St. Petersburg (getting off ship)

[LHT28]

It is possible they do not want a stampede to get off the ships first...everyone wants to get going so they can create a back log at the immigration desks.

It is a hurry up and wait senario

 

 

The Russian officials are on "island time" ;)

 

Lyn

[CintiPam]

It is possible they do not want a stampede to get off the ships first...everyone wants to get going so they can create a back log at the immigration desks.

It is a hurry up and wait senario

 

 

The Russian officials are on "island time" ;)

 

Lyn

 

Thanks, Lyn; I understand "island time".

[bbwex]

Like many lines, Oceania tries to imply that their tour people have priority set by Russian Immigration in a letter to the guests before we arrived in St.P. However, there was no enforcement of it in any way whatsoever.

 

As has been made clear on CC, there is no such Russian policy, and Oceania made no attempt to stop anyone. They did ask, in the letter, that groups of over 10 schedule their departures with them for coordination, but as in any port, you can come and go as you please at the gangway.

 

As one important note, the Russian authorities will stamp your passport on your first entry, and then give you a small red card which they will put in your passport. You must keep this red card and return it when you go back to the ship. The next time you get off, they will give you a new red card which is needed to get back to the ship the next time, and so on. Someone didn't think the red card was important and threw it away and had a hard time getting back aboard.

 

Also, if you are on a private tour, make sure you have the ticket with you at Immigration control as they will demand to see it.