MS Nikolay Chernyshevsky

MS Nikolay Chernyshevsky cruise ship (теплоход "Николай Чернышевский" круизный корабль) is a traditional Russian river passenger vessel built for the USSR (Soviet Union) in the GDR (Eastern Germany). The ship is currently owned and operated by the Russian company VODOHOD (“Водоход”). MS Chernyshevsky sails on Volga River itineraries, with northbound departures from Moscow and southbound routes departing from St Petersburg.

Vodohod is Russia’s largest river cruise operator. The company was founded in 2004 as Volga Shipping Company and later merged with Volga Flot Tour. Today, Vodohod operates more than 50 cruise ships along the rivers Don, Volga, Kama and Moscow, as well as the Volga–Don Canal, Volga–Baltic Waterway and lakes Ladoga and Onega.

Vodohod’s predecessor, Volga Shipping Company (Volzhskoye parokhodstvo / Волжское пароходство), was established in 1843 as a Volga steamship operator. In 2011 the company managed over 300 passenger and cargo vessels and transported more than 6.7 billion tons of cargo and over 368,000 passengers on Russia’s largest inland waterways.

MS Chernyshevsky was named after the Russian materialist philosopher and utopian socialist Nikolay Gavrilovich Chernyshevsky (1828–1889). The vessel underwent a major refurbishment in 2017.

Cabins

The ship offers 4 suites, 46 deluxe cabins, 40 twin cabins, 18 single cabins and 10 triple cabins. All staterooms are outside (no interior cabins) and feature large opening windows, except Lower Deck cabins which have round non-opening portholes. Standard cabin amenities include central air-conditioning (individually controlled heating and ventilation), private en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, washbasin, hairdryer), flat TV, radio, refrigerator, wardrobe, safe (in the closet), vanity mirror, writing desk with chair, bedside table, reading lights and 220 V power sockets. Suites additionally offer a double bed, sofa, coffee table, armchairs, cabinet and floor lamps. Ceiling height is 2.2 m.

After several major refurbishments, all cabins are now larger than the original layout and feature new furniture, upgraded flooring, deluxe bedding and modern lighting.

• Suites (Middle Deck forward): two-room cabins with separate living and sleeping areas and four large opening windows; L-shaped sofa, low table, bedroom with King-size double bed, mirrored vanity table with chair and two wardrobes. Suites accommodate up to 3 guests via a folding bed.
• Junior Suites (Middle Deck aft): spacious cabins with combined living-sleeping area, three large opening windows, L-shaped sofa, low table, King-size double bed (plus folding bed), mirrored vanity table with chair and wardrobe.
• Deluxe Cabins (Main Deck and Middle/Boat Deck): double cabins with one large opening window.
• Single Cabins (Middle/Boat Deck): one-bed staterooms with one large opening window.
• Twin/Double Cabins (Middle/Boat Deck): two-bed staterooms with one large opening window.
• Triple Cabins (Lower Deck): three-bed staterooms with two round portholes (non-opening). Triple cabins may also be booked as doubles.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

Dining onboard MS Chernyshevsky features European cuisine with elements of traditional Russian cooking. Breakfast is served buffet-style. Lunch includes one course (Russian soup). Dinner is waiter-served with a traditional Russian menu. Waitstaff wear traditional costumes.

Onboard entertainment focuses on pre-scheduled activities and live performances, including classical and Russian folk music. Enrichment lectures cover Russian history and culture. Port talks (by a professional guide) provide information on visited ports, nearby towns and shore excursions. Additional activities include Russian tea ceremonies, Russian language lessons, dancing and singing classes, vodka tastings and matryoshka (nesting doll) painting workshops.

MS Chernyshevsky’s onboard facilities include:

• (Boat Deck, Middle Deck) Two restaurants
• (Boat Deck) Panorama Bar Lounge
• (Sun Deck) Conference Hall and Bar (Dance Hall / Cinema / Meeting Room)
• (Middle Deck) Bar Lounge / Library / Reading Hall
• (Sun Deck) Spa (Sauna), Solarium (outdoor seating with deckchairs and tables), covered fitness area (outdoor gym)
• (Main Deck) Medical Room (Infirmary), Beauty Salon (hairdresser, barber and massage services), Lobby (Reception Desk)
• (Middle Deck) Ironing Room (laundry service), Boutique (Souvenir Shop)

VODOHOD cruise deals

• Departure port (dock/berth), check-in, boarding and landing times are listed on the company’s website (vodohod.com) and on boarding passes. Exact departure time is confirmed online one day prior to sailing.
• Children’s discount applies to kids up to 14 years old (inclusive), based on age on the departure date.
• Children aged 2–5 (inclusive) travel free but without an extra bed (if no free berths are available). Shore excursions are free.
• Infants under 2 travel free, but no bed, food or tour services are provided. Extra beds (cribs, cots) are not available.
• Single supplement for TWIN (double) cabins is 75%.
• Cabin number is assigned 7 days before departure. Reserving a specific cabin number costs EUR 50 pp per cruise.
• Ticket prices include three meals daily: Breakfast (buffet; water, tea/coffee, cocoa, milk, juices, hot and cold dishes), Lunch (buffet; water, tea/coffee) and Dinner (waiter-served; 1 starter, 1 main course—meat/fish/vegetarian options—and 1 dessert or fruits).
• On embarkation and disembarkation days, meal times depend on landing schedule. If a shore tour overlaps with lunch, passengers receive complimentary meals at a local restaurant or packed “dry rations.”
• Included onboard events: Welcome Aboard ceremony (“bread and salt”), Welcome Cocktail (1 glass of champagne or juice), Tea Ceremony (tea and traditional pies), Vodka Show (blini and vodka tasting), Cocktail Party (once per cruise; 1 complimentary cocktail), Captain’s Dinner (gourmet menu, once per cruise), mulled wine or iced tea (weather-dependent, offered after excursions), complimentary Coffee Station (coffee, tea, hot water, milk, cocoa, cookies; available 6am–breakfast, 10–12am, 4–6pm, 9–11pm), 1 bottle of water (0.33l pp per day). Tickets also include services of foreign-language guides, onboard entertainment (language and singing lessons, live music, nightly dancing, Wheelhouse tour).
• Complimentary shore excursions are listed in the cruise itinerary. Optional tours are bookable onboard. Foreign passengers pay an additional per-day excursion fee (including children 6–14), except tourists from Russia, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The surcharge varies by cruise duration.
• Cruise fares do not include land transfers, beverages/snacks (in bars/lounges), phone calls, sauna visits, optional excursions, travel insurance, gratuities or personal expenses. Prices include 18% VAT.
• All onboard purchases are made using the company’s debit card “Vodohod” (issued at registration), accepted throughout the ship. Cash payments are not accepted. International bank cards are accepted for final settlement.
• Gift Certificates (“Vodohod” vouchers) can be pre-purchased for any amount. The recipient may choose itinerary, departure date and cabin category. If the cruise costs less than the voucher amount, the difference is non-refundable.
• Smoking is allowed only in designated areas (aft on Middle and/or Boat Deck, depending on the ship). Smoking is prohibited indoors and on open decks except in marked zones.
• All Vodohod ships offer morning exercises and health gymnastics (led by a certified physician), oxygen cocktails and dietary meals.
• Free medical services onboard include emergency care (acute illnesses or sudden conditions), blood pressure and temperature measurement and initial wound treatment.
• Vodohod recommends arriving at the departure port at least 6 hours before sailing. Boarding begins 2 hours before departure. All guests must be onboard at least 1 hour prior. Late passengers are not refunded.
• Vodohod’s departure ports include Moscow, St Petersburg, Astrakhan, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm, Samara, Kazan, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Saratov.

Note: You can find CruiseMapper’s list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the “itinerary” section of our River Cruises hub.