Russian residents may have found it more difficult to go overseas as a result of Western sanctions and limitations imposed in the aftermath of the Ukraine invasion, but that hasn't prevented some from going on holiday.

Passengers aboard cruise ships have increased by 30% to 40% in the last year, according to Alexey Volotskov, a Russian legislator, who spoke to the Kremlin-controlled news agency TASS.

Infoflot's Antonina Kiseleva told Insider that demand for its cruises was "very high" last year, with ships constantly operating at 95% full.
River cruises have been particularly popular, according to Konstantin Puchkov of the online vacation marketplace Cruise House. "There are absolutely no spots on some routes for the next summer season," Puchkov remarked.

According to Forbes Russia, international visitors accounted for around 40% of passenger travel prior to 2020. According to Kommersant, that figure has dropped nearly to zero in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but domestic visitors appear to be filling the void.
Due to the increased costs of foreign travel, Russia's domestic cruises are now attracting richer passengers, including individuals who have previously vacationed abroad.
According to Andrei Mikhailovsky, the head of Infoflot, such customers have "higher criteria" for the level of accommodation and service — and are frequently only interested in the newest ships.

Cruises are also getting more popular for the few people who can travel abroad, according to Puchkov. Because sanctions sometimes make it hard for Russian residents living abroad to use credit cards issued by state banks, some are opting for all-inclusive packages to avoid the headache.

After Vladimir Putin authorised his invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022, Russian nationals' holiday options became significantly limited.
The European Union banned all flights to and from Russia on February 27, and several of Russia's closest neighbours barred Russian visitors outright in September.
Russian visitors can still enter Europe via third countries such as Turkey, but the route will be more expensive and time-consuming.

Long-distance places like as Thailand remain popular among rich Russians but are frequently out of reach for the general public.