Sailing the 800-passenger Prince Vladimir on week-long sailings from Sochi, Russia, Rosmorport’s entry into the cruise industry is attracting politicians and additional federal support as it hopes to invigorate Black Sea tourism.

Having made her inaugural voyage in early June, the ship is settling into her summer week-long Blac Sea program. On July 4, the vessel docked in Yalta, and was visited by Minister of Resorts and Tourism of the Republic of Crimea Sergey Strelbitsky, who talked with passengers and met the ship’s officers.

Two days later the Prince Vladimir was in Sevastopol, where a military orchestra greeted passengers pier-side. A number of high-ranking politicians were in Sevastopol to meet the ship, including Igor Titov, Director of the Department for Transport and Development of Road Infrastructure; and the Director of the FSUE Rosmorport Sevastopol branch Alexander Nesterov.

While most passengers opted for organized tours, Dmitry Ovsyannikov, Sevastopol’s governor, toured the ship and also met with officers. He noted in prepared remarks he hoped the Black Sea cruise business will become more popular.