Visa?

[panda24]

I have a friend a friend who just got back from a trip to Russia. She was required to get a Visa for her trip. I was wondering if cruise passengers who have a one day stop in St. Petersburg have to get a Visa to visit the country or if there is a special provision for cruise passengers to exempt them from the Visa requirement.

[LHT28]

I have a friend a friend who just got back from a trip to Russia. She was required to get a Visa for her trip. I was wondering if cruise passengers who have a one day stop in St. Petersburg have to get a Visa to visit the country or if there is a special provision for cruise passengers to exempt them from the Visa requirement.

 

You do not need a VISA IF you use a ship's excursions or a Licensed tour guide.

If you want to wander off on your own you NEED a Visa

 

You can use the search feature to look up previous answers

[cruisemom42]

To amplify the previous answer....you cannot get off the ship on your own without some kind of visa. Not even to walk around the dock area.

 

IF you take a shore excursion offered by the ship, you are COVERED by their visa.

 

IF you take a private tour with a licensed guide (several are frequently discussed here, including Red October, Den Rus, Alla, and Anastasia among others), you are COVERED by their visa.

 

So you only need to obtain a visa if you do not plan to take a ship tour or a private tour.

 

The cruiselines deliberately give vague information on this, hoping you will choose to book your tour through them.

[Giantfan13]

Not much more to add to what has already been said. Unless you know Russian, or have been to St Petersburg before, getting your own visa just doesn't make any sense. Just book a tour, either privately or thru the ship and you will be allowed into the country without any papers except a passport.

As you will see from most on these forums, booking a ships tour, especially in St Pete is sort of frowned on because you will feel like cattle, being driven here and there, as a mob scene. Book a private tour,even for one day, and you will be in a small group, see much more and you can tailor your options with the tour group, AND the cost will be equal to the ships or cheaper. It is a once in a lifetime experience to go to St Petersburg, and you want it to be the best it can be. Forget any thoughts of obtaining your own visa, just contact any of the mnay tour groups others ahve used.

[rubens]

To amplify the previous answer....you cannot get off the ship on your own without some kind of visa. Not even to walk around the dock area.

 

IF you take a shore excursion offered by the ship, you are COVERED by their visa.

 

IF you take a private tour with a licensed guide (several are frequently discussed here, including Red October, Den Rus, Alla, and Anastasia among others), you are COVERED by their visa.

 

So you only need to obtain a visa if you do not plan to take a ship tour or a private tour.

 

The cruiselines deliberately give vague information on this, hoping you will choose to book your tour through them.

 

This is very clear to me except one question: when covered by a blanket visa from a licensed guide am I allowed to go off the ship in the evening without being part of a guided tour?

:confused:can someone clarify this?

[TLCOhio]

This is very clear to me except one question: when covered by a blanket visa from a licensed guide am I allowed to go off the ship in the evening without being part of a guided tour?

:confused:can someone clarify this?

 

You cannot do the evening thing off of the ship unless you are with a guide and/or rep from the tour company that has the blanket visa. You are only covered and allowed off of the ship in Russia when you are with them.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

[sbhdmh]

The only good argument I have heard on these boards for getting a private visa was from someone whose ship docked in town. He was able to get off the ship in the evening and walk around. When we were in St Petersburg there were 3 areas to dock - this one in town (I remember an Azamara ship being there), the new port where we docked with MSC about a 15 minute drive to town and the older port which is apparently further from town. I saw groups from HAL and Cunard at the sites but did not see the ships so I assume they were at the older port. IF you can confirm that your ship will dock in town and you want the ability to walk around on your own then you should consider a visa. However you could just hire a guide to escort you for the few hours. This would be much cheaper and also provide a translator. Our guide, Masha, charged $15 US per hour. Adding a car and driver would bring to $35-$40 per hour. You would probably need to be out on your own for more than 6 hours with a car and driver to match the cost of a visa for just one person. Probably doesn't make sense to get the visa...

[rubens]

OK, thanks to both of you - now at least I know how to do in the evening

btw we will be on Azamara Journey so normally we dock in middle of town

thanks again:)

[greyhound101]

My tour operator has told me I can attend the Marriinsky theater or other venues, but their agent will be waiting for us outside. We cannot leave the theater without the driver/guide after the performance. Consequently we have to pay for the time the driver waits for us. About 100US for a 3 hour performance. But attending opera or ballet in SPB at the famed Marrinsky is a once in a life time opportunity that I am willing to pay for.

 

Art

[Giantfan13]

Greyhound

 

What tour group are you using??.

 

We did SPB tours and several on our tour did the Folk show, and one couple did the ballet. they bought tickets from the tour group, but (as far as I know) did not have to pay extra for the driver to sit around and wait. that's why I asked as to what group you signed up with.

 

Len

[Lair Bear]

The only good argument I have heard on these boards for getting a private visa was from someone whose ship docked in town. He was able to get off the ship in the evening and walk around.

 

Be very careful with this. Just because you are close to town does not mean you can leave the ship unescorted. Sometime ago I made a point that when you have a tour guide and use their 'coupons' to get off the ship and through passport control you can actually do that in the evening if you want to take the chance. All you need to do is print a couple extras for those days. Passport control in Russia does not verify that your guide or 'host' is actually present when you go through.

However, it is not legal! You are always supposed to be escorted by your 'host' (the tour company in our case). If you want to add an evening's activity stick with the rules and ask your tour guide.

[TLCOhio]

My tour operator has told me I can attend the Marriinsky theater or other venues, but their agent will be waiting for us outside. We cannot leave the theater without the driver/guide after the performance. Consequently we have to pay for the time the driver waits for us. About 100US for a 3 hour performance. But attending opera or ballet in SPB at the famed Marrinsky is a once in a life time opportunity that I am willing to pay for. Art

 

For the Marriinsky and other night programs, here are a couple of "cautions" to keep in mind and consider. Not trying to be negative, just trying to share "reality" for what works and does not work in your overall planning. You want to do it "ALL", but want to enjoy it, also. Of course, how often are you in St. Petersburg and Russia?

 

1. You might not know which ballet or opera will be available at this famed theater until maybe a month or two before your visit.

 

2. Some of the ballets there do run THREE HOURS. After a long, challenging day of touring, walking, etc., that is a long, long time in a theater that was not designed with seating and room for 21st Century comfort.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio