The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[mardonna]

We haven't picked yet. I think, if you go to cruise critic you get a lot of info. I agree you probably can't go wrong with any of them. I didn't get a quote from SPB but I did all the others. Per Cruise Critic Red October requires a small deposit to book with them. I can't seem to find that info on their website (I'm sure it is staring me in the face but I don't see it). Also, Denrus requires payment in full 15 days prior to your tour. The only one I didn't like as much was Alla because you had to use her website to contact her. She didn't use e-mail. So, I have to remember to login at her site to communicate which I guess is minor but easy for me to forget she is there.

Do you mind sharing the times you got for the shoreex from DCL? I'm wondering if it is possible to do the canal trip through DCL because I've heard if you do it privately you get a Russian tour guide speaking Russian and your guide has to translate. I'm thinking that Disney probably got an English speaking guide and it might be more enjoyable that way.

I WAS TOLD THIS IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS AND IS SPECIFIC FOR THE DATE OF OUR CRUISE 6/24

Tour Name Duration (in hours) Meeting Time


Peterhof Parks & Fountains 4.5 12:15pm
Walking Tour of St. Petersburg 4 12:30pm
Catherine's Palace in Pushkin 4.5 12:45pm
Hermitage Museum 3.5 12:45pm
Hermitage Museum & Gold Room 4 1:00pm
St. Petersburg Introduction 3.5 1:00pm
St. Petersburg Shopping Experience 3.5 1:15pm

Exclusive Disney Character Experience - Royal Ball at Catherine's Palace 4.5 5:15pm
Backstage Experience at the Russian Ballet 5.5 5:30pm
A Night of Russian Ballet (Palace Theater) 4 6:30pm
A Night of Russian Ballet (Alexandrinsky Theater) 4 6:31pm
Russian Folkloric Show 3.5 6:45pm
Evening Canal Boat Tour 2.5 7:00pm

EXCLUSIVE BALLET MASTER CLASS (onboard) 1 1:30pm
EXCLUSIVE BALLET MASTER CLASS (onboard) 1 2:45pm
EXCLUSIVE BALLET MASTER CLASS (onboard) 1 4:00pm



July 1, 2010 St. Petersburg



Tour Name Duration (in hours) Meeting Time
Pushkin & Peterhof: Suburbs of St. Petersburg 9.5 7:15am
Catherine's Palace & Hermitage Museum 9 7:30am
Catherine's Palace in Pushkin 4.5 7:30am
Hermitage & Peterhof 9.5 7:45am
St. Petersburg Introduction 3.5 7:45am
Walking Tour of St. Petersburg 4 8:00am
City Highlights & Hermitage 8.5 8:00am
Hermitage Museum 3.5 8:15am
Hermitage Museum & Gold Room 4 8:15am
Peterhof Parks & Fountains 4.5 8:45am
Peterhof Parks, Fountains & Train Ride 5 8:45am
Majestic Spilled Blood Cathedral & Boat Ride 4 8:45am
St. Petersburg Shopping Experience 3.5 8:45am

Catherine's Palace in Pushkin 4.5 12:45pm
Peterhof Parks & Fountains 4.5 12:45pm
Majestic Spilled Blood Cathedral & Boat Ride 4 1:00pm
Walking Tour of St. Petersburg 4 1:00pm
Hermitage Museum 3.5 1:15pm
Hermitage Museum & Gold Room 4 1:15pm
St. Petersburg Introduction 3.5 1:30pm
St. Petersburg Shopping Experience 3.5 1:30pm

Backstage Experience at the Russian Ballet 5.5 5:30pm
A Night of Russian Ballet (Palace Theater) 4 6:30pm
Russian Folkloric Show 3.5 6:45pm
Evening Canal Boat Tour 2.5 7:00pm

 

[mardonna]

I am heavily leaning towards this cruise company....would greatly appreciate any reviews or suggestions.....I have only heard back from Anastasia (there proposal was fine)....wording a little rough around edges, Red October wants to talk to me via phone....which I really don't have time for....they did send some proposals but now they want to talk.....TJ Travel....send a kind of generic proposal, Denrus gave good information,,,,but for some reason hesitent with them, that is all I have heard from.....

I grouo will be 3 adults and 3 children ages 5-8....so child friendliness is also something we need.

 

[cindy18]

Kids will be 19 and 17. I didn't see that they offered a discont for college aged kids but I will ask. The price per peson for 8 people only drops by $89 pp so we wouldn't save as much as you suggest might be possible. So for $356 more, we can keep the 'private' in our private tour. Then if we decide we want to stay longer or shorter than the schedule calls for, we won't feel guilty for depriving the other family.

Thanks for looking and the itinerary and comments. I'm pretty sure this is where we will book!

~Mike

Mike:

We are doing almost the same itinerary, although in a different order, and we added in a visit to the main synagogue and another place of Jewish interest. Our schedule is as follows:

We doing the drive around the city after we get off the ship the first day, then going by hydrofoil to Peterhof for a few hours, then to Peter and Paul Fortress. That takes us to about 6 pm, when we're do the folk show and have dinner, then do a white nights tour.

Because of the white nights tour, we're going to start the second day a little later (around 10) and go to St. Isaacs and the Spilled Blood Church before heading to the Hermitage around noon. Several of the tour guides emphasized going to the Hermitage at lunchtime as a good idea crowd control wise (we did this in Rome with the Vatican Museum and it worked well). After the Hermitage, we're going to Catherine's Palace. I think we're grab lunch somewhere in there, probably right when we get to the Palace. After we return from the Palace, we're going to the main synagogue and then to dinner. And back to the ship.

It's definitely a full schedule, but we do view this as a once in a lifetime thing. We're 2 adults and two kids, ages 14 and 12, and it works out to $370 per person, which we think is great for what we're doing (the dinners and white nights tour are extra).

Hope that helps give you another view.

 

[cindy18]

I am heavily leaning towards this cruise company....would greatly appreciate any reviews or suggestions.....I have only heard back from Anastasia (there proposal was fine)....wording a little rough around edges, Red October wants to talk to me via phone....which I really don't have time for....they did send some proposals but now they want to talk.....TJ Travel....send a kind of generic proposal, Denrus gave good information,,,,but for some reason hesitent with them, that is all I have heard from.....

I grouo will be 3 adults and 3 children ages 5-8....so child friendliness is also something we need.

We were turned off by Denrus and TJ also. Felt just a little too generic. We came down to SPB and Masha, and chose Masha because she just was a little more personal and made it a little less formulaic. If we decide to go to Berlin, though, we may well use SPB for that.

 

[mardonna]

We were turned off by Denrus and TJ also. Felt just a little too generic. We came down to SPB and Masha, and chose Masha because she just was a little more personal and made it a little less formulaic. If we decide to go to Berlin, though, we may well use SPB for that.

I have not been contacted by Masha yet.....what is that website again? I will try again.

 

[cindy18]

I have not been contacted by Masha yet.....what is that website again? I will try again.

Masha has her own email address, which is mashavankova@hotmail.ru, and then there's the email address connected to her website, which is info@bestguides-spb.com. When I've emailed her, I send the email to both addresses at the same time.

 

[jilljill]

Kids will be 19 and 17. I didn't see that they offered a discont for college aged kids but I will ask. The price per peson for 8 people only drops by $89 pp so we wouldn't save as much as you suggest might be possible. So for $356 more, we can keep the 'private' in our private tour. Then if we decide we want to stay longer or shorter than the schedule calls for, we won't feel guilty for depriving the other family.

Thanks for looking and the itinerary and comments. I'm pretty sure this is where we will book!

~Mike

Anastasia only listed child's ages as under 12, but I asked and rec'd the student rates for the kids in our group that were 14-20. All were in high school or college. She said the kids would need an ISTC card but she accepted our word and we all brought along their last report card as proof of being a student.

You are right, that's not much of a difference so you might as well keep it private.

 

[mkmommy]

Best Western Churchill Dover,

My friend who works for BW sent me this as she knew I was thinking about booking this hotel, she was not sure if the hotel was going to be managed under another brand, but if you have a reservation you might want to double check it.

http://www.bwsitemanager.co.uk/default.html

 

[CarolAnnC]

Best Western Churchill Dover,

My friend who works for BW sent me this as she knew I was thinking about booking this hotel, she was not sure if the hotel was going to be managed under another brand, but if you have a reservation you might want to double check it.

http://www.bwsitemanager.co.uk/default.html

Has anyone happened to contact them yet? We are prepaid for two rooms, upgraded and with breakfast...YIKES

 

[OurDogCisco]

The reviews that I have read regarding StP private tours all remarked on how the guides spoke terrific English. You might verify whether this is true regarding the private tour that you are interested in.

I probably didn't word this correctly. I can't remember who told me probably one of the tour companies and someone on Cruise critic. When you do the canal trip they already have guides who talk while you are traveling through the downtown area. This guide is speaking in Russian and will not be your own personal guide. Your own personal guide will be translating for you as the Russian speaking guide is talking. Does that make sense. We are not a big enough group to get our own boat so, we just go on the one for the general public.

I'm thinking out of air that if you did the Disney excursion that they would make sure you had an English speaking guide.

 

[OurDogCisco]

I WAS TOLD THIS IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS AND IS SPECIFIC FOR THE DATE OF OUR CRUISE 6/24

Tour Name Duration (in hours) Meeting Time


Peterhof Parks & Fountains 4.5 12:15pm
Walking Tour of St. Petersburg 4 12:30pm
Catherine's Palace in Pushkin 4.5 12:45pm
Hermitage Museum 3.5 12:45pm
Hermitage Museum & Gold Room 4 1:00pm
St. Petersburg Introduction 3.5 1:00pm
St. Petersburg Shopping Experience 3.5 1:15pm

Exclusive Disney Character Experience - Royal Ball at Catherine's Palace 4.5 5:15pm
Backstage Experience at the Russian Ballet 5.5 5:30pm
A Night of Russian Ballet (Palace Theater) 4 6:30pm
A Night of Russian Ballet (Alexandrinsky Theater) 4 6:31pm
Russian Folkloric Show 3.5 6:45pm
Evening Canal Boat Tour 2.5 7:00pm

EXCLUSIVE BALLET MASTER CLASS (onboard) 1 1:30pm
EXCLUSIVE BALLET MASTER CLASS (onboard) 1 2:45pm
EXCLUSIVE BALLET MASTER CLASS (onboard) 1 4:00pm



July 1, 2010 St. Petersburg



Tour Name Duration (in hours) Meeting Time
Pushkin & Peterhof: Suburbs of St. Petersburg 9.5 7:15am
Catherine's Palace & Hermitage Museum 9 7:30am
Catherine's Palace in Pushkin 4.5 7:30am
Hermitage & Peterhof 9.5 7:45am
St. Petersburg Introduction 3.5 7:45am
Walking Tour of St. Petersburg 4 8:00am
City Highlights & Hermitage 8.5 8:00am
Hermitage Museum 3.5 8:15am
Hermitage Museum & Gold Room 4 8:15am
Peterhof Parks & Fountains 4.5 8:45am
Peterhof Parks, Fountains & Train Ride 5 8:45am
Majestic Spilled Blood Cathedral & Boat Ride 4 8:45am
St. Petersburg Shopping Experience 3.5 8:45am

Catherine's Palace in Pushkin 4.5 12:45pm
Peterhof Parks & Fountains 4.5 12:45pm
Majestic Spilled Blood Cathedral & Boat Ride 4 1:00pm
Walking Tour of St. Petersburg 4 1:00pm
Hermitage Museum 3.5 1:15pm
Hermitage Museum & Gold Room 4 1:15pm
St. Petersburg Introduction 3.5 1:30pm
St. Petersburg Shopping Experience 3.5 1:30pm

Backstage Experience at the Russian Ballet 5.5 5:30pm
A Night of Russian Ballet (Palace Theater) 4 6:30pm
Russian Folkloric Show 3.5 6:45pm
Evening Canal Boat Tour 2.5 7:00pm

Thanks... that is very helpful.

 

[carolmb]

I am heavily leaning towards this cruise company....would greatly appreciate any reviews or suggestions.....I have only heard back from Anastasia (there proposal was fine)....wording a little rough around edges, Red October wants to talk to me via phone....which I really don't have time for....they did send some proposals but now they want to talk.....TJ Travel....send a kind of generic proposal, Denrus gave good information,,,,but for some reason hesitent with them, that is all I have heard from.....

I grouo will be 3 adults and 3 children ages 5-8....so child friendliness is also something we need.

This is the tour company I booked with for St. Petersburg and Berlin. They got good reviews on cruise critic. Viktoria is quick to respond to emails and was able to find us another family to share our tour with.

 

[mardonna]

I am very confused now.....just talked to Red October and many of the things I asked to see and do he now mentions is just not possible in the time frame we have.....but the other guides seem to see we can do it......who do I believe.....this is all so confusing.

 

[OurDogCisco]

I am very confused now.....just talked to Red October and many of the things I asked to see and do he now mentions is just not possible in the time frame we have.....but the other guides seem to see we can do it......who do I believe.....this is all so confusing.

I know, Red October told me the same thing. For our 2nd day they told us you either have the choice of seeing - Inside visit to the Savior on the Spilled Blood Cathedral
Or
Inside visit to The St. Isaac’s Cathedral = need about 45 min. (please advise which ONE = you have time for ONLY ONE!!! Unless you spend less time at Hermitage)

I have no idea who you should believe...

 

[mardonna]

I know, Red October told me the same thing. For our 2nd day they told us you either have the choice of seeing - Inside visit to the Savior on the Spilled Blood Cathedral
Or
Inside visit to The St. Isaac’s Cathedral = need about 45 min. (please advise which ONE = you have time for ONLY ONE!!! Unless you spend less time at Hermitage)

I have no idea who you should believe...

We are both checking out same boards....I always see your name....anyways.....SPB has us stopping at all 3 churches with 30 min inside visit along with everything else we want to do......I will be traveling with 3 children that day ages 5-9, and believe me I don't want a 45 min tour at each tour.....my kids will never make.....just a nice photo stop.....go i get a brief history and look around.....I don't expect to know everyhing there is to know....I realize this would be inpossible.....I may email everyone back and see what there thoughts are......which one are you leaning towards? I can send you the email with what they presented me....my email addess is mmaragon@prodigy.net

 

[jilljill]

I know, Red October told me the same thing. For our 2nd day they told us you either have the choice of seeing - Inside visit to the Savior on the Spilled Blood Cathedral
Or
Inside visit to The St. Isaac’s Cathedral = need about 45 min. (please advise which ONE = you have time for ONLY ONE!!! Unless you spend less time at Hermitage)

I have no idea who you should believe...

Since the ship isn't scheduled to leave until 11pm I don't see a reason why you can't do both churches. But if I had to choose just one, I'd go with Spilt Blood it really is spectacular inside. But then St. Isaac's is spectacular in it's own right especially knowing it survived a bomb attack.
Make sure they are aware of the ship's departure time for the 2nd day, they may be thinking the Magic leaves around 7pm like the majority of the cruiselines.

 

[mardonna]

Since the ship isn't scheduled to leave until 11pm I don't see a reason why you can't do both churches. But if I had to choose just one, I'd go with Spilt Blood it really is spectacular inside. But then St. Isaac's is spectacular in it's own right especially knowing it survived a bomb attack.
Make sure they are aware of the ship's departure time for the 2nd day, they may be thinking the Magic leaves around 7pm like the majority of the cruiselines.

no he knew we left at 11......we talked about it.....he said we could fit in a 2nd church but it would be to many churches and be boring for kids....he said to be realistic....

 

[jilljill]

no he knew we left at 11......we talked about it.....he said we could fit in a 2nd church but it would be to many churches and be boring for kids....he said to be realistic....

We did 2 churches in the same day and had 6 teens in our group and they all liked seeing both. Really, it's your tour and if you want to see both of them then insist they fit them into your day.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Here's a cool site. You can check what other cruise ships are in port the day you are in St. Petersburg and some of the other Baltic ports. Kinda of cool:

http://denrus-us.com/ccs4/calendar.php?off_ships_pc_detail_portcDate=2010-07

For my cruise 2 ships on the 1st day and 5 ships on the 2nd day in St. Petersburg and here I thought we'd be there all alone. What was I thinking???

 

[cindy18]

Since the ship isn't scheduled to leave until 11pm I don't see a reason why you can't do both churches. But if I had to choose just one, I'd go with Spilt Blood it really is spectacular inside. But then St. Isaac's is spectacular in it's own right especially knowing it survived a bomb attack.
Make sure they are aware of the ship's departure time for the 2nd day, they may be thinking the Magic leaves around 7pm like the majority of the cruiselines.

You can definitely see both churches. If I remember Mike's proposed schedule correctly, and I know on the one I shared, we are seeing both and pretty much doing everything. My own feeling is that Red October just has a different approach and it sounds like it isn't your approach. Each of the companies you contacted should be willing to work with you without your committing to using them to create the itinerary that is closest to what you want to do. So if Red October isn't doing that, cross them off the list and keep going. I cannot remember which tour guide said this, but one said that the churches close at around 6 pm, which would at least explain why the fact that we are staying on the 2nd day until 11 pm wouldn't matter. You are definitely right that your young kids are not going to need as long at some of these places as others, although there is transportation time to be factored in, and some of the churches are just SO BIG that it will take a little time just to walk around.

Have any of the tour companies suggested special kids museums or parks?