Russia to build first Cruise Liner since the 1950’s

The president of Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) has announced plans to build the country’s first cruise liner since the 1950s. Since Turkey and Egypt are no longer tourist destinations for the Russians due to the plane crash from Sharm El Sheikh and the terrorist attacks in Turkey the Russians have virtually stopped visiting those countries and there has been about 800% increase in cruise bookings for Russian cruise liners with the most popular are river cruises, St Petersburg and Kazan. The Soviet Union had a fleet of ocean liners that made cruises on the Black and Baltic Seas. Ships were not built in Russia  though and now this USC company who were establish in 2007 and is the largest shipbuilding company in Russia,released plans to build a new Russian cruise liner.Many tourists who chose holiday cruises used to vacation in Europe. But after the ruble depreciated, they simply cannot afford it anymore.Construction is due to start this year. I think that will put Russia on the cruising map, although many Russian tourist are already regular cruisers in the Med with the main US liners such as Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Holland America and NCL but now the Russians will have their own main liner and take millions of Russians on cruises.