Russia Plans Luxury Cruise Service Between Moscow and Baku
Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade is subsidizing construction of the ships, while the announcement did not specify intermediate ports or cruise terminals.
A planned luxury-class cruise service between Moscow and Baku would offer a round trip of approximately 14 days, seven in each direction. Adam Khakimov, Russia's trade representative in Azerbaijan, told Zvezda TV that the service was expected to begin in the near future.
Russia's Ministry of Industry and Trade is subsidizing construction of the cruise ships, according to Khakimov. One vessel is ready. Two others are expected to be completed soon. “If the project proves successful, we hope these two ships will also sail to Baku,” Khakimov said.
The announcement did not identify the vessel or its operating company, and it provided no firm departure date or fares. Intermediate ports and the departure and arrival terminals were also not specified.
Moscow's North River Terminal handles long-distance river cruises, while the Port of Baku's passenger terminal is in Alat, about 65–70 kilometers south of central Baku. That terminal serves passenger and vehicle ferry traffic across the Caspian Sea, but it has not been identified as the arrival point for the proposed cruise.
