Letter of Invitation for Russia
 

We are returning St Petersburg and this time simply want to spend the time at the Hermitage and walking Nevsky Prospect.
Our problem is that we will be arriving on a cruise boat (I understand they will not include your name on a blanket visa unless you are participating in their excursions) and we won't need a guide, so how do we obtain this letter of invitation to accompany our visa application?
Any thoughts will be appreciated.

There are dozens of Russian visa companies that will give you just a letter of invitation.

Perhaps dozens was not the right word. Slew or many is better.

If you are staying overnight in a hotel, the hotel might provide this for you, at a charge.
If you are just staying for a day or are overnighting onboard, you can ask a visa company to supply the letter of invitation, again at a cost. Or you could ask the cruise company if they can supply it for a fee.

CIBT is perhaps one of the better known global visa companies.

You could try this: http://www.waytorussia.net/

I haven't used them, but would certainly consider them if I ever return to Russia.

You might also check the Russia sticky on Lonely Planet's thorntree.

Thank you all for your help. Have contacted CIBT and they were great. Happy travels and a Merry Christmas .