MS Lunnaya Sonata

MS Lunnaya Sonata cruise ship ("теплоход Лунная Соната" круизный корабль / translated "Moonlight Sonata") is a traditional Russian river passenger ship built for the USSR (Soviet Union) in GDR (Eastern Germany). Lunnaya Sonata cruises on Neva and Volga rivers on mostly roundtrip itineraries departing from Moscow and St Petersburg.

The ship is currently owned and operated by Infoflot, which operates as both tour operator and travel agency for Russian and international river and ocean cruise deals.

The ship is named after the famous piano sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827). It was completed in 1801 and the next year was dedicated to Beethoven's pupil, Countess Giulietta Guicciardi. The boat was last refurbished in 2018. With similar amenities is the fleet mate Lebedinoe Ozero (former MS General Vatutin). From the same series (Project 302) are a total of 28 boats manufactured in the period 1983-1992. All these ships are with diesel-electric propulsion (three propellers) and originally designed with a capacity of 332 passengers (max).

Cabins

The ship has a total of 142 staterooms, including 2 Two-Room Suites, 10 Singles (category A1), 12 Quads (category А4, can be booked also as Triples/category А3) and 118 Twins (category А2, some can be booked as Triples).

All cabins are air-conditioned and heated. Each stateroom as standard amenities offers individually controlled air-conditioning, refrigerator, phone (intercom), radio, flat TV (satellite reception), en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, washbasin, hairdryer, towels, bath products), opening window (excepting Lower Deck cabins which are with portholes). Suites additionally have a cabinet, low table with 2 armchairs, double bed, double sofabed (4th person), floor lamps.

Cabin TVs show all-Russian channels, as well as recorded films and cartoons, live views (from a camera installed on the bow), ship security channel (instructions in cases of emergency), ship channel (showing itinerary map and current location).

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

Lunnaya Sonata ship's facilities include:

• (Sun Deck) The solarium is a covered area with outdoor seating (loungers, deckchairs, tables), indoor Theater (Cinema / Silent Disco / Conference Hall / Karaoke Bar / Dance Lounge), Gym (outdoor fitness area with training machines), Mini-golf course (putting green)
• (Boat Deck) Music Boutique (Main Lounge / Piano Bar), Jazz Restaurant (Bar-Restaurant), Coffee Station
• (Middle Deck) Cafe Beethoven (Patisserie Bar), Blues Restaurant (Dining Room), Library (Reading Lounge), Boutique (Souvenir Shop)
• (Main Deck) Medical Room (Infirmary), Beauty Salon (hairdresser and barber services), Spa (Massage Room), Lobby (Reception / Guest Services Desk, Cruise Director's Office, Tour Desk), Arts Salon, Coffee Station, Kids Room (Bremen Musicians / indoor playground), Ironing Room (laundry service)
• (Lower Deck) Sauna Room, Fitness (Gym Room), staff and crew cabins

Shipboard activities include:

• Theatre is the ship's Cinema that doubles as Conference Hall / Meeting Room / Dance Lounge / Disco / Karaoke Bar, and is served by its own Bar. The lounge also serves the cruise company's enrichment program. Here are hosted lectures and media presentations themed on Russia's history and culture. Port talks (by professional tour guides) provide information on visited regions, river ports, nearby towns, shore excursions and tours. Here are also held traditional tea ceremonies, Russian language lessons, dancing and singing classes, master classes on vocals and musical instruments, blini and vodka tastings, live shows and musical performances (classical and Russian folk music, concerts), nightly disco (with headphones).
• Theater's karaoke sessions are with high-quality sound equipment, a wide repertoire of songs and accompaniment of professional back-vocalists from the ship's art group.
• The Solarium is served by its own full-service Bar, selling alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and snacks.
• Bar-Restaurant Jazz is a dinner-only restaurant with a la carte priced menu.
• Music Boutique is the ship's Main Lounge (Piano Bar / Patisserie / Coffee House / Music Salon) with full-service bar, dance floor, grand piano and stage for live performances. Before and after dinner, at the Bar Lounge is played live music in various styles, including classical (also chamber concerts), jazz, blues.
• Cafe Beethoven (patisserie) serves speciality coffee and gourmet sweets.
• The Arts Salon offers complimentary art and craft activities and classes (including nesting doll/matryoshka painting classes).
• Kids room "Bremen Musicians" is an indoor playground with qualified (full-time) staff providing supervised activities for children ages 2 to 12.
• On the Main and Middle decks, 24-hour Coffee Stations with complimentary drinks and snacks (coffee, hot water, packed tea, milk, cocoa, cookies) are available.
• Both restaurants offer buffet-style breakfast and waiter-served lunch and dinner with Russian cuisine-themed menus. European cuisine is offered on longer itineraries. Three meals a day are included in cruise ticket prices. Dietary meals, as well as vegetarian dishes,  are also available in the menus. Free drinks include a glass of champagne (at breakfast) and a glass of wine or vodka (at dinner). Complimentary are offered herbal teas and oxygen cocktails.
• The ship provides free Wi-Fi, complimentary morning exercises, yoga and pilates classes (led by a professional instructor), sports training (gym equipment), Bicycle Rent Point, covered sun deck (Solarium).
• All shore excursions are guided, and most of them are included in cruise tour prices.

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.