Sochi (Russia)
Cruise Port schedule, live map, terminals, news
Region
Mediterranean - Black Sea
Local Time
2024-10-04 11:25
19.7°C
1.1 m/s
54 °F / 12 °C
Sochi is a Black Sea port city in Krasnodar Krai (Russia), located close to the Russian border with Georgia. The city covers a total area of approx 177 km2 (68 mi2) and has population around 350,000, ranking it Russia's biggest resort city.
Greater Sochi (metro area including subordinated localities and territories) covers land area approx 3526 km2 (1361 mi2), sprawling 145 km (90 mi) along the Black Sea coast near the Caucasus Mountains. Part of the Caucasian Riviera, Sochi is one of the few places in Russia with a subtropical climate, mild winters and warm to hot summers.
Dubbed "Russia's Black Sea cruise capital", Sochi is the homeport for several Russian-flagged cruise vessels operating roundtrips to ports in Crimea. Since March 2022, Sochi is the homeport for the new brand "Akvilon Cruises" and its ship Astoria Grande (fka AIDAcara). Astoria Grande offers voyages in the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean, visiting ports in Georgia, Turkey, Greece (Greek Islands), Egypt, Israel.
In 2024 was inaugurated the Sochi-Trabzon ferry route. The ship deployed on the new Russia-Turkey maritime link has capacity ~300 passengers (max) and 200 vehicles.
With the alpine and Nordic events held at the nearby ski resort Roza Khutor (Krasnaya Polyana), Sochi hosted the XXII Olympic Winter Games and the XI Paralympic Winter Games 2014, as well as the Russian "Formula 1 Grand Prix" (2014-2020). It will also be one of the host cities for 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Sochi is unique among other bigger Russian cities as a subtropical resort. Apart from the picturesque Caucasus Mountains and sand beaches, the city appeals to vacation-tourists with its numerous parks, monuments, vegetation, and extravagant Stalin-era architecture. Around 2 million people each summer visit Greater Sochi, when in the city is held the annual "Kinotavr" film festival - one of the getaways for Russia's elite.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve (2957 km2 / 731000 acres) is located north from the city.
Sochi cruise terminal
Port Sochi terminal building was constructed in 1955 in Stalinist-style architecture design. The building is topped with a 71 m (233 ft) high steepled tower.
Sculptures embodying cardinal points and seasons are set above the tower's 3 tiers.
- Cruise Industry
Astoria Grande ship (fka AIDAcara) up for sale at $40-50M
MS Astoria Grande/formerly known as AIDAcara is now listed for sale after 2 years of service in the Russian cruise market. Originally sold by...
October 2, 2024 - Cruise Industry
Sochi Commercial Seaport explores purchase of cargo and passenger ferry for new Sochi-Trabzon route
Yuri Vladimirov (the General Director of Sochi Commercial Seaport Russia) has revealed that the port's management intends to procure a RoPax vessel...
February 23, 2024 - Accidents
Astoria Grande cruise ship forced to leave the Georgian Black Sea port of Batumi
On July 27th, the Astoria Grande cruise ship carrying ~800 passengers, including Russians, was compelled to depart from Port Batumi (Georgia) shortly...
July 28, 2023 - Cruise Industry
New cruises from Russia’s Sochi to Egypt offered by the Turkish ship Astoria Grande/AIDAcara
Russia’s Sochi Port announced the launch of a new cruise itinerary visiting Alexandria (Egypt), which is expected to increase traffic at the...
February 22, 2023 - Accidents
Astoria Grande ship (fka AIDAcara) collides with breakwater at port Amasra (Turkey)
Passenger ship Astoria Grande (fka AIDAcara) collided with a breakwater at ~9 am local time (~6 am UTC) on Wednesday, January 18th, while trying to...
January 18, 2023 - Cruise Industry
Turkey’s new Black Sea harbour Amasra-Bartin welcomes first cruise ship
Turkey’s brand new harbor in the Bartin province - Amasra Harbour hosted its first passenger ship on Wednesday, August 3. The construction of...
August 4, 2022 - Cruise Industry
Russia's Astoria Grande ship (ex AIDAcara) operates Black Sea cruises from Sochi to Istanbul...
Russia is preparing to launch voyages to Turkey this month with the Astoria Grande ship operating in the Black Sea roundtrips from Sochi Russia to...
July 12, 2022 - Accidents
TUI Cruises cancels all of its calls to Russia and Ukraine for 2022
TUI announced the cancellation of its calls to Russia and Ukraine this summer season. All scheduled calls of Schiff 6 to Sankt Petersburg...
March 1, 2022 - Accidents
Windstar Cruises cancels Black Sea sailings, replaces St. Petersburg with a non-Russian port
Windstar Cruises also made adjustments to its itineraries due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis. The cruise line cancelled all sailings and cruise tours...
February 26, 2022 - Cruise Industry
Atlas Ocean Voyages introduce 2 new itineraries aboard World Navigator
Due to the popularity of its unique all-inclusive Max Shore experiences, Atlas Ocean Voyages (AOV) introduced two new luxe-adventure itineraries...
September 22, 2020 - show more news