedicated to the Yenisei and it’s surrounding areas.

This new expedition is only a small step in Vodohod’s long term goal of really opening up Russia for tourists. “Currently 99.9% of people who visit Russia travel between Moscow and St. Petersburg, so the move to offer a dedicated passenger ship that cruises the Yenisei river is part of that long term vision,” says Warner.

Trip Highlights 

When I asked Warner for some trip highlights he had trouble picking just a few, “How many pages does your publication have,” he joked while trying to settle on just one answer.

He finally settled though, telling me that, “One of the main highlights is the undiscovered and diverse wilderness of the region. From the UNESCO world heritage site Plateau Putorana to the Igarka above the Northern circle with its endless midnight sun, to the Stolby Nature reserve, the natural majesty of the Siberian region is truly unforgettable.”

Warner’s colleague, Vodohod Director-General Rishat Bagautdino echoes this sentiment when reflecting on the trip, “The trip turned out to be very diverse, extraordinary, full of contrasts, unexpected finds, and impressions. What we saw cannot be described in a few words. The vast expanse of the Taiga, the power of the river, amazing people, various ethnic groups, Old Believers, Siberian Cossacks, ancient rites, national cuisine, fishing, communication with nature and, of course, great history with all it’s bright and tragic moments. ”

Book your spot on a Yenisei Russian River Cruise here.

• Latest Posts

• Vodohod Russian River Cruises: Discover the Soul of Siberia - February 2, 2020
• Adventure Suites: Fun, Unique Lodging - January 28, 2020
• Geotourist: A Tour Guide in Your Pocket - January 24, 2020

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Vodohod’s Mario Bounas: ‘Why Russia is ideal for river cruising’

Vodohod vice-president of marketing Mario Bounas explains why Russia is a great option for clients who want to experience a river cruise with a difference.

From the culture of St Petersburg to the rugged extremes of Siberia, Russia has an incredible amount to offer when it comes to river cruise holidays.

There’s a lot more to the world’s largest country than Tolstoy, tall furry hats and vodka. Russia is home to endless natural landscapes that are as diverse and dramatic as its incredible history.

The linked system of rivers, canals and other water bodies allow passage all the way from the Mediterranean Sea to the Arctic Ocean. The two main cruising rivers are the Volga, the longest river in Europe, and the Yenisei, running for 2,200 miles across central Siberia.

Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, Vodohod delivered in excess of 400 cruise departures to more than 35,000 domestic Russian guests between May and November last year.

In 2020, the tour operator also launched a brand-new ship, refurbished another and unveiled a new range of destinations and itineraries. What’s more, with a hotly anticipated international market on the horizon for the 2021 and 2022 seasons, things at Vodohod are looking pretty good.

New ships in the Vodohod fleet

The latest addition to the fleet, Mustai Karim, set sail for the first time in August 2020. The 329-capacity vessel carried her first passengers along the Volga from Moscow to St Petersburg.

This route explores some of Russia’s fascinating towns, villages and ancient sites, including the Church of Transfiguration on Kizhi Island. The five-star ship offers incredible views along the way, with floor-to-ceiling windows and private or French balconies in each cabin.

In July 2020, Vodohod launched the world’s first expedition river cruise. This remarkable itinerary explores the unique natural and cultural heritage of Siberia from banks of the Yenisei. Departing from the city of Krasnoyarsk, guests can explore UNESCO World Heritage landscapes, traditional villages and vibrant cities.

The itinerary also includes some spectacular shore excursions. Passengers can view the yawning canyons, towering mountains and endless lakes of the Putorana Plateau by helicopter, or meet the friendly and resilient Siberian locals, renowned for their wonderful hospitality.

All of this is experienced from the luxurious comfort of the Maxim Gorky , a five-star ship carrying just 94 passengers. Guests can take in the views from the top deck solarium or panoramic bar. Alternatively, time can be spent in the reading lounge or enjoying one of Russia’s many craft beers.

For clients looking to rekindle their sense of adventure without sacrificing their desire for safety, a Russian river cruise is the perfect option. Vodohod has implemented a range of health and safety protocols across the fleet, including daily temperature checks, express Covid-19 testing, daily deep cleaning of cabins and common areas, and social distancing measures.

In addition, Vodohod is preparing to launch a series of videos, training and familiarisation trips in preparation for the 2021 and 2022 seasons, so agents should get in touch at [email protected] .

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Russian River Cruises

History, review, itineraries, ships, deck plans, news.

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•   Review
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Russian River Cruises fleet

Ms pyotr velikiy, ms mustai karim, scenic tsar, viking akun, viking ingvar, ms general lavrinenkov, ms lunnaya sonata, viking truvor, ms yuri andropov, ms zosima shashkov, ms crucelake-lebedinoe ozero, ms leonid sobolev, ms mikhail sholokhov, review of russian river cruises.

CruiseMapper's "Russian River Cruises" hub provides detailed information on ships, itineraries, tours and prices on cruises along rivers and lakes in Russia. Here you'll also find concise info on the largest Russian cruise companies, including Vodohod , Mosturflot , Infoflot , Doninturflot-Orthodox , Imperial River Cruises Russia .

In the "Fleet" section you will find an extensive list or Russian cruise ships. By following each ship link you will find the ship's review, deck plans, scheduled itineraries and cruise pricing information. Live ship tracking is also provided on a digital map. It shows the vessel's current location, cruising speed and course.

In the "Itinerary" section you will find maps and day-by-day scheduled activities planned by Europe's largest cruise companies, also operating in Russia via chartered riverboats.

Volga River Cruises in Russia

Volga river cruising in Russia places you in another time. The longest and largest river in Europe stretches from Ivan the Terrible to Catherine the Great. Today, live along the central artery of Russia looks like it always has - the villages, the churches, the people, just like an old painting you have seen in a gallery.

The Volga flows through central Russia into the Caspian Sea and is often called the national river of Russia. 11 of the 20 largest cities of the country, including the capital Moscow, are in Volga's watershed. Some of the world's largest reservoirs can be found along the river, which has a symbolic meaning in Russian culture, referred to as Mother Volga (Volga Matushka) in Russian folklore and literature.

Explore the land of the Tsars while sailing down the historic Volga river, typically between Moscow and St Petersburg , the traditional homeports (of embarkation and debarkation). Tour landmarks are the Red Square and Kremlin in Moscow, the Hermitage and Catherine Palace in St Petersburg.

Once unthinkable as a cruise vacation destination, Russia is today more accessible than ever, with stops along its largest European lakes and rivers. For river travel lovers accustomed to European itineraries, the Russian experience will be quite different. Russia has a special feel of uniquely designed riverboats. Built to handle larger lakes (Lake Ladoga for example, is the largest European freshwater body of water), these vessels usually feature larger size and capacity (up to six decks), deeper draft, and most of them are refurbished instead of being newbuild.

The itineraries offered are activity-intensive in Moscow and St Petersburg, with long periods of cruising and less ashore time in the middle. Smaller "Golden Ring" cities (so named due to their historic significance) are full of icon-riddled monasteries and Orthodox churches. Most cruise lines hire local experts and fill the days of sailing along the river with lectures on country's history, cooking demonstrations and language lessons.

Most of the tours offered by the companies sailing along Volga River are identical, so customers choosing between the different itineraries should look at how the river ships spend the time within Moscow and St. Petersburg. Some lines have their guests stay onboard, which can be as far as 1 hour out of both cities. Others put their clients up at hotels near the center of the city, with several meals at customer's expense.

Compared with other river routes, Russia features a short season, between early May and late October, with high season in June (known as White Nights because of the endless daylight), July and August. Even if the weather is chilly, there are some advantages to sailing early or late: you'll beat the crowds which can make a visit to the Hermitage a bear. Most Russian museums lack air-conditioning, and while the climate is generally temperate, in the summer Moscow often experiences high humidity heat waves.

Remember to think about your Russian visa at least 2 months before your voyage, to have enough time to fill out the paperwork, including a lengthy online application. And don't forget that the Russian language uses the Cyrillic alphabet. Even in the cities, you'll rarely find signs in English, so learning some letters and a few phrases will help you get around.

Doninturflot-Orthodox Cruise Company

Orthodox Cruise Company operates a fleet of USSR-design large river ships and serves mainly foreign tourists. The parent company Doninturflot (established in 1992) is the shipowner and manages the fleet.

• Doninturflot started operations with the ships MS Maxim Litvinov, MS Mikhail Sholokhov and MS Sergei Dyagilev.
• Since 2002, Docturflot charters Akademik Glushkov (currently MS Igor Stravinsky) owned by OOO Rosflotinvest.
• In 2004 was acquired MS Anton Chekhov from Yenisei River Shipping Company (Russia).
• In 2006 were acquired MS Peter Tchaikovsky and MS Ivan Bunin from the Moscow-based cruise shipping company "Passenger Port".
• In 2008 was bought MS General Lavrinenkov from "Ukrrechflot" (Ukraine).
• In 2011 was bought MS Marshal Koshevoy (from Ukrrichflot, Ukraine) but in April 2013 the ship was sold to Viking Cruises (now operates as Viking Akun ).
• In 2016, was purchased MS Tikhi Don from the UK-based Grand Circle Travel company. In 2017, the ship started operations for Orthodox Cruise Company serving international tourists.

Imperial River Cruises Russia

"Imperial River Cruises Russia" was founded in 1992 and operates on inland waterways in both Russia and Ukraine. Company's chartered ships navigate on the rivers Volga, Don, Neva, Svir, Dnieper (also on the Danube) and the Russian lakes Onega and Ladoga.

The most operated itineraries are between Moscow and St Petersburg (visiting Uglich, Kostrom, Yaroslavl, Goritzy). Specially designed itineraries visit Vladimir, Suzdal, Zagorsk, Solovki Island. Also offered are itineraries Moscow-Volgograd and Moscow-Rostov, roundtrips from Kiev, and even grand voyages connecting two seas - Baltic and Black. Also offered are themed cruises - especially on food and music, with live performances by grand orchestras and choirs.

Imperial River Cruises Russia has an exclusive partnership with "Orthodox Cruise Company" - one of Russia's largest tour operators. As their names suggest, both companies target mainly foreign tourists - booking in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia. Ships' capacity varies between 180-250 passengers. English (or German) speaking licensed tour guides are provided on all excursions. The daily onboard entertainment program offers live musical performances, folk shows, enrichment lectures.

Russian river cruise deals

• Departure port (dock/berth), check-in, boarding and landing times are indicated on the company's website and on passenger boarding passes. Ship's exact departure time is clarified on the website the day prior departure.
• Kids discount ticket prices are offered for children up to 14 years of age (14-yo including), the age being fixed on departure day.
• Kids from 2 to 5 years of age (5-yo including) travel free of charge, but without providing an additional bed (if there are no free beds in the cabin). Shore excursions are also free of charge.
• Toddlers (kids under 2) travel free of charge, but the bed, food, and tour services are not provided. Extra beds in staterooms (baby cribs, cots) are not available on the ship.
• TWIN (double cabin) single supplement rate is 75%.
• Ticket prices are inclusive of 3 meals a day. Onboard dining includes Breakfast (buffet style, drinks - cocoa, milk, juices, hot-cold dishes), Lunch (buffet style) and Dinner (waiter-served, 1 Starter, 1 Main course (choice of 3 / meat-fish-vegetarian), 1 Dessert (choice of 2 or fruits). Water in pitchers is always provided. Tea/coffee is served.
• On embarkation day and disembarkation day (at the end of the voyage) meal times depend on landing times. If a land tour coincides with a meal time (lunch), passengers are provided with complimentary food at a local restaurant (cafe) or given "dry rations".
• Ticket price inclusive onboard events are Welcome Aboard ("bread and salt" ceremony), Welcome Cocktail (complimentary 1 glass of champagne or juice per person), "Tea Ceremony" (with traditional pies), "Vodka Show" (blini and vodka tasting), Cocktail Party (once per cruise, complimentary 1 cocktail per person), Captain's Dinner (gourmet menu, once per cruise), mulled wine or ice tea (weather-depending / upon returning from excursions), complimentary Coffee Station (coffee, hot water, packed tea, milk, cocoa, cookies), 1 bottled water (0.33l pp per day in cabins). Tickets are also inclusive of foreign language speaking guide services, onboard entertainment (language class, singing lessons, live music, nightly dancing music, Wheelhouse tour).
• Complimentary excursions are detailed in the ship's cruise itinerary program. Optional tours are available for onboard booking. For excursion services, foreigner passengers may be charged with additional fee pp per day (varies by cruise tour length).
• Cruise tickets don't include land transfers (excepting foreign travel agency bookings), beverages and snacks (in onboard bars-lounges), phone calls, sauna visits, optional excursions, travel insurance, gratuities, personal spendings. Ticket prices include 18% VAT.
• Smoking on the ship is allowed only in designated areas (marked with "Place for smoking" signs). Smoking is prohibited in all interior spaces and on open decks (except at designated areas).
• On most ships are available health gymnastics and morning exercises (led by a certified physician/ship's doctor), oxygen cocktail, dietary food.
• On most ships are provided (free of charge) the following medical services - emergency medical care (assistance required for sudden acute illnesses, conditions, exacerbation of chronic diseases), measurement of blood pressure and body temperature, primary treatment of wounds.
• Boarding starts 2 hours prior to departure. All passengers must be boarded at least an hour prior to departure. Late passengers missing their cruise tour are not refunded.
• Russia's main river cruise departure ports are Moscow , St Petersburg , Astrakhan , Nizhny Novgorod , Perm , Samara , Kazan , Volgograd , Rostov-on-Don , Saratov .

Russian cruise ships

Currently, in Russia is operated a huge fleet of over 200 river cruise ships. All these vessels were built during the USSR (Soviet Union) times, roughly in the period between 1950-1990. Depending on class and series, these boats differ in terms of size, equipment (different engine designs), passenger capacity, onboard facilities and venues, cabins (types and number). Amenities additionally differ by shipowner (cruise company).

All these old-design Russian ships were completely refurbished and rebuilt for their new shipowners, Some of these ships are operated (via partnerships or under charter) also by foreign companies (like Viking, CroisiEurope, Uniworld, AMAwaterways, Grand Circle, Nicko). During their multi-million-dollar drydock refits, vessels passenger capacities were considerably reduced to improve travel comfort and safety.

Most boats are of the following classes:

• "Rossiya" (Project 785, 36 vessels built 1952-1958)
• "Baykal" (Project 646, 15 units built 1953-1956)
• "Rodina" (Project 588, 49 vessels built 1954-1961)
• "Oktyabrskaya Revolyutsiya" (Project 26-37, 14 units built 1957-1962)
• "Dunay" (Project 305, 47 vessels built between 1959-1964)
• "Kuybyshev" (Project OL400, 9 units built 1975-1983)
• "Vladimir Ilyich" (Project 301, 22 vessels built between 1975-1983)
• "Dmitri Furmanov" (Project 302, 27 vessels built between 1983-1991)

Regardless of their age, all these motor ships undergo regular drydock refurbishments , machinery and safety checks, scheduled repairs (including annual surveys). Drydocks are every 5 years and include repairs, hull inspection, propulsion-steering inspection, general maintenance works.

Each ship is equipped with life-saving appliances (lifeboats and rafts) in amounts exceeding the boat's max passenger and crew capacity. Each cabin is equipped with lifejackets with illustrated instructions in several languages. All ships are equipped with modern fire-fighting systems. Crew and staff are experienced and highly professional certified employees.

Itinerary of Russian River Cruises

CruiseMapper's "Russian River Cruises" itinerary section provides information on itineraries and ports of call offered by the largest Russian and European river cruise companies - Vodohod, Viking, Uniworld, Scenic, CroisiEurope. Each foreign company has a partnership with a local company and operates as a joint venture one or more Russian ships.

For detailed itinerary information (routes) visit our pages of the following departure ports - Saratov , Volgograd , Samara , Perm , Nizhny Novgorod , Cheboksary , Rostov-on-Don ,  Kazan , Astrakhan , Moscow , St Petersburg .

Volga River cruise ports highlights

• St Petersburg (Russia's second-largest city - after Moscow) was built by Tzar Peter the Great in 1703. It is located in the Neva River delta (Gulf of Finland's east coast). Saint Petersburg includes the territories of more than 130 islands interconnected by over 300 bridges. The city has a huge number of cultural and historical sights, architectural landmarks, museums, magnificent palaces (Russian Tsars' former residences), grand parks, wide avenues, bridges, numerous monuments. Among its most famous tourist attractions are the Hermitage museum (housing over 2 million pieces of art). Two days is never enough to see everything in this remarkable city. However, passengers will usually visit the Hermitage, admire the city's 19th-century architecture during a canal cruise tour, take in a cultural performance, visit one of the Versailles-style palaces in St. Petersburg's countryside (Pushkin or Peterhof).
• Moscow (Russian Federation's capital and largest city) was founded in 1147 by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. The city was destroyed several times - by the Mongolians, Napoleon, the Nazis. The heart of the city lies in the Red Square, which contains Lenin's Tomb, St Basil's Cathedral, and GUM Department Store. Kremlin's red walls also border the square. Inside the fort are the Armoury (containing the Faberge eggs) and 9 onion-domed churches. Art-fans can seek out Pushkin Gallery or see a show at Bolshoi Theatre.
• Yaroslavl is one of the Golden Ring cities of Russia, and the largest city to visit during the middle of your Volga cruise. The town is famous for its gorgeous churches. It also offers several pedestrian-only streets full of shops and cafes, as well as a lovely embankment used as a park.
• Uglich has a provincial setting. It was found in the 10th century and was a scene of some of medieval Russian history's most remarkable events. Here were exiled the Ivan Terrible’s 7th wife and her son Tsarevich Dmitry. Soon after, Tsarevich was mysteriously murdered here. Soon after, a dedicated to this event church ("Church of St. Demetrius on the Blood") was erected. Within the Uglich Kremlin walls is the town's oldest building - "Prince’s Palace". Other attractions are St. John’s Church and the Transfiguration Cathedral.
• Astrakhan was founded at the end of the 13th century and is located on the Volga's left bank. Port’s activities extend 100 km downstream and over 300 km upstream along the river. The city is a major trading center and its main business is freight shipping (coal, timber, salt, food, industrial products). Astrakhan is not linked to the railroad network. Cargoes are transferred by floating cranes from river ships to seagoing vessels.
• Goritsy is a small village on River Sheksna, famous for its Resurrection Convent, At approx 4 ml (7 km) from Goritsy is Kirillov - a pilgrimage site with many historical and architectural monuments. Among those are the Kirillo-Belozerski monastery, Ferapont monastery (UNESCO site), 12 churches, 25 civil monuments.
• Kizhi Island (Lake Onega) is located approx 70 km (40 ml) to the northeast of Petrozavodsk. The island has two onion-domed churches. Also here is the 17th-century-built 22-domed church - constructed without using a single nail. Its "Church of the Transfiguration of our Savior" and "Church of the Intercession" were rebuilt several times and are preserved in their original 17th-century design.
• Mandrogi (Mandroga) is a small village on the Svir river recently created as a tourist attraction. It features small wooden log cabin houses. Its “town of masters” is a market for hand-made Russian art craft, including paintings, painted wooden dolls, embroidery, pottery. Other attractions are the elk nursery and the quail farm, horse-riding tours, food tasting (pastry), vodka tasting (museum of Russian vodka).
• Kostroma is also one of the Golden Ring cities, and once was one of Russia's 3 largest cities - after Moscow and Yaroslavl, It is located at the confluence of the rivers Volga and Kostroma. Among the attractions are the St Ipathy monastery, an open-air museum (traditional wooden architecture- izbas, mills, churches are gathered in one place).
• Kizhi is famous the whole world over. It has become the symbol of the grandeur of unique Russian culture. Visiting the Kizhi Islands gives a great chance to appreciate the enchanting medieval atmosphere and get acquainted with the customs and free spirit of men living in a spacious area with a rigorous climate
• Kazan. The largest port in the Volga basin, it transships cargoes transported by water alone or by water and rail. The port receives coal from Kuznetsk Basin for Kazan's heat and electric power plant, food and industrial products, and ships out products of city's enterprises and Siberian timber. The port includes Tsentral’nyi, Kama, and Volga cargo areas, as well as a number of landings, the biggest of which is Naberezhnye Chelny and Chistopol’. The basin of the Tsentral’nyi Cargo Area and passenger area are protected by a breakwater.
• Novgorod (Nizhniy Novgorod) is an ancient stronghold founded by Gran Prince Yuri as a frontier post, is now the 5th largest city of Russia as well as one of the main centers of river tourism in the country. In the 19th century, Nizhniy became the trade center of the whole state as it was the place of the biggest fair in the Russian Empire. A proverb of that time says: "Moscow is the heart of Russia, St. Petersburg is its head, and Nizhniy Novgorod - its pocketbook". The city was renamed "Gorky" in Soviet times, in honor of the writer Maxim Gorky, born there. Until 1990, Nizhniy Novgorod was “closed” to foreigners as USSR protected its military secrets. Nizhniy Novgorod is included in the UNESCO list of 100 cities constituting world cultural and historical value.
• Samara - during the Soviet period the city was named Kuybyshev, in honor of the Soviet party figure Valerian Kuybyshev. The shortest ways from Central and Western Europe to Kazakhstan, Siberia, and Central Asia run through Samara. The city has a rich cultural heritage: Alexey Tolstoy spent his childhood and youth there. Maxim Gorky started his literary career in the city - he worked in "Samara Newspaper". The Czech writer Yaroslav Gashek also worked in Samara, during the Civil war. Famous artists like Ilya Repin, Ivan Ayvazovsky, Vasily Surikov, lived in the city. During the Great Patriotic War, the Seventh Symphony of Dmitry Shostakovich was performed in Samara for the first time.
• Tver - the White Trinity Church (1564) is the sole ancient monument of Tver as in 1763, there was a great fire after which the city was rebuilt in Neoclassical style. There are also a lot of buildings of Catherine the Great. Tver State University is highly rated in the region. In 1931, Tver received the name Kalinin, in honor of the Soviet leader Mikhail Kalinin. The city was occupied by the German army in 1941. Only 2 months later it became the first big city in Europe liberated from the occupation.
• Ulyanovsk is located on the right bank of the Kuibyshev Reservoir. Port's activities extend 90 km downstream and 100 km upstream along the Volga. The port unloads mineral construction materials, food, and industrial products for the cities of Saransk and Uljanovsk, and ships out coal from Kuznetsk Basin, automobiles, foodstuffs. Its passenger area was rebuilt in 1969 and includes a large number of landings, the biggest being Melekess and Sengilei. The basin of the port of Ulyanovsk is protected by a breakwater.
• Saratov (founded in 1590) is the capital city of a huge province that as size equals the territories of Albania, Belgium and Switzerland combined. In the late 19th century, Saratov became a center for industry and trade, Among the city's attractions, are Moskovskaya street (Europe's longest straight street), one of Europe's longest bridges (2,8 km long), children’s theater, puppet theater, Russia’s oldest circus, musical conservatory, beaches, Art Galleries, Lipki Park, two large casinos.
• Volgograd (currently Stalingrad) was founded in 1589. This is a major port and shipping hub linking Donets Basin with the Urals and Upper Volga Region. It ships grain, coal, food, and industrial products upstream and receives mineral construction materials and timber. The port’s districts are situated within the cities of Volzhsk and Volgograd (Tsentral’nyi). Kamyshin is the biggest landing belonging to the port. Among Volgograd's attractions is the Mamayev Hill with numerous sculptures devoted to the WW2 victims and topped with the world’s largest freestanding statue “Mother Russia” (height 52 m / 171 ft). Adjacent is the "Museum of the Defense" (war artifacts, weapons, uniforms).

All ships listed here operate on Russian waterways. To this long list should be additionally added the following boats, which are currently listed in the fleets of their own companies:

• Scenic Tsar (company Scenic Cruises )
• River Victoria (company Uniworld )
• Viking Rurik , Viking Akun , Viking Helgi , Viking Ingvar , Viking Truvor (company Viking Cruises )

Viking River Cruises in Russia - Itinerary "Waterways of the Tsars"

Viking's itinerary is named "Waterways of the Tsars" (13-day cruise) inclusive of:

• all transfers and port charges
• Riverview stateroom
• 10 guided tours (audio headsets provided)
• all onboard meals (including 12 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 12 dinners, Welcome Cocktail Reception, Gala Dinner)
• complimentary beverages (wine, beer, and soft drinks with all dinners and lunches)
• complimentary Wi-Fi
• visiting four UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• enrichment events (onshore live music and dance performances), onboard Russian language lessons, history-themed lectures, Russian cooking workshop, Russian tea time).
• Viking's Russian cruise fares are between USD 5,100 - 5,600 PP. Prices are inclusive of international airfare from 30 USA airports.
• Airport transfers (meet & greet) are included only when flights are purchased through Viking Cruises.

Optional (additionally priced) extensions are:

• (pre-cruise) 2-night Moscow hotel package (Radisson Royal Hotel or similar), with included 2 breakfasts, Moscow Subway guided tour, Viking host services.
• (post-cruise) 3-night Helsinki hotel package (Radisson Blu Plaza or similar), with included 3 breakfasts, guided walking tour, Viking host services, train travel (St Petersburg to Helsinki), all hotel and ship transfers.

Itineraries are two: northbound (Moscow to St Petersburg) or the reverse southbound (St Petersburg to Moscow).

• (Day 1) Moscow arrival, airport to ship transfer, onboard dinner
• (Day 2) half-day Moscow tour (Bolshoi Theater, Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral, GUM Department Store, Moscow Metro)
• (Day 3) free time full-day Moscow touring, or an optional morning tour to Tretyakov Gallery Russian fine art museum). Other optional tours are in the afternoon (Cosmonaut Museum, Jewish Moscow) and in the evening (Moscow by Night).
• (Day 4) Moscow tour to Kremlin (Tsar’s Canon, Tsar’s Bell, 2 cathedrals), scenic Moscow Canal cruise (after lunch) as the ships departs the city.
• (Day 5) Uglich arrival (after lunch), disembarkation for a guided walking tour (Kremlin of Uglich, Church of St Dmitry on the Blood, tea at a local family home), before dinner departure
• (Day 6) Yaroslavl arrival in the morning, guided tour (covered food market, handcrafted souvenirs shopping), free time, ship lunch, departure.
• (Day 7) Kuzino morning arrival, tour to Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery (guided walk- wooden chapels, Assumption Cathedral, museum), children’s school, ship lunch, afternoon departure.
• (Day 8) Kizhi Island (Lake Onega cruising) afternoon arrival, walking tour (Open Air Museum of Architecture- wooden houses, windmills, churches, Preobranzhenskaya Church), evening departure.
• (Day 9) Mandrogy (Svir River cruising) afternoon arrival (Vodka Museum, handmade Russian craft shopping, optional banya / Russian bathhouse visit, optional tour (matryoshka doll making workshop), Lake Ladoga cruising to Neva River.
• (Day 10) — St Petersburg (Neva River cruising), early morning arrival, onboard breakfast, guided tour (Winter Palace, Hermitage Museum), onboard dinner and evening live Russian ballet performance.
• (Day 11) St Petersburg tour to Pushkin district (Catherine Palace), ship lunch, city tour (St Isaac’s Cathedral, Peter and Paul Fortress, Nevsky Prospekt), optional evening folklore performance.
• (Day 12) free time St Petersburg touring (optional morning tour to Peterhof Palace, optional afternoon kommunalka tour, optional St Petersburg canal cruise from), onboard lunch and dinner.
• (Day 13) St Petersburg - onboard breakfast, ship disembarkation, ship to airport transfer for the return flight.

Uniworld Cruises in Russia - itinerary "Imperial Waterways of Russia"

The 13-day long itinerary is named "Imperial Waterways of Russia" and operated by the ship River Victoria. Uniworld's Russian cruise fares range between USD 5,200 and 9,900 PP (depending on cabin category.

• Day 1 – Moscow (Sheremetyevo Airport arrival, ship transfer, embarkation)
• Day 2 – Moscow (city tour, metro tour, Arbat Street) - Bolshoi Theatre, Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral, Russian lunch included, onboard Captain’s Welcome Reception, Gala Dinner
• Day 3 – Moscow (Kremlin, Armory Museum)
• Day 4 – Moscow (leisure day)
• Day 5 – Moscow Canal and Volga River cruising to Uglich (walking tour)
• Day 6 – Yaroslavl (Lake Rybinsk cruising) - city tour
• Day 7 – Goritsy (Lake Onega cruising) - monasteries, St Cyril of the White Lake Monastery, Children’s Arts and Crafts,
• Day 8 – Kizhi Island (Lake Onega cruising) - Open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture
• Day 9 – Svir River cruising to Mandrogi, Lake Ladoga cruising - Mandrogi walk tour (picnic lunch)
• Day 10 – St Petersburg (city tour, canal cruise, Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, ballet performance at Alexandrinsky Theatre)
• Day 11 – St Petersburg (Catherine Palace, Pushkin Park)
• Day 12 – St Petersburg (Winter Palace - Hermitage Museum, Captain’s Farewell Reception, Gala Dinner)
• Day 13 – St Petersburg (disembarkation, transfer and return flight).

Scenic River Cruises in Russia - itinerary "The Imperial Wonders Of Russia"

The itinerary is operated by Scenic Tzar and named "Imperial Jewels of Russia". Its duration is 15-day, along Volga and Svir rivers. Scenic Cruises deals are inclusive of:

• Scenic Enrich - handcrafted, Scenic passengers exclusive tour experiences (private shows, family meals prepared by local hosts)
• Scenic Sundowners - exclusive cocktail events
• all onboard meals (including complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with lunches and dinners)
• onboard doctor
• onboard entertainment
• in-cabin room service
• Wi-Fi internet (Mac mini infotainment system via the cabin's TV)
• all gratuities
• Scenic's Russian cruise fares are USD 11,500 PP.

Day-by-day itinerary info: Day 1 (Moscow), Day 2 (Moscow, Sundowners canal cruise), Day 3 (Moscow - Kremlin), Day 4 (Moscow - Cosmonaut meeting), Day 5 (Moscow - Tretyakov Gallery), Day 6 (Uglich), Day 7 (Yaroslavl - city tour), Day 8 (Goritsy - Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery), Day 9 (Kizhi Island - Church of Transfiguration), Day 10 (Mandrogi - Museum village), Day 11 (St Petersburg - Hermitage), Day 12 (St Petersburg - Peterhof Palace), Day 13 (St Petersburg - Private Ballet performance), Day 14 (St Petersburg - canal cruise), Day 15 (return flight).

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