MS Mustai Karim

MS Mustai Karim cruise ship ("теплоход Мyстай Карим" круизный корабль) is a Russian passenger ship owned by the private Russian shipping company Mosturflot ("Мостурфлот") and operated under charter by Russia's largest cruise company VODOHOD ("Водоход"). The 6-deck newbuilds (sisterships Mustai Karim and Pyotr Velikiy/Пётр Великий) were both designed and constructed in Russia. Vessel's scheduled launch is in May 2020. This new-design Russian riverboat (Project PV300, sea-and-river vessel) is currently under construction at Shipyard Krasnoye Sormovo (Nizhny Novgorod Russia).

The cruise vessel is named after Mustai Karim (Mustafa Safich Karimov Bashkir / 1919-2005). He was a Soviet poet and writer from USSR's Bashkir Republic (Russian SFSR) which is now part of the Russian Federation under the name Bashkortostan.

VODOHOD's cruise ship "Project PV300LMPP-110"

At the end of 2016, VODOHOD (Russia's largest passenger shipping company) signed a contract with the Russian shipbuilder USC (United Shipbuilding Corporation) for construction of one PV300 unit. The building contractor is the USC's subsidiary PJSC "Krasnoe Sormovo". The newbuild was planned to be ready for 2020 Volga River navigation season. The cost of the shipbuilding contract was around RUB 3,2 billion (USD 56,8 million).

The project realized by VODOHOD partly resembles the PV300 project, as it was modified to meet the standards of the company's commercial efficiency. The full name of this ship project is PV300LMPP-110. The newbuild is planned to cruise on Volga River (between Moscow and Saint Petersburg, navigation duration up to 5-6 months) and during winter it operates sea cruises navigating between ports in Balck Sea, Caspian Sea and Azov Sea.

Decks and Cabins

VODOHOD increased the ship's passenger capacity from 300 to 342. The boat has 6 decks and a total of 169 staterooms, including 2x Suites, 2x Owner Suites, 2x Junior Suites, 159x Deluxe (Twin Comfort) and 4x Standard Twin cabins. All staterooms are outside (no interior cabins) and with floor-ceiling windows. Standard cabin amenities include wardrobe, electronic safe box (in the closet), smart HDTV (satellite reception), radio, phone, mini-bar/refrigerator, power sockets (220V), en-suite bathroom (single-sink vanity, toilet, shower, hairdryer, shaver socket, toiletries, towels, bathrobes). All suites are with bathtubs.

The average cabin size is 19 m2 (205 ft2). For comparison, the size of Twin Standard cabins on other Russian river ships is 10 m2 (110 ft2). All cabins on this "river liner" have private balconies. Suites and Junior Suites are sized 30 m2 (320 ft2).

A total of 22 cabin pairs (44 rooms) are connecting. There is also an option for booking a 3-Room Suite (midship-portside on Boat Deck) which is comprised of 3 connecting cabins.

Cabin amenities and shipboard services correspond to 5-star hotel standards.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

Dining onboard features European cuisine sp[ecialties with elements of Russian traditional cooking. Breakfasts are buffet-style. Lunches include 1 meal (Russian soup). Dinner is waiter-served and with a traditional Russian food menu. Waiters are dressed in traditional costumes.

Onboard entertainment is focused on pre-scheduled activities and live performances (classical and Russian folk music). Onboard lectures are themed on the country's history and culture. 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, nesting doll (matryoshka) painting classes.

Shipboard facilities (deck plans) include:

• 2 restaurants, 2 bar lounges, Pub (Beer Bar/Wine Room)
• Conference Hall (140 seats), Reading Hall (Library Lounge)
• Show Lounge (Music Hall with dance floor, stage and grand piano for live performances)
• Ironing Room (laundry service), Kids Room, Souvenir Shop
• Sauna, Spa Salon (Hairdresser, Massage Room), Fitness (Gym Room)
• 3 lifts (passenger elevators), 2 Atriums (each with its own Reception Desk)
• Sundeck (sized 700 m2, Solarium with loungers, 10-m long swimming pool, 2 whirlpools/Jacuzzis), Medical Room (Infirmary),

Itineraries

Mustai Karim ship cruises on Volga River with northbound and southbound itineraries - Moscow-Astrakhan and between Moscow and St Petersburg (passing through Onega and Ladoga lakes). The riverboat also operates on the route Moscow-Rostov-on-Don (passing through Volga-Don Canal).

The inaugural cruise was scheduled for May 12, 2020. The 12-day (11-night) itinerary Moscow to St Petersburg visits Moscow (2 overnights), Uglich, Yaroslavl, Goritsy, Kizhi Island (Lake Onega), Mandrogi, and St Petersburg (3 overnights). The reverse St Petersburg to Moscow itinerary has length 11 days (10 nights).

Ashore travel and excursion options include:

• Moscow - airport-to-ship transfer, city tour by bus, visiting Kremlin, restaurant lunch
• Uglich - walking tour, visiting Kremlin, Church of St Dmitry on the Blood, and Transfiguration Cathedral
• Yaroslavl - city tour by bus, visiting an outdoor market (shopping), Church of St Elijah the Prophet, Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Art Gallery tour
• Goritsy - visiting the monastery and the museum of icons
• Kizhi Island - visiting the outdoor museum of Russsian traditional wooden architecture
• Mandrogi Village - outdoor grill / kebab
• St Petersburg - city tour bu bus visits Peter and Paul fortress (1703-built citadel), State Hermitage Museum (art and culture), Peterhof State Museum-Reserve (lower park), ship-to-airport transfer

During winter, when Volga River is closed for navigation, the Mustai Karim ship cruises on Caspian Sea, Azov Sea and Black Sea itineraries.

Shipboard activities include as complimentary events classical music concerts, grand piano concert, show lounge (daily and nightly live music and dancing), Russian traditional tea ceremony (samovar-prepared tea), food tasting party (Vodka and blinis/pancakes), Russian language class, cooking class, yoga with professional fitness instructor, lecture themed on traditional Russian arts and crafts (English- and French-speaking lecturers), talent show (by crew members), cocktail party (for presenting the ship's crew), Q&A session with Russian students, Navigation Bridge / Wheelhouse tour and Engine Room tour.

VODOHOD cruise deals

• Departure port (dock/berth), check-in, boarding and landing times are indicated on the company's website (vodohod.com) and on passengers' boarding passes. The ship's exact departure time is clarified on the website the day prior departure.
• Kids discount ticket prices are for children up to 14 years of age (14-yo including), the age being fixed on departure day.
• Kids from 2 to 5 years of age (5-yo including) travel free of charge, but without providing an additional bed (if there are no free beds in the cabin). Shore excursion is also free of charge.
• Toddlers (kids under 2) travel free of charge, but bed, food and tour services are not provided. Extra beds in staterooms (baby cribs, cots) are not available on the ship.
• TWIN (double cabin) single supplement rate is 75%.
• Cabin number is provided 7 days prior departure. Reservation of a specific room number costs EUR 50 pp per cruise.
• Ticket prices are inclusive of 3 meals a day. Onboard dining includes Breakfast (buffet-style, water in pitchers, tea/ coffee served, drinks - cocoa, milk, juices, hot and cold dishes), Lunch (buffet-style, water in pitchers, tea/coffee served), Dinner (waiter-served) with 1 Starter, 1 Main course (choice of 3 available / meat-fish-vegetarian), 1 Dessert (choice of 2 or fruits), midnight soup.
• On embarkation day and disembarkation day (voyage's end), meal times depend on landing times. If a land tour coincides with a mealtime (lunch), passengers are provided with complimentary food at a local restaurant (cafe) or given "dry rations".
• Ticket price inclusive onboard events are Welcome Aboard ("bread and salt" ceremony), Welcome Cocktail (complimentary 1 glass of champagne or juice per person), "Tea Ceremony" (tea and traditional pies), "Vodka Show" (blini and vodka tasting), Farewell Captain's Cocktail Party (once per cruise, complimentary 1 cocktail / out of 3 choices per person), Captain's Dinner (gourmet menu, once per cruise), mulled wine or ice tea (weather-depending / upon returning from excursions), complimentary Coffee Station (coffee, hot water, packed tea, milk, cocoa, cookies, opening times 6 am/breakfast, 10-12 am, 4-6 pm, 9-11 pm), 1 bottled water (0.33l pp per day in cabins). Tickets are also inclusive of foreign language speaking guide services, onboard entertainment (language class, singing lessons, live music, nightly dancing music, Wheelhouse tour).
• Complimentary excursions are detailed in the ship's cruise itinerary program. Optional tours are available for shipboard booking. For excursion services, VODOHOD charges foreigners with an additional fee per person per day, including children 6-14 yo. This fee is not charged to tourists from the Russian Commonwealth, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The surcharge varies by cruisetour itinerary length (1-2-days, 3-4-days, 5-days, 6-days, 7-days).
• VODOHOD cruise tickets don't include any land transfers, beverages and snacks (in onboard bars and lounges), phone conversations, sauna visits, optional excursions, travel insurance, gratuities, personal spendings. Ticket prices include 18% VAT.
• Non-cash onboard payments are made via the company's debit card "Vodohod"(received upon registration), which is without any interest or commissions. The card is accepted in all the ship's venues (bars, restaurant, shop, administration). Cash payments for onboard sales are not accepted. International bank cards are accepted for final payments.
• Gift Certificate "Vodohod" (vouchers) can be pre-purchased for any amount. The recipient can choose an itinerary, cruise departure date and cabin category. The amount specified is not fixed and is set by the buyer. If the cruise tour costs less than the certificate's amount, the difference is not refundable.
• Smoking on the ship is allowed only in designated areas (marked with "Place for smoking" signs), located aft on decks Middle and/or Boat (depending on ship). Smoking is prohibited in all interior spaces and on open decks (except at designated areas).
• On all VODOHOD ships are available health gymnastics and morning exercises (led by a certified physician/ship's doctor), oxygen cocktails, dietary food.
• On all VODOHOD ships are provided (free of charge) the following medical services - emergency medical care (assistance required for sudden acute illnesses, conditions, exacerbation of chronic diseases), measurement of blood pressure and body temperature, primary treatment of wounds.
• VODOHOD recommends passengers to arrive in departure port cities at least 6 hours prior to ship departure. Boarding starts 2 hours prior departure. All passengers must be boarded at least 1-hour prior departure. Late passengers missing their cruise tour are not refunded.
• VODOHOD's departure ports/homeports are Moscow, St Petersburg, Astrakhan, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm, Samara, Kazan, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Saratov.