sdtravels

What a fabulous trip! It will take me a few weeks to write a trip report and get my photos organized. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please feel free to email me directly. I probably won't be checking Fodor's much until I catch my breath.

marlib1951

I have a bunch of questions so please post a trip report! We are scheduled to go Oct 6 with GCT. We kinda decided this on impulse and I have had a few concerns. Which cruise did you do? Were you on the ship the whole time or did you have hotel stays? Which ship? I have a bunch of questions, please give us a detailed report! Thanks!

Bill2222

My wife and I are also going on this trip. Our departure date is 9/4/08. We would sure like to see a trip report also. Did you use your free time in Moscow to see Lenin in his Tomb? How did you get around on your free time in Moscow and St Pete's? Can you take the metro easily on your own without understnding Cryllic? Thanks.

paulfr

Hello:
You have several requests for a trip report on this site!
My wife and I are leaving in 3 days and would love to hear about your experiences on the included tours, optional tours, free time, boat, hotels, etc.
Regards, Paul

OldeBrit

sdtravels: My husband and I are still contemplating a Russian River cruise in 2009 and think that GCT sounds the best - but, we too, would love to read your trip report. Right now, we are having problems trying to find out their itinery and dates for 2009 and whether they are staying at hotels in Moscow and St.Petersburg or not. When I called GCT yesterday, I was told YES - a few weeks ago, I was told NO!!

gmlawyer

We leave on this trip on Thursday. What extra cost excursions did you not like. Could you get from the Moscow hotel easily to Red Square on your own? Is there any advice you wish you had been given about the trip that you now know?

sdtravels

OldeBrit: My understanding is that GCT will do both types of trips, one with hotels and one without. Make sure you get the one with hotel stays. I will definitely be working on a trip report soon.

Bill2222: I did not go to see Lenin. From other reports I read it sounded dreadful. I don't think it was open the day I was there anyway. You can take the Metro easily. It helps to know what the Cryillic letters look like. We would say things like "it's the third stop starting with the little r".

gmlawyer: The ballet in St Petersburg was a tourist rendition. I would try for tickets on my own, perhaps from the hotel or online before you go. That is the only one that was a little disappointing (actually I didn't go, but my husband did)
The subway is easy from the hotel, the stop is only a block away. I wish I knew that you can photos almost everywhere. The GCT guide said we couldn't take photos so I left my camera at the hotel twice! What she meant was, you couldn't take flash photos. I can't say there is anything that I didn't expect, except a few pleasant surprises like extra day trips included that weren't in the plan. You will have a fabulous time! Everything was better than I expected.

Sorry to be so short with my answers, just trying to be quick and get back to work. I will definitely work on a report soon.

OldeBrit

Thank you for your enlightenment re the hotel stays. I wonder why GCT didn't mention it? I too, have more questions for you - would you prefer that I ask them on this forum or by your email address? I didn't want to be intrusive if you are busy with work/re-adjusting.

Luisah

Grand Circle has two cruises in Russia. One has hotel stays and the other does not. People, myself included, get confused and perhaps are not specific when they call GCT.

"Russian Waterways" has hotel stays in Moscow and St. Petersburg. "Russia Revealed" has pretty much the same itinerary but stays are totally on the ship -- no hotels. If someone calls GCT for information and just says "the Russian cruise" they may be getting information on either of the trips but not the one they want.

Marlib, The poster's title is "Just Returned from GCT "Russian Waterways" trip -- that is the trip with hotel stays in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

I'm looking forward to the trip report too, the "Waterways" trip is #2 on my list. I think being in hotels in the big cities would be far more convenient than traveling to and from the dock.

I'm happy to read that you had a fabulous trip and understand your need for recovery-re-organizing time.

Bill2222

sdtravels,
Thanks for the response!
In regards to one response about the ballet...what is meant by "The ballet in St Petersburg was a tourist rendition"?

OldeBrit

luisah: Yes, I know there's two GCT tours to Russia and I have always asked about "The Russian Waterways" and I still was given different information each time I called.

dwzemens

Bookmarking and awaiting a trip report. We have taken three GCT riverboat trips and enjoyed them all.

Anyone with generic questions about GCT riverboat trips in Europe can email me direct at dwzemens AT comcast DOT net and I will be happy to try and answer any questions that I can.

Luisah

<<I have always asked about "The Russian Waterways" and I still was given different information each time I called.>>

That's odd, but I think that there is a large turnover in the customer service department in Boston and think that some may be college students. I've had some strange answers too. Maybe the rep heard "Russia" brought up the wrong trip on the computer.

However, the itinerary and 2009 prices and departure dates are listed on the Grand Circle web site. www.gct.com. It does specify hotels in Moscow and St. Petersburg for Russian Waterways.

I hope it works out for you.

Luisah

Forgot to mention that there are eight traveler reviews on the gct site for the Russian Waterways trip.

OldeBrit

I must be blind, silly or both - but I cannot find where it states "Russian Waterways" dates and prices for 2009 that you say are on the GCT website in your letter?? The 2009 dates list on the right does not include "Russian Waterways" Could you please tell me exactly where you saw this information Luisah?

Luisah

Hi OldeBrit
You're neither blind nor silly and I'm sorry to add to your frustration and confusion. I posted the message after I saw the chart on the introduction page of "Russian Waterways." The chart below is on the right next to the photo. I had not clicked the "Departure dates" in the left column but when I did today I see that only 2008 dates are displayed so I guess you will have to call customer service if you intend to book for 2009 and hope for a knowledgeable rep. But if you read the itinerary it definitely lists hotel stays.


Dates & Prices at a Glance *
2008 from 2009
from
January
February
March
April $3495
May Sold Out $3595
June $3945 $3995
July $3695 $3895
August $3695 $3995
September $3495
October $3195

From New York

OldeBrit

I called GCT again today and the rep told me that they are going to stay in hotels in Moscow and St.Petersburg next year. He confirmed that the hotel in Moscow wil be the same - the Holiday Inn, but in St.P's it will be the Shote Hotel (?) and the SAS Radisson (of which there are four)

Rates are still to be determined.

gmlawyer

Just returned from the same trip plus 5 day extension to Tallin and Helsinki. Best trip of my life. On a 1-10 scale this was a 10. Everything about the trip was wonderful, the ship, the hotels, the food, the excursions and the guides. By the way, the ballet we were taken to, Romeo and Juliet, was one of the absolute highlights of the trip. We did every excursion offered. Even the weather cooperated. No rain for 22 days.

Luisah

gmlawyer,

That sounds great. So you did not take the pre-trip extension to Kiev? Did anyone that you met on the cruise take it and like it?

Was the ballet you attended the GCT option? Or did you book yourselves?

I'm glad you had a "10" experience. I'll be doing this trip in 2009 -- am already committed to 2008.

Thanks for posting, there seems to be a lot of interest in this trip.

sdtravels

There were a number of people on our trip who took the trip to Kiev and they all thought it was great. I was exhausted after 16 days so I suggest you do some training (walking, etc.) prior to going. I couldn't have handled the extra days with the shape I'm in.

I hope you have a great time when you go!