HI Percy

I know what you mean. On our Antarctic cruise I arranged a private tour in Puerto Montt. I was emailing back and forth for weeks and arranged a great tour knowing I would be "picking up" some passengers that we met on the cruise. We had a marvelous tour and the people were so great - they sent me a thank you gift and want us to come and stay in their B&B as their guests. Sometimes you just really make a connection.

So, now I shall send an email to Alla and tell her you are expecting a full report!!

for now - Good night Percy

Just out of curiosity, has anyone booked a shore excursion for St. Petersburg from the cruise ship?

Yes, we did. Any questions?

What was your opinion? Also, what did they offer for an evening option, and what was the price?

It looks like it is $365 dollars for the two day excursion which includes a canal boat ride. I'm assuming this includes admission fees and photo permits.

Were there long lines and lots of people?

trapsma...

Red Oct. didn't include photo permits in there prices, but gave me another price list...to be able to take pictures of everywhere we went utilizing 1 camera it was about 20 dollars..

though our guide could totally careless if we used both..

entrance was covered to everything...

Plan on carrying 1 dollar bills, if you decide you want a beverage or snacks at a kiosk along the way. we gave our money to our guide and then she bought it for us.

My mom and I took the river ride and though I loved it, keep in mind we did a B2B cruise for 4 days. If you are there only 2 days I would think your time could be used better elsewhere.

on the flip side of that...it's a great way to gain a little rest in the day!

Also, for the ballett in the evening...usually it's the 2nd or 3rd string dancers not the main company...they are out touring...so double check on that..I heard people rave about the evening at Catherines Palace.

I think Percy will agree with me...

this cruise is very port intensive..Mentally, Intellectually, and Physically exhausting at points.

You will need your rest at night!

Regarding the Ballet here is a good website for schedule and prices. You will notice that there are a few levels of the same ballet each evening and at different theatres - the most expensive is the main company which we are going to. Swan Lake is on when we are there.http://www.balletandopera.com/

Hi Trapsma: I thought they did a good job. Our tour guide Anna was very impressive. She seemed to know all there was to know about St. Petes and its history including smaller details and trivia so to speak. She was like a walking, talking encyclopedia. They did offer evening programs for the ballet and for Russian folk dancing. I don't recall the price but I think it wasn't out of line. Our two day tour was inclusive of entry fees, pics and did include a canal ride with champagne. Last yr. we paid $339.00 pp thru Princess. Though this was during the peak of high season the lines really weren't that bad at all. we didn't stand around much if at all. Personally I would have booked w/ Denrus who was offering virtually the same tour for $280.00 pp and it would have been on a smaller vehicle that the bus for about 35 we were on. However our friends were too wary of booking with an outside Russian tour group so we went w/ the ships tour. I suppose we are more seasoned travelers than they but it would have bothered them too much and caused them too much worry so we did the most comfortable option for them. However you see it St. Petes will amaze you. The other Baltic stops were fun but St. Petes is literally awesome. Cheers, Larry.

Thanks for the information, Larry. I was thinking that if Alla's tour was $300 for 20 people, and the ship's tour was $365, perhaps I should study this a little more. I would prefer a tour for just my granddaughter and me, but it is a little more than I want to pay. I like Alla's itinerary and am waiting for her price on the folk dancing show. My Polish grandfather was a pretty good Cossack dancer, so I think it might be a good program for my granddaughter as well as me.

I have not checked DenRus yet.
Sandra

OK. I really don't recall the flok dancing cost but it is a one night event as opposed to the 2 day "grand" tour and it should be much less. Its really nice of you to do this for your grandaughter. I am sure she will remember it forever. Good luck and do check Denrus. Larry

Larry,

I just checked DenRus, and it seems they have the same itinerary as the other groups with some added items, and a little less than Alla Tours.

Yes, I have three grandchildren, and this is the last one to get a trip. Then it's a free-for-all for me...after I monetarily recover from this voyage. My grandson and I went to Italy on his spring break two years ago, my second grandson and I went to Jordan last May, and the Baltic was my granddaughter's choice. I've traveled quite a lot, usually with rented cars or campers. I'm planning to do the other ports on our own, but we would have missed too much for me to attempt St. Petersburg in this fashion.

trapsma

Well you are getting good advice from jacketwatch about the ship tour versus private tour guides in St.Petersburg.

I did not go to the Ballet,as there was so much I wanted to see in St.Petersburg...and the first day we were gone for 12 full hour.

I also have to agree with isailtheseas...this cruise is very port intensive.

Therefore you have to be well organized for every port if you want to maximize your sightseeing at each port.

I mentioned all this in my Trip Report last August.

Personally ,I never tired at any port because I always knew what I was going to see...but the others in my group of four were exhausted near the end.

They relied on me to do all the homework, which I did...but then only I and the tour guide knew where we were going and why!!

For example,when we were in Gdansk Poland,near the end of our touring day....I told our guide ( Peter)to go to Westerplatte Memorrial Monument on the way back.

The others in my group said "What's Westerplatte"?

I said "This is a memorial for the soldiers that were killed here in WWII"

"Aw we have seen enough memorials " Lawrence in our group said.

Then I said "look"

"This IS the place where on September 1 1939, the very FIRST shots of World War II were fired.. Right Here.

So I really want to walk up the hill to this Memorial and look down on the Motlawa River where the Germany boats came up and started firing."

After this explantion they all wanted to go !!

So doing each port on your own is fine ,but if there are special places you want to see then make a list....and go there.

Good Luck
Hi jacketwatch and isailtheseas.

Percy

Thank you for all the great information you've all been giving me. I really appreciate it. I will have to make up my mind pretty soon as to what company to use for our tour. It looks like it might be between Alla and DenRus...although, so many of you recommend Red October.

Wow! You are one generous granny. Very nice. I honestly think the two day grand tour is the way to go as you must ask yourself when will you be there again. May as well see all you can while you are there.
Percy the more I think about that Baltic cruise the more I wonder if it ever will be topped. It is azaming indeed. I would like to try cruising Greece and Turkey one day as I've had a fascination with the story of Troy and ancient Greece since I was a little boy. Heck I knew about Scheilman the same way I knew about Mickey Mantle and Ernie Banks. :D :D Darn that Bill Mazerowski. :D. If you don't follow baseball then this makes no sense. Cheers, Larry :-)

Larry,
I did a Greece/Turkey tour, land and sea, in the fall of 2006. Actually, the sea part was on that ship that sank not too long after we had been on it. I wasn't too happy with one of the guides, but everything else was very nice. My friend and I did a lot of walking around by ourselves, and found the locals in Greece and Turkey to be very friendly and helpful - whether or not they spoke English.

Hi Everyone:
(jacketwatch, isailtheseas,traveller69)

jacketwatch:

I also did the Greece Turkey Italy Barcelona cruise in the fall of 2007.

But I enjoyed the Baltic Cruise way more.

Yes ,I know all about Bill Mazerowski in the ninth inning in Pittsburg... but the Yankees made up for it the next year. (The M&M Boys )

Good Night everyone and trapsma,I am sureyou will choose the right ( good) tour company.

Percy

Percy...

sounds like you do as much homework as we do...

I'll share a private tour with you anyday!!!!

K.

isailthe seas:

Yes I have to admit I do a lot of homework for all my trips.

I usually tell my private tour guide all the places I want to see and HOW to get there.!!!

Yep we'd make a good pair or small group alright !!

Good Night

Percy.

Thanks to everyone. You're a great group.
Sandra

Percy

You did it again!! I emailed Alla three times with no response. I then sent one that said Percy had recommended them and I needed a response - I got one almost immediately. It sure helps to have friends in the right places!!!

traveller69

Glad I could help..... but actually here is why you got such a quick answer.

1. I called Putin in Moscow.

2. I told him you were waiting for a rely from Alla in St.Petersburg and could he please call her and use his influence .!

3. He called Alla ...and Alla e-mailed you.

Sorry I wish I could take credit for it :)

Percy