4 of us are traveling to St Petersburg Aug 19-20 on the Jewel of the Sea. We would like to do a 2 day private Red October tour and are looking for another couple to join us.

hi
2 of us will be in SPB on sept 11, 2008 on MSC Armonia. We also looking for other tourists to join the private day tour to reduce the cost.
All private tours are very high in price.
thanks

There is a better forum for your request:

www.cruisecritic.com

go to "roll calls"

What is a Red October tour?

St. Petersburg, Russia, 2008
2-Day Red October Shore Excursion Program

Steven Goren = 4, Jewel, Aug. 15, 2008
DAY ONE – 10 HOURS
Tuesday, August 19
07:00 AM - Ship’s arrival in St. Petersburg
09:00 AM - City tour
• Inside visit to St. Isaac’s (closed on Wednesdays)
11 AM - Tour of the Hermitage Arts Museum
• Excursion to the West-European Masters’ collection (Rembrandt, Rubens, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, El Greco, Murillo, Van Dyck etc.)
• Living and gala halls of the Winter Palace,
• visit to the Gold Rooms (Treasury) of the Winter Palace for additional $ 25 pp. x 4 = USD 100
NB! Please kindly be advised that in case you go to the Gold Room the tour of the Hermitage becomes 30-40 minutes shorter.
1:30 PM - - LUNCH at “STOLLE” or “U TYOSCHY NA BLINACH” or another café or restaurant for your choice – EXTRA CHARGE (payable directly to the caf&eacute
- or- please advise Lunch before booking your Tour
02:30 PM - Departure for Peterhof. Drive 30km/19 miles west of St. Petersburg
- Visit The Great Choral Synagogue (A small entry charge payable directly to Synagogue)
Bring you Own Box lunch from your ship (eat on the way to Peterhof) and save money and more time for Hermitage by doing that. We know that many Cruise passengers take Box Lunches from their ships every cruise! No one had any problems!!! Just do not ask or tell to the cruise officers that you are taking the food off the ship! The ships never arrange Box Lunches for those customers who do not participate in the ship’s tours. Or you could order a Breakfast to your room service that am. Please bring some food for your guide and driver if you are NOT going to stop at any restaurant. Your Guide and Driver will definitely appreciate that!
03:45 PM - Arrival in Peterhof: “Russian Versailles”, official Summer Residence of Russian Tsars.
- Visit to the GRAND PALACE famous by the unbelievable splendor and beauty of its interior decoration (Special admission to the Grand Palace is included in the cost)
- Stroll through the wonderful “Lower Park” with its fountains.
06:00 PM - Drive back to the city
Evening Program: (extra charge USD 155 pp. x 4 = USD 620) Must be reserved during booking of your tour. Not Refundable
- 07:00 PM – Return to the city
- Quick dinner at a city café (on your own)
- 08:00 PM – Ballet “Giselle” at Hermitage Theater.
- 11:00 PM – Return to the ship

DAY TWO – 8 ½ HOURS
Wednesday, August 20
08:00 AM - Departure for Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin), drive 25km/15 miles south of St. Petersburg
09:00 AM
09:15 AM



- Arrival in Tsarskoye Selo, official residence of Russian Tsars.
-Visit to the Catherine Palace The most famous Amber Room with the walls paneled with amber was completely lost during the WWII is restored completely (Early admission to the Catherine’s Palace on special arrangement is included in the cost)
- Stroll in the beautiful Catherine park with its numerous pavilions and small palaces, ponds and canals, marble statues and monuments.
11:00 AM Drive back to the city
noon - LUNCH AT A CITY RESTAURANT - included in the cost

1:30 PM - City tour continued
• Inside visits to the Peter-and-Paul Fortress
- Red October Company - balance payment
03:00 PM - A boat trip along the rivers and canals of St. Petersburg – view of the city from water level with its granite embankments, bridges, parks and palaces shows the very special charm of “Northern Venice” (included in the cost)
04:00 PM - Drive back to the pier
04:30 PM - Return to the ship
06:00 PM - Ship’s departure

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TWO DAY PACKAGE PROGRAM COST IS PER PERSON AND DOES NOT INCLUDE :
- visit to the Gold Room,
- Hydrofoil ride
- lunch on the second day
- evening program

If you are 1 person USD 1073 pp
if you are 2 people USD 710 pp
if you are 3 people USD 539 pp
if you are 4 people USD 478 pp
if you are 5 people USD 390 pp
if you are 6 people USD 366 pp
if you are 7 people USD 360 pp
if you are 8 people USD 347 pp
if you are 9 people USD 338 pp
if you are 10 people USD 332 pp
if you are 11 people USD 327 pp
if you are 12 people USD 317 pp

The above prices include air-conditioned Private car/van transportation, highly qualified English speaking guide services, entrance fees to the museums as mentioned in the program, photo fees at the museums, lunch on the first day, boat trip.

Please note: Program timing and sequences of venue’s visits may change due to traffic or weather conditions

Please NOTE:
Very Important!

• All 2008 Programs and prices quoted in RO programs were prepared for your convenience in October 2007, and calculated on than rate of exchange: 1 USD = 25.
• If you pay Balance by Cash (Rubles, USD, EURO) – you will pay the Quoted price.
• If you pay by a Credit Card – your Bank will convert Rubles (RO charges in Rubles equivalent 1:25) into USD with a prevailing rate of exchange accordingly. Meaning if the Rate is lower than 1:25 – you would pay more money! Bigger loss for the person if ONLY ONE credit card is used to pay Balance for all group.
• You could pay your Balance at RO St. Petersburg office by Cash (Rubbles, USD or EURO, VISA or Master Card. Please kindly be advised when you pay by credit cards Red October charges you in rubles since you are not local resident and pay in a foreign country.
• When you come home, your bank charges you in dollars but you definitely lose some money on bank rate of exchange fluctuations and all bank commissions. Check that with your Bank. --- advise is to pay Balance by USD Cash – this way you do not worry about exchange rate and bank charges!!!

Included in the above Price:
• Professional English speaking RO Tour Guide
• Entrance fees to all venues as per Itinerary
• Use of Still Photo Camera inside Museums and Palaces
• A/C Private Transportation ONLY for YOUR Party. (if more than 3 = VAN)
• Group VISA (Red October Tickets)–all of you must stay with our RO Guide!

Does Not Included in the above Price:
• Trip and Health Insurance
• Lunches
• Gratuities to RO guide and driver
• Extra activities which are NOT in the Program
• VIDEO Movie Opportunity inside Museums and Palaces (museums charge a fee) -
- If you will decide to take VIDEO inside: You could do so by paying in USD the amounts-listed below to your RO Tour Guide at the beginning of you tour.

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Red October guide will give you VIDEO (Camcorder use) Tickets in advance.
Price for use Still Photo Camera is included in your Program.

Optional movie -video charges per one camcorder Video camcorder (USD)
Peterhof: Grand Palace
Monplaisir Palace 8
8.5
Pushkin: Catherine's Palace 8.5
Hermitage – no Flash photography is allowed 14
Spilled Blood Church 4
Yusupov's Palace: 15
St Isaac's Cathedral 4
Tipping
It is a very personal matter and the decision to tip and how much to give is entirely yours. However, some general guidelines might be helpful. We suggest you use American Restaurant standards. Most tipping should be in USD and occur at the end of your stay.