Taking Moscow River Cruises to the Next Level
In 2008, God Nisanov and Zarakh Iliev expanded their business interests to include a river cruise company, the Radisson Royal Flotilla. Already well-known for their commercial real estate projects since the 1990s, Nisanov and Iliev began expanding their business portfolio to include other industries, like hotels and food hubs. The business executives have now launched yet another thrilling new project in the hospitality sector in collaboration with the popular Radisson brand. In addition, they own the Radisson Collection and the Radisson Slavyanska Hotels.
Exploring the Moskva River All Year Round
The Radisson Royal Flotilla gives local Muscovites and tourists to the capital the opportunity to take river cruises along the Moskva River every day of the year, even when the river is frozen. Since its launch, the Radisson Royal Flotilla has transported thousands of visitors from across the globe and has allowed them to enjoy the sights along the river as well as the entertainment and restaurant options offered onboard.
Cuisine-Themed Cruises on the Rise
The launch of the Radisson Royal Flotilla was revolutionary in more than one way. It was not only the first river cruise company to make cruises on the Moskva possible every day regardless of weather conditions, but it was also one of the first companies to drive the trend of gastronomic entertainment cruises. The fleet offers a selection of food-themed entertainment evenings and afternoons including poetry readings, theater shows, and literary evenings. The yachts also regularly feature several popular artists and performers.
Cruising into the Future of River Transport
In April 2019, God Nisanov and Zarakh Iliev decided to expand the services offered by the Radisson Royal Flotilla even further. The businessmen launched a fleet of 10 river trams that offer guided tours with audio in six different languages. The trams leave the Hotel Ukraina every 30 minutes throughout the day. Passengers are shown a range of interesting sights including Gorky Park, Novoskassky Bridge, Sparrow Hills, Zaryadye Park, and Kievsky Station. The luxury yachts have retractable roofs so passengers can enjoy the view without getting wet if it rains or snows. And on days when the weather is good, the roofs can be opened for fresh air and an even more special experience of the river.
A Highly Personal Project
Known as an avid inventor, co-owner of the fleet Zarakh Iliev was directly involved in the design of the luxurious fleet of river yachts. Iliev personally supervised it from the outset and specified all the dimensions and aspects of the yacht systems.
Improved Accessibility to the Moskva
To make the interesting sights along the Moskva River even more accessible to visitors, the Moscow Department of Transportation collaborated with Smart River and Sberbank to make it possible for travelers to pay for their trips using the Troika transportation card. This means that it is no longer necessary to stand in long lines to buy a ticket for a river cruise, and Troika cardholders even get discounted rates. Until now, river transportation had been chaotic and fraught with logistical challenges. The Radisson Royal Flotilla and this initiative of using the Troika car has drastically reduced these issues.
Leading the Way with the Troika
Introducing the option of using the Troika transportation card as a ticketing system for river cruises was the first step to expanding the cards’ services. The Radisson Royal Flotilla may be part of a similar evolution in the local transportation industry. Going forward, God Nisanov and Zarakh Iliev believe that the fleet will also include an additional form of transport in the city and not just for leisurely cruises. They are already equipped with modern equipment like the smart car readers needed to use the Troika for ticketing. According to the Moscow Department of Transportation and Road Infrastructure Development, over 90% of people using transportation services in the city use this card as a payment method. Using it for transport along the Moscow River is most likely the next step in urban transportation.
Expanding the Options for Urban Transportation in the City
There have been talks by Moscow leaders who believe that river transportation in Moscow must be developed and modernized. They contend that Moscow residents and visitors to the capital should be given a range of options to choose from in terms of city transportation in addition to a convenient payment method. Whether they prefer to drive around Moscow in a car, ride in a taxi or bus, use the Moscow Metro, or travel by water on one of the river trams, it looks like a range of convenient options will soon be available to all.