MS Igor Stravinsky

MS Igor Stravinsky cruise ship ("теплоход Игорь Стравинский" круизный корабль) is a traditional Russian river passenger vessel built for the USSR (Soviet Union) in the former GDR (East Germany). MS Stravinsky operates cruises along the Volga and Don rivers in Russia, sailing between Moscow and Rostov-on-Don (12-day itinerary), and between St Petersburg and Moscow (11-day itinerary).

From the same vessel series, a total of 28 ships were built between 1983 and 1992. All are equipped with diesel-electric propulsion (three propellers) and were originally designed to carry up to 332 passengers.

The ship was built in 1983 for the Russian state-owned company “Volga-Donskoe Rechnoe Parokhodstvo” (“Волго-Донское пароходство”, now “Азово-Донское Пароходство”) based in Rostov-on-Don. Today, the vessel is owned by the Russian construction company Rechflotinvest and operated under charter by Doninturflot (through “Orthodox Cruise Company”) and “Imperial River Cruises Russia.”

The ship is named after the renowned Russian pianist, conductor, and composer Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (1882–1971). MS Stravinsky underwent a complete refurbishment in 2011.

As is traditional for this type of Russian river cruise vessel, MS Stravinsky offers the following onboard facilities:

• two restaurants (main dining room and bar-restaurant, the latter serving dinner only)
• three bars and a small boutique (Souvenir Shop)
• spacious Lobby (Reception/Guest Services Desk) and Coffee Station (offering coffee, hot water, tea, milk, cocoa, and cookies)
• Bar Lounge (piano bar)
• Conference Hall and Bar (Music Hall/Cinema/Meeting Room)
• Reading Lounge (Library)
• Sun Deck (Solarium with outdoor seating, deckchairs, and 4-seat tables), covered fitness area (outdoor gym with exercise equipment)
• wrap-around Promenade Deck with outdoor seating areas
• Medical Room (Infirmary)
• Beauty Salon (hairdresser, barber, and massage services)
• Ironing Room (laundry service) and Sauna
• Wi-Fi available onboard at a cost of USD 5 per device per day

Onboard entertainment includes games, traditional tea ceremonies (with pies), themed parties (folk shows and dance evenings), daily live music performances (piano and concerts), Russian language lessons, dancing and singing classes, blini (pancake) and vodka tastings, and cultural lectures. The main dining room menu features regional specialties inspired by the ports visited along the cruise route.

The ship’s crew includes certified, government-licensed Russian tour guides fluent in English or German. They lead the enrichment program both onboard and ashore, delivering lectures on Russian culture, art, history, and politics, as well as detailed briefings about the ports and excursions throughout the cruise itinerary.

Cabins

The ship offers several stateroom categories, including 2 Triple Cabins, 30 Standard Twin, 30 Premium Twin, 36 Junior Suites (including 2 Family Junior/2-Room Suites), and 2 Suites. All cabins feature individually controlled air conditioning (thermostat-controlled heating and ventilation), wardrobe, bedside table, mirrored dressing table with padded stool, mini-refrigerator, radio, flat-screen TV, safe deposit box (in the closet), and en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, single-sink vanity). All cabins have large opening windows, except those on the Lower Deck, which feature round portholes.

Most staterooms are furnished with two single beds. Panorama Suites and Family Junior Suites are two-room accommodations consisting of a separate bedroom (with double bed) and living room (with sofa and armchairs). Suites can accommodate a third guest via a folding bed. Panorama Suites feature a bathtub/shower combination.

Note: You can view CruiseMapper’s complete list of river cruise ships and riverboats in the “itinerary” section of our River Cruises hub, where all companies and their fleets are listed.