Disembarkation in St Petersburg with RCI

[mauimary]

What are the current experiences of anyone with disembarkation in St Petersburg with RCI? Has anyone had any issues or problems with getting off when on a private independant excursion? I have been reading through alot of the other posts and I do not see much with Royal Caribbean concerning RCI guests? We would be grateful for any current news. We will be in ST Petersburg June 2013 on AOS.

 

thankyou

[John Bull]

We didn't have this problem on P&O, we were off our ship within 30 minutes of tying-up, straight through immigration with no line ahead of us or behind us - the ship's tours were still assembling in their designated areas on the ship. Others have reported similar experiences with other cruise lines, sorry can't remember which cruise lines.

 

But some folk have reported that their cruise line (Princess seem to be a major culprit :mad:) tells independents to wait on the ship in a designated area until they are called.

It's patently obvious that this is in order to get their own excursion folk into the line for immigration ahead of the independents.

Cruise lines have no rights to organise the lines for immigration, in the same way that they do for their tenders.

I suggest that you ignore any delaying tactics & make your way direct to the gangway, preferably first meeting-up with the others on your privately-arranged excursion, and don't stand aside to let others through. I can't imagine security staff wanting to man-handle you. Make it clear if neccessary that your guide is waiting for you.

.

 

Day 2 is much quicker than Day 1.

 

JB :)

[Onessa]

What are the current experiences of anyone with disembarkation in St Petersburg with RCI? Has anyone had any issues or problems with getting off when on a private independant excursion? I have been reading through alot of the other posts and I do not see much with Royal Caribbean concerning RCI guests? We would be grateful for any current news. We will be in ST Petersburg June 2013 on AOS.

 

thankyou

 

We cruised on RCCI Brilliance mid-August (2012). There were no restrictions as to when private excursion pax could leave. We docked and cleared for debarkation by around 7:30 -- lines were not too long to get through Russian immigration.

[mauimary]

Onessa....Thankyou as we really want to know how RCI has worked it out especially recently.

[Ashland]

I agree, RCI will give you no problems at all...You will be able to get off the ship quickly and easily to meet your private guide at the time you have pre-arranged...ENJOY !!!

[Giantfan13]

As cruising to St Petersburg becomes more and more popular, Russian Immigration has changed also.

When we went, 3 years ago, there were huge lines to go thru immigration. They had about 4 people working (if you call it working) to get 2000 or so people off the ship, basically at the same time. Things seem to have changed dramatically since then.

There was also, as you alluded to, ships 'scare tactics' telling passengers that if they had booked a private tour, they would have to wait until every person on a ship's sponsored tour was off the ship. They also tried to scare you by telling you untrue stories about getting stuck in Russia and the ship will not wait for them. As time went on, and word got out that these things were illegal, and more and more passengers became aware of their rights, most of these tactics have stopped. But, it does seem some want to keep them alive.

 

Enjoy your time in St Petersburg. AND if you have booked an independent tour, no matter what time you get off the ship and thru immigration, they WILL wait for you. You will never be left at the dock because you got off late. That would ruin that tour company forever.

 

Hope this helps

 

Cheers

 

Len

[mauimary]

Thankyou to all for the current information. Yes it did make us nervous reading through some earlier posts on this subject. We will plan on getting our small group assembled early and ready to disembark as soon as they announce cleared.

 

Mary

[kaisatsu]

We were on RCI a few years ago, but it was just like any port with specific immigration issues. Independent passengers (including those on private tours) were free to disembark as soon as the ship cleared, and they even reminded people to have the paperwork from their private tour company ready for Russian immigration.

[cougfan]

Mary,

 

On our cruise in May we had no problem getting off. Our group of 14 met in the centrum area on deck 4 or 5 (can't remember which one), got off together and made it through immigration before the ships tours got off. On the second day we didn't get off as a group since the tour guide told us when and where to meet. Also on the second day remember to have your tour ticket again. After the second day I was glad that we got back to the ship in a small group because just before we were supposed to be all aboard the ship bus tours got back and the lines to get on the boat were huge.

 

Julie

[hallasm]

Just remember to get a visa for St. Petersburg - either by yourself or through an tour operator - the cruise line only arrange visa for the excursions purchased through them.

[pinksuit]

Just remember to get a visa for St. Petersburg - either by yourself or through an tour operator - the cruise line only arrange visa for the excursions purchased through them.

 

What is the cost for Visa for non-sponsored cruiseline tours?

Thanks, Pinkie

[John Bull]

What is the cost for Visa for non-sponsored cruiseline tours?

 

Thanks, Pinkie

 

You don't need a visa for tours sponsored by the ship or by accredited local tour operators such as Alla Tours, SPB Tours, TJ Tours, DenRus, Anastasia, Best Guides & several others.

Both ship's tours & those private tours have visa-waiver status. Neither ship nor private operator "organise your visa", you're not on a "group visa", you simply do not need a visa - instead of a visa you show your tour ticket/e-mail at immigration, together with your passport and a completed immigration form.

 

The immigration form is similar to those you complete on international flights - the ship will give a form to those on ship's tours, & those on private tours can ask for one at reception, they're freely available, no charge. You need to complete details such as name, passport number, nationality etc, nothing complicated. Do complete it before you go ashore, to avoid a delay.

 

If you want to go ashore from a cruise ship without taking a tour - perhaps friends living there are meeting you, or you want to just walk out of the port gate or jump in a taxi, you will need a pre-purchased visa. The cost to UK citizens is £105, that's about $170. I don't know the cost for US citizens. But most people pay extra to apply through an agency - for visas to visit most countries that's an unnecessary expense but a high proportion of folk who apply direct for a Russian visas get their applications returned because of little mistakes.

 

But, to repeat, if you take a tour through an accredited local tour operator you don't need a visa, same as ship's tours.

 

JB :)

[mauimary]

Thankyou everyone for your information and advice for St Petersberg. We are on a private excursion with SPB tours. We will be a small group of 4-6 of us. We are glad to hear what is happening currently.

 

Cougfan (Julie) we were on a Mediterranean Cruise (Venice) in 2008 with you guys.

 

Mary:)

[pinksuit]

You don't need a visa for tours sponsored by the ship or by accredited local tour operators such as Alla Tours, SPB Tours, TJ Tours, DenRus, Anastasia, Best Guides & several others.

Both ship's tours & those private tours have visa-waiver status. Neither ship nor private operator "organise your visa", you're not on a "group visa", you simply do not need a visa - instead of a visa you show your tour ticket/e-mail at immigration, together with your passport and a completed immigration form.

 

The immigration form is similar to those you complete on international flights - the ship will give a form to those on ship's tours, & those on private tours can ask for one at reception, they're freely available, no charge. You need to complete details such as name, passport number, nationality etc, nothing complicated. Do complete it before you go ashore, to avoid a delay.

 

If you want to go ashore from a cruise ship without taking a tour - perhaps friends living there are meeting you, or you want to just walk out of the port gate or jump in a taxi, you will need a pre-purchased visa. The cost to UK citizens is £105, that's about $170. I don't know the cost for US citizens. But most people pay extra to apply through an agency - for visas to visit most countries that's an unnecessary expense but a high proportion of folk who apply direct for a Russian visas get their applications returned because of little mistakes.

 

But, to repeat, if you take a tour through an accredited local tour operator you don't need a visa, same as ship's tours.

 

JB :)

 

 

JB, Thanks for the info. We do plan to tour with Alla.

Regards,

Pinkie

[John Bull]

JB, Thanks for the info. We do plan to tour with Alla.

 

Regards,

Pinkie

 

Hi Pinkie, we went with Alla & were well-pleased. But if you browse other threads you'll find that the other local tour operators are equally well-received.

 

For smaller ships, the tour operators won't run a tour at their regular price unless they can assemble at least 8 people (10 for TJ). So we registered our interest with three operators, & found some sharers through the RollCall. Alla came up with others, so we booked with her.

In fact we ended up with a total of 20, so we split into two tours - the Grand Tour & the Comfort Tour - & everyone got the tour they wanted. We asked Alla for contact details of the folk that she'd found, & we then arranged a get-together on board on our first sea day. Very useful & convivial.

 

JB :)