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First Cruise-Passenger Line on Caspian to Open in May
February 24, 2006

The first cruise-passenger line via the Caspian Sea will open on May 15, 2006, Alexander Nevredinov, the deputy minister for economic development of the Astrakhan region of Russia, announced on Thursday.

According to Nevredinov, Baku is one of the big capitals of the region, which has flights to many cities of Europe and very attractive to tourists.

The value of the project is some $15-$20m.

After analysis, an independent expert from the Netherlands gave a positive estimation for the launch. The first motor ship will run from the Black Sea to the Caspian. It is planned to use one motor-ship on weekly-cruises via Baku, Astrakhan, Aktau, and Enzeli. An issue with the Turkmenbashi port is still to be resolved.

The cost of a ticket will be $70 per day. The motor-ship will be able to carry 250 people. Further, it is also planned to use 5-6 vessels on the route.

Market research has shown the route to be viable over a period of 3 years, Nevredinev said, adding that talks were currently continuing with Azerbaijan. The route will be managed by Astrakhan-based company Tintur with support from the Ministry of Economic development.

Baku Today

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25 days from the Baltic Sea:- Vessels enter the Volga-Canal-System at St. Petersburg, then vessels pass: Ladoga Lake, Onega Lake, Beloe Lake, Belozersk, Cherepovets, Rybinsk, Jaroslavl, Kostroma, Nizhniy Novgorod, Kazan, Simbirsk, Togliatti, Samara, Saratov, Volgograd, Astrakhan, then vessels enter the Caspian Sea.

From the Black Sea it takes approx 16 days, 2 across the Azov Sea where vessels enter the Volga-Canal-System at Rostov-na-Donu, then 14 days via Volgodonsk, Volgograd and then Astrakhan where vessels enter the Caspian Sea.

I wonder which vessels may be used? 250 pax.. but I don't expect these trips will be marketed outside the area. I would have thought perhaps more of an issue with Enzali [Iran] rather than at Turkmenbash, but they don't say what the 'issue' is, nor do I understand the politics between these countries.

I had 2 Cruises in the Past on these Ships, an 22 Night Cruise from Moscow to Moscow, the Volga River down to Astrachan and back in 1992 on the "NICOLAYJ BAUMANN"

and an 14 Night Cruise the Dnepro River down from Kiev to Kiev (Saporoshje, Odessa, Sevastopol, Cherson) on the "GENERAL LAVRINENKOV".

River Cruises in Russia are very interesting.

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Caspian Cruise Business to Develop
May 2, 2006

The cruise ship "Maria Ermolova" recently sold by Novoship is soon to leave Novorossiysk for the Caspian.
 
The buyer, Astrakhan based Tintur travel agency (part of the holding PKM, President Andrey Soluyanov), plans to deploy the ship on cruise itineraries in the Caspian. The newly established shipping company, Caspian Cruise Lines, will act as a ship operator.
 
Novoship offered the "Maria Ermolova" for auction in October 2005 at a starting price of $2.5 million. The final sum of the contract has not been disclosed, but the sum is reported to have been paid.

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An image can be found at MARIA YERMALOVA on Fakta om Fartyg.

...and also details at this broker: boats4ever.

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Besides our Ship are in the Harbour the Mariya Yermolova, with 39 Passengers nearly empty on an Cruise of Britain and Scandinavia and the Alexandr Pushkin, which is now the Marco Polo, from the German Tour Operator Transocean, with nearly 600 Passengers completely filled.

Nowadays as Marco Polo, she takes an Maximum of 915 Pax, but as Alexandr Pushkin, she took 580 regular and with all Beds filled about 720.

The Victoria sailed on this Cruise with 330 Passengers, most of them had - as i had - an very special Price.

I paid for my Wife and me each German Marks 1733, for the Cabin J 10 on the Jade Deck, the Brochure Price was German Marks 5100 each.

This was my first Cruise with Chandris, which is now Celebrity, and it was the Beginning of an Life-long Customer Relation.

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lasuvidaboy wrote:
Did'nt one of her sisters capsize at her berth during a storm a few years ago?

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You mean ANTONINA NEZHDANOVA, see here: Russian Passenger Ship Sinks.

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