MS Rodnaya Rus

MS Rodnaya Rus cruise ship (“теплоход Родная Русь” круизный корабль) is a traditional Russian river passenger vessel built for the USSR (Soviet Union) in Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). MS Rodnaya Rus cruises on the Kama River, operating roundtrip itineraries from Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Perm and Samara.

The vessel is currently owned by Express-Tour LLC and operated under charter by the St Petersburg-based Russian company Infoflot (Инфофлот). Infoflot acts as both a tour operator and travel agency, offering Russian and international river and ocean cruise programs.

The ship was fully reconstructed and modernized in 2006. She previously sailed under the names Klement Gotvald (1961-2003), Professor Lukachev (2004-2005) and Yekaterina Velikaya (2006-2011). From the same series (Project 26-37) are 14 vessels built between 1957-1962. All belong to the Oktyabrskaya Revolyutsiya class and were originally designed for 312 passengers and 70 crew.

Cabins

The ship offers a total of 100 staterooms: 2 Suites, 8 Singles, 77 Doubles, 8 Triples and 5 Quads (which can also be booked as Triples).

All staterooms include individually controlled air-conditioning, refrigerator, phone (intercom), radio, flat TV (satellite channels), en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, washbasin, hairdryer, towels, bath products), wardrobe and opening window (Lower Deck cabins have portholes). Suites additionally offer a double bed, low table with sofabed (for a 3rd/4th guest), two windows and floor lamps. Quad cabins feature upper bunk beds, while Triple cabins have a convertible sofa.

Due to the vessel’s original design, Economy cabins do not have full bathrooms (washbasin only, no WC or shower). Guests in these cabins must use the on-deck public restrooms and shared showers.

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

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

Ship facilities include:

• Boat Deck: Sun Deck (aft Solarium with loungers, deckchairs and tables), indoor Theater (Cinema/Conference Room/Concert Hall/Disco Bar), forward Dining Room Restaurant, Shower Rooms, wraparound Promenade Deck (with outdoor seating).
• Middle Deck: Reading Lounge (Library, forward), Music Salon (Main Lounge/Karaoke-Piano Bar, aft), Shower Rooms, wraparound Promenade Deck.
• Main Deck: Bar-Restaurant (forward Dining Room with bar service and à la carte menu), Medical Room (Infirmary), Hair Salon (hairdresser/barber), Boutique (Souvenir Shop), Lobby (Reception/Guest Services Desk, Cruise Director’s Office, Tour Desk), Coffee Station, Ironing Room (laundry service), Shower Rooms.
• Lower Deck: Sauna, Spa (Massage Room) and porthole cabins (passenger and crew).

Shipboard activities include:

• The Theater serves as the ship’s Cinema, Conference Hall, Concert Hall, Dance Lounge and Disco Nightclub, with its own Bar. It also hosts the enrichment program with lectures and presentations focused on Russian history and culture. Port talks (by professional guides) provide information on visited ports and available shore excursions. Additional activities include tea ceremonies, Russian language lessons, music classes, crafts (such as matryoshka painting), blini and vodka tastings, live shows (classical and folk music), theme parties and nightly disco.
• The Bar-Restaurant is a Dining Room with bar service and à la carte menu.
• The Music Salon is the Main Lounge (Piano Bar) with full-service bar, grand piano and a stage for live performances.
• The Kids Room is an indoor play area with supervised activities led by qualified staff.
• Both restaurants offer buffet breakfast and waiter-served lunch and dinner featuring Russian cuisine. European dishes are available on longer itineraries. Three meals per day are included in cruise fares. Dietary and vegetarian options are also offered. Complimentary beverages include a glass of champagne (at breakfast) and a glass of wine or vodka (at dinner), along with herbal teas and oxygen cocktails.
• The ship provides free Wi-Fi (in the Bar-Lounge), complimentary morning exercises, yoga and pilates classes (led by a professional instructor) and sports training (gym equipment).
• All shore excursions are guided, and most are included in cruise prices.

Note: You can see 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.