MS Crucelake-Lebedinoe Ozero

MS Crucelake/Lebedinoye Ozero cruise ship ("теплоход Лебединое Озеро" / translated as "Swan Lake") is a traditional Russian river passenger vessel built for the USSR in the former GDR (East Germany). Until September 2017, she was named "MS General Vatutin" ("теплоход Генерал Ватутин"), after Red Army General Nikolai Fyodorovich Vatutin (1901–1944), who during World War II commanded the Southwestern Front and led several major military operations in Ukraine.

Lebedinoye Ozero operates on the Volga River, cruising between St Petersburg and Moscow on 8-day northbound and southbound itineraries. The ship also offers roundtrips from St Petersburg (3–5-day cruises visiting Lodeynoe Pole, Svirstroy, Mandrogi, Kizhi Island, and the Valaam Islands) and from Moscow (3–6-day itineraries to Uglich, Kostroma, Plyos, Yaroslavl, Myshkin, and Kalyazin). Formerly as MS Vatutin, she also cruised on the Dnieper River and the Black Sea, operating roundtrips from Kiev to Odessa and Vylkove (Danube Delta).

From the same series (Project 302), a total of 28 riverboats were built between 1983 and 1992. All feature diesel-electric propulsion with three propellers and were originally designed for a maximum capacity of 332 passengers.

The vessel’s previous owner (2002–2017) was the Kiev-based Ukrainian company LLC Chervona Ruta. In May 2017, she was acquired by Breeze Cruise Lines Ltd and chartered to the St Petersburg-based company Infoflot (Инфофлот), which operates as both a tour operator and travel agency for Russian and international river and ocean cruises.

For international guests (under the name MS Crucelake), the ship is chartered by Vantage Deluxe World Travel (USA) and DCS Touristik (Germany).

The vessel is currently named after Tchaikovsky’s ballet "Swan Lake" (composed in 1875–1876), one of the world’s most celebrated classical ballets. She was last refurbished in February 2017. Her fleetmate, Lunnaya Sonata (formerly MS Dnieper Star), offers similar amenities. All Project 302 ships feature diesel-electric propulsion (three propellers) and were originally designed for 332 passengers.

Cabins

The ship offers 133 staterooms, including 24 Junior Suites—20 of which feature private balconies (categories A and B) and are named after famous Russian ballet dancers. Other cabin types include 12 Singles (categories A1 and A1-Balcony), 12 Quads (category A4, which can also be booked as Triples, category A3), and 85 Twins (category A2, some convertible to Triples).

All cabins are air-conditioned and heated. Standard amenities include individually controlled air-conditioning, refrigerator, phone (intercom), radio, flat-screen TV (satellite channels), and an en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, washbasin, hairdryer, towels, and bath products). All cabins have opening windows, except those on the Lower Deck, which feature portholes. Suites also include a cabinet, low table with armchairs, dining table, double bed, single or double sofabed (for 3rd–4th guests), floor lamps, bathroom with glass-door shower, and a step-out balcony furnished with a table and two chairs.

Cabin TVs offer Russian channels, recorded movies and cartoons, live bow camera views, a ship security channel (emergency instructions), and a ship channel showing the itinerary map and current location.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

Lebedinoye Ozero’s onboard facilities include:

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

Shipboard activities include:

• The Theater doubles as a Cinema, Conference Hall, Meeting Room, Dance Lounge, Disco, and Karaoke Bar, with its own Bar service. It also hosts lectures, cultural presentations, port talks, traditional tea ceremonies, Russian language lessons, dance and singing classes, blini and vodka tastings, live performances (classical and folk music), and silent discos.
• Karaoke sessions feature professional audio equipment, a wide song repertoire, and live accompaniment by onboard vocalists.
• The Solarium Bar offers alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and light snacks.
• Odile Bar-Restaurant serves dinner only, with an à la carte menu.
• Fouette Bar is the ship’s Main Lounge (Piano Bar / Coffee House / Music Salon), with a full-service bar, dance floor, grand piano, and stage for live performances in various music styles, including classical, jazz, and blues.
• Cafe Libretto (patisserie) serves specialty coffee and gourmet desserts.
• The Arts Salon hosts complimentary arts and crafts workshops, including matryoshka (nesting doll) painting classes.
• The “Little Swan” Kids Room is an indoor play area with qualified staff supervising children aged 2 to 12.
• 24-hour Coffee Stations on the Main and Middle Decks offer complimentary beverages and snacks (coffee, tea, cocoa, milk, cookies).
• Both restaurants serve buffet-style breakfast and waiter-served lunch and dinner featuring Russian and European cuisine. Three meals daily are included in the cruise fare. Special dietary and vegetarian options are available. Complimentary drinks include champagne (at breakfast) and wine or vodka (at dinner), along with herbal teas and oxygen cocktails.
• Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi, morning exercises, yoga and pilates classes (led by a professional instructor), gym workouts, bicycle rentals, and the covered Solarium (Swan Park).
• All shore excursions are guided, with most included in the cruise fare.

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