The Russian Ministry of Transport is reported by Cruise Industry News to be planning to launch a cruise line with the Roy Star (most recently the Royal Iris for Mano Cruises) in partnership with Sovfracht and Rosmorport.
The Black Sea ports have suffered a severe fall of business since the flaring up of a Russian dispute with Ukraine, leading to Russia’s annexation of Crimea. The cruise ship’s port of call appears to be Yalta, Sevastopol and Istanbul, with the ship sailing on a round-trip from Sochi.