MS Sankt Peterburg

MS Sankt Peterburg cruise ship (“теплоход Виссарион Белинский”) is a traditional Russian river passenger vessel built for the USSR in the GDR (East Germany). The ship is currently owned and operated by the Russian company VODOHOD (“Водоход”). MS Peterburg operates cruises on the Neva River, roundtrip from St Petersburg. All itineraries are roundtrip voyages visiting Valaam Islands (3-day), Mandrogi (3-day), Valaam–Mandrogi (4-day), and Valaam–Kizhi Island–Mandrogi (5-day), with additional calls to Konevets, Svirstroy, Lodeynoye Pole, and Staraya Ladoga.

Vodohod is Russia’s largest river cruise operator. The company was founded in 2004 as Volga Shipping Company and, after merging with Volga Flot Tour, now operates over 50 cruise ships along the Don, Volga, Kama, Moscow, Volga–Don Canal, and Volga–Baltic Waterway, as well as on lakes Ladoga and Onega.

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

The ship is named after the city of Saint Petersburg (Russia’s second-largest after Moscow) and underwent an extensive refurbishment in 2011.

Cabins

Accommodations include 4 Junior Suites, 111 twins (16 with bunk beds), 12 singles, and 18 triples. All staterooms are outside (no interior cabins) and have large opening windows, except Lower Deck cabins, which feature round non-opening portholes. Standard cabin amenities include central air-conditioning (individually controlled heating and ventilation), private en-suite bathrooms (WC, shower, washbasin, hairdryer, towels, bath products), flat TV, radio, direct-dial phone, refrigerator, wardrobe, safe (in the closet), vanity mirror, writing desk with chair, bedside table, reading lights, and 220V power sockets. Suites additionally offer a double bed, sofa, coffee table, armchairs, cabinet, and floor lamps. Cabin ceiling height is 2.2 m.

Following multi-million-dollar refurbishments, all cabins were enlarged from their original sizes and upgraded with new furniture, flooring, deluxe bedding, and modern lighting.

• Junior Suites (Middle Deck forward) are 1-room cabins with two large opening windows, sofa (or two armchairs), coffee table, King-size bed (plus folding bed), mirrored vanity table with chair, and wardrobe. They accommodate up to 3 guests via the folding bed.
• Single Cabins (Middle Deck / Boat Deck) are 1-bed staterooms with one large opening window.
• Twin / Double Cabins (Main Deck / Middle Deck / Boat Deck) have two beds and one large opening window. Middle Deck bunk-bed cabins may also be booked as singles.
• Triple Cabins (Lower Deck) feature three beds and two non-opening porthole windows. They may also be booked as doubles.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

Dining onboard MS Peterburg features European cuisine with elements of Russian traditional cooking. Breakfast is buffet-style; lunch includes one main dish (typically Russian soup), and dinner is waiter-served with classic Russian menu selections. Waitstaff wear traditional costumes.

Entertainment is centered around scheduled activities and live performances, including classical and Russian folk music. Lectures focus on Russian history and culture. Port talks by professional guides introduce guests to visited river ports, nearby towns, and available excursions. Additional activities include traditional tea ceremonies, Russian language lessons, dancing and singing classes, vodka tastings, and matryoshka (nesting doll) painting workshops.

MS Sankt Peterburg ship facilities include:

• (Boat Deck, Middle Deck) 2 restaurants (Neva and Ladoga)
• (Boat Deck) Panorama Bar Lounge (Main Lounge / Music Hall)
• (Sun Deck) Conference Hall and Bar (Dance Hall / Cinema / Meeting Room)
• (Middle Deck) Bar Lounge (Library / Reading Hall), Boutique (Souvenir Shop)
• (Sun Deck) Spa (Sauna), Solarium (open-air seating with deckchairs and 4-seat tables)
• (Main Deck) Medical Room (Infirmary), Beauty Salon (hairdresser and barber services, massages), Lobby (Reception / Guest Services Desk), Kids Club
• (Middle Deck) Ironing Room (laundry service)

VODOHOD cruise deals

• Departure port (dock/berth), check-in, boarding, and landing times are provided on the company website (vodohod.com) and on boarding passes. The exact departure time is confirmed online the day before the cruise.
• Children’s discounted fares apply to guests up to 14 years old (including age 14 at departure).
• Children aged 2–5 (inclusive) travel free of charge but without an extra bed (if no free beds are available in the cabin). Shore excursions are also free.
• Toddlers under 2 travel free of charge, but no bed, food, or tour services are provided. Extra beds (baby cribs, cots) are not available onboard.
• The single supplement for TWIN (double) cabins is 75%.
• Cabin numbers are assigned 7 days before departure. Reserving a specific cabin number costs EUR 50 per person per cruise.
• Ticket prices include three meals a day: Breakfast (buffet, water in pitchers, tea/coffee served, cocoa, milk, juices, hot and cold dishes), Lunch (buffet, water in pitchers, tea/coffee served), and Dinner (waiter-served) with 1 starter, 1 main course (choice of 3: meat/fish/vegetarian), and 1 dessert (choice of 2 or fruit).
• On embarkation and disembarkation days, meal times depend on the landing schedule. If an excursion coincides with lunch, guests receive complimentary meals at a local restaurant or “dry rations.”
• Included onboard events: Welcome Aboard (“bread and salt” ceremony), Welcome Cocktail (1 complimentary 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 from 3 choices), Captain’s Dinner (gourmet menu, once per cruise), mulled wine or ice tea (depending on weather, served after excursions), complimentary Coffee Station (coffee, hot water, tea, milk, cocoa, cookies; open 6am–breakfast, 10–12am, 4–6pm, 9–11pm), 1 bottled water (0.33 L per person per day). Ticket price also includes foreign language guide services, onboard entertainment (classes, lessons, live music, dance evenings), and Wheelhouse tours.
• Complimentary excursions are listed in the cruise program. Optional tours may be booked onboard. Foreigners are charged an additional excursion fee per person per day (children 6–14 included), depending on itinerary length (1–2, 3–4, 5, 6, or 7 days). This fee does not apply to tourists from the Russian Commonwealth, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
• Not included: transfers, beverages and snacks, phone calls, sauna visits, optional excursions, travel insurance, gratuities, personal expenses. Prices include 18% VAT.
• All onboard payments are made using the company’s debit card “Vodohod,” issued at check-in and accepted in all venues. Cash is not accepted. International bank cards are accepted for final settlement.
• Vodohod Gift Certificates (vouchers) can be purchased for any amount. The recipient may choose itinerary, cruise date, and cabin category. If the cruise price is lower than the voucher value, the difference is not refunded.
• Smoking is permitted only in designated areas (aft on Middle and/or Boat Deck, depending on ship). Smoking is prohibited indoors and on all open decks except marked areas.
• All Vodohod ships offer morning exercises and health gymnastics (led by the ship’s doctor), oxygen cocktails, and dietary meals.
• Included medical services: emergency care (for sudden acute conditions or exacerbations), blood pressure and temperature checks, and basic wound treatment.
• Vodohod recommends arriving in the departure city at least 6 hours before the cruise. Boarding starts 2 hours before departure. All guests must be onboard at least 1 hour prior departure. Late arrivals are non-refundable.
• Main departure ports: Moscow, St Petersburg, Astrakhan, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm, Samara, Kazan, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Saratov.

Note: You can explore 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.