MS Tikhi Don

MS Tikhi Don cruise ship (“теплоход Тихий Дон”) is a traditional Russian river passenger vessel built for the USSR (Soviet Union) in the GDR (East Germany). On foreign markets, the ship is marketed as “MS Alexander Borodin” (Александр Бородин) or simply “MS Borodin”. Major international charter partners include Phoenix Reisen (Germany) and APT-Travelmarvel (Australia).

Tikhi Don (Alexander Borodin) operates cruises on the Volga River between St Petersburg and Moscow, as well as between Moscow and Rostov-on-Don. A total of 28 sisterships of the same series were built between 1983–1992. All vessels feature diesel-electric propulsion with three propellers and were originally designed for a maximum capacity of 332 passengers.

History and ownership

The ship was built in 1977 for the USSR’s state-owned company “Volga-Donskoe Rechnoye Parokhodstvo” (“Волго-Донское пароходство”, today “Азово-Донское Пароходство”), headquartered in Rostov-on-Don. Today, the vessel is owned by the Russian company Doninturflot (Донинтурфлот) and is operated under charter by the Russian companies “Orthodox Cruise Company” and “Imperial River Cruises Russia”.

MS Alexander Borodin is named after Aleksandr Porfiryevich Borodin — Russian physician (Doctor of Medicine), chemist and composer (pianist, cellist, flautist). Officially named “Tikhiy Don” (Тихий Дон), the ship underwent a major drydock reconstruction in 2005 and a full refurbishment in 2016.

Between 1992–2001, the vessel was docked in Sassnitz (Germany), initially for repairs and later used as a hotel ship. In 2001, it was sold to Moscow River Shipping Company and returned to Russia. Between 2002–2004, the ship operated under charter by Mosturflot.

In 2004–2005, the vessel underwent repairs and refitting in Romania, after which it was sold to Grand Circle Cruise Line. It then operated fly-cruise packages (mainly for US and Canadian tourists) on itineraries between Moscow and St Petersburg. In 2009, the vessel was chartered to Samara Travel Company. Between 2010–2014, it was marketed to foreign tourists with domestic flights between Moscow and St Petersburg. On August 1, 2014, the ship was decommissioned and out of service until 2016. In July 2016, Grand Circle Cruise Line sold the vessel to Doninturflot.

The ship is named after “Tikhiy Don” — a four-volume novel by Mikhail Sholokhov (1905–1984), written between 1925–1940 and considered one of Russia’s greatest literary works. The novel portrays the life of Don Cossacks during WWI (1914–1918), the Russian Revolution (1917) and the Russian Civil War (1917–1922).

Cabins

Accommodations include 6 suites (2 Panorama Suites and 4 Junior Suites) and 104 double cabins — 34 Twin Deluxe Plus (14 m²) and 70 Twin Deluxe (13 m²). Unlike most sisterships, MS Borodin has no triple or single cabins available. All 110 staterooms are outside cabins with large opening windows. The Lower Deck houses all staff and crew cabins (with round, non-opening portholes), the Sauna Room and the vessel’s machinery spaces (engines and propulsion).

Each cabin includes individually controlled central air conditioning, private en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, washbasin, hairdryer), flat TV (satellite channels), radio, minibar (refrigerator), shelves, wardrobe, electronic safe (in the closet), vanity mirror, writing desk with padded stool, round table with two armchairs, bedside cabinets with reading lamps, twin beds (two lower beds convertible to a double bed) and 220V power outlets. Suites additionally include a double bed, sofa, coffee table, armchairs, lounge cabinet and floor lamps. Cabin ceiling height is 2.2 m.

After multi-million-dollar refurbishments, all staterooms feature larger layouts than the originals, new furniture and flooring, upgraded bedding and modern lighting.

• Panorama Suites (Upper Deck forward, 17 m²): one-room cabins with five large non-opening windows, king-size bed, two armchairs, coffee table, mirrored dressing table with padded stool and large wardrobe.
• Junior Suites (Upper Deck / Boat Deck, 15.5 m²): one-room cabins with double bed, two large opening windows, two armchairs, coffee table and mirrored dressing table with padded stool.
• Twin Deluxe / Double Cabins (Main Deck / Boat Deck / Upper Deck): each with one opening window. Most measure 12.5 m²; Boat Deck cabins are slightly larger (14 m²).
• Triple cabins (Lower Deck): all 10 are fitted with bunk beds and two small round non-opening portholes. These cabins are currently not bookable.

Shipboard dining and entertainment

Dining onboard MS Alexander Borodin features European cuisine with elements of traditional Russian cooking. Breakfast is buffet-style. Lunch typically includes a Russian soup, while dinner is waiter-served with traditional Russian dishes. Waitstaff wear traditional attire.

Entertainment focuses on scheduled activities and live performances — classical and Russian folk music concerts, lectures on Russian history and culture, port talks, traditional tea ceremonies, Russian language lessons, singing and dancing classes, vodka tastings and matryoshka (nesting doll) painting workshops.

Facilities aboard MS Alexander Borodin traditionally include:

• 2 restaurants (main dining room and dinner-only bar-restaurant)
• 3 bars, small Boutique (Souvenir Shop)
• Spacious Lobby (Reception / Guest Services Desk), Coffee Station (complimentary coffee, hot water, tea, milk, cocoa, cookies)
• Bar Lounge (piano bar)
• Sundeck Conference Hall and Bar (Music Hall / Cinema / Meeting Room)
• Reading Lounge (Library)
• Sun Deck (Solarium) with outdoor seating — loungers, deckchairs and 4-seat tables
• Wrap-around Promenade Deck and outdoor seating areas
• Medical Room (Infirmary, staffed 24 hours by a resident doctor and nurse)
• Beauty Salon (hairdresser, barber, massage services)
• Ironing Room (laundry service), Sauna Room
• Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship
• One elevator (passenger lift) and two staircases connecting all decks

Onboard entertainment includes games, tea ceremonies with pastries, themed parties (folk shows, dancing evenings), daily live music (grand piano and concerts), Russian language lessons, dancing and singing classes, blini (pancake) and vodka tastings and cultural lectures. The dining room menu also features regional specialties based on the itinerary.

River cruise itineraries

The Alexander Borodin itinerary program includes regularly scheduled cruises on the Volga and Don rivers in Russia — between St Petersburg and Moscow (11 days), and between Moscow and Rostov-on-Don, as well as Rostov–St Petersburg (20 days, via Astrakhan). Ports visited along the Moscow–Rostov route (northbound and southbound) include Uglich, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Plyos, Nizhny Novgorod, Cheboksary, the Volga–Don Canal and Rostov.

The ship’s crew includes Russian government-licensed tour guides (fluent in English or German) who lead the onboard and ashore enrichment programs. Throughout the voyage, they deliver lectures on Russian culture, art, history and current affairs, and provide detailed information about all shore excursions and visited ports.

Note: You can view 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.