MS Lunnaya Sonata

MS Lunnaya Sonata cruise ship ("теплоход Лунная Соната" / translated as "Moonlight Sonata") is a traditional Russian river passenger vessel built for the USSR (Soviet Union) in the GDR (East Germany). Lunnaya Sonata cruises along the Neva and Volga rivers on mostly roundtrip itineraries departing from Moscow and St Petersburg.

The ship is currently owned and operated by Infoflot, which functions as both a tour operator and travel agency, offering Russian and international river and ocean cruise deals.

The vessel is named after the famous piano sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827). Completed in 1801, it was dedicated the following year to Beethoven’s pupil, Countess Giulietta Guicciardi. The ship was last refurbished in 2018. Her fleetmate with similar amenities is Lebedinoe Ozero (formerly MS General Vatutin). From the same series (Project 302), a total of 28 vessels were built between 1983 and 1992. All these ships are equipped with diesel-electric propulsion (three propellers) and were originally designed to carry up to 332 passengers.

Cabins

The ship has a total of 142 staterooms, including 2 Two-Room Suites, 10 Singles (category A1), 12 Quads (category A4, also bookable as Triples / category A3), and 118 Twins (category A2, some convertible to Triples).

All cabins are air-conditioned and heated. Standard amenities include individually controlled climate control, refrigerator, phone (intercom), radio, flat-screen TV (satellite reception), and an en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, washbasin, hairdryer, towels, bath products). Each stateroom has an opening window, except Lower Deck cabins, which feature portholes. Suites additionally include a cabinet, low table with two armchairs, a double bed, double sofabed (for a fourth guest), and floor lamps.

Cabin TVs offer all-Russian channels, recorded movies and cartoons, live views from a bow-mounted camera, a ship security channel (with emergency instructions), and a ship information channel showing the itinerary map and current position.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

Facilities aboard Lunnaya Sonata include:

• Sun Deck: Solarium with covered outdoor seating (loungers, deckchairs, tables), indoor Theater (Cinema / Silent Disco / Conference Hall / Karaoke Bar / Dance Lounge), outdoor Gym (fitness area with training machines), and Mini-golf course (putting green).
• Boat Deck: Music Boutique (Main Lounge / Piano Bar), Jazz Restaurant (Bar-Restaurant), and Coffee Station.
• Middle Deck: Café Beethoven (Patisserie Bar), Blues Restaurant (Dining Room), Library (Reading Lounge), and Boutique (Souvenir Shop).
• 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 (“Bremen Musicians” indoor playground), and Ironing Room (laundry service).
• Lower Deck: Sauna Room, Fitness Room (Gym), and staff/crew cabins.

Shipboard activities include:

• The Theater serves as Cinema, Conference Hall, Meeting Room, Dance Lounge, Disco, and Karaoke Bar, with its own Bar. It also hosts Infoflot’s enrichment program, featuring lectures and multimedia presentations about Russian history and culture, as well as port talks by professional tour guides on regional attractions and shore excursions. Other activities include traditional tea ceremonies, Russian language lessons, dance and vocal classes, blini and vodka tastings, live concerts (classical and folk music), and nightly silent discos.
• Karaoke sessions feature professional-quality sound equipment, an extensive song selection, and live accompaniment by the ship’s art ensemble vocalists.
• The Solarium Bar serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and light snacks.
• The Jazz Bar-Restaurant offers dinner-only à la carte service.
• The Music Boutique (Main Lounge / Piano Bar) features a full-service bar, dance floor, grand piano, and live performances in classical, jazz, and blues styles before and after dinner.
• Café Beethoven serves specialty coffee and gourmet desserts.
• The Arts Salon offers complimentary arts and crafts workshops, including matryoshka (nesting doll) painting classes.
• The Kids Room “Bremen Musicians” is a supervised indoor play area for children aged 2–12, managed by qualified staff.
• Complimentary 24-hour Coffee Stations (Main and Middle Decks) offer coffee, tea, milk, cocoa, cookies, and light snacks.
• Both restaurants serve buffet breakfast and waiter-served lunch and dinner featuring Russian cuisine. On longer itineraries, European dishes are added to the menu. Three daily meals are included in cruise fares. Special diets and vegetarian options are available. Complimentary beverages include champagne at breakfast and wine or vodka at dinner, as well as herbal teas and oxygen cocktails.
• The ship also provides free Wi-Fi, morning exercise sessions, yoga and pilates classes (led by a professional instructor), gym workouts, a bicycle rental station, and a covered sun deck (Solarium).
• All shore excursions are guided, with most included in the cruise fare.

Note: You can view the full list of river cruise ships and riverboats in the “itinerary” section of our River Cruises hub. All cruise lines and their fleets are listed there.