Russian company Vodohod has signed a contract to operate a new
river cruise ship that will sail the Volga in 2020. It will be the first time
in years that a new Volga ship enters service.
Previously, the Russian government had a cap on river cruise
ship construction, and lines that operated on the Volga were forced to work
solely with existing hulls, refurbishing them over time.
But now Vodohod has signed a contract with state-owned United
Shipbuilding Corp. for a high-end, four-deck ship accommodating 144 passengers.
"The new product is expected to be in demand by those
clients who previously haven't considered a Russian river cruise as a possible
destination due to the lack of ships of suitable level in Russia," Vodohod
stated. "It is assumed that a high-quality product created from scratch
will be in demand by both Russian and international clients."
The hope, according to Vodohod, is that the new ship will
generate fresh interest not just in the vessel itself but also in investment
along the Volga River. "It will give the impetus to the development of the
port and touristic infrastructure in the cities along the route," the
company stated.
The traditional Volga itinerary sails between St. Petersburg
and Moscow or the reverse, with visits to small villages and churches along the
way.
The new vessel will be 436 feet long and 56 feet wide, and
will carry a crew of 198. The staterooms will feature French balconies. Standard
cabins will be 205 square feet, with suites measuring 323 square feet. There
will be a panoramic lounge at the bow of the ship and accommodations for guests
with disabilities.
Vodohod owns 26 cruise ships in Russia and has worked with
U.S. companies, including AmaWaterways, which has leased the AmaKatarina from
Vodohod in the past. But following tensions between Russia and Ukraine in 2014,
U.S. river cruise lines cut their capacity in Russia considerably, and
AmaWaterways canceled their Russia product altogether. Viking, Uniworld, Scenic
and CroisiEurope still operate river cruises on the Volga.