Taking food off ship in SPB allowed?

[gypsy mom]

I have to follow a very, very, low carb diet (less than 30 grams of carbs a day), and am wondering if it is allowed to take food off the ship in St. Petersburg? Normally I would just buy my own meal in port. I would take some cheese, meat, and veggies off the breakfast buffet for the one day tour lunch that is Stolle pies (way more carbs than I could possibly eat) if that is allowed by Russia. I know some countries do not allow that.

 

I know I could ask the tour provider for a different meal, but in other international travel, that has not worked out well for me; I would prefer to bring exactly what I know I can eat without getting sick.

 

Sharon

[CruiserBruce]

I highly doubt it. Almost no country in the world allows non-original package foods off ships. Definitely no fruit and vegetables.

[RetiredFL]

As I remember our trip, they were quite strict as to nothing off the ship. I would talk to your tour person and see what can be done or have a few rubles and buy some fruit in town.

[dogs4fun]

I have to follow a very, very, low carb diet (less than 30 grams of carbs a day), and am wondering if it is allowed to take food off the ship in St. Petersburg? Normally I would just buy my own meal in port. I would take some cheese, meat, and veggies off the breakfast buffet for the one day tour lunch that is Stolle pies (way more carbs than I could possibly eat) if that is allowed by Russia. I know some countries do not allow that.

 

I know I could ask the tour provider for a different meal, but in other international travel, that has not worked out well for me; I would prefer to bring exactly what I know I can eat without getting sick.

 

Sharon

I don't remember what the cruise lines told us about taking food ashore in St. Pete but I have some dietary restrictions and took food ashore. I've arrived via cruise ship 2x and each time I took food in my day pack (many cruisers were carrying daypacks). No one asked me what was in my day pack when I disembarked the ship and Russian immigration did not ask me anything at all. So, yes, you can bring food with you.

Edited March 30, 2016 by dogs4fun

[CruiserBruce]

This doesn't mean you can legally take food ashore. It just means you didn't get challenged.

[Irish Blondie]

I don't remember what the cruise lines told us about taking food ashore in St. Pete but I have some dietary restrictions and took food ashore. I've arrived via cruise ship 2x and each time I took food in my day pack (many cruisers were carrying daypacks). No one asked me what was in my day pack when I disembarked the ship and Russian immigration did not ask me anything at all. So, yes, you can bring food with you.

 

We went to St Petersburg last July, we had lunch both days on a 2 day deluxe tour, chicken, rice and salad, next day pies, didn't like them, I had my biscuits and own drink with me, on our tour there was no time or place to buy fruit, we have always carried fruit and muffins off the ship, never been checked

[dogs4fun]

This doesn't mean you can legally take food ashore. It just means you didn't get challenged.

Of course. Perhaps I was not clear enough. The StP tour company with which I toured told me that I could bring my own food from the ship so I assumed that it was legal. I was also told the same in communications from other Russian tour companies with whom I inquired. I don't remember (or care) what the ship rules may have been. I do know that Russian immigration has no problem with you bringing food ashore and that was my only concern.

 

We went to St Petersburg last July, we had lunch both days on a 2 day deluxe tour, chicken, rice and salad, next day pies, didn't like them, I had my biscuits and own drink with me, on our tour there was no time or place to buy fruit, we have always carried fruit and muffins off the ship, never been checked

Same here - have never been checked on any my European cruises & I always take food ashore. They seem much more concerned with what you bring back aboard ship (i.e., alcohol) and I have seen many people checked (and alcohol confiscated) when going back onboard.

[dsrdsrdsr]

I highly doubt it. Almost no country in the world allows non-original package foods off ships. Definitely no fruit and vegetables.

 

I've been to loads of countries that allow you to take food across the border, including much of maritime Europe. The only European one that wouldn't let you take food, was Iceland. (Which is geographically part American anyway, and has those rules because of its island nature.)

[Keith1010]

This does range by country. There are some that allow you to take food off the ship. I have also found that rules can change overtime.

 

Once on the ship you can ask but I would have a backup plan.

 

Keith

[LondonTowner]

Within Europe there are no restrictions of taking food across borders, so I can't imagine it being a problem. In fact, it has never occurred to be that I shouldn't take food off a ship, but I wouldn't do that anyway.

 

However, I would inform the tour operator if I was going to do it. The majority of restaurants don't take kindly to people eating their own food, so best to explain it is due to dietary problems.

[gypsy mom]

Thanks to everyone for their replies.

 

It seems in SPB that there is no time for shopping, so buying food on the tour would not be possible. Normally I would not take food off the ship, but I can't skip a meal in a long day either. I know the Caribbean countries in particular are fussy about fruit coming off the ship due to possible insects coming onto the island, but nothing I would bring to SPB could contaminate Russia ( and I can't eat things like fruit, biscuits, or muffins as some have suggested).

 

I think I will take what I need onshore, and have a no carb protein bar with me as a poor backup (yuck) in case I do get challenged. I was unsure if all bags were always checked or not. It can be difficult at times to travel in a group with such a restricted diet-I'm sure others who have the same concerns understand.

 

Sharon

[gypsy mom]

Within Europe there are no restrictions of taking food across borders, so I can't imagine it being a problem. In fact, it has never occurred to be that I shouldn't take food off a ship, but I wouldn't do that anyway.

 

However, I would inform the tour operator if I was going to do it. The majority of restaurants don't take kindly to people eating their own food, so best to explain it is due to dietary problems.

 

 

This particular lunch is eaten on the Hydrofoil, so no restaurant people to offend with bringing my own food.

[mickeysgal]

I would imagine that bottled water is ok?

[Giantfan13]

I would imagine that bottled water is ok?

 

All the tour companies will supply you with bottled water as a courtesy on their tours.

 

Cheers

 

Len

[mickeysgal]

All the tour companies will supply you with bottled water as a courtesy on their tours.

 

Cheers

 

Len

 

Ours is saying only one bottle per person per day. So thought I'd bring my own since it's a long day. Can I bring that off the ship?

[dogs4fun]

Ours is saying only one bottle per person per day. So thought I'd bring my own since it's a long day. Can I bring that off the ship?

Absolutely! :)

[phxbne]

When we were in St Petersburg, I had hoped to get box lunches to take off the ship because our private tour did not include lunch. However, the ship policy did not allow it.

I did take our standard bag of snacks off the ship, wondering if we would be questioned or bags would be checked. They never were......

I would have taken meat/cheese/veggies on our 2nd day, but did not have anything to keep them cool.

[gypsy mom]

I have a little insulated lunch bag that folds flat that I travel with to keep things cool. If it is a hot day, I will probably still skip the meat and stick to hard cheese, as that will keep fine in there for a few hours. It is a good idea to bring some extra water too.

[TLCOhio]

This does range by country. There are some that allow you to take food off the ship. I have also found that rules can change overtime. Once on the ship you can ask but I would have a backup plan. Keith

 

Yes, as noted by Keith above, things will vary depending on the ship, country, etc. In 2008 for St. Petersburg, we arranged with our ship (Crystal) for box lunches on the day when we were doing the Hermitage with an early morning admission that day with our private tour guide and driver. When we came out of that famed museum on the Palace Square side from the Winter Palace, our van was set-up with the table up in the back and we had our box lunch right there. Saved time. Was handy! And the best part?

 

It was a perfect sunny day and our "dining room" had a view of the General Staff Building. Plus, of course, there was right with us the Alexander Column, the focal point of this space that was raised after the Russian victory in the war with Napoleon's France. The monument is more than 155 feet tall, built 1830–34 and is topped with a statue of an angel holding a cross.

 

Don't assume!! Push a little and ask of your key tour and/or ship people. It can be very rewarding and memorable to make such "box lunch" activity work to save time and offer fun experiences.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 196,362 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[phxbne]

Things do vary and change - we were on Crystal in 2014 and they would not provide a box lunch. I got 2 different explanations from 2 different sources - one that the Russian govt did not allow it, and the other that the ship was concerned about folks getting sick from non-refrigerated food. Thankfully we travel with a stash of packaged snacks.....

[CrazyJess]

Hi! I been to St. Peter twice and both times I took food off the ship. We traveled with a kid and for us it wasn’t even a question. I took quite a lot of food in the backpack and none even asked me what was inside. So, yes - you can take food, no problems.

Jess :)

[Bowie MeMe]

Hi! I been to St. Peter twice and both times I took food off the ship. We traveled with a kid and for us it wasn’t even a question. I took quite a lot of food in the backpack and none even asked me what was inside. So, yes - you can take food, no problems.

Jess :)

 

 

Yes until it is. All over the world countries limit food that comes in from out of the country. A ship is not considered A part of the country thus no food may ENTER the country. Your problem is Not with the cruise line it is with the government of the country you are entering. You would probably not be wrong to assume you can bring NOTHING plant or animal based (food) except factory sealed package and sometimes not factory. The government is trying to keep pests and disease out of their country and they are serious about it. Heavy fines and sometimes jail. USA like all others have these rules. I have seen in 3 different countries cruise passengers or staff sniffed by dogs then handcuffed and lead away by uniformed and armed official. Scared me to death. Don't take the chance of bringing food into a country . They protect their agriculture from unwanted pests,

[dsrdsrdsr]

You would probably not be wrong to assume you can bring NOTHING plant or animal based (food) except factory sealed package and sometimes not factory. The government is trying to keep pests and disease out of their country and they are serious about it. Heavy fines and sometimes jail. USA like all others have these rules.

 

I really think you're confusing the USA with the rest of the world. Yes, the USA has rules on bringing food into the country - but that doesn't mean that every other country has the same rules. How many of these three countries with sniffer dogs were in Europe? And can you definitively confirm that the sniffer dogs were specialising in food, not drugs or cash? Because I have never heard any suggestion (except presumably in the USA) that carrying a sandwich gets you thrown in jail in handcuffs.

 

Suffice to say that I have been to most western European countries, plus the Baltic states, and have never been told (except in Iceland) that bringing food is an offence at all, let alone an arrestable offence. DSpecifically, which threre countries were your arrests in handcuffs, and did you see what food item was involved?

[afto]

We are booked on a tour in Russia with Alla Tours. Their web site indicates that it's OK to bring snacks with you from the ship, and I don't think they would take the risk of telling people that if it was against the law.

[latebloomer56]

Always carry packaged snacks from home in my bag for tours. Plus water extra if a long day. Have never even thought of packing a lunch when in a new country. Guess I'm the odd one so maybe due to my husbands sugar issue (minor but needs food sometimes) I will look at some other options for him on our next trip in May.