Roll Call for RSSC Voyager Baltics July 14, 2007

[likes to learn]

Does anyone know about private tour guides, such as Red October in St. Petersburg? I've heard it's a waste of time to go on the ships excursions there. Thanks so much. I'm new to cruise critic and not that experienced at cruising either.

[marylizbeth]

funny you should ask that. I just booked a bunch of excursions through Regent . Decided to do St. Petersburg with them mostly because I am phobic about returning to the ship on time in Russia.

 

I hear both Red October and Denrus are quite good and people seem to like them.

 

Unless someone here tells me I am going to REALLY REGRET it, I am going to stick with the Regent Tours. All we really want is to see Hermitage and Peterhof and we will be happy.

 

I also had prices on private tours which ran almost $1,000 a day with a company my agent recommended. Unless Mr. Putin is the travel guide it seems like toooo much money to me.

 

Oh, and the Regent tour has lunch at the Grand Hotel. My husband was there when he was twelve so he is anxious to see it again.

[likes to learn]

Thanks so much for replying. I wonder if we are taking the same cruise. Mine leaves on 7/14, is that the one you are on?

[likes to learn]

I'm looking for others going on this cruise so that we can share a guide in St. Petersburg. I understand it is much better to have our own guide there than to take the ships excursions.

[likes to learn]

I'm going on 7/14 and would love any input anyone has who has done this trip before. Tips on the Voyager, the ports, the excursions - anything would be very appreciated.

 

Thanks so much!:)

[SPKR]

Our Voyager Baltics cruise leaves Dover June 12. I have already booked some Regent excursions, but would love to hear from others going on the same trip as I may want to do some creative excursions in towns I haven't booked yet.

 

Suzie & Myron

[Travelcat2]

We were on the Voyager Baltic cruise last August -- you'll really enjoy it! Such a lovely cruise.

 

I can't tell you that you'll regret not using a private tour company -- especially if you don't mind waiting in lines. There were 20-30 buses (not exaggerating) at the Hermitage with lines of people so long I could not see the end. Private tour guides are permitted to take their guests to the front of the lines. It was so nice (although I somehow felt guilty).

 

Check out the Ports section of Cruise Critic -- St. Petersburg. There are many things that can be learned from there. If a group of people go with a private company, the cost goes down. We also did Catherine's Palace -- most of the sights are in the immediate vicinity while Catherine's Palace is about an hours drive -- it was nice to get out of the city and see the countryside.

 

One more thing -- Tallin -- a highlight of our cruise. A small town -- fairly easy to walk -- the Regent bus will take you there. A short tour is worth is as you'll hear the incredible history of the country (under Solviet rule until the early 1990's).

 

Have a great voyage!:)

[poss]

We were first time cruisers on Voyager to Baltics two years ago. Everywhere but St Pete we toured on our own (LOVED Tallinn and Visby). In St Pete we used the Regent tours. They were very good imo. No doubt for people who have the bucks to do private tours, that may be the better way to go. Before we went, I'd read so much on these boards about people doing private tours that I was really concerned whether we were making a mistake. On the contrary, we were very pleased. It was a fine cruise in every respect.

 

Bon Voyage!

[CruiserPK]

Last year, on a Baltic cruise through Regent, we used Red October tours. Our agent set this up because she was actually escorting our trip- she had about 100 guests onboard. The tours were fantastic, vans that held up to 16 and on our three days of touring, the van was never full. One day we had only 6! The price was exactly what we would have paid for Regent tours (basically the same ones) and we saw much more as we skirted around lines at various sights. I am sure dining venues were different, but we ate in authentic Russian restaurants and enjoyed them.

 

Cheers, Pam

[likes to learn]

Thanks so much. I am very new at this. I went to Roll Calls, Cruise lines, then Regent Cruises but most were for other ships and cruises. That's why I joined, and then went to the members only - Roll call - other ships and selected the Voyager.

 

Is there another way to do this?

 

Thanks so much for your help.

[likes to learn]

Thank you ALL so much for your replies. I was wondering if anyone would like to form a little group and hire a Red October tour? I am on the Voyager 7/14 cruise. If not, can you suggest another way for me to get other people to join? I need at least 6 people to make the cost bareable.

 

Thanks again, so much.

[likes to learn]

The Regent is not listed, but there is an "other" category. When I look there, and find Voyager of the Seas (which is my boat) it is a NcL cruise line boat and not Regent. How do I get to the Regent one?

 

Thanks.

[Globaliser]

Not sure where you're looking. Is it this "ROLL CALLS - All Other Cruise Lines" forum? I can't see either the Voyager of the Seas or any NCL ships listed there.

[CruiserPK]

I would suggest you list your cruise under roll call as "RSSC Voyager". This way, people will not confuse it with the NCL Voyager of the Seas.

 

Cheers, Pam

[likes to learn]

I would like to find some other people on this ship who would like to join me for a private tour guide instead of taking the ship's excursins.

[likes to learn]

Is anyone going on this cruise?

[judiclaire]

I was in St Petersburg last summer and we decided to go with a private tour - chose Red October as it has been recommended to us. There were 2 of us and we each paid $50 more than going with the cruiseline. For this we had our own car with a driver and a guide - and went to the beginning of every line (and there were several long lines last July in St Petersburg). I would definitely recommend the private tour.

[TedC]

Do you mean Regent Seven Seas Cruises Voyager or Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas?

 

It makes a difference in which board your question should be posted.

[old3]

Our family of 6 will be on that cruise and we have already booked a 6-person van with Red October. I have not talked to or heard of anyone else from any message board group who are on that cruise.

[Host Kat]

I have merged all your threads into one Roll Call thread. At this time, Cruise Critic does not have a Regent Seven Seas Cruises Roll Call Forum just for their ships. I also changed the title of your merged thread too.

 

Please note, Cruise Critic does not allow ads of any kind in posts. This would include personal ads looking to share cabins, tours, transportation, etc. Posts of this nature are removed from all forums... with one exception. If you are sailing on a specific ship and sail date, you can post your share request on the Roll Call for your cruise. You are targeting the specific group of people who would be most inclined to share since they are already sailing on your cruise.

 

I hope this will be satisfactory!

Kat

[SPKR]

I'm traveling Regent's Voyager that leaves Dover June 12 for a baltics cruise. How do I open a thread that says roll call for Voyager June 12

[Host Kat]

I'm traveling Regent's Voyager that leaves Dover June 12 for a baltics cruise. How do I open a thread that says roll call for Voyager June 12

From Community Manager LauraS:

ROLL CALLS for cruise lines that we have a forum for but NOT a ROLL CALL forum can contain ROLL CALL threads. Example: we have a Regent Forum, but NOT a Regent ROLL CALL forum. The Regent forum CAN contain roll calls.

 

To start your Roll Call, first scan through the thread titles to see if there is one already started for your sail date. If so, you need to post there and not start another. That just causes confusion since there should be only one Roll Call per sail date. If no other thread for your sail date is there, then please feel free to start one. Here are the directions:

• Click here http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=176 for the Regent Seven Seas Cruises Forum
  
• Click the New Thread button
  
• Type the following in the title: RSSC Voyager 06/12/2007 Roll Call
  
• Type your message in the message box
  
• Click the Submit Reply button

I sincerely hope this information will be satisfactory and lots of with your Roll Call!!

 

Edited to add: I looked at the posts on the June 12 to the Baltics..Any chance thread at http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=483494. The thread appears to be a good start for a Roll Call since the posts are just like most Roll Calls. All we need to do is change the title. Then you and the other Roll Call members will need to post there often to keep it on the first page of threads. That makes it easier for others sailing with you to find it. What do you think?

Kat

[Host Dan]

Thanks Kat!

 

Host Dan

[SPKR]

Kat, if you can change the title for the June 12 thread, that would be great

 

Suzie

[Host Kat]

Kat, if you can change the title for the June 12 thread, that would be great Suzie

The title has been changed per your request. Click here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=483494.

Good luck with your Roll Call!

Kat