Booking Excursions - Privately vs SS

[Lindy Sue]

Our first time on SS, excursions open up in February.  On our previous Oceania Cruises (South Pacific & Alaska), we booked some excursions through the cruise line and others on our own.  Any suggestions/advice as pertains to SS?  We are booked on a 7 day Scandinavian Voyage with stops in Estonia, Finland and 3 days in St. Petersburg.  Thanks!

[carefreecruise]

1 hour ago, Lindy Sue said:

Our first time on SS, excursions open up in February.  On our previous Oceania Cruises (South Pacific & Alaska), we booked some excursions through the cruise line and others on our own.  Any suggestions/advice as pertains to SS?  We are booked on a 7 day Scandinavian Voyage with stops in Estonia, Finland and 3 days in St. Petersburg.  Thanks!

Nothing different than other lines. You are more then welcome to book your own private excursions. Only caveat downside is if the ship does not dock for some reason, you will lose your deposit. Also the if you book your own excursions the ship will not wait for you if your late or delayed. 

[Tothesunset]

The SS prices for tours on St Petersburg are high. We used a company called St Petersburg Tours (SPB Tours) and they were excellent. You can choose from 1,2 or 3 day tours and they collect you at the dockside. 

 

You pay less than half what SS charge for similar excursions and get priority admission at the busiest sites. 

 

N. B. I have no connection to the company other than as a satisfied customer! 

[57 varieties]

We agree with To the sunset.  We used SPB and were in a group with four others from our ship plus two more in a minivan with driver and guide for two days.  It was very efficient and moved at a pace which suited us all.  The less able were allowed a rest while some of the others scurried up the hills.

[Lindy Sue]

7 hours ago, Tothesunset said:

The SS prices for tours on St Petersburg are high. We used a company called St Petersburg Tours (SPB Tours) and they were excellent. You can choose from 1,2 or 3 day tours and they collect you at the dockside. 

 

You pay less than half what SS charge for similar excursions and get priority admission at the busiest sites. 

 

N. B. I have no connection to the company other than as a satisfied customer! 

Thank you To the Sunset and Cool Cruiser for the information!  We found the same to be true on our Oceania Cruises (excursions considerably less when booked outside the cruise ship).  So helpful to hear thoughts about companies used by other travelers.  We appreciate your help.

 

Will look them up on the internet.

 

Thanks again!

Edited January 6, 2020 by Lindy Sue

[brimary]

15 minutes ago, Lindy Sue said:

Thank you To the Sunset and Cool Cruiser for the information!  We found the same to be true on our Oceania Cruises (excursions considerably less when booked outside the cruise ship).  So helpful to hear thoughts about companies used by other travelers.  We appreciate your help.

 

Will look them up on the internet.

 

Thanks again!

Agree with all the helpful comments to your question doing it yourself is far less cost but we once experienced a cruise where a small group did their own thing and missed the ship departure which is an even costlier situation to consider !

[Lindy Sue]

Thank you!  We will be in St. Petersburg 3 days/2 nights.  Planning to look into a 2 day tour for the first 2 days we are there.  This will ensure we don’t miss the ship!

[Tothesunset]

On our trip we got back in plenty of time for the sailaway but I understand your caution. 

[wripro]

On 1/6/2020 at 9:07 AM, Lindy Sue said:

Thank you!  We will be in St. Petersburg 3 days/2 nights.  Planning to look into a 2 day tour for the first 2 days we are there.  This will ensure we don’t miss the ship!

Do the three day tour. You won't miss the ship. These guides are experts at getting you back on tim and there is so much to see in St.Petersburg that you will be cheating yourself of a whole day if you only do the two.

[Lindy Sue]

1 hour ago, wripro said:

Do the three day tour. You won't miss the ship. These guides are experts at getting you back on tim and there is so much to see in St.Petersburg that you will be cheating yourself of a whole day if you only do the two.

Wripro, thank you for the advice.  Looks like we can get a 3 day tour with other guests for the same price as a 2 day private.  😊