The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[jilljill]

I don't mind mentioning the company name but I do think the prices will be different because it is based on who is in your party and their ages. I looked at Red October and Anastasia. Anastasia was cheaper. However, their plan had you back at the ship by 5:30 pm while Red October has you back at the ship around 7 pm and 8 pm on the 2nd day. Red October talked about traffic issues more. So, I have feeling I would see less with Anastasia or have less time at the venue.

I noticed and Anastasia pointed this out was that arriving at 12:30 pm in St. Petersburg is really late. So, that does limit in what you can see and what you cannot see on the 1st day. Red October quote had more details of travel time. Catherine's Palace is 1 hour from St. Petersburg. Also, looks like Peterhof is about 1 hour away as well.

I'm wondering with Disney if it is even going to be possible to do a day and night time activity on the same day. Disney really needs to put in times for people to make better decisions.

You can customize your tour with each opertor so you can see the venues you want to see as opposed to their tours already mapped out online.
We used Anastasia in 2008 and loved the service we rec'd and we were back to the ship early both days and added in an additional stop each day. She was also able to give the the student rates for all the students in our party, including the college students.

Catherine's Palace is about 1 hour and Peterhof is about 45 minutes from the port. Peterhof and Catherine's Palace can be done in the same day along with other venues. We did Catherine's Palace, the Peterhof fountains, St. Isaac's Cathedral, Yusopov's Palace, The Church of the Savior of the Spilled Blood and added in a shopping stop and saw some of the sights in the city and were back to the ship 1 hour early. We started touring at 8:30am and arrived back to the ship at 5:15pm. It was a long day and well worth it. We were there on a Sat. and there wasn't much traffic at all so that helped in getting back to the ship early.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Wow... I just read the Ballet Master Class is done onboard the ship and it is an 1 hour class.

 

[jilljill]

The other thing I noticed it says that the Royal Ball is a 4.5 to 5 hour event. I wonder what time the tour will depart from the ship. Also, wouldn't you want to get back in time to dress up for the event. 2 hours of the tour involves travel time as it is at Catherine's Palace which is one hour away. I wonder if they will do the Royal Ball both evenings or just the 1st evening.

Also, just thought maybe this isn't an evening event. It could totally be during the day as well.

Too many unknowns to make a decision though.

Other cruise lines do an evening event at Catherine's Palace so I suspect DCL's will also be an evening event. Totally guessing that the tour will leave the ship around 6pm and return around 11pm, like the timing of the other cruise lines evening events at Catherine's Palace.

 

[slg]

Different topic:

Is anyone flying into Gatwick? If so, how are you getting to Dover?

I'd like to book a private transfer, but I don't know which is a reputable company and I hate to book something online and have them not show up.

Any suggestions for "real companies"?

 

[OurDogCisco]

You can customize your tour with each opertor so you can see the venues you want to see as opposed to their tours already mapped out online.
We used Anastasia in 2008 and loved the service we rec'd and we were back to the ship early both days and added in an additional stop each day. She was also able to give the the student rates for all the students in our party, including the college students.

Catherine's Palace is about 1 hour and Peterhof is about 45 minutes from the port. Peterhof and Catherine's Palace can be done in the same day along with other venues. We did Catherine's Palace, the Peterhof fountains, St. Isaac's Cathedral, Yusopov's Palace, The Church of the Savior of the Spilled Blood and added in a shopping stop and saw some of the sights in the city and were back to the ship 1 hour early. We started touring at 8:30am and arrived back to the ship at 5:15pm. It was a long day and well worth it. We were there on a Sat. and there wasn't much traffic at all so that helped in getting back to the ship early.

Catherine's place is closed on Tuesday the week we are in port. We arrive on Monday at 12:30 pm. So, that would mean we would see those on Monday to see them together. Are musuems' open late in St. Petersburg? Or do they close early like 5 pm?

But I did notice Disney does have Catherine's Place and Hermitage tour so, assuming it is done on Tuesdays they might have gotten special permission to stay open?

 

[brandysmommy]

You can customize your tour with each opertor so you can see the venues you want to see as opposed to their tours already mapped out online.
We used Anastasia in 2008 and loved the service we rec'd and we were back to the ship early both days and added in an additional stop each day. She was also able to give the the student rates for all the students in our party, including the college students.

Can I ask what you did with Anastasia? Peterhor and Catherines or just one?
Canal boat tour? Hydrofoil? She seemed to push the canal boat tour and discourage the hydrofoil - can't figure out why...

 

[jilljill]

Things in StP do stay open late, just not sure about the times of the venues. I wouldn't think the venues would open up for the ships when they are in port. I remember reading on Carnival's excursion listings that there were certain days when the tours wouldn't operate because of a regular venue closing.

 

[TDC Nala]

I won't be doing the private tour in St. Petersburg - my friend and I might want to see different things, and a private tour for one person doesn't sound like it'd be a deal. I'll probably do ship excursions.

 

[Samanthasmom1]

The other thing I noticed it says that the Royal Ball is a 4.5 to 5 hour event. I wonder what time the tour will depart from the ship. Also, wouldn't you want to get back in time to dress up for the event. 2 hours of the tour involves travel time as it is at Catherine's Palace which is one hour away. I wonder if they will do the Royal Ball both evenings or just the 1st evening.

Also, just thought maybe this isn't an evening event. It could totally be during the day as well.

Too many unknowns to make a decision though.

I am assuming the Royal Ball will be in the evening based on the articles that were released several months ago talking about working with Catherine's Palace to open up after closing to the public. That and I am hoping that it will be in the evening instead of during regular operating hours.

And yes, we would want to dress up for the event! Best case is that the Royal Ball is offered on the second night so that we can do a private tour starting the day we get there and a good portion of the second day and cap off our time in Russia with Champagne in a beautiful palace!

If it is only offered on the first night then it looks like we will lose valuable time in port getting ready (once again assuming it is in the evening). Because we get in late the first day, I don't see how you could get any other site seeing in before dressing for the Ball.

Our DD is six and the thought of going to a real palace and possibly dancing with the Princes and Princesses is something she is telling everyone about. I don't want to skip this excursion since it is unique to DCL and she is still really into the Princesses.

 

[OurDogCisco]

I am assuming the Royal Ball will be in the evening based on the articles that were released several months ago talking about working with Catherine's Palace to open up after closing to the public. That and I am hoping that it will be in the evening instead of during regular operating hours.

And yes, we would want to dress up for the event! Best case is that the Royal Ball is offered on the second night so that we can do a private tour starting the day we get there and a good portion of the second day and cap off our time in Russia with Champagne in a beautiful palace!

If it is only offered on the first night then it looks like we will lose valuable time in port getting ready (once again assuming it is in the evening). Because we get in late the first day, I don't see how you could get any other site seeing in before dressing for the Ball.

Our DD is six and the thought of going to a real palace and possibly dancing with the Princes and Princesses is something she is telling everyone about. I don't want to skip this excursion since it is unique to DCL and she is still really into the Princesses.

If it is offered the 2nd night it would have to be early too. We must be onboard by 11 pm. I wonder if Disney will play it safe and have you back by 10 pm. So, that means it would be from 5 pm to 10 pm. So, you'd need to be back by 3:30 pm or so to get ready from the 2nd day.

I really wish they would put times and days so you can plan with a private guide otherwise, all we are doing is speculating which I hate doing...

 

[MrsScooby]

Yes, be very careful with the nesting dolls and other trinkets that are sold in the little markets in the city. If the price seems to low, then definately check for a Made in China sticker. Real Russian nesting dolls will be pricey. I found Russian nesting dolls in Tallinn as well, and the prices seemed to be a little better there than in StP.

We paid for our StP tour with crisp $100 bills. In our paperwork from Anastasia, she stressed the bills have to be crisp, new, and not bent or folded. When I went to the bank to get them I mentioned to the teller that I needed crisp bills and she said that everyone that goes to Russia has the same request.
We used an ATM in the city to get some rubles out to repay our guide what she 'fronted' for us from the day before. No problems using the ATM.
If you prefer to use Euros to pay your private guide just have the tour operator give you a price in Euros as opposed to US$. Most will also take a credit card, but may charge a 3-5% service fee.
For our guide's tips we used US$ and for the driver we used our leftover rubles.

How much are the Russian nesting dolls (the ones made in Russian)?

I almost bought some from a shop in NYC last November but they did have the made in China sticker on the bottom.

Also...hate to ask, but what is the general guideline for tipping? Trying to make sure we have some kind of budget

 

[jilljill]

How much are the Russian nesting dolls (the ones made in Russian)?

I almost bought some from a shop in NYC last November but they did have the made in China sticker on the bottom.

Also...hate to ask, but what is the general guideline for tipping? Trying to make sure we have some kind of budget

I know they had a real set of big nesting dolls on the ship and they were like $1400. I didn't look at the ones in the shops in the city because I wasn't interested in buying them and the ones I sort of glanced at I didn't notice the prices. I had read on cruisecritic before we left to watch for the Made in China sticker and be careful when they tell you a cheap price for them.

We tipped our guide about $35/person and the driver got about $10/person. We had 3 families in our group and we all had this guideline but we didn't talk about how much each family was actually going to tip. We got those amounts from the cruisecritic recommendations from previous cruisers.

 

[MrsScooby]

I know they had a real set of big nesting dolls on the ship and they were like $1400. I didn't look at the ones in the shops in the city because I wasn't interested in buying them and the ones I sort of glanced at I didn't notice the prices. I had read on cruisecritic before we left to watch for the Made in China sticker and be careful when they tell you a cheap price for them.

We tipped our guide about $35/person and the driver got about $10/person. We had 3 families in our group and we all had this guideline but we didn't talk about how much each family was actually going to tip. We got those amounts from the cruisecritic recommendations from previous cruisers.

Wow, didn't realize they were that much Maybe I won't be getting the nesting dolls

Now that tip was for the 2 day tour with Anastasia, correct?
Was that a percentage of the total cost of the tour?

That's $180 tip for a family of 4, so it must have been based on a percentage of the final cost?

 

[MrsScooby]

Decided to google the russian nesting dolls to see what was out there and found this site:
http://www.kremlingifts.com/

According to internet archive their website has been around since 2001 so I'm guessing they are legit

Nice pictures and their nesting dolls range in price.

Are these prices too cheap though

Gives me an idea of what I'm going to be looking for when I hit St Petersburg

 

[jilljill]

Laurie, the set of nesting dolls that was on the ship was a very large set, about 12 or 14 dolls and it stood about 16-18 inches tall.
Sorry I can't help you any more with the dolls.


Yes that was a 2 day tour with Anastasia. I didn't figure a percentage just used a dollar amount. We paid $700 (it was more like $692, but I rounded it up to make life easier for paying) for the 3 of us for the 2 day tour, so I guess the guide got 15% and the driver got 5%.

 

[mardonna]

I am on the June 24th cruise and we are a party of 10......could someone save me a lot of work and send me the links to some private tour companies for the Baltic cruise......I know that I will never have time to read through this entiire thread....I have 4 kids under 8...........I know the private excursions will be a better price then Disney......thanks so much.

 

[jilljill]

mardonna, if you go to the meets section and look for the July 18th cruise you can look at the first post and look thru our links. Some of the other meets threads may also have similiar links in their first post.
If you are meaning links for StP tour operators there are several that you can search for online: DenRus, Red October, Anastasia World just to name a few.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Laurie, the set of nesting dolls that was on the ship was a very large set, about 12 or 14 dolls and it stood about 16-18 inches tall.
Sorry I can't help you any more with the dolls.


Yes that was a 2 day tour with Anastasia. I didn't figure a percentage just used a dollar amount. We paid $700 (it was more like $692, but I rounded it up to make life easier for paying) for the 3 of us for the 2 day tour, so I guess the guide got 15% and the driver got 5%.

Wow... her prices have gone up. She quoted me $1182 for 4 (2 Adults; 2 kids). This does not include a visit to Catherine's Palace. This is for 1 1/2 days of touring... I'm sure she is charging for the full 2 days because she can't lose the 1/2 day income waiting for us.

 

[DW2DH&DS]

Wow... her prices have gone up. She quoted me $1182 for 4 (2 Adults; 2 kids). This does not include a visit to Catherine's Palace. This is for 1 1/2 days of touring... I'm sure she is charging for the full 2 days because she can't lose the 1/2 day income waiting for us.

our quote was 1500 for 2 adults 1 kid. was hoping to keep it around 1000. that would make sense about losing the half day.

 

[goingsouth]

our quote was 1500 for 2 adults 1 kid. was hoping to keep it around 1000. that would make sense about losing the half day.

Beth-

That quote sounds kind of high. May I ask which company gave you that?

We just sent an email off to Denrus and now I'm scared!

Joanne