July 22, 2015 * 12-night Northern European Cruise!

[ReadingFC]

Deb T thanks for organising this thread, minor point on spelling of DD..is Hermione

 

[Deb T.]

Whilst you all have a long time to consider this, I would strongly recommend everyone consider Private Tours in St Petersburg a lot to see and some of the palaces are a long way out.

Private tour guides can cut lines at places such as the Hermitage, and you by pass when the tour coaches are lining up outside.

For a reasonable sized family the tour will be cheaper pp than DCL tours and often with them you cant do everything, you have to choose one thing or another but on your own tour you could fit all the main places in.

This will give you an idea of what they can do, now we actually turn up at 9.30am so day One would need a change.


Time Activity
DAY ONE
7.30 - 8.00am Passing the Passport control. You need to have the following documents with You: Passport, Copy of Your Passport information list, Tour ticket (blanket visa).
8.00 am Meeting. Your personal guide and driver will meet You right next to the passport control with the sign: Anastasia Travel Group ……..
8.00 - 10.00am City Tour.
10.00 – 11.00 pm Peter and Paul’s Fortress visit
11.15 – 11.45 pm Saviour on the Spilt Blood visit
12.00 – 1.00 pm Lunch (optional)
1.15 – 3.15 pm Yusupoff Palace visit
3.30 – 4. 00 pm St.Isaac's Cathedral
4.30 – 5.30 pm Rivers and canals tour
6.30 pm Back to the ship or optional evening events
DAY TWO
8.30 am Meeting. Your personal guide and driver will meet You right next to the passport control with the sign: Anastasia Travel Group ……..
8.30 - 10.00 am Drive to the Tzars’ Village (city of Pushkin)
10.00 – 12.00 pm Tour of the Catherine’s Palace and Amber room
12.00 – 1.00 am Drive to Peterhoff
1.00 – 2.00 pm Lunch (optional)
2.00 - 3.30 pm Fountain Park tour. Optional visit of the Monplaisir Palace or Bath house (15 USD pp)
3.30 – 4.00 pm Hydrofoil trip to the city
5.00 pm Back to the ship


This one doesn't go to the Hermatige but you can do that instead of Yusupoff.

Some tour operators.

http://www.anastasia.travel/ I have used before and are very good.

There parent company does tours in other ports.

http://www.spb-tours.com/tallinn-scan/en/node/1

St Petersburg.

These are highly recommended on Cruise critic.

http://www.alla-tour.com/

If you want to see photos go over to the DCL Photo of the day thread and I have been posting photos of the ports of call there recently.

Excellent information! I know a lot of people were very pleased with Anastasia Travel on our 2010 Baltics cruise!

Just keep in mind that Russia requires a VISA if you are planning to tour on your own. From the US State Dept website for US citizens:
International Cruise Ship/Ferry Passengers: You are permitted to visit Russian ports without a visa for a period of up to 72 hours. You may go ashore without a visa during port calls, but only if you are with an organized tour and accompanied at all times by a tour operator who has been duly licensed by Russian authorities. Cruise ship and ferry lines offer shore tours that meet these requirements. If you want to do sightseeing on your own, you must have a visa. A visa is also required if you arrive in Russia by ship or ferry, but want to depart by air, train, or other mode of transportation. A U.S. passport must be presented to Russian immigration officers each time you depart or return to the ship during your port call in Russia. If your U.S. passport is lost or stolen while you are ashore, you will not be allowed to return to the ship until you obtain a replacement passport from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow or one of the Consulates General. If your ship leaves Russia without you onboard, you must obtain an exit visa to depart Russia by alternative transportation. Russian authorities may take up to 20 calendar days to authorize an exit visa, during which time you will have to remain in Russia at your own expense.


The Russian Embassy indicates VISA processing fees and timelines for US citizens are:
Single Entry or Double Entry Visa:
$140 - ten business days(*)
$250 - three business days(*)
Multiple Entry Visa for one year:
$150 - ten business days(*)
$450 - three business days(*)
Multiple Entry Visa for three year:
$160 - ten business days(*)
$450 - three business days(*)(**)
(*) - The day of submission/delivery is NOT INCLUDED in processing time.
(**) - strictly in emergency.

All of the other countries we are visiting do not require a VISA for entry.

 

[Deb T.]

Deb T thanks for organising this thread, minor point on spelling of DD..is Hermione

Yikes! My sincerest apologies to your DD! I will correct the spelling immediately!

And, thanks for the thanks!

I was just getting ready to thank YOU for all the amazing info in your previous post! A lot to digest, but all super important information!

 

[The Wombles]

Whilst you all have a long time to consider this, I would strongly recommend everyone consider Private Tours in St Petersburg a lot to see and some of the palaces are a long way out.

<snip>

Excellent information, thanks. We're definitely interested in doing this. Are any of the guides willing to tailor their tours? We want to find a few geocaches in addition to visiting the usual hotspots. Is it worth building a group or better to keep it personal and small?

 

[wvuflu]

Hello!! We're booked and ready for another adventure! We did the Med last year as our first DCL cruise and we're hooked. We loved every minute and all the people we met (like Mindy above) are now life long friends! It will be myself, Lisa, DH-Rich, DD-Maggie (will be 12), and DS- Connor (will be 10). Looking forward to lots of planning and fun!!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Excellent information! I know a lot of people were very pleased with Anastasia Travel on our 2010 Baltics cruise!

Just keep in mind that Russia requires a VISA if you are planning to tour on your own. From the US State Dept website for US citizens:
International Cruise Ship/Ferry Passengers: You are permitted to visit Russian ports without a visa for a period of up to 72 hours. You may go ashore without a visa during port calls, but only if you are with an organized tour and accompanied at all times by a tour operator who has been duly licensed by Russian authorities. Cruise ship and ferry lines offer shore tours that meet these requirements. If you want to do sightseeing on your own, you must have a visa. A visa is also required if you arrive in Russia by ship or ferry, but want to depart by air, train, or other mode of transportation. A U.S. passport must be presented to Russian immigration officers each time you depart or return to the ship during your port call in Russia. If your U.S. passport is lost or stolen while you are ashore, you will not be allowed to return to the ship until you obtain a replacement passport from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow or one of the Consulates General. If your ship leaves Russia without you onboard, you must obtain an exit visa to depart Russia by alternative transportation. Russian authorities may take up to 20 calendar days to authorize an exit visa, during which time you will have to remain in Russia at your own expense.


The Russian Embassy indicates VISA processing fees and timelines for US citizens are:
Single Entry or Double Entry Visa:
$140 - ten business days(*)
$250 - three business days(*)
Multiple Entry Visa for one year:
$150 - ten business days(*)
$450 - three business days(*)
Multiple Entry Visa for three year:
$160 - ten business days(*)
$450 - three business days(*)(**)
(*) - The day of submission/delivery is NOT INCLUDED in processing time.
(**) - strictly in emergency.

All of the other countries we are visiting do not require a VISA for entry.

If you use a local tour firm and there with you all the time they get you a tourist visa themselves, your printed confirmation is all you need and you do Not need to get a Visa before you go in most circumstances subject to criminal records working for CIA etc.

Excellent information, thanks. We're definitely interested in doing this. Are any of the guides willing to tailor their tours? We want to find a few geocaches in addition to visiting the usual hotspots. Is it worth building a group or better to keep it personal and small?

I am already tailoring mine for 2015 as I have seen some of the places before! I will drop the Hermatige this time and go to a new palace, yes THRY will tailor it foe you but remember they do know best some places are quite far out and say the use of hydrofoils and canal trips only operate at certain times, also it's best to get to places like Catherine's Palace as it opens due to the queues.

 

[ReadingFC]

Yikes! My sincerest apologies to your DD! I will correct the spelling immediately!

And, thanks for the thanks!

I was just getting ready to thank YOU for all the amazing info in your previous post! A lot to digest, but all super important information!

That's ok, I think you may have confused me with Disney Fantasy...he is the Oracle of DCL and will get upset if I steal his thunder lol I have already done that once this year with the breaking news of the Magic coming to Dover......

Good to see a crowd gathering for this cruise, it really does make it more fun before, during and after. We have made many friends via DCL and have remained in contact and visited afterwards. We are off to meet a family next week in the UK and in August staying in Oakridge, Tennessee a place we probably would never have gone to.:group hug:

Maybe we need a cruise nickname? it was Baltic Ballyhoo in 2010 and I organised the Baltic Ballyhoo Bus.....

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Hello everyone - better half of Celestine joining your thread!

Paul

Love the name Paul!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

That's ok, I think you may have confused me with Disney Fantasy...he is the Oracle of DCL and will get upset if I steal his thunder lol I have already done that once this year with the breaking news of the Magic coming to Dover......

Good to see a crowd gathering for this cruise, it really does make it more fun before, during and after. We have made many friends via DCL and have remained in contact and visited afterwards. We are off to meet a family next week in the UK and in August staying in Oakridge, Tennessee a place we probably would never have gone to.:group hug:

Maybe we need a cruise nickname? it was Baltic Ballyhoo in 2010 and I organised the Baltic Ballyhoo Bus.....

Hey You Paul get the scoops as well.

 

[ReadingFC]

Hey You Paul get the scoops as well.

Nowhere near yours though...

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

image by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr


DOVER MAGIC 309 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr


DOVER MAGIC 306 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr


DOVER MAGIC 293 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr


DOVER MAGIC 278 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr


DOVER MAGIC 276 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr


DOVER MAGIC 266 by Andrew D Porter, on Flickr



Some more orientation for you on the port of Dover, the first photo is DCLs

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Nowhere near yours though...

I don't know phoning Dover to ask them directly..... Brazen....

 

[ctnurse]

This is exactly the kind of information and pictures we want. Thanks again for all the help.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

This is exactly the kind of information and pictures we want. Thanks again for all the help.

Thanks, font say that too much it will only encourage me to post more.

I have thousands online,

If interested pop on the DCL picture of the day thread lots of photos posted recently on Baltic ports.

I have a lot on St Petersburg I will post at some point as you may get a Palace overload and be confused which one is which as there so many.

 

[LynnTarrant]

Andrew, How easy was it to get parking and what was the cost?
Thanks for the St Petersburg tour tips more please

 

[HAMLIE]

Hi all.

We (Hollie (mum) and Amaya (dd-7)) have booked this cruise. This should be our third or fourth cruise....we are on the med cruise in a couple of months. Looking forward to this cruise. We are from the UK too. Likewise if anyone wants any help or advice on the UK we'd be happy to help.

Hollie

 

[Melcatfish]

Loving seeing the photos of The Magic in Dover again Andrew. There was something really special about driving just a couple of hours from home to get on our favourite ship when we last sailed out of Dover.

I am *slightly* concerned about the weather. A Baltic cruise has always been on my must do list but I am sort of equating it to the weather on our Canada cruise out of New York in 2012. We had a nice time (but the cruise was too short) but I have to say once we left New York it was my least favourite DCL cruise. The weather was cold and rainy and I didn't have enough of an idea about what to pack.

Can you experienced Baltic cruisers give me any clues, what did you take and wear last time and how predictable was the weather?!

Mel
x

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Andrew, How easy was it to get parking and what was the cost?
Thanks for the St Petersburg tour tips more please

Very very easy last time for two weeks it was about £55 and you go right up, if you look at my photos the cards parked to the left are cruisers cars, but the tip is, drive up drop off luggage then park inside the old railway station there the car is protected more from sea water, the salt causes rust, and also stopping your car alarm going off and draining the battery. It's so so easy.

http://www.dover-port-car-parking.c...8pOzFt70CFZQZtAod3BwAng&__hxt_redirected=true

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Hi all.

We (Hollie (mum) and Amaya (dd-7)) have booked this cruise. This should be our third or fourth cruise....we are on the med cruise in a couple of months. Looking forward to this cruise. We are from the UK too. Likewise if anyone wants any help or advice on the UK we'd be happy to help.

Hollie

Welcome

Loving seeing the photos of The Magic in Dover again Andrew. There was something really special about driving just a couple of hours from home to get on our favourite ship when we last sailed out of Dover.

I am *slightly* concerned about the weather. A Baltic cruise has always been on my must do list but I am sort of equating it to the weather on our Canada cruise out of New York in 2012. We had a nice time (but the cruise was too short) but I have to say once we left New York it was my least favourite DCL cruise. The weather was cold and rainy and I didn't have enough of an idea about what to pack.

Can you experienced Baltic cruisers give me any clues, what did you take and wear last time and how predictable was the weather?!

Mel
x

Hey I have recently sailed Alaska and overdressed,

The a Baltic was great, the Weather in St Petersburg was fantastic like a British summers day, all ports were nice, the only slight issue was at night at sea it's cool, no evening swimming, of course like us the weather is changeable and really we are going to have to leave it yo the forecasts the week before to decide, I might have been lucky but we had good weather it was just cool in evenings and the North Sea leg.

I am in contact with Annasatsia to book private tours.

 

[The Wombles]

Very very easy last time for two weeks it was about £55 and you go right up, if you look at my photos the cards parked to the left are cruisers cars, but the tip is, drive up drop off luggage then park inside the old railway station there the car is protected more from sea water, the salt causes rust, and also stopping your car alarm going off and draining the battery. It's so so easy.

More excellent info - it's about a three hour drive for us from Wiltshire, M25 permitting.

What time should we aim to arrive in Dover? We're Silver so I realise we don't get any priority but would like to get on as early as possible.