NCL behavior in St. Petersburg

[biker@sea]

It's really been mixed. I've been reading the 2013 Baltic season reviews both in the forums and the memberreviews, but some of them have all sorts of issues and some of them are fine. We booked the suite solely to avoid having an issue and being able to maximize St. Petersburg. It looks like from some of the suite reviews I've seen that it will put us at the front or near the front of the customs line.

 

I'm just a nervous traveler when I have parents along and my mother is sailing with us on this trip.

 

Thanks for the help!

B

So YOU Don't want the bully's to let their excursion guest off early . :eek:

And YOU do want the bully's to cut YOU in line cuz your a suite guest . :confused:

[dalgirl]

We were there in 2012 and although we had heard about "bullying" there is no such thing. We went down to disembark about 15-20 before docking, got off the ship, got in line with our ticket/visa just as the tour company instructed for customs, and met the bus outside. The second day was even faster. So don't worry about NCL detaining you from meeting your bus - worry about the other passengers on your tour who aren't as efficient with time as you are:D Everything was very well organized.

[RJ2002]

We were on the Star in May 2013 for the Baltic Capitals cruise, and we stayed in a suite. We also booked private tours in St Petersburg.

 

As instructed for priority disembarkation, all the suite passengers gathered in La Cucina. The group was fairly large, and they took us down in two groups. We were led back through a service area to the service elevators, which took us down to the gangway deck.

 

Since our group was so large, we were split into two groups. We were on the second group. Our group waited and waited. We finally got to the elevator landing, and we waited more. We were told there was crowding in the gangway area. Well, we finally made it down to the gangway deck, and it was clear that the floodgates had opened and everyone was lined up to get off the ship. Once off the ship, the immigration lines were 20-25 people deep. All in, it took over an hour to get off the ship and through immigration.

 

So, for our cruise, someone screwed up and the suite passengers (at least half of them) ended up worse off than if we'd simply lined up on our own with everyone else. Our concierge was Omar, and it was his first sailing on the Star. Perhaps that was the reason for the delay, who knows.

 

Long story short, even being in a suite doesn't necessarily guarantee you expedited disembarkation.

[vols_159]

Ship tours normally get off first there right for paying thru the ship..

 

I remember last year on John heralds Facebook (carnival) somebody was upset about this and said carnival wouldn't stop his party they would storm the gates and demand to be let off. His reply was simple I wouldn't do that the guys in Russia carry big guns and don't care to arrest or detain you.. Moral of the story just follow the rules get in line early and keep calm nothing ncl can do the Russian government is in total control

[Crusin6]

I loved my 10 days in Moscow and Leningrad. Yep Leningrad circa 1988. Even with the noticeable bread lines and black sedans following our tour group it was a fabulous trip and would love to take a Baltic cruise to go back.

[MagnoliaBlossom]

We have done the Baltics twice with NCL. Both times had private tour arrangements with Anastasia. Most of the tour companies arrange for a visa with your package, just be sure to check. Both times we got off at the sMe time as tours. We never saw any discrimination toward private tour passengers. The biggest ordeal, on day 1, is getting through Russian customs. Day 2 was a breeze because you are in their system. Maybe some cruise days have had delays for private tours, but my personal experience has not shown that.

[Turtles06]

You need a Visa in St. Petersburg if you are not taking a ship tour.

 

I believe it's the same on all cruise lines.

 

This isn't true, although it's what some cruise lines want you to think so you'll book an excursion with them. You only need your own visa if you want to get off the ship and you have not booked a ship's tour OR a tour with a licensed private tour operator.

 

Over on the Ports of Call board there is a great deal of info about the handful of highly regarded private tour operators in St. Petersburg with whom you can book and don't need to get your own individual visa.

[OceanDreaming2]

We did the Baltics (St. Petersburg) on the Sun a few years ago. We booked our tours through TJ Travel and they arranged for the necessary visa.

 

We didn't stay in a suite, but we were Platinum. I don't remember if we were able to disembark earlier than other passengers. I do remember standing in the immigration line for quite a while. Our Mercedes bus and tour guide were waiting for us just as scheduled. The guides all do a great job dealing with 1,000's of passengers.

[Kaboochi]

I'm booked with a company that provides the visa...

 

What I'm asking about is the reports in multiple reviews that NCL is not allowing people with private tours off the ship until all ship tour individuals have disembarked. (This is something that I would consider bullying... :) )

 

TIA,

B

 

You are going to. Foreign country, which has rules. It is not bullying. Those Re the rules you have to bide with. plain and simple. Don't like it, then stay on the ship. You sound like my 17 year old bucking the authority. Just my opinion:D

[H&J]

Go ahead you dupes, add more American dollars to Putin's economy. This is just the prelude to WWII played out all over again. Just remember, "I told you so."

[PokerDave]

You are going to. Foreign country, which has rules. It is not bullying. Those Re the rules you have to bide with. plain and simple. Don't like it, then stay on the ship. You sound like my 17 year old bucking the authority. Just my opinion:D

 

You have no idea what you are talking about. I did this. Russia has NO rules that apply here. They just want you to be using a tour group which has gotten you a visa or to have your own. They DO NOT have rules that the cruise ships tours need to come first. This is purely the cruise lines trying to make more money. I normally don't mind nickel and diming as I understand they need to make money and I can always say no. In this case they are misleading people deliberately to try to make more money and in my opinion it is wrong.

[rsato]

We were on the Baltics Cruise in September 2013. Loved St. Petersburg, took the SPB tour in all 5 ports. Would recommend it, especially at St. Pete's with a 16 person group. You save money with SPB, but I would willingly pay the same as NCL tours based on the quality of the experience and the smaller groups.

 

No matter how fast you get off the ship or get into an attraction, you are always at the mercy of the last person to arrive at the bus.

 

We have been on 3 NCL cruises in Europe and never felt pressure from NCL to take their tour. Do your own research on the operator and make a decision based on the quality of the experience…not some perceived advantage about getting off the ship earlier.

[janed1031]

We did the Star last August, staying in a suite with Omar as or concierge. I would recommend getting to the priority meeting location early, and when time comes for the first group to be taken down, be assertive- assuming that you were some of the first ones there. Not nasty, just make sure the concierge is aware that you were there early. We were in the first group down and off the ship quickly also some of the first through immigration. I can see by the number of suite/platinum passengers that were there that the subsequent groups would have had to wait a lot longer. Btw, we were on a tour with Alla, which was fantastic!

 

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Forums mobile app

[Kaboochi]

You have no idea what you are talking about. I did this. Russia has NO rules that apply here. They just want you to be using a tour group which has gotten you a visa or to have your own. They DO NOT have rules that the cruise ships tours need to come first. This is purely the cruise lines trying to make more money. I normally don't mind nickel and diming as I understand they need to make money and I can always say no. In this case they are misleading people deliberately to try to make more money and in my opinion it is wrong.

 

Whatever. Enjoy your future cruises... I have a blast no matter where we cruise because I truly believe "when in Rome, do as the Romans do". Don't sweat the small stuff and enjoy.

[vols_159]

No way in Heck I would step foot on Russian soil..

[Medtech2]

Why?

 

And even if there is a good reason, they should publicise this "rule" before the cruise is booked e.g. Unless you take an NCL Tour, you go to the back of the disembarkation queue.

 

We did St P on NCL Sun a few years ago, and although my memory is rather hazy, there was something about NCL tours meeting up in the Theatre and exiting the boat via a different door to the unwashed masses.

Why is that a problem? Why shouldn't NCL tour customers get priority? I see nothing wrong with that. I would think it more wrong for them to put their own customers last....

[vols_159]

Why is that a problem? Why shouldn't NCL tour customers get priority? I see nothing wrong with that. I would think it more wrong for them to put their own customers last....

 

 

happens at alot of ports.. Especially tender ports like Belize..

[mousey]

Why is that a problem? Why shouldn't NCL tour customers get priority? I see nothing wrong with that. I would think it more wrong for them to put their own customers last....

 

I agree. Why would NCL allow passengers with private tours off the ship first before the passengers that had bought their ship's tour. It's ridiculous to call it "bullying". That word gets misused a lot these days! I would never expect to get off a ship before passengers that had bought a tour through the cruise line I was on.

[cruiseblues2013]

Hope you are able to get off the ship at all, looks like they are considering canceling all port stops on all cruise ships with the problems brewing in Russia, hope you get to port , first or last off the ship. I would be devastated not being able to see St Petersburg......

[rvsullivan]

Some of this is pure silliness. Every NCL cruise I've been on does the same thing. They tell you what deck to line up on to depart the ship. Many people get there hours early to be "first". The lines are terrible and slow. Meanwhile, suite guests and some ships tours are given a place and time to rally to get off. A different place than general disembarkation. Usually they are taken through a crew area and escorted off. They don't slow down or delay the others. On occasion, they will go to the head of the line. In that case the general line may be slowed by a few minutes. You have a choice on which group to be in. You can book a suite, you can book a ships tour or you can take general disembarkation. No one forces you to stay on the ship. Of course the shore excursion folks want you to be the first ones off, but it doesn't happen that way and making a rant on here isn't going to change it.

It's not some big secret. The cruise line will look after you if you are on a ships tour. They will help you get off the ship, they will look after your tour guides to make sure they are safe and reliable and they will wait for you if your late, or at least get you to the next port. But, if you think they are going to put their excursion guests at the end of a line so you can get off first, not going to happen. Pleading that it's not published doesn't work, they don't have to publish it, just tell you where to go and what time to be there. Then you make a choice as to how you want to book your excursion.

Simple??

[cdamion]

I'm booked with a company that provides the visa...

 

What I'm asking about is the reports in multiple reviews that NCL is not allowing people with private tours off the ship until all ship tour individuals have disembarked. (This is something that I would consider bullying... :) )

 

TIA,

B

 

I have seen this on most if not all cruises I have been on. Those with early ship's excursions are escorted out first.

[Froggitt]

Those with early ship's excursions are escorted out first.

Which is fine so long as passengers not on ship's excursions are made aware of this......ideally before they book the cruise.

[Demonyte]

Which is fine so long as passengers not on ship's excursions are made aware of this......ideally before they book the cruise.

 

Why would they need to do that? Embarkation and disembarkation in any port is always done as the cruise line sees fit and in the order they set, every passenger onboard has agreed to the passenger ticket contract which states that passenger agrees to comply all orders and instructions given by the crew - order of disembarkation being a obivious one.

 

The contract doesn't even entitle you to disembark in any of the ports if the cruise line so decides (while this is rare, people can be placed under cabin arrest because of illness, drunken or other inappropriate/illegal behaviour etc).

[rvsullivan]

Which is fine so long as passengers not on ship's excursions are made aware of this......ideally before they book the cruise.

 

I wonder where it is stated that this is a requirement? Does the cruise line also have to notify each guest that suite guests get priority embarkation and debarkation, what about the fact that suites get different dining options? Where does it end? There is no requirement to tell every guest about every possible option that might occur during a cruise.

If you book a cruise line tour, you get in line with that group and get off the ship. If you are not with that group, you get in line with all others and get off the ship. Easy!!

[fabnfortysomething]

St Petersburg is different from nearly all other port stops because you have to go through Russian Immigration when you get off the ship.

That can lead to long queues. Russian officials do not care whether you are on a ships tour, private tour or have your own visa as long as paperwork is in order and they don't give priority

 

The problem is that NCL and other cruise lines give out misleading information that unless you are on a ships tour you need a Visa[failing to mention that private tours have the same visa waiver/blanket visa.]

Therefore people on private tours are already wound up and reports that they may be delayed getting off adds to the distrust.

Also private tour companies tend to push towards their standard itinery which picks you up 8am and delivers back to the ship about 5pm.

So thousands of passengers all want to be off the ship about the same time-no wonder there is a backlog at immigration.

 

Consider an alternative. The Baltics is a very port intensive itinery with several time changes-by the time you get to St Petersburg you have already "lost" several hours sleep.

Most ships are in port at least overnight so you don't have the issue of getting back to the ship before it sails away on that first day

 

We arranged with our private tour operator to meet at 10am after a lie in and leisurely breakfast. We got to the immigration lines when they were almost empty and avoided the early morning rush hour traffic. Because we were in a small van we were able to negotiate small roads along the canals which allowed short cuts. We fitted a lot into our 2 days but discussed our interests beforehand and shaved off time for activities which didn't interest us-for instance a sit down meal was substituted for a quick snack and although we were interested in subway ride we passed on the farmers market

The Hermitage is huge and many guides are art historians-naturally they want to impart their knowledge but friends on another tour said there was only so much in depth knowledge they could take! We asked for a shortened time there of 2 1/2 hours which for us was enough

 

What I'm trying to say in this long winded post is that you don't have to stress about being first off the ship-contact several tour operators and tell them you would prefer to start the tour a little later and go with the company which is prepared to accommodate you best