The largest Russian operator of river cruises "VodohodЪ" decided to prolong navigation-2020 till the end of November. Late cruises itineraries are planned to Valaam Island in Lake Ladoga, along the Golden Ring and to Kazan with visits to ancient cities and a rich excursion program.

"This year the postponement of the start of navigation corrected the planned leisure of our tourists, but for us it was an occasion to look at cruises in a new way, from a different angle. We are doing our best to ensure that everyone who wants to sail this year, for this we have extended the navigation until late autumn, until the end of November. There will be cruises to Valaam, the Golden Ring and to Kazan with visiting of ancient cities and a rich excursion program", - said the general director of the company Rishat Bagautdinov.

He clarified that cruises to the Valaam Island and to the village Mandrogi in the Leningrad region are designed in accordance with autumnal themes: tourists will have a cozy trip with mulled wine and cocoa, plaids, specially designed menu, songs with a guitar, relax yoga, a sauna on the beach and other atmospheric entertainment.

"Cruises have been announced recently but we already see interest towards autumn themes and new experience of cruises. At the same time we offer flexible conditions for rescheduling voyages to this or 2021 with bonuses and discounts," Bagautdinov added.

New routes

Apart from the modernization and improvement of the motor ships themselves, cabins and public spaces the management of the company is also updating the content of the cruises, revising the entertainment and sightseeing programs.

So, in 2020 "Vodohod" enters a few new directions: the Azov Sea, offers a direct cruise to the Solovetsky Islands - the largest archipelago in the White Sea, the study of the Siberian Yenisei - one of the longest and most full-flowing rivers in the world and Russia - on the route from Krasnoyarsk to Dudinka and back. The company plans to launch cruises to the Arctic and Baikal in the nearest future.

Foreign tourists

Throughout its sixteen-year history, Vodokhod has maintained close ties with international partners around the world and welcomes several tens of thousands of people from different countries every year.

Over the past three years, from 2017 to 2019, the number of international clients has increased by 16%. However, due to the current epidemiological situation in the world, these numbers will decrease significantly in the navigation season of 2020.

Cruises along the route Moscow - St. Petersburg and back are in the highest demand among foreign visitors. Apart from acquaintance with two largest megapolises of Russia and Europe, guests can see small provincial towns and villages, learn more about Russia, its people, history and culture.

For foreign tourists, Vodokhod has also launched cruises from Moscow to Astrakhan with visits to the largest and most interesting cities on the Volga River. In addition, foreign guests will also be able to take part in an expedition cruise on the Yenisei River.

"Vodohod" on its motor ships guarantees service in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian - in every city on the route a professional guide with one of these languages is working with the group, on the board a foreign language speaking escort guides are helping clients. For groups with rarer languages, there is a free seat for a tour guide who helps guests with translation.

At the same time, starting from 2020, the company's riverboat service standard, working mainly with foreign passengers, has been introduced with the China Friendly project due to the increase in the number of Chinese tourists. The project involves creating an adapted environment and the most comfortable conditions for guests from China.

Daily entertainment and educational program is prepared for foreign tourists: lessons of Russian language, Russian song and Russian dance, lectures about culture and history of Russia, and in the evening guests are invited to concerts of folk and classical music, and also to dance evening with pop artists.

Security

Taking into account the wishes of clients and capabilities of the company, "Vodohod" launched a large-scale program to renovate the fleet: every year several motor ships are renovated, and attention is paid not only to interior design, comfort, increasing of cabins area, but also to technical and sea-going characteristics - new navigation equipment is installed.

For the company management the safety on the vessels has always been and will remain a priority. All passenger ships are inspected annually by the Russian River Register that carries out constant technical supervision of repairs and maintenance. "Vodohod" was the first to develop and implement a Safety Management System (SMS). Prior to the beginning of the annual navigation, the crews of all vessels undergo scheduled drills and training to practice actions in case of emergency situations on the water and rescue passengers. In addition, each cabin is equipped with life jackets, and all passengers receive instructions on how to use life saving equipment before the start of the voyage.

Although the cruise industry is one of the best equipped and most experienced industries in managing and monitoring the health of those on board, management has decided to further strengthen measures to prevent disease outbreaks due to the spread of coronavirus infection.