fbeifeld

We go in 2 weeks. Since you cannot use travelers checks, I am wondering about how much cash I will need. We spend 4 days in St. Petersburg before we take the cruise to Moscow.

Any clothing tips helpful also. Jacket and tie for opera and ballet i assume. For dinner also?

How cold in evening?

ira

Hi fb,

Have you asked the cruise line if you can use your CC onboard?

Since you will already have your jacket and tie, you can wear them to dinner as well.

Garfield

You don't need a jacket and tie for dinner on the boat. The only people at the opera that had a jacket and tie were the tourists, not required.

nytraveler

Jacket and tie are distinctly optional at either the ballet or opera. Some will be wearing them - but by no means all.

Just be preapred for a variety of weather - and that even in the early fall it can be very damp and windy. (We were there on my birthday - I had just flown in from Stockholm where it was about 70 during the day - and the day after we arrived it was in the high 40's - plus very damp and windy.) FYI -most of the locals had already brought out their winter coats.

fbeifeld

thanks for the reply on clothing. I had the feeling we should bring something warmer. and we will leave tie and jacket at home.

Cruise line will not take credit cards so trying to find someone who can advise how much cash to carry.

Garfield

Just take a small amount of $US, use the ATM to obtain your roubles. Some ATM's will give $US if you require them. You will have no problem finding ATMs in Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Moscow or St Petersburg. You may not find them in the smaller towns.

Some cruise lines will take credit cards, but not all.

The only legal currency in Russia is the rouble, if you use $US for purchases you will get a poor exchange rate.

pilgrim

You might want to contact the cruise line. I did a similar river cruise with Sea Cloud/River Cloud cruise line. The passengers did dress for dinner and there was one formal night, so the jacket was often used. Your cruiseline might be a bit more relaxed, however.

MBellamy

I returned August 4th from a Viking cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg and loved it. Upon the advice of another traveler who went last year, I took $800 in US dollars, of which $100 was singles. I spent almost all of it!

Almost everyone accepts dollars and will quote prices in rubles or dollars. I got about $100 in rubles in Moscow, where we started, and that was about all I needed. I probably should have gotten more because I ran out of cash when I paid my St. Petersburg guide; we ended up having a car and driver for a day, which I hadn't anticipated. (My mom made the mistake of taking travelers checks and was unable to cash them; she used them for bill settlement on the ship.)

Our ship took credit cards to pay the final bill. On board we signed for everything. I am surprised that your ship won't let you settle the bill wtih a credit card.

The amount of cash you need to pay for your on-board bill depends on what's included already. Our bill was about $570 for 3 massages, wine at dinner, after dinner drinks, and several optional tours (those were the bigest item,as I recall). Plus you will need cash for tips for the cabin attendants and dining room staff.

At restaurants and stores in St. Petersburg you can use your credit card.

Agree that you don't need a jacket and tie at all. We were fortunate to have lovely and mostly warm weather, but it is indeed changeable. Check weather.com to see what the temperatures are, and plan on layers. Rain gear is a must!

If you have any other questions, I will be happy to try to answer them. If you want the name of our guide in St. Petersburg, let me know. She was wonderful.