lippi1970 Posted May 20, 2018 #1 Share Posted May 20, 2018 Hello, other question about Baltic Cruise. How did you visited St Petersburg? With Princess excursion or using local guide? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooked-cruiser Posted May 20, 2018 #2 Share Posted May 20, 2018 Used a local company who specialise for the whole area of the cruise Not allowed to name them but if you use the initials of the place in russia and look for the Orange themed website, you have found the correct one. They are very much cheaper than the cruise line and they arrange the Visa at no additional cost. Very knowledgeable and extremely friendly. They also cover Copenhagen, and the other locations visited on the cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted May 20, 2018 #3 Share Posted May 20, 2018 I am not sure why Hooked-Cruiser cannot not name the company they did the private tour with. I see the names of guides here all the time and I know of no rules against it. We are booked with Alla Tours for our visit in July. Charge is about 1/2 of Princess and a much smaller group. Payment on the first day of the tour. They provide the visa waiver, se no need to get a visa, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
satxdiver Posted May 20, 2018 #4 Share Posted May 20, 2018 Only rule is that you cannot name TAs. Tour companies are frequently named and comments about them abound. Names and comments about their efforts are always welcome on here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallyworld583 Posted May 20, 2018 #5 Share Posted May 20, 2018 We used TJ Travel for our two day Russia tour early May this year. Way cheaper than the ship, smaller group (14) and the same itinerary as the ship. Guide and driver were fantastic! Plus they give you a break if you book other Baltic tours. Very pleased and have no problem recommending them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooked-cruiser Posted May 20, 2018 #6 Share Posted May 20, 2018 Sorry I was of the opinion that we were not allowed to name companies. In which case I would highly recommend SPB Tours. We used them last year and will certainly be using them again in July while on the Sapphire. Their tours include a traditional Russian lunch (Plenty of Vodka). The Guide was also wonderful and even showed us a few places that were not officially on the tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grego Posted May 20, 2018 #7 Share Posted May 20, 2018 Used a local company who specialise for the whole area of the cruise Not allowed to name them but if you use the initials of the place in russia and look for the Orange themed website, you have found the correct one. They are very much cheaper than the cruise line and they arrange the Visa at no additional cost. Very knowledgeable and extremely friendly. They also cover Copenhagen, and the other locations visited on the cruise. Clever. We used them as well and our guide, Alexander, was not only great, he was "The Great". We booked our Germany port with them as well. They took care of everything, were very knowledgeable and were a lot less cost than ones offered by the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sergeant655 Posted May 20, 2018 #8 Share Posted May 20, 2018 I took the best of st Petersburg 2 day tour thru the ship. Be aware that Russian immigration is a lengthy process and ships tours are given first priority for immigration. Guests not on a tour had to go to the concerto dining room when ready to go and get a ticket for immigration. It is the same as tendering Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorset Cruiser Posted May 20, 2018 #9 Share Posted May 20, 2018 I am not sure why Hooked-Cruiser cannot not name the company they did the private tour with. I see the names of guides here all the time and I know of no rules against it. We are booked with Alla Tours for our visit in July. Charge is about 1/2 of Princess and a much smaller group. Payment on the first day of the tour. They provide the visa waiver, se no need to get a visa, Just booked one day Palaces tour for the second day with the ship. It was more expensive (but not double that I could assess) but includes a sut down lunch with folkloric dancers, rather than a packed lunch and I think not so much walking? Have also booked the Canals and Rivers tour with the ship for the first day. Was a bit worried going with Alla in St Petersburg in case there was a hold up getting off the ship. I am happy with what we paid. We have booked Alla for Berlin as it worked out least expensive and goes by coach rather than train Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorset Cruiser Posted May 20, 2018 #10 Share Posted May 20, 2018 I took the best of st Petersburg 2 day tour thru the ship. Be aware that Russian immigration is a lengthy process and ships tours are given first priority for immigration. Guests not on a tour had to go to the concerto dining room when ready to go and get a ticket for immigration. It is the same as tendering Thats what I was worried about so we are doing an afternoon excursion on the first day with the ship and a full day excursion on the second day, both with Princess [emoji3] Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hollywood2 Posted May 20, 2018 #11 Share Posted May 20, 2018 We did Princess 2-day tour a couple of years ago. One huge advantage - we were there Saturday and Sunday. The Hermitage was closed Sundays EXCEPT for Princess tour groups. It was wonderful to be there without the crowd that others endured going on Saturday with private tours. Overall, our tour was great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roses2 Posted May 20, 2018 #12 Share Posted May 20, 2018 Several years ago we went all the way and booked a private tour will Alla. Just the two of us, a driver and a tour guide for the 2 days. Yes it was expensive, but we were only going to be there once. It was a terrific 2 days and believe it was worth every cent. P&J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare azbirdmom Posted May 20, 2018 #13 Share Posted May 20, 2018 We went with Alex's tours. Small group of 14 vs. Princess 50 passengers per bus and at less than half the cost of the Princess tour. Highly recommend it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sawtooth Posted May 20, 2018 #14 Share Posted May 20, 2018 We enjoyed great tours in all the ports with SPB tours. Smaller groups, very good guides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagsfan Posted May 20, 2018 #15 Share Posted May 20, 2018 Six of us booked with Denrus Tours, but Alla and SPB are also excellent. There was no wait to get off the ship, we just went down to the gangway and walked off. Sped through customs and immigration and boarded our minibus. We set up our own itinerary and saw everything, including a two station subway ride to see their very elegant stations. When you go with a private tour company, you don't have to wait to load a bus or wait for anyone who's in line to buy souvenirs. Quick, personal, and very efficient! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kinkacruiser Posted May 20, 2018 #16 Share Posted May 20, 2018 Another vote for SPB. We took the package of excursions in 5 Baltic ports. Day 1 in the museums was very congested and it was hot indoors. The canal down to Peterhof on Day 2 was simply the best! I would recommend you take a tour group that offers smaller groups (15 pax). Enjoy you time in St. Petersburg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorset Cruiser Posted May 21, 2018 #17 Share Posted May 21, 2018 Copenhagen question. Our flight to UK leaves at 4.10pm. Have seen a debark city tour with Tivoli Gardens which includes a 1.30pm pick up at Tivoli. Will we have enough time to make flight? Does anyone know how far Tivoli is from the airport? Really don't want to spend hours at the airport and we cannot check in until 1.30pm. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenwhite Posted May 21, 2018 #18 Share Posted May 21, 2018 You have been given a number of choices. We used DENRUS for a 2 day private tour. We were very pleased with them and have no hesitation in recommending them. They have a website you could take a look at.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susancruzs Posted May 21, 2018 #19 Share Posted May 21, 2018 I took a Princess tour the 2nd day that was awesome. It was a walking tour, including a ride on their subway system, absolutely great, totally enjoyed it. The subway part was amazing, so clean, bright white, mosaic tiles, riding the escalator you couldn't see the bottom, it was so tall. Having been on subways, many places, it was a surprise to see it so bright and clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor I Posted May 21, 2018 #20 Share Posted May 21, 2018 May somebody be interested in small group so called Hamlet castles tour from Copenhagen on JUNE 11, 2018. https://st-petersburg-tours.ru/northern-zealand-hamlets-castle-tour There are already 4 persons but we need 4-6 more. Please reply ASAP. D.I. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdngrl Posted May 21, 2018 #21 Share Posted May 21, 2018 May somebody be interested in small group so called Hamlet castles tour from Copenhagen on JUNE 11, 2018. https://st-petersburg-tours.ru/northern-zealand-hamlets-castle-tour There are already 4 persons but we need 4-6 more. Please reply ASAP. D.I. try posting on your roll call: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2519118 edit: i see you've been on your roll call. perhaps post your message there. it is where you'll find people on your cruise who may want to join you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Copie1995 Posted May 22, 2018 #22 Share Posted May 22, 2018 We did a private tour with Red October last year. It was just the two of us and we saw so much as we went to the front of the line everywhere. Our guide was Dimitiri and he likes doing small groups. He squeezed us through the crowds to get us to the right spot in the museums. St Petersburg is very crowded at the tourist sites. I think there were 7 ships when we were there. So if you can splurge once on a private tour I would do it in St. Petersburg. I have never done it before but in St Petersburg it is was worth it (even my husband agreed). We saw everything in 2 days. We were on HAL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diannan22 Posted May 31, 2018 #23 Share Posted May 31, 2018 I am not sure why Hooked-Cruiser cannot not name the company they did the private tour with. I see the names of guides here all the time and I know of no rules against it. We are booked with Alla Tours for our visit in July. Charge is about 1/2 of Princess and a much smaller group. Payment on the first day of the tour. They provide the visa waiver, se no need to get a visa, We also booked the 2 day St Petersburg Russia tour, Stockholm, Helsinki & Tallinn with Alla tours and we saved over $300.00 for these 4 tours from the 3 we had originally booked with Princess. We will be cruising in June Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diannan22 Posted May 31, 2018 #24 Share Posted May 31, 2018 We also booked the 2 day St Petersburg Russia tour, Stockholm, Helsinki & Tallinn with Alla tours and we saved over $300.00 for these 4 tours from the 3 we had originally booked with Princess. We will be cruising in June Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor I Posted May 31, 2018 #25 Share Posted May 31, 2018 We used TJ Travel for our two day Russia tour early May this year. Way cheaper than the ship, smaller group (14) and the same itinerary as the ship. Guide and driver were fantastic! Plus they give you a break if you book other Baltic tours. Very pleased and have no problem recommending them. @Wallyword583: Good to hear your positive words about TJ. We will use their service in five cities: Berlin, Tallinn, SPt , Helsinki and Stockholm. I am very nervous about how to catch the buses especially in Wernemunde and SPt. I will appreciate any suggestions/recomendation very much. Thank you. D.I. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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