St Petersburg/Moscow

[Rogillio]

Yeah, I know this cruise is still 14 months off but I was just looking at the ports and came up with an idea. I'm thinking we might get off the ship at 1130 when we dock in St Petersburg and get a rental car. Then drive to Moscow and spend the balance of that day in Moscow. We would spend the night in Moscow and the next morning spend a few more hrs in Moscow before diving back to St Petersburg. Then spend the rest of the time exploring St Petersburg before having to be back on the ship that night.

Has anything else considered this?

~Mike

 

[rkwier]

Now I am not completely sure on this, but I thought that I read somewhere that Russia will only let you off of the ship if you have a scheduled excursion planned???? Not sure, but definitely worth checking into. We have some friends that just adopted a child from Saint Petersburg. They took an overnight train from Saint Petersburg to Moscow to finalize, so it may be a long drive between the two. Again, not sure but worth checking into. I will say that from what they told me, 1) there is no way I would drive there (think bribes in order to get out of a bogus ticket) and 2) I would not explore on my own unless I knew how to speak Russian quite well or had a guide.

 

[AKcruiser]

We adopted from Russia twice. I would NEVER drive in Moscow!!! In addition to always being stopped and having to pay bribes to the police (this happens to us at least 4 times in the 6 days we were in Moscow), the traffic is horrible! Our interpretor told us during Soviet times, there wasn't much traffice because no one owned a car, now it is a problem. The roads in downtown Moscow are only 3 lanes and people are trying to make it 4-5 lanes. Not good.

Brenda

 

[TiggerTails57]

 

[A fat english gent]

Mike stay well away from that idea unless you intend in taking your own security detail with you,Russia is a very corrupt country with little in the way of any real security,plus it's a 700KM drive.....St Petersburg is full of things to do....Enjoy it,it's a stunning place....

 

[ppiew]

You also need to get Visa's for each person traveling. Unless you are one a cruise sponsored tour or a sanctioned tour, you MUST have a VISA. Last I heard they were several hundred dollars a piece and took MONTHS to get.

 

[Rogillio]

Hmmm, ok maybe a train. I'm not going to Russia and not visiting Moscow.

~Mike

 

[TiggerTails57]

ST. PETERSBURG - MOSCOW
All direct trains St. Petersburg - Moscow are listed.
Afternoon train #23 ("Yunost" - "Youth Express")
St Petersburg Moskovski [Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 13.10] - Moscow Leningradski [same day 21.05].Total Time: 7h47m. Price: seat 1st class around $39, seat 2nd class around $20
Comments: stops everywhere along the way, interesting for hop off / hop on, but you should get tickets in advance.
Daily evening train #159 (Aurora Express)
St Petersburg Moskovski [daily 16.00] - Moscow Leningradski [same day 21.48].Total Time: 5h41m. Price: 1st class (2-berth compartment) $50, 2nd class (4-berth compartment) $35, 2nd class -- seat $33.
Evening train #163 (R-200 Express)
St Petersburg Moskovski [daily, except sunday? 18.30] - Moscow Leningradski [same day 23.06].Total Time: 4h36m. Price: seat 2nd class $40
Daily night train #29
St Petersburg Moskovski [daily 21.55] - Moscow Leningradski [next day 5.55].Total Time: 7h37m. Price: 1st class (2-berth comp) $45, 2nd class (4-berth compartment) $25, 3rd class (common sleeping carriage, platzcart) $15
Daily night train #37 (Afanasy Nikitin)
St Petersburg Moskovski [daily 22.25] - Moscow Leningradski [next day 6.01] . Total Time: 7h36m. Price: 1st class (2-berth comp, meals, bedsheets, security) $68, 2nd class (4-berth compartment, meals, bedsheets, security) $31, 3rd class (common sleeping carriage, platzcart) $18
Daily night train #27 (recommended for price/quality)
St Petersburg Moskovski [daily 22.30] - Moscow Leningradski [next day 6.07]. Total Time: 7h37m. Price:1st class (2-berth comp, security) $47, 2nd class (4-berth compartment, security) $23, 3rd class (common sleeping carriage, platzcart) $12.
Daily night train #19
St Petersburg Moskovski [daily 23.00] - Moscow Leningradski [next day 6.38]. Total Time: 7h37m. Price:1st class (2-berth comp, security) $53, 2nd class (4-berth compartment, security) $28, 3rd class (common sleeping carriage, platzcart) $12.
Daily night train #25
St Petersburg Moskovski [daily 23.10] - Moscow Leningradski [next day 6.50]. Total Time: 7h40m. Price:1st class (2-berth comp, security) $75, 2nd class (4-berth compartment, security) $39
Daily night train #5 (Nikolay's Express) (recommended for comfort)
St Petersburg Moskovski [daily 23.35] - Moscow Leningradski [next day 7.20]. Total Time: 7h45m. Price:1st class (2-berth comp, meals, bedsheets, security) $90, 2nd class (4-berth compartment, meals, bedsheets, security) $40
Daily night train #1 (Red Arrow) (recommended for comfort)
St Petersburg Moskovski [daily 23.55] - Moscow Leningradski [next day 7.55]. Total Time: 7h55m. Price:1st class (2-berth comp, meals, bedsheets, security) $88, 2nd class (4-berth compartment, meals, bedsheets, security) $40
Daily night train #3 (Express)
St Petersburg Moskovski [daily 23.59] - Moscow Leningradski [next day 8.01]. Total Time: 8h00m. Price:1st class (2-berth comp, meals, bedsheets, security) $75, 2nd class (4-berth compartment, meals, bedsheets, security) $40

Well, the $price$ looks good but the time it takes is another question....

 

[din]

Been doing some research on this and most if not all the boards actually recommend taking the tour by the cruise ship or arranging with a private tour. As for the private tour, there are some frequently mentioned companies on the other board. Almost no recommendations of doing it on your own, due visa requirements, crime and currency problems. Language is another that is mentioned frequently.

I also looked into what other cruise lines offer for excursions, and there is one where it will take you to Moscow. It involves taking a plane in the morning and returing late in the day. There is suppose to be a high speed rail, but I cannot find information on that other than that it is going to be built.

 

[TiggerKing]

I will agree with others about not traveling alone and recommending the tour, but I want to encourage you to go!

DW and I just recently spent two weeks in far Eastern Russian (Khabarovsk), and we felt safer walking their streets than our streets in Atlanta, GA! The Russian people are a very proud people and want to tell you about their country. While we did have an interpreter, we found many people who spoke English, and I think this will even be more true in the highly "touristy" areas like St. Petersburg and Moscow.

But, you WILL have to have a Visa if not on a sponsored tour, and they are very difficult to get, even when you have a specific purpose other than being a tourist. Think having to regurgitate your life history!

Enjoy the trip!