MS Ivan Kulibin

The MS Ivan Kulibin cruise ship ("теплоход Иван Кулибин" круизный корабль) is a traditional Russian river passenger vessel originally built for the USSR in Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). MS Kulibin operates cruises on the Volga River, primarily offering roundtrip itineraries from Nizhny Novgorod to Moscow, Astrakhan, Saratov, and Volgograd. Itinerary durations range from 1 day to 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, or 14 days.

The vessel is currently owned by the Russian shipping company VODOHOD (Водоход) and operated under charter by GAMA Tours, a Nizhny Novgorod-based cruise company established in 1994. GAMA Tours specializes in domestic and inbound tourism, organizing regular river cruises in Russia along the Volga, Oka, and Kama rivers. The company also offers bus tours across Russia and vacations on the Black Sea for international tourists. Its vessels are available for private charters, including business events, celebrations, school proms, and group excursions.

The ship was reconstructed in 1998 in the Czech Republic. She belongs to the "Project 26-37" (Oktyabrskaya Revolyutsiya-class) series of which 14 vessels were built between 1957 and 1962. These ships were originally designed to accommodate 312 passengers and 70 crew members.

Cabins

The ship has a total of 97 staterooms, including 2 Two-Room Suites, 4 Junior Suites, 13 Singles, 50 Doubles, 16 Triples, and 10 Quads (which can also be booked as Triples).

All cabins feature standard amenities such as individually controlled air conditioning, refrigerator, telephone (intercom), radio, flat-screen TV (satellite reception), and an en-suite bathroom with WC, shower, washbasin, hairdryer, towels, and toiletries. Each cabin also has a wardrobe and an opening window (Lower Deck cabins have portholes). Suites include a double bed, low table with two pouffes, a double sofa bed (for a third and fourth guest), and two windows. Quad, triple, and some double cabins feature upper bunk beds.

Due to the vessel’s original design, economy-class cabins do not have full bathrooms (washbasin only, no WC or shower). Guests in these cabins use shared public restrooms and showers located on deck. All Lower Deck and Main Deck cabins (Doubles, Triples, and Quads in categories 2A, 2B, and 3A) are equipped only with a washbasin and lack air conditioning and refrigerators.

Cabin TVs broadcast Russian channels, recorded movies and cartoons, live footage from the bow camera, a security channel (with emergency instructions), and a ship channel displaying the itinerary map and current location.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

Ship facilities include:

• Boat Deck: Sun Deck (aft Solarium with outdoor seating—loungers, deckchairs, tables, and folding chairs), indoor Theater (Cinema / Conference Room / Concert Hall / Disco Bar with piano), forward Dining Room Restaurant, common restrooms and showers, and wraparound Promenade Deck with seating.
• Middle Deck: Reading Lounge (forward Music Salon / Library Lounge with grand piano), aft Bar Lounge, shower rooms, and wraparound Promenade Deck with seating.
• Main Deck: Bar-Restaurant (forward Dining Room with bar service and à la carte menu), Medical Room (Infirmary), Lobby (Reception / Guest Services Desk, Cruise Director’s Office, Tour Desk), and common restrooms and showers.
• Lower Deck: Ironing Room (laundry service), passenger and crew cabins with portholes, and common restrooms and showers.

Shipboard activities include:

• The Theater serves as a Cinema, Conference Hall, Concert Hall, Dance Lounge, and Disco Nightclub, featuring its own bar. It also hosts the cruise company’s enrichment program, including lectures and multimedia presentations on Russian history and culture. Port talks by professional tour guides provide information on destinations and excursions. Guests can also enjoy traditional tea ceremonies, Russian language lessons, music and art classes (such as matryoshka doll painting), blini and vodka tastings, live performances of classical and folk music, concerts, themed parties, and nightly disco events with a DJ.
• Both restaurants feature bar service and à la carte menus. Dining is not included in cruise fares. Menus emphasize Russian cuisine, with vegetarian and dietary options available. European cuisine is offered on longer itineraries. Two dining packages can be pre-purchased: 3-meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) or 2-meal (lunch and dinner). Only Lower Deck porthole cabins (Triples and Quads) can be booked without onboard dining, and only during July and August.
• Wi-Fi is available in both restaurants.
• All shore excursions are guided and optional (not included in the cruise price).

Note: You can explore 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.