Russia's Pacific cruise dream sinks as ship remains detained in China

Plans for Russia’s first major Pacific cruise have been scrapped for 2026. The 'Primorye–Kamchatka–Sakhalin' voyage, announced at the 2025 Eastern Economic Forum, was set to launch this year but now faces indefinite delays. The cruise ship meant to operate the route remains detained in China after a legal dispute. The cruise was originally scheduled to begin in 2026, with departures from Vladivostok. The 10-day journey would have included stops in Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Passengers were expected to pay 17,000 rubles per day for the trip.

The vessel, renamed Astoria Nova, was previously known as AIDAvita under AIDA Cruises. However, in early 2026, the ship was seized in China following a lawsuit from a fuel supplier. No release date has been confirmed, leaving the cruise’s future uncertain.

A regional operator, Russian Cruise Company (Ruskruiz JSC), was formed to manage the voyages. Founders included Rosmorport, Sovcomflot, KS-Strategic Alliance, and the development corporations of Kamchatka and Primorsky Krai. The cruises were planned to run from June to October, with the liner relocating to southern China during winter. With the ship still under arrest, the inaugural cruise will not proceed as planned. The delay affects both the operator and travellers who had booked the route. Officials have yet to provide an updated timeline for the voyage’s resumption.