MS Crucelake-Lebedinoe Ozero

MS Crucelake/Lebedinoye Ozero cruise ship ("теплоход Лебединое Озеро" круизный корабль / translated "Swan Lake") is a traditional Russian river passenger ship built for the USSR (Soviet Union) in GDR (Eastern Germany). Until September 2017, the boat was named "MS General Vatutin" ("теплоход Генерал Ватутин") - after the Red Army general Nikolai Fyodorovich Vatutin (1901-1944) who during WW2 (1939-1945) commanded the Southwestern Front and was responsible for many military operations in Ukraine.

Lebedinoye Ozero ship cruises on Volga River, between St Petersburg and Moscow (8-day northbound and southbound itinerary). Also offered are roundtrips from St Petersburg (3-5-day itineraries visiting Lodeynoe Pole, Svirstroy, Mandrogi, Kizhi Island, Valaam islands) and from Moscow (3-4-5-6-day itineraries to Uglich, Kostroma, Plyos, Yaroslavl, Myshkin, Kalyazin). MS Vatutin operated on Dnieper River and the Black Sea cruises leaving roundtrip from Kiev to Odessa (Black Sea) and Vylkove (Danube Delta).

From the same series (Project 302) are a total of 28 boats manufactured in the period 1983-1992. All these ships are with diesel-electric propulsion (three propellers) and originally designed with a capacity of 332 passengers (max).

Previous shipowner (2002-2017) was the Kiev-based Ukrainian company LLC Chervona Ruta. In May 2017, the vessel was purchased by "Breeze Cruise Lines Ltd" and chartered to the St Petersburg-based Russian company Infoflot (Инфофлот). Infoflot operates as both tour operator and travel agency for Russian and international river and ocean cruise deals.

For foreign tourists, (as MS Crucelake) the ship is chartered by the travel companies Vantage Deluxe World Travel (USA) and DCS Touristik (Germany).

The vessel is currently named after the ballet "Swan Lake" - composed by Tchaikovsky (in 1875-1876) and ranked one of the world's most famous ballets of all times. The ship was last refurbished in February 2017. With similar amenities is the fleet mate Lunnaya Sonata (former MS Dnieper Star). From the same series (Project 302) are a total of 28 boats manufactured in the period 1983-1992. All these ships are with diesel-electric propulsion (three propellers) and originally designed with a capacity of 332 passengers (max).

Cabins

The ship has a total of 133 staterooms, including 24 Junior Suites, of which 20 are with private balcony (categories A and B) and named after famous Russian ballet dancers. The other cabins include 12 Singles (categories A1 and A1-Balcony), 12 Quads (category А4, can be booked also as Triples/category А3) and 85 Twins (category А2, some can be booked as Triples).

All cabins are air-conditioned and heated. Each stateroom as standard amenities offers individually controlled air-conditioning, refrigerator, phone (intercom), radio, flat TV (satellite reception), en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, washbasin, hairdryer, towels, bath products), opening window (excepting Lower Deck cabins which are with portholes). Suites additionally have a cabinet, low table with armchairs, dining table, double bed, single or double sofabed (3rd-4th person), floor lamps, bathroom with glass-door shower, step-out balcony (furnished with 1 table and 2 chairs).

Cabin TVs show all-Russian channels, as well as recorded films and cartoons, live views (from a camera installed on the bow), ship security channel (instructions in cases of emergency), ship channel (showing itinerary map and current location).

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

Lebedinoye Ozero ship's facilities include:

• (Upper-Circle / Sun Deck) Swan Park is a covered area with outdoor seating (loungers, deckchairs, tables), indoor Theater (Cinema / Silent Disco / Conference Hall / Karaoke Bar / Dance Lounge), Gym (outdoor fitness area with training machines), Mini-golf course (putting green)
• (Baignoire / Boat Deck) Fouette Bar (Main Lounge / Piano Bar), Odile Restaurant (Bar-Restaurant), Coffee Station
• (Amphitheater / Middle Deck) Cafe Libretto (Patisserie Bar), Odette Restaurant (Dining Room), Library ((Reading Lounge), Boutique (Souvenir Shop)
• (Parquet / Main Deck) Medical Room (Infirmary), Beauty Salon (hairdresser and barber services), Spa (Massage Room), Lobby (Reception / Guest Services Desk, Cruise Director's Office, Tour Desk), Arts Salon, Coffee Station, Kids Room (Little Swan / indoor playground), Ironing Room (laundry service)
• (Orchestra / Lower Deck) Sauna Room, Fitness (Gym Room), staff and crew cabins

Shipboard activities include:

• The theatre is the ship's Cinema that doubles as Conference Hall / Meeting Room / Dance Lounge / Disco / Karaoke Bar, and is served by its own Bar. The lounge also serves the cruise company's enrichment program. Here are hosted lectures and media presentations themed on Russia's history and culture. Port talks (by professional tour guides) provide information on visited regions, river ports, nearby towns, shore excursions and tours. Here are also held traditional tea ceremonies, Russian language lessons, dancing and singing classes, master classes on vocals and musical instruments, blini and vodka tastings, live shows and musical performances (classical and Russian folk music, concerts), nightly disco (with headphones).
• Theater's karaoke sessions are with high-quality sound equipment, a wide repertoire of songs and accompaniment of professional back-vocalists from the ship's art group.
• The Solarium is served by its own full-service Bar, selling alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and snacks.
• Bar-Restaurant Odile is a dinner-only restaurant with a la carte priced menu.
• Fouette Bar is the ship's Main Lounge (Piano Bar / Patisserie / Coffee House / Music Salon) with full-service bar, dance floor, grand piano and stage for live performances. Before and after dinner, at the Bar Lounge is played live music in various styles, including classical (also chamber concerts), jazz, blues.
• Cafe Libretto (patisserie) serves speciality coffee and gourmet sweets.
• The Arts Salon offers complimentary art and craft activities and classes (including nesting doll/matryoshka painting classes).
• Kids room "Little Swan" is an indoor playground with qualified (full-time) staff providing supervised activities for children ages 2 to 12.
• On the Main and Middle decks, 24-hour Coffee Stations with complimentary drinks and snacks (coffee, hot water, packed tea, milk, cocoa, cookies) are available.
• Both restaurants offer buffet-style breakfast and waiter-served lunch and dinner with Russian cuisine-themed menus. European cuisine is offered on longer itineraries. Three meals a day are included in cruise ticket prices. Dietary meals, as well as vegetarian dishes,  are also available in the menus. Free drinks include a glass of champagne (at breakfast) and a glass of wine or vodka (at dinner). Complimentary are offered herbal teas and oxygen cocktails.
• The ship provides free Wi-Fi, complimentary morning exercises, yoga and pilates classes (led by a professional instructor), sports training (gym equipment), Bicycle Rent Point, covered Solarium (Swan Park).
• All shore excursions are guided, and most of them are included in cruise tour prices.

Note: You can see the CruiseMapper's list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub. All companies and their fleets are listed there.