Another Red October question...

[summer2004]

Our family group of 8 will be eating at the two restaurants that RO recommends.

 

Do we pay the restaurant after eating, each day? Or does RO add the charges to the final bill that we pay at the RO store? And, did you leave a tip at the restaurants?

 

Also, if we pay on the final day at the RO store, can charges be separated out, such as if one member of our party is paying for all the restaurant charges and another is paying for all the excursion charges.

 

I know I really should be contacting RO, but it is another member of our party who has been in contact with them, and really all of you Baltic cruisers know all the answers!

 

Thanks sooooo much for all the help with my questions!!

[olderpilot]

Our RO guide showed us the menu for the restaurant we visited on our initial ride into St. Petersburg. The price had been pre-determined and was included in the final bill. The guide called in our menu choices and we were served promptly after our arrival.

 

The restaurant charge was part of the total tour per person charge that we negotiated. There were various prices depending on what you selected. I honestly don't recall if the tip was included. I think it was, but we may have left a couple of dollars per person.

 

The bill you will receive is calculated on a per person charge, although as long as the total bill is covered, I am sure Laura will be flexible in how it is paid. Just remember - crisp new U.S. dollars. Reminds me when I went to the bank before leaving home and asking for cash in crisp new bills, she laughed and said " Why, are you going to Russia?" We both laughed some more when I said, "As a matter of fact I am!"

 

Hope this helps.

 

Jerry

[librarian]

Did RO ever mention the denomination of the bills they wanted. The thought of carrying around this money is enough but I would prefer it to be in a few large bills. Did they say they would take 100's? I

[gdayhoff]

No problem with 100 dollar bills

[olderpilot]

100's, 50's, 20's, 10's. No problem - just "crisp new bills".

[charleysmom]

We were thinking we'd get the cash for Red October from the casino and charge it to the room that way. Are we likely to get crisp bills? Will RO refuse used ones? I sure hate to travel with all that cash!

 

Ann

 

(Anyone else going on the Aug 8 Jewel sailing???)

[juliejoe]

We plan to pay RO with credit card. They charge an additional 3% - worth it to us to not have to worry with carrying the cash - and we get the frequent flyer miles. If you get cash from the casino on Princess ships there is an additional 3% charge there too.

[olderpilot]

You can cash travelers checks at the casino cashier cage as well as the purse's desk at the rate of at least $100/day each - no charge.

 

One thing to remember about using a credit card - you will pay not only the 3% service charge, but your credit card company will also charge you 1-2% on the currency exchange. You may also lose 1-2% when Laura converts the dollar charge to rubles (which is how the card is charged). Net - the tour will cost 6-7% more if charged than if paid in cash.

 

You can keep the cash in your room safe (or the purse's safe) until needed.

[nny92825100]

We used Citibank credit card and it came in at 3% more than what Laura quoted us. We knew it would be 3% higher because of the cc. Citibank did not charge us all those exchange rates and it did not come in 6% higher as mentioned above. I don't think we have a special card, it looks and charges pretty ordinary to me. I did not use it for cash at ATM's instead using a debit card from the credit union which took money straight from the checking account. They did not charge an additional exchange rate either. The debits were almost to the penny as to what we figured they would be using a currency calculator.

[jeanb]

Olderpilot,

When you cashed traveler's checks at the casino or purser's desk for $100, did they give you bills that Red October would accept? RO indicated that their banks won't accept bills that are wrinkled.

[olderpilot]

The casino and purser's desk do carry new currency. However, I would be reluctant to guarantee it. I am sure that a polite request for new bills would be honored if at all possible.

 

Jerry

[gdayhoff]

I was aware that RO that would rather have new crisp dollar bills so when I went to the bank and credit union prior to our going on our cruise I try to get brand new bills but without any luck.The bills I received when not brand new but were what I would call a little above average in condition.I paid our RO bill in 100's,50's and 20's.Laura[RO] accepted them without batting an eye.I think the key is not to present beat up ,hard to read bills and with no writing on them.Just get the best condition bills you can and you'll do alright

[charleysmom]

What is the policy on getting cash from the casino? I thought you could get cash and have it put on your RCCI seapass with no additional charge. Is this the case? Is there a daily limit? If that's the case, we may need to have the funds before leaving the States. That makes me a little nervous.

 

Thanks -- Ann

[DesertSailors]

One note on the Red October tours...While we thoroughly enjoyed our tour with RO and highly recommend them, we would not recommend the restaurant options. We packed sandwiches from the ship the first day to give us more time to sightsee and it worked out well.

 

The 2nd day we at at their chosen restaurant and it was like eating American cafeteria food. Other than the beet soup, it did not have an authentic feel or flavor. The only patrons were other RO tour groups and their guides. I've heard the dining choice of eating with local families is excellent, and would have done that instead had I known.

[canyousayvacation]

Do you remember the name of the restaurant you ate at in St. Petersburg?

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Do you remember the name of the restaurant you ate at in St. Petersburg?

 

On our Red October tour of St Petersburg in June the restaurant's we lunched in were.....

Day 1 at the "Russian Club"

Day 2 at "Our StPetersburg".

All the RO tour's, on that day ,seemed to converge on these venues.

I did get the impression that not many Russians eat out......

and that the arrival of the tour groups was a special event for the staff.

Both were very clean, and a pleasant respite from the full on day ,

of sightseeing.......

The rest rooms were especially welcome............

[olderpilot]

For canyousayvacation.

 

We had lunch at "Our Peter" (English Translation). It was very near the Peter and Paul fortress. Certainly everyone has their own opinions and experiences. Ours was that the the 45 minutes spent at the restaurant was an interesting and worthwhile part of the day - not to mention having the opportunity to relax and refresh in the middle of a long, busy day of touring.

 

We found the food quality to be that of a good middle-class family restaurant. On the day we were there the restaurant was about half full. All the other patrons appeared to be Russian or Eastern European. We were the only obvious tourists.

 

One subtle,unstated benefit is that the restaurant stop also gives your guide a welcome and appreciated break.

 

Jerry

[porky113]

I agree with the Older pilot (Jerry)..we just got back and the break was welcomed by both the tourist's and the guide and driver. Your chioces where given in the morning....pick the chicken or fish they where great..the pork chop was a little tough so others said. The rest of the food was great...it was ready when we arrived. Our guide was with us from 8am till 10:30 PM and that was our only break. We did run back to the ship and grabbed someting to go and a pit stop at supper as we had tickets for a russian Kosak dance across the other side of the city...RO will bend over backwards for you just ask.

Ed

[travelynn]

I have been communicating with Laura about our two days of touring with Red October August 27-28. I asked what their preference is for us to choose for lunches. She indicated that the first day of touring is so long that in order to really get to see everything she recommended bringing food from the ship, remembering to include the driver and guide. Guess we will try that for the first day and their recommended restaurant for the second day.

[olderpilot]

travelynn,

 

Laura is very senstive to the priorities of her clients. She understands that you want to see a great deal the first day and thus her recommendation. I have to say that RO "gets it" when it comes to trying to please the customer. The only other thing I would suggest to you is to make sure your group is "up" for a long day.

 

Jerry

[Eken]

Hi!

 

I have some friends traveling on the Grand Princess in early August and I'm helping them with tips on what to do in Stockholm. I think they also might be interested in going on a tour in St Petersburg. Could you please tell me about the Red October tour and where I could find more information for them. I would really appreciate it and I'm sure they would too. Thanks a lot!

[2forTravelin]

We had Red October for our tours of St Petersburg and can't say enough good things about the company or our guide, Elena. The website address is below and if you send them email asking for general information and a recommended tour, you will get good information from them. Also, if you provide the ship and the date of arrival, Red OCtober will tell you if they know of any other passengers on your cruise that are looking for others to join their tour.

 

Hope this helps.

 

http://www.redoctober.spb.ru/

[gdayhoff]

I agree with olderpilot---Laura[RO] was a jewel and a pleasure to work with.Very accommodating and a person who wanted to please.I spent about 6-8 months working with her on our St.Pete [2003 RO tour].It didn't take me long to trust her thoughts and suggestions.We were not disappointed.St Pete and Tallin I thought were our highlights on our cruise.Tallin is a sleeper.

P.S.--Olderpilot,could your"handle" imply that you are or were at some point in time a pilot.If so,for your info I'm a very old retired Air Force pilot.

[olderpilot]

gdayhoff,

 

Yep, to depart a moment from the thread, retired Navy and airline guy.

 

Jerry

[Eken]

Hi 2forTravelin!

 

Thanks for the tip! I will e-mail the link to my friends. I'm helping them to put together a private tour for their day here in Stockholm and was hoping to be able to give them some tips on the other cities they are visiting. So thanks again!

 

 

 

 

We had Red October for our tours of St Petersburg and can't say enough good things about the company or our guide, Elena. The website address is below and if you send them email asking for general information and a recommended tour, you will get good information from them. Also, if you provide the ship and the date of arrival, Red OCtober will tell you if they know of any other passengers on your cruise that are looking for others to join their tour.

 

Hope this helps.

 

http://www.redoctober.spb.ru/