Russian river cruise ships in 2022

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Photo by Ray Harrington on Unsplash

Russian river cruise ships in 2022

A cruise along Russia’s rivers and lakes provides a unique way to experience all that this magical country has to offer. In just one trip you can sail between the great cities of Russia, uncover hidden gems only accessible by boat, and get acquainted with traditional Russian culture, food and way of life. You’ll have a front-row seat of the magnificent Russian landscape and can watch the world go by, undisturbed by the hustle and bustle of the city. What are the different ships you can travel on during your Russian river cruise, and what can you expect on board?

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Photo by Tsarev A on Wikimediа

3-star ships

Georgy Chicherin

The 3-star Georgy Chicherin cruise liner was constructed in Germany and completely renovated in 2012 to a deluxe 3-star liner standard. It was named after the Marxist revolutionary and Soviet politician Georgy Chicherin – a distant relative of Alexander Pushkin, who served as the first foreign minister of the Soviet Union.

Passengers can enjoy their free time aboard the Georgy Chicherin in the Volga restaurant, Neva restaurant-bar, Ladoga bar, Panorama music lounge, and coffee shop; visit the open sun deck with its sun-loungers, tables and chairs, or the sauna on the lower deck; and browse the souvenir shop. The ship is also equipped with ironing/laundry facilities and a medical center.

Up to 280 passengers can sail aboard the Georgy Chicherin liner, staying in four classes of cabins which are arranged over four decks. Each cabin is equipped with heating and ventilation, a refrigerator, wardrobe, mirror, 220 V electrical socket, and private shower and toilet facilities.

• Single: a cabin with one single bed, around 7 square meters in size. The cabin is equipped with a large, opening window. Single cabins are located on the Boat Deck (4^th floor).
• Twin: a cabin which measures approximately 11 square meters. It has two single-tier twin beds, one of which can fold away allowing the cabin to be single occupancy, and an opening window. Twin cabins are on the Boat, Middle and Main Decks (2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th floor).
• Quad: a four-bed cabin with two sets of bunk beds. The upper beds can be folded away and the cabin can accommodate 2, 3 or 4 passengers. The room is 13 square meters in size and equipped with two non-opening portholes and small table and chairs. Quads are located on the Lower Deck (1^st floor).
• Suite: a two-room cabin ideal for a luxury getaway, which can sleep up to 3 guests. The suite is 30 square meters in size with 4 large, opening windows. The bedroom has a king-size bed, wardrobe and mirror; the lounge area has a spacious wardrobe, table, sofa bed, armchair, pouffe, and TV; and the kitchenette has a refrigerator, kettle and sink. The two suites are located on the Boat Deck (4^th floor).

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4-star ships

Photo by Mike1979 Russia on Wikimediа

For something a bit grander, explore these 4-star cruise liners which sail on Russia’s waterways:

• Kronshtadt
• Nizhny Novgorod
• Nikolai Chernyshevsky
• Konstantin Fedin

Each of these ships is very similar in terms of cabins and on-board facilities, are German-built, were refurbished in 2018-2019, and can accommodate between 204 and 218 passengers over 4 decks.

Each cabin is equipped with a private shower and toilet facilities, new furniture and lighting, heating and ventilation, wardrobe, hair dryer, refrigerator, television, and at least one 220 V socket. All cabins have a large, opening window (except lower deck Triple cabins which have non-opening portholes). The cabin classes you can find on board the 4-star cruise liners are:

• Single: a 7-square meter cabin with a single bed, found on the Middle or Boat Deck. Located on all ships.
• Twin: a 10.5-square meter cabin with two twin beds, situated on the Middle or Boat Deck. These cabins are located on all ships, and on the Nizhny Novgorod ship you can also find Twin cabins with a king-size bed (2 single beds joined together).
• Triple: an 11-square meter cabin with two lower bunks and one upper bunk. One of the beds folds away so this cabin can also be double occupancy. Located on the Lower Deck in all ships.
• Deluxe: there are two types of deluxe cabins on all ships: 13-square meter cabins on the Main Deck with two twin beds arranged in an L-shape; and 15.5-square meter cabins on the Middle/Boat Deck with one king-size bed (twin beds joined together).
• Junior Suite: a double-size cabin measuring 23.5 square meters. As well as a king-size bed it has a lounge area with two armchairs and a sofa bed. This cabin can sleep 3 passengers and is only found on the Middle Deck of the Nikolai Chernyshevsky ship.
• Suite: a two-room cabin measuring between 26 and 30 square meters depending on the ship. The bedroom has a king-size bed and the lounge has armchairs and a sofa bed. On the Chernyshevsky, Fedin and Kronshtadt ships the Suite has a separate lounge room; on the Nizhny Novgorod there is a small partition between the bedroom and lounge.

The décor, furniture and layout of the cabins and ships differs slightly, so visit our website for photos of each 4-star cruise liner. Aside from relaxing in the grand cabins, passengers can spend time in the ships’ restaurants and bars, enjoy the weather from the open sun deck, use the sauna and on-board gym, and visit the souvenir shop. All ships are equipped with ironing/laundry facilities and a medical centre.

Photo on Vodohod

Konstantin Korotkov

The Konstantin Korotkov cruise liner is rated as 4-star plus, and is nicer and more expensive than the other 4-star ships. Like the other cruise liners it was built in Germany, and was refurbished in 2020 with attractive Scandi-style décor. All cabins are equipped with brand-new furniture and lighting, modern private showers and toilet facilities, large, opening windows (except for Triple cabins), a mirror, kettle, television, hair dryer, electrical sockets and heating and air conditioning systems. Aboard this ship you will find several restaurants, three bars, a music lounge, a souvenir shop, sun deck and sauna. A medical center and ironing/laundry room are also on board.

212 passengers can travel aboard the Korotkov liner in five cabin classes:

• Single: a cabin measuring between 6.3 and 7.7 square meters, with a single bed, desk/dressing table and pouffe. Located on the Main and Middle Decks.
• Twin: 9-square meter cabin equipped with two single beds and a small, extendable table. Found on the Middle and Boat Decks.
• Triple: a 10-square meter cabin with three single beds (one of which folds into the wall for a double occupancy room) and non-opening portholes. Located on the Lower Deck.
• Deluxe: a cabin sized between 11 and 14 square meters, equipped with a table, desk/dressing table, pouffe, and armchair. Situated on the Main, Middle and Boat Decks. The Deluxe cabins on the main deck have twin beds, and those on the Middle and Boat Decks have double beds.
• Suite: a stylish 25-square meter cabin illuminated by 4 windows. The bedroom has a king-size bed and is separated from the lounge area by a wooden partition; the lounge has a large sofa bed (accommodating one extra guest) and a desk/dressing table and pouffe. The suites are located on the Middle Deck.

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Photo by Mike1979 Russia on Wikimediа

5-star ships

Mstislav Rostropovich

Named after the eminent Soviet cellist and conductor, the Mstislav Rostropovich is a luxury cruise liner with a 212-passenger capacity. It was built in Czechoslovakia and refurbished just over a decade ago. Aside from relaxing in their 5-star cabins, passengers aboard the Rostropovich can unwind in the panoramic bar and lounge, dine in the “Opera” or Symphony” restaurants, watch lectures or films in the conference hall, and visit the fitness room and solarium.

Passengers can choose from several luxury cabin classes. All cabins are equipped with large, scenic windows, private toilet and shower, individually-controlled air conditioning, refrigerator, safe, hair dryer, television and telephone. Cabins on the Main Deck don’t have balconies, whereas those on the Middle, Boat and Sun Decks do.

• Standard:
  • Without balcony: 12-square meter cabin with a double bed, or a 13-square meter cabin with two single beds.
  • With balcony: cabins measure between 12.5-13.5 square meters and have two single beds (which can be joined together). On the balcony is a table and two chairs.
• Deluxe:
  • Without balcony: measuring around 19 square meters, with two twin beds which can be joined together.
  • With balcony: measuring approximately 16 square meters, with two twin beds/double bed and a balcony with table and chairs.
• Junior Suite: a cabin around 22 square meters in size which is very similar to the Deluxe without a balcony, but is slightly wider.
• Suite:
  • Bolshoi, Mariinsky and Hermitage Suites: ranging between 19 – 22 square meters, these suites have twin beds which can be joined into a king-size bed, armchairs and a small table, and a balcony with table and chairs.
  • Imperial Suite: the crème de la crème of the Rostropovich’s luxury suites, located at the bow of the ship. The 30-square meter suite has a double bed, lounge area with sofa and chairs, a full-size bath in the bathroom, and a panoramic balcony offering a beautiful view over the water.

Photo by Mike1979 Russia on Wikimediа

Mustai Karim

The Mustai Karim is the newest of all the Russian river cruise ships, and its launch in September 2019 was a momentous event for Russia’s shipbuilding and cruise industry. It was designed as a ‘5* hotel on water’ to the most modern and luxurious specifications, and includes the most opulent cabin of all – the Owner’s Suite. On board you can find a panoramic lounge, two restaurants, several bars, a wine library, lecture hall and cinema, spa with massage salon, gym, sauna and hammam, souvenir shop, beauty salon, and medical center with on-board doctor. The ship also has a lift, making it accessible for disabled guests.

Just over 300 passengers can be accommodated on the Mustai Karim in spacious rooms, decorated in contemporary style with neutral colours. All cabins feature floor-to-ceiling windows, a wardrobe, television, safe, refrigerator, hairdryer, telephone, power sockets, minibar, kettle and coffee maker, coffee table and armchairs, and private toilet and shower (suites also boast a bathtub).

• Standard: a twin/double cabin which measures 16.6 square meters. Located on the Middle and Boat Deck.
• Deluxe: a twin/double cabin measuring 18.6 square meters, located on the Middle, Boat and Upper Deck. There are 6 pairs of Connected Deluxe cabins which are ideal for families travelling together.
• Junior Suite: a spacious twin/double cabin of 30 square meters in size, accommodating a bedroom and lounge area. Located on the Upper Deck. One of the Junior Suites is disabled-friendly.
• Suite: the suites range from 23 – 38 square meters in size and are located on the Middle Deck. The larger suites have a double bed and sofa looking out of the panoramic windows, and the smallest two suites have a double bed and balcony.
• Owner’s Suite: this is the most luxurious of any suite available on Russian river cruises. Measuring 46 square meters, this two-room cabin has a bedroom with king-size bed, walk-in wardrobe, separate lounge area with tables and a large, comfortable sofa bed, and huge balcony.