jamessemaj

Thank you for the replies. My main concern is to try to not stick out as an American in Moscow and St. Petersburg, if possible. I truly want to be comfortable too, as I will be on vacation. But, I'll probably reserve the shorts for while on the boat.

I asked a tour guide in Russia if there was a danger of the skin heads attacking me. She told me no, I looked Russian and they wouldn't bother with me.

I don't think it much matters. So you try to appear European in a tour group of Americans or various nationalities, what is the point? There are dress codes for some venues such as the churches but really who cares? I can't conceal that I am American, and don't especially want to. I dress appropriately as I choose and am comfortable with, and don't imitate others, American, European, Asian, or whatever. The idea used to be to avoid being a target of terrorists or criminal predators, thus the Canadian flag thing. I think it's nonsense. Avoiding being a target of predators is a matter of awareness more than anything.

My experience with NCL is that shared tables have very very low priority and get lost in the shuffle. It wouldn't be difficult to arrange shared tables, and they do make a weak effort to do so, but they just don't care about it.

The visa requirements are different for different countries. For US citizens it is a lot more than 35 Eur. It looks like you may be French and visa requirements are probably different than for US citizens. As for getting around, I know a lot less than you appear to, and I managed ok.

Thanks all....yes it seems that having just 5 days on cruise is bad enough, but it would mean just 4 days if they were to disembark in tallinn.......will have to do some rethinking I guess. Does anyone know if you HAVE to submit Russian application for visa in person or can it be done through an agent( in US)....?

I believe there is a fairly new procedure in which you submit an online application through an agency specifically under contract to the Russian government. They will process. Just go to the Russian embassy web site to check.

It has been my experience that booking and registering are different. The passport number will be required when you register for the cruise ticket. Try calling to book and after you have the new passport register on line.

Does your timetable allow flying out one day later once you are in Helsinki or Tallinn inside the Schengen zone again? Tallinn airport is fairly small, but does have connections to most European hubs. Helsinki airport is significantly larger with more connections to European hubs and direct flights to New York and Chicago in the US.

That was my thought exactly. Is the schedule so tight that catching a flight 1 day later in another port is not possible? In that case, I would suggest foregoing the cruise until a more flexible time is possible. A visa is required to even go to the airport in St. Petersburg, and the so called transit visa is as much trouble and complication as a regular visa.

Thanks everyone for all the feedback. I decided on purchasing a small point and shoot panasonic lumix to bring with us for the trip. I will play with it in the weeks leading to the trip to make sure I am comfortable with all the features.

The Panasonic Lumix is a very good choice. I have had one for several years and one trip left it behind and used my iphone. Wasn't happy doing that. In sunlight it was difficult to compose pics. The Panasonic also takes much better quality pics in my opinion. I bring both now.

I went on that route from FLL to Copenhagen 2 years ago and can tell you what it was like then. Very cool on deck at sea and also very rough seas in the northern portion. The ports were all mild to warm, but the water temp in the open sea from the winter is very cool.

Aside from the weather, you are apparently planning to travel from your actual ports to inland, and that would be another logistical problem to address, especially Paris.

We are going to Barcelona, I do hope the days at sea are not too cold...this is my first transatlantic cruise

I will try to be more precise than my first response. I have been on 4 transatlantics. The first one I packed for Texas or Florida in May and that was wrong. I did have long pants and bought a nice fairly light jacket on the boat which I still use in spring and fall at home. In the ports, both before the crossing and in the Azores or Spain shorts and warm weather clothing will probably be useful. When you pull out of any port and when on the open ocean, to go out on the open decks will most often be very cool. You will experience the difference pulling out of any port as you enter open water.

Again, as I said, I was not prepared but have no regrets buying that jacket on the ship. It's just that I needed a few more cool weather clothes and fewer warm weather ones. It is not so cold as to require layering as in Alaska or in winter. But very cool, like long pants and a sweater or jacket. I have been on both north and south crossings and it is not that much difference.

Pack for cool weather, not real cold, but cool. Not likely to have very warm weather except in ports. Mostly cool on the open sea.

I guess some of us are just a bit sensitive about the fact that so many people are implying that a cruise would be ruined somehow without St.Petersburg. Many of us here on the board live in other countries and ports on the Baltic and North Seas and have spent a significant amount of time offering advice and assistance to cruisers visiting our home cities. It stings a bit to hear that so many people don't really care about these ports and really only think of them as some kind of side tour on a trip to SPB.

No slight is intended. It's just that the other Baltic ports, including Oslo, are easily accessed and all ports other than St. Petersburg have cruises originating from them. But for people who book a Baltic cruise including St. Petersburg, that port is the highlight. That is what the tread is about, what to do if it may be cancelled. Thanks for your help, it is appreciated.

In regard to the last few comments, I must say, St. Petersburg is the jewel of the Baltic and no other place, all nice places, can come even close. If not for the visa hassles, yes, a land visit would be best and for a longer time. But a cruise is the most hassle free way to see it. I wish everybody who is booked and worrying over St. Petersburg the best, and hope you don't miss it.

Throwing up one day on a cruise doesn't exactly describe what sea sickness is, and obsession over the possibility might bring it on. Ask his doc.

Another common misconception of the canal is how far to the west it is. When you enter the Atlantic, you will be on Eastern time, same as Florida. You are on Florida time and going north to south.

February is a great time to go, but in Apr/May and Sept/Oct you would have greater choice with ships repositioning to Alaska. There is also the possibility of round trip to the same port, but that would be a partial transit, through the Atlantic gates to Gatun Lake then back out the same way.

Also recommend reading David McCullough's "Path Between the Seas" in the interim.

Most interesting Terry, you not only give great advice and take the most fabulous pictures but you're also a fund of information! I've also heard about all Putin did for St Petersburg and we have to give him credit for that, much as we may disagree with his politics.

TLCOhio Terry, I too have admired your posts and pics. One question about St. Petersburg that is what this thread is about...what would you do if you were now booked for a cruise to SPB? Would you ride it out and hope for the best or cancel for a more definite plan?

Bring surgical masks for everybody, just in case there are some unexpected noxious odors on the excursion.

I don't have a Baltic cruise scheduled, but if I did I would cancel if within the time limits, but just hope for the best if it would cost to cancel. I would prepare to rebook even on very short notice if things settle down. US actions can affect Americans regardless of the flag of the ship. The most severe economic sanctions, which I doubt would be instituted because of American business interests in Russia, would prevent any economic or financial activity by Americans, a la the Cuban sanctions.

To me, to exclude St. Petersburg from a Baltic cruise would render the cruise of little interest. It's all about St. Petersburg, and if a stop there is in doubt, I would cancel if possible and wait for a better time.

If the purpose is an attempt to generate additional on-board spending by forcing all fares to be physical bodies, it would seem to be a poor business decision. While statistically, it can be said that a passenger will spend a certain amount, any individual passenger's spending is not guaranteed.

 

If MSC is so desperate that they are depending on full-capacity spending to meet their corporate revenue goals, there might be flaws in their management's leadership.

That is very true. The solo passenger denied might just spend a lot more than a double occupancy cabin. If that is the reason for this policy, it is most foolish.

I too find this to be very strange. I have no experience with MSC but I have never heard of a situation like this. Nothing about it, especially the MSC policy makes any sense to me and I don't know what to think. I hope somebody provides some explanation.

I don't think there is any brand that is impervious to airline mangling. They will destroy the best of luggage. It's just a matter of luck. I have 2 bags of high quality and the larger is more mangled than the smaller. As far as sending luggage mangled by the airlines for repair, no thanks, I'll buy another bag for them to mishandle.

I hate, hate, hate to fly and it's not fear. I hate the airports, the security, waiting in line to get to a seat, the overstuffed bins, the junk, the smells, the surly attendants, the whole bag of flying. No fear at all. Just total, absolute discomfort. There is nothing about flying I don't hate much less like. As I said earlier, I hope for regularly scheduled ocean crossings, and reliable and high speed train travel domestically. Please spare me the suggestion that I pay the outrageous expense for some comfort in business or first class.

Forgive my rant. Thank you.

A saying I heard a looong time ago:

 

We get too soon strong and too late rich.

Another: youth is wasted on the young. Maybe a little too cynical for me, but still, I wish I had what I have, and knew what I know when I was young. Who knows, maybe that wouldn't have been ideal either.

I don't change my diet cruising but just checking this thread for flames and judgmental posts.