MS Maxim Gorky

MS Maxim Gorky cruise ship ("теплоход Максим Горький") is a traditional Russian river vessel of Project Q-040 (Maksim Gorkiy-class). This USSR-built ship is currently owned and operated by the Russian cruise company VODOHOD ("Водоход"). MS Gorky sails on the Volga River between St Petersburg and Moscow. In 2020, VODOHOD introduced a unique Yenisei River itinerary, featuring roundtrips from Krasnoyarsk and one-way voyages between Krasnoyarsk (Красноярск) and Dudinka (Дудинка).

The vessel sails under the Russian flag (MMSI 273354150) and is registered in Nizhny Novgorod. Her Captain (Master) is Yuri Germanovich Sintsov (Юрий Германович Синцов / Капитан теплохода). The ship accommodates up to 112 passengers, served by a crew of 60.

Only two sisterships of this class were built: Maxim Gorky (yard number K704, delivered in April) and Aleksandr Pushkin (yard number K705, delivered in October). Both ships were completed in 1974 by the Austrian shipbuilder Österreichische Schiffswerften AG at the Korneuburg shipyard. The vessels feature 4 decks, a passenger capacity of 160 (maximum 216 plus 66 crew), displacement of 2100 tons, draught of 2.3 m (7 ft), and a 1.35 MW propulsion system (two 6ChRN 36-45 marine diesel engines).

From 1974 to 2012, the ship was operated by the Volga Shipping Company (Волжское пароходство), which in 2012 was rebranded as Vodohod. The vessel is named after Maxim Gorky (born Alexei Maximovich Peshkov, 1868–1936), the renowned Russian writer and political activist.

VODOHOD’s predecessor, the Volga Shipping Company (Volzhskoye Parokhodstvo / Волжское пароходство), was founded in 1843 as a Volga steamship transport company. By 2011, it operated over 300 passenger and cargo river vessels, carrying more than 6.7 billion tons of cargo and over 368,000 passengers on Russia’s inland waterways.

Between 2019 and 2020, MS Gorky underwent an extensive drydock refurbishment and modernization, elevating her to a 5-star rating by international hotel standards. The refit included engine upgrades, a redesigned restaurant and entertainment complex (relocated to the Boat Deck), and a new wellness center (spa and gym on the Sun Deck). All staterooms were completely renovated and refurnished.

Shipboard Facilities and Amenities

MS Gorky’s main public venues include the Main Restaurant (Dining Room), Specialty Restaurant “Catch of the Day,” Siberia Bar (cocktail and coffee bar), Karaoke Bar (nightclub), Wine Library (wine bar and lounge), and a Conference Hall (also used as a cinema/theatre). Additional facilities include a wellness complex (spa and fitness center with massage rooms, sauna, and modern gym equipment), Infirmary (Medical Center), Lobby area with port and starboard entrances, Reception Desk, Cruise Director’s Office, souvenir shop, and Solarium (outdoor sundeck area with deckchairs). Aft on the Middle Deck are the Laundry Room (portside) and a 24-hour Tea and Coffee Station (starboard).

Wi-Fi Internet is available shipwide for an additional fee. Television service is provided via satellite. The onboard entertainment program features live performances (singing, dancing, folk and classical music) and cultural lectures focused on Russian history, cuisine, and traditions. Daily activities include Matryoshka doll painting, blini and vodka tastings, a traditional tea ceremony, and basic language lessons.

Dining is complimentary (three meals daily) and features a mix of European and traditional Russian cuisine. Breakfast is buffet-style, lunches feature traditional soups, and dinners are three-course meals often themed around regional dishes.

Cabins

MS Gorky has 52 staterooms (available for booking) across four categories: Luxe (LUX3 Triple Suite), Deluxe (DLX2 Double and DLX3 Triple), and Standard (STD2 Single). Lower Deck cabins feature round, non-opening porthole windows near the ceiling and are not currently available for booking.

Cabin sizes range from 9 m² (95 ft²) for Singles to 19 m² (210 ft²) for Deluxe Double and Triple cabins, and up to 25 m² (270 ft²) for Suites. Luxe and Deluxe cabins include coffee machines.

All staterooms feature standard amenities: slide-opening half-height windows (1–3 per cabin), beds (two fixed singles or one double), bedside cabinets with reading lamps, wardrobe, mini-bar (refrigerator), wall-mounted HDTV (satellite reception), radio, electronic safe (in the closet), mirrored dressing table (writing desk with shelves and chair), dining table, and a private bathroom with wall-mounted toilet, washbasin, shower, hairdryer, towels, and toiletries. Additional features include 220V power outlets (Europlug 2-pole round pin), individual climate control, moquette flooring, and wood-paneled walls and ceilings.

All crew and staff cabins are located aft on Deck 2 (Middle Deck).

“Taste of Siberia” Yenisei River Cruise Itinerary 2020

The following map shows VODOHOD’s new Yenisei River cruise itinerary “Taste of Siberia,” introduced with MS Maxim Gorky in 2020.

The voyage features traditional Siberian experiences, including welcoming ceremonies with bread and salt, Cossack choir performances, regional delicacies such as stroganina (raw Arctic meat), local game dishes, and pine cone jam. Passengers also have opportunities to visit remote settlements and learn about Russia’s Old Believer communities.

The table below lists the 2020 cruise schedule with departure dates, routes, and indicative fares (in GBP) per person, including all meals, entertainment, land transfers, and two domestic flights.

For summer 2021, VODOHOD announced plans to launch an Arctic expedition aboard MS Maxim Gorky, exploring Russia’s Northern Sea Route and Franz Josef Land as an alternative to Norway’s Svalbard Archipelago. The route passes through the Chukchi, Barents, East Siberian, Kara, and Laptev Seas, and partially the Bering Sea. For this Arctic voyage, VODOHOD plans to charter an icebreaker vessel for assistance. Voyages will range from 7 to 17 days and include light helicopter tours as part of the inclusive package.

VODOHOD Cruise Deals

• Departure ports, check-in, boarding, and disembarkation times are listed on the company’s website (vodohod.com) and on passengers’ boarding passes. Exact departure times are confirmed one day prior to sailing.
• Children up to 14 years old (inclusive) receive discounted fares. Kids aged 2–5 (inclusive) travel free without an extra bed. Infants under 2 travel free but without meals or tours. Extra beds (cribs/cots) are not available onboard.
• Single supplement in a twin cabin is 75% of the double fare.
• Cabin numbers are provided 7 days before departure; reserving a specific cabin costs EUR 50 per person per cruise.
• Fares include three daily meals: buffet breakfast, buffet lunch, and waiter-served dinner (three-course menu with options). Tea, coffee, and water are provided at meals.
• Meal times on embarkation and disembarkation days depend on port schedules. If a tour coincides with lunch, guests receive complimentary meals ashore or a packed lunch.
• Included onboard events: Welcome Aboard Ceremony (bread and salt), Welcome Cocktail, Tea Ceremony, Vodka Show (blini and vodka tasting), Cocktail Party, Captain’s Dinner, and complimentary coffee station service at scheduled hours. Each guest also receives one bottle of water (0.33 L) per day in the cabin.
• Included services: multilingual guides, cultural programs, language lessons, live music, dancing, wheelhouse tours.
• Optional excursions can be booked onboard. Foreign passengers pay a small per-day excursion fee (based on cruise length), waived for CIS, Ukrainian, Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian citizens.
• Fares exclude land transfers, beverages, bar snacks, phone calls, sauna use, optional tours, insurance, gratuities, and personal expenses. Prices include 18% VAT.
• All onboard payments are made using the “Vodohod” card (issued at registration), accepted in all venues. Cash payments are not accepted. International bank cards are accepted for final billing.
• Gift certificates (“Vodohod” vouchers) are available for any amount and can be used toward any cruise, date, or cabin category.
• Smoking is permitted only in designated outdoor areas aft on the Middle and/or Boat Decks.
• Free onboard wellness services include morning exercises, oxygen cocktails, and dietary meals. Complimentary medical services cover emergency care, wound treatment, and basic health checks.
• Passengers are advised to arrive at the departure port at least 6 hours before sailing. Boarding starts 2 hours before departure and closes 1 hour prior. Late arrivals are not refundable.

VODOHOD’s main departure ports include Moscow, St Petersburg, Astrakhan, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm, Samara, Kazan, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, and Saratov.

Note: For a full list of river cruise ships and itineraries, visit the River Cruises hub, where all companies and their fleets are detailed.