Need St. Petersburg, Russia info
Feb 17th, 2001, 09:59 PM
#1
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Need St. Petersburg, Russia info
We will be spending two days in St. Petersburg, Russia while on a Scandinavia/Russia cruise. We are interested in learning Princess cruises' shore excursions were and also interested in learning how it went for anyone who "went it on their own" in St. Petersburg without doing the ship's excursions. Also, any advice for St. Petersburg and Tallin, Estonia would be appreciated.
Feb 19th, 2001, 11:03 AM
#3
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There are a couple of recent threads if you do a search, one about obtaining a visa and one on St Petersburg cruise stop.
I also posted a question out at www.cruisecritic.com that has received some responses. We are planning on obtaining visas but we have visited St. Petersburg before on a tour where we had a lot of free time and are fairly experienced travelers.
When are you going? I'd be happy to share info with you if you are going after us (6/28-7/8)
I also posted a question out at www.cruisecritic.com that has received some responses. We are planning on obtaining visas but we have visited St. Petersburg before on a tour where we had a lot of free time and are fairly experienced travelers.
When are you going? I'd be happy to share info with you if you are going after us (6/28-7/8)
Feb 19th, 2001, 07:20 PM
#5
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We are going on the Princess cruise to St.Petersburg in late May. Contact me after that time and I will share my info. with you. We are experienced travelers also, but at this time are leaning toward the cruise excursions. I was told that Princess will send you shore excursion info. about 90 days prior to departure, so we should get ours soon.
Feb 20th, 2001, 02:49 AM
#6
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We did St. Petersburg on our own this fall, and if it's one of your options, I would definitely recommend that you get a guided tour to the Hermitage.
We had the Fodor's guide to St. Petersburg & Moscow, which even has a floor plan and lists which rooms some of the more notable works are in, and we STILL had a very hard time finding our way around. I was VERY frustrated.
I also think it would be nice to have a city tour and/or architectural tour - there are so many interesting, beautiful buildings in St. Petersburg. I wish we'd had a tour.
Also, something you can do on your own, don't miss the Dostoevsky & Pushkin apartment/museums. Both are great.
We had the Fodor's guide to St. Petersburg & Moscow, which even has a floor plan and lists which rooms some of the more notable works are in, and we STILL had a very hard time finding our way around. I was VERY frustrated.
I also think it would be nice to have a city tour and/or architectural tour - there are so many interesting, beautiful buildings in St. Petersburg. I wish we'd had a tour.
Also, something you can do on your own, don't miss the Dostoevsky & Pushkin apartment/museums. Both are great.
Feb 20th, 2001, 10:16 AM
#7
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Leslie and MHS-I think Andrea is giving good advice. I think we are going to apply for the visa so we have the option to stay in St Petersburg after either the ship's tour or private tour is done, at least for one of the days. Personally, I would hate to be back on the ship while I could be out exploring the city.
The last time we were there (with a land tour) we stayed after the tour left at the Hermitage for a couple more hours. And we were able to go directly to the circus and purchase tickets for about 1/10 of the cost that Intourist was offering through the hotel.
I would love to contact the person who posted above Andrea after they return, however, I don't see an email address.
If you are thinking of going it on your own, be sure to pick up at least a Russian/English phrase book. We used it frequently to ask directions.
The last time we were there (with a land tour) we stayed after the tour left at the Hermitage for a couple more hours. And we were able to go directly to the circus and purchase tickets for about 1/10 of the cost that Intourist was offering through the hotel.
I would love to contact the person who posted above Andrea after they return, however, I don't see an email address.
If you are thinking of going it on your own, be sure to pick up at least a Russian/English phrase book. We used it frequently to ask directions.
Feb 21st, 2001, 09:06 AM
#8
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Kris -- when you get your documents, would you please share the info either on cruisecritic or via private e-mail? Scandinavian/Russia info does get buried here under the France/Italy and jokesters. I would very much like to know if it is possible to book 2 half-day tours in St. Petersburg. -- Leslie, please join in on the ports of call, europe, cruisecritc site. When are you going & which line?
Feb 21st, 2001, 10:21 AM
#9
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MHS-I printed the visa application this morning from the site listed on cruise critic, www.ruscon.com, which is the Russian consulate. I will probably send off for it after we return from the Dominican Republic as it looks like you are required to send your passport if you don't live near Washington D.C. From Leo's post it sounds like the hardest part is getting the letter from the cruise company, the instructions advise that the cruise sponsors must provide the name and reference number of the Russian Organization which will be responsible for the cruise. I'm not sure how far in advance they know that information, I've got a call into the travel agent to see what she can find out for me. I'll keep you posted.
Feb 21st, 2001, 04:04 PM
#10
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I have travelled quite a bit and found Russia to be a scarey place to be. I went on Celebrity Cruises to St. Petersburg & Estonia. Estonia is a gorgous little town, and you will feel very comfortable walking around alone. I was with my dad, and was very happy to have a guide.
Celebrity offered a tour guide option, one in which you paid for the guide (about 4 people split the cost) and then they asked to be taken to certain spots.
Of course, the Hermitage is a must see, but I also recommend St. Catherine's Palace.
Celebrity offered a tour guide option, one in which you paid for the guide (about 4 people split the cost) and then they asked to be taken to certain spots.
Of course, the Hermitage is a must see, but I also recommend St. Catherine's Palace.
Feb 23rd, 2001, 12:27 PM
#11
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Hi Leslie,
During one of my longer business trips to Moscow this past year, some colleagues and I flew to St. Petersburg for a weekend. We too tried the Hermitage on our own. Fortunately, we met a lovely, local lady who offered to be our guide. Alisa said she would work for about $5 US per hour. She is so knowledgeable that we ended up paying her double that. She is working on her PhD in physics at St. Petersburg U.and is just a delight.
We also hired her the next day to do a city tour. That was also excellent, including the sumptuous meal we shared with her at one of her favorite local restaurants.
Her phone number is 7-812-314-6206. If she is still working as a guide you will not regret giving her a call.
Michael
During one of my longer business trips to Moscow this past year, some colleagues and I flew to St. Petersburg for a weekend. We too tried the Hermitage on our own. Fortunately, we met a lovely, local lady who offered to be our guide. Alisa said she would work for about $5 US per hour. She is so knowledgeable that we ended up paying her double that. She is working on her PhD in physics at St. Petersburg U.and is just a delight.
We also hired her the next day to do a city tour. That was also excellent, including the sumptuous meal we shared with her at one of her favorite local restaurants.
Her phone number is 7-812-314-6206. If she is still working as a guide you will not regret giving her a call.
Michael
Mar 4th, 2001, 04:50 AM
#12
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My wife and I are going on Celebrity to the Baltics in August.Here are a couple of addresses that might Help:
www.russia-travel.com-The official representative of the Ministry for Sports and Tourism of Russia. They have an office in New York and supply the reference numbers you need to get a visa.Phone 1-877-221-7120
They will also fax you a list of tours they have available and length and cost,and set them up if you want.
[email protected] is a russian guide service.He has tours available or you can rent a car and English speaking driver for $15.00 an hour and they take you where you want to go.They also provide complimentary visa support letters.
He is the only one I have found so far,If you hear of any others,would you please post them here or at cruise critic or e-mail me? I would like to get a few others to compare prices and services offered. Thanks.
www.russia-travel.com-The official representative of the Ministry for Sports and Tourism of Russia. They have an office in New York and supply the reference numbers you need to get a visa.Phone 1-877-221-7120
They will also fax you a list of tours they have available and length and cost,and set them up if you want.
[email protected] is a russian guide service.He has tours available or you can rent a car and English speaking driver for $15.00 an hour and they take you where you want to go.They also provide complimentary visa support letters.
He is the only one I have found so far,If you hear of any others,would you please post them here or at cruise critic or e-mail me? I would like to get a few others to compare prices and services offered. Thanks.
Mar 4th, 2001, 08:23 AM
#13
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Leslie.......I spent two weeks in St. Petersburg last September. I visited the Hermitage every day for over a week and did not use a guide. I had a very good map of all the floors and found it easy to direct myself to the exhibits I was interested in. The entrance fee was 250 Roubles(12.50 Canadian) and I used the entrance on the Neva River side. Outside this entrance, is where the hydrafoil leaves for Petrodvorets (Peter the Great)and the wonderful fountains. The one-way fare is 200 Roubles. Entrance into the Park is 120 Roubles and into the Palace 230 Roubles. As far as I am concerned, "going it on your own" is the only way.
Mar 8th, 2001, 07:26 AM
#15
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Well Gar, that all depends on the situation. Considering that guided tours of the Hermitage are $30-35 a person, and our group paid about $10 each for our guided tour, yes I would do that every time. Also, we were able to go at our pace, which is something one is not able to do when joining an organized tour group.
Mar 12th, 2001, 01:14 AM
#16
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Dear all:
In case you are interested in hiring a private guide/car, please visit http://www.tourguide.spb.ru
Sincerely,
Dmitri Razmyslovich
Escorted St. Petersburg Tours
http://www.tourguide.spb.ru
In case you are interested in hiring a private guide/car, please visit http://www.tourguide.spb.ru
Sincerely,
Dmitri Razmyslovich
Escorted St. Petersburg Tours
http://www.tourguide.spb.ru
Mar 12th, 2001, 03:08 AM
#17
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I think I learned something new reading these notes, but would like to confirm it. Is it necessary to obtain a Russian visa to tour on your own when visiting via a cruise ship? Does the visa still cost $100 or more, as I read was the price a tourist visa?
We were thinking of going to St. Petersburg on our own (not a cruise) but have been warned that the Russia "Mafia" presence there makes it too dangerous. Did anyone feel endangered in St. Petersburg? Has anyone traveled there by train?
Libbie
We were thinking of going to St. Petersburg on our own (not a cruise) but have been warned that the Russia "Mafia" presence there makes it too dangerous. Did anyone feel endangered in St. Petersburg? Has anyone traveled there by train?
Libbie
Mar 12th, 2001, 05:38 AM
#18
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Regarding the last poster's question about safety, I can say that we were there in October (I'm 26, my husband is 30), and we felt perfectly safe the entire time. We travelled there from Moscow via train and also felt very safe on the train. No complaints about the train trip (only in booking the tickets - it was a pain in the neck).
Mar 12th, 2001, 06:34 AM
#19
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Libbie, I asked my cruise agent and she said that without obtaining a visa the options would be to travel with a ship excursion or book a private tour with the ship's excursion desk. If you want to visit St. Petersburg on your own, either by staying after the tour is done or by going out by yourself, she said that we would have to obtain a visa. You might want to verify that with your cruise agent or cruiseline.
It looked to me like the visa fee was $70 if you allowed plenty of time to get it. Go to www.ruscon.com
It's been a lot of years since we've been in Russia, but I remember having a hard time communicating with local people even in the large cities. If you do decide to go on your own, arm yourself with a very good map and a Russian/English phrasebook.
It looked to me like the visa fee was $70 if you allowed plenty of time to get it. Go to www.ruscon.com
It's been a lot of years since we've been in Russia, but I remember having a hard time communicating with local people even in the large cities. If you do decide to go on your own, arm yourself with a very good map and a Russian/English phrasebook.
