First time cruise to the Baltic

[Gardener 911]

Hiya we are going on the Ocean Countess from Newcastle on 29th May to the Baltics anybody using the ships excursions or better to see the cities on our our own?.We have booked a private tour (Alla) in St Petersburg.

Anybody going on the same cruise?

[Travelcat2]

We did the Baltics in 1996. Using Alla is a thousand percent better than being hoarded like cattle in buses. IMO, ship tours just don't make it in St. Petersburg.

[FTLcruisers]

We used Alla Tours and were extremely pleased. ENJOY

[musicismylife]

Don't forget you will need a visa to enter Russia. The advantage of the ship tours is that they arrange that for you and you don't have the additional expense (well, beyond the high priced tour!) When we went last summer we added up the admission costs to the venues and the visa costs and found that the tour would cost us less. Also, be prepared for VERY long lines in St. Petersburg.

 

Enjoy the cruise, it is one I would do again!

[cruisemom42]

Don't forget you will need a visa to enter Russia. The advantage of the ship tours is that they arrange that for you and you don't have the additional expense (well, beyond the high priced tour!) When we went last summer we added up the admission costs to the venues and the visa costs and found that the tour would cost us less. Also, be prepared for VERY long lines in St. Petersburg.

 

Enjoy the cruise, it is one I would do again!

 

If you go with one of the recognized tour providers in Russia, you do NOT need to obtain your own visa. You are covered by their visa. This includes all of the operators frequently mentioned here on Cruise Critic including Red October, Den Rus, Alla, and others.

[celyvabeach]

Don't forget you will need a visa to enter Russia. The advantage of the ship tours is that they arrange that for you and you don't have the additional expense (well, beyond the high priced tour!) When we went last summer we added up the admission costs to the venues and the visa costs and found that the tour would cost us less. Also, be prepared for VERY long lines in St. Petersburg.

 

Enjoy the cruise, it is one I would do again!

 

 

We are booked with Alla in August for a 2-day tour of St Petersburg. WE DO NOT NEED A VISA. Alla has a blanket visa for my group. We will be with them the whole time we are on excursions at St Pete.

[Wormy53]

Just wanted to tell you to have a wonderful time!!! The Baltic cruise (we took Princess) was probably one of my favorites. Just loved all of the history and the whole "attitude" of the people there. Thought that it would be a good place to live.

 

Also - no need for your own visas as others have stated. Allas tours will provide it . Have a good time at the Hermitage - I could have stayed there for a week!! That Picasso room was amazing!!!

[PROCRUISE]

If you go with one of the recognized tour providers in Russia, you do NOT need to obtain your own visa. You are covered by their visa. This includes all of the operators frequently mentioned here on Cruise Critic including Red October, Den Rus, Alla, and others.

 

This is CORRECT. We used Red October last June, fabulous time, and we did NOT need a visa because we were with a tour group, which we had independently booked.Our "tour group" was the 2 of us, the driver and the tour guide and it was the best money ever spent. The company set up the itinerary around what we most wanted to see and experience and we NEVER waited in any line anywhere. Wishing you a great trip.

[kestrel]

It is very easy to DIY in all Baltic ports except for St. Petersburg. Do some research and get one or two good guide books. We used Rick Steves' Scandinavia guide book. Also search Ports of Call -> Europe -> Northern Europe & Baltics on CC Board. You will find lots of useful information.

[TMLAalum]

Don't forget you will need a visa to enter Russia. The advantage of the ship tours is that they arrange that for you and you don't have the additional expense (well, beyond the high priced tour!) When we went last summer we added up the admission costs to the venues and the visa costs and found that the tour would cost us less.

 

The edocs we received from Celebrity were worded so that it seems one must have a visa if you don't use one of their tours. This is the wording:

"Visa not required ONLY IF taking a shore excursion or car service arranged by the cruiseline. Otherwise a visa request must be accompanied by confirmation letter from a licensed Russian tour provider."

 

Here is the word from our private, non-ship Russian tourguide:

NOTE! Cruise ship passengers don't require a visa if they book a tour with us!

As a rule, foreign visitors require a visa while travelling in Russia. The exception is made only for those tourists who come with a cruise ship and stay in St.Petersburg not longer than 72 hours. We'll provide you with a blanket visa (tour ticket). This service is included in the tour price. This way you save about $80-150!

 

As I read the blurb from Celebrity, that "confirmation letter from the licensed tour provider" is the blanket visa, i.e. tour ticket that private tour guides such as Denrus, Alla, SPB tours, Red October, etc., use to meet the requirement.

[PROCRUISE]

Don't forget you will need a visa to enter Russia. The advantage of the ship tours is that they arrange that for you and you don't have the additional expense (well, beyond the high priced tour!) When we went last summer we added up the admission costs to the venues and the visa costs and found that the tour would cost us less.

 

The edocs we received from Celebrity were worded so that it seems one must have a visa if you don't use one of their tours. This is the wording:

"Visa not required ONLY IF taking a shore excursion or car service arranged by the cruiseline. Otherwise a visa request must be accompanied by confirmation letter from a licensed Russian tour provider."

 

Here is the word from our private, non-ship Russian tourguide:

NOTE! Cruise ship passengers don't require a visa if they book a tour with us!

As a rule, foreign visitors require a visa while travelling in Russia. The exception is made only for those tourists who come with a cruise ship and stay in St.Petersburg not longer than 72 hours. We'll provide you with a blanket visa (tour ticket). This service is included in the tour price. This way you save about $80-150!

 

As I read the blurb from Celebrity, that "confirmation letter from the licensed tour provider" is the blanket visa, i.e. tour ticket that private tour guides such as Denrus, Alla, SPB tours, Red October, etc., use to meet the requirement.

 

We had heard that passengers with Celebrity and Princess, in The Baltic, were being "threatened" with the buy our tours or you cannot get off the ship nonsense. We cruised with Holland America, toured for 2 days with Red October, in St. Petersburg, and had no problems walking right off the ship once it was cleared. The company we used even sent us a letter, addressed to the ships officers, that we carried with us, instructing them that we were with RO and covered as far as a visa was concerned. Another trick we heard about was being told that only those with ship purchased tours could disembark first and all others must wait. We were the second people off our ship, as soon as disembark was announced, with no problems