MS Rossia

MS Rossia cruise ship ("теплоход Россия" круизный корабль) is a traditional Russian river passenger ship built for the USSR (Soviet Union) in GDR (Eastern Germany). The boat is currently owned and operated by the Russian shipping company Mosturflot ("Мостурфлот").

The 5-starred riverboat Rossia is often chartered by some of the world's largest river cruise companies, including Emerald Waterways (since 2020), APT Touring (via its brands Evergreen Tours and Travelmarvel), Riviera Travel UK (since 2020), Plantours Kreuzfahrten (since 2018), Grand Circle Travel (since 2007). MS Rossia cruises on Volga River, departing from homeports Moscow and St Petersburg. Most itineraries are one-ways (11-day), some are roundtrips. In 2020-2021, Travelmarvel additionally offers two flight-and-hotel inclusive cruises - 14-day itinerary ("Helsinki and Treasures of Russia", from Helsinki Finland to Moscow) and 20-day itinerary ("Baltic Charm and Treasures of Russia", from Vilnius Lithuania to Moscow).

The shipowner Mosturflot (Moscow Tourist Fleet / "Московский туристический флот") is a subsidiary of Moscow River Shipping Company (1857-established). Mosturflot owns pleasure boats and cruise ships. The company is also licensed as a river cruisetour operator, provides its own ship repairs and technical maintenance, as well as shipping security, pilotage, escorts (boat assistance).

Mosturflot's cruisetour services include inland cruises (on its own boats) on the Russian rivers Volga, Neva, Kama, Don, Oka, as well as on the lakes Beloe, Onega and Ladoga. Itineraries (a selection of 300+ routes) have durations between 1-day (mini-cruises) and 22-day, visiting 50+ call ports in Russia. Mosturflot also operates as a travel agency for Russian (river- and sea-going) and international cruises. The company also specializes in private cruise ship charters (for leisure and business meetings) with passenger capacity 8 to 300, optional staterooms, shipboard catering and entertainment, and custom-made excursions (in port cities).

The ship was completely renovated and modernized in 2006-2007 (including machinery) and last refurbished in 2018 (complete exterior and interior refurbishment).

Cabins

MS Rossia staterooms (a total of 112) are on 4 decks (out of 5). However, all Triple Cabins (on Lower Deck) are currently not available for booking, which reduces the total number of staterooms to 106.

Accommodations include 6x Balcony Suites (sized 16-17 m2, fore-located on decks 3-Upper and 4-Boat), 72x Deluxe Suites (balcony cabins sized 15 m2, location on decks 3-4), 34x Comfort Suites (sized 12 m2, location deck 2-Main) and 6x triples (sized 11 m2, location deck 1-Lower, currently not open for booking). All staterooms are outside (no interior cabins) and with large opening windows (except Lower Deck cabins with round-shaped and non-opening portholes).

The 6x Suites and the 72x Deluxe Suites have step-out balconies, each fitted with 2x deckchairs. Triple Cabins (on Lower Deck) are 3-bed staterooms, each with 2x Porthole windows (non-opening). Based on availability, Triple cabins can be also booked as doubles. All Triple Cabins are currently not available for booking, which reduces the total number of staterooms to 106.

Each cabin as standard amenities offers central air-conditioning (individually controlled heating and ventilation system), private en-suite bathrooms (WC/toilet, glass-door shower, washbasin with underneath storage, hairdryer, emergency call button), HDTV (local and satellite reception, infotainment system), refrigerator, wardrobe, electronic safe box (in the closet), seating area (a coffee table with 2 armchairs), phone (intercom), mirrored vanity (dressing table/writing desk) with chair, bedside cabinets (2-drawer) with bed lights, wall-mounted reading lamps, twin beds (convertible to a double Queen-size bed), complimentary bottled water (provided daily), 110-220 V power sockets. Ceiling height is 2,2 m.

Following multi-million refurbishments, all cabins feature larger (than the original ones) sizes, new furniture and flooring, deluxe bedding, modern LED lighting.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

Dining onboard MS Rossia features European cuisine sp[ecialties with elements of Russian traditional cooking. Breakfasts (7-9 AM) are buffet-style, plus Early Bird coffee (6 AM). Lunches include 2x soups (1x Russian), 2x main courses, dessert. Dinner (7 or 7:30 PM) is waiter-served and with a traditional Russian food menu. Waiters are dressed in traditional costumes. Wine by the glass (white or red) is complimentary with each dinner.

Onboard entertainment is focused on pre-scheduled activities and live performances (classical and Russian folk music). Onboard lectures are themed on Russia's history, culture, politics. Port talks (by a professional tour guide) provide information on visited river ports, nearby towns, shore excursions and tours available for booking. Passengers also enjoy traditional Russian tea ceremonies, Russian language lessons, dancing and singing classes, vodka tasting, handicrafts (matryoshka / nesting doll painting class, napkin folding lessons), blini (pancake) course, cooking demonstrations, vegetable carving. A Navigation Bridge tour (visiting the Wheelhouse) is offered once per cruise and is also complimentary.

Signature formal events organized on each voyage are the Captain's Welcome Reception (on embarkation day) and the Captain's Farewell Dinner (on the voyage's last night). The chartering cruise company employs its own Cruise Directors to provide its customers with personalised service, including cruisetour itinerary and excursions information, assistance, suggestions on ashore touring and dining-shopping options.

MS Rossia ship facilities include:

• On Sundeck (deck 5) are located a large Bar Lounge (President's Lounge, hosting group activities and doubling as Dancing Saloon / Cinema / Conference Hall, with floor-ceiling windows) and the Navigation Bridge (fore-located Wheelhouse with adjacent Captain's Suite and officers quarters). Aft on Sundeck is the Funnel (ship's smokestack/chimney) and the Solarium - an open-air sunbathing area with teak garden furniture (padded loungers, deckchairs, umbrella-covered 4-seat tables).
• On Boat Deck (deck 4) are located cabins, Bar Lounge (Tsar's Bar, forward observation lounge with floor-ceiling windows, capacity 52 seats)and a smoking-allowed area (open deck space aft-starboard).
• On Upper Deck (deck 3) are located cabins and the Dining Room Restaurant. On Upper Deck is also the Ironing Room (chargeable laundry service).
• On Main Deck (deck 2) are located cabins, Medical Office (Infirmary served by a resident physician, doctor's services are chargeable, only emergency first aid is free), Beauty Salon (hairdresser and barber services), Fitness (Gym Room), Library (small Reading Room with leather furniture), Gift Shop (Souvenir Kiosk), Lobby (Reception Desk, Cruise Director's Office), 24-hour Coffee Bar (self-service station with coffee machine, teas, hot and cold water, ice, bottled water, cookies).
• Lower Deck (deck 1, currently off-limit to passengers) houses Triple cabins, Sauna Room and Spa )Massage Room).

Deck 2 features an open-air Promenade (wraparound walkway encircling the entire ship) with non-slippery decking. Wi-Fi is complimentary and available in all public areas. One elevator (passenger lift) interconnects all cabin decks (2-3-4, excluding decks 1-Lower and 5-Sun). The ship is not recommended for wheelchair users.

Note: You can see the CruiseMapper's list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub. All companies and their fleets are listed there.