S-Continental, a new cruise venture based in St. Petersburg, has started operating 7-night Baltic cruises targeting the Russian market. The 12,798 gross ton SC Atlantic sailed on its first cruise to Helsinki, Stockholm and Tallinn from St . Petersburg on 9 July – the first cruise had been sold out. 

SC Atlantic was built in Poland as Konstantin Chernenko in 1986 as member of a long series of largely similar vessels to the Soviet Union. It is 139 metres long, has a beam of 21 metres and it traded as Russ prior to a refit to take up its present cruise role.

Pictures on the company’s website suggest that the vessel has been upgraded to quite a high standard, although the design of the interiors differs markedly from what is customary in the west. The ship now only takes 236 passengers, a marked reduction from 409 from when built. 

Passenger facilities include a restaurant with VIP zone, six bars, a night club, karaoke club, casino, boutique, sauna, entertainment lounge and a swimming pool on deck. The currencies used on board are the US dollar, the euro and the rouble.