Post-proletarian Tourism 235local initiative, the Sochi excursion bureau and others also organized their
own sailings between the Caucasus coast and Crimea. Comments from pas-
sengers convey the popularity of cruise travel that combined the traditional
spa amenities and scenery. “We recouped our strength and our health, and
had a marvelous vacation,” wrote one couple after their 1971 journey. Other
passengers noted with pleasure the excellent light orchestra and singer, the
beauty contests (“Miss Rossiia ,” “Miss Abkhaziia ”) organized by the cultural
director, and the interesting excursions ashore: “No one was bored!”^74
With their array of cultural activities, fi lling meals, paid entertainment,
and excursions, these ocean cruises represented the height of Soviet tourist
luxury. The eighteen-day cruises on the Admiral Nakhimov , Abkhaziia, and
Rossiia cost between 90 and 230 rubles, depending on the class of service
and the season. A deluxe berth in the peak season (June through September)
cost 230 rubles; third-class accommodations ranged from 110 to 140 rubles.
Vacationers in the salon of the “fl oating rest home” Voroshilov, 1947. Note the guitar player
on deck. RGAKFD g. Krasnogorsk, no. 0–143434. Used with permission of the archive.- GAGS, f. 261, op. 1, d. 91 (Black Sea cruise comment books, 1969–70), ll. 4, 4ob., 13,
25, 40–42, 56, 77–77ob.; “We recouped our strength,” d. 167 (ocean cruise reports, 1971),
l. 39; d. 41 (Black Sea cruise comment books, 1967–69), ll. 2ob., 10ob.,13ob., “No one was
bored,” 12, 14; Trud , 26 July 1957; Turistskie marshruty na 1968 god , 49.