My wife and I are interested in sharing a shore tour of the most famous sites in St. Petersburg through the Red October tour company. Their mini-van can take eight passangers. We will be arriving 8/22 on the Holland America Westerdam.

Do you need a Russian visa?

Tom

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Tom Ogg,

As I understand it, Red October will provide thge required visas and any other paperwork.

rpeck7,
Not sure if you have found takers to share your van, but I just got back from St. Petersburg and Red October got high marks for the quality of the tour. Enjoy-
Nancy

quote:

Originally posted by rpeck7:
My wife and I are interested in sharing a shore tour of the most famous sites in St. Petersburg through the Red October tour company. Their mini-van can take eight passangers. We will be arriving 8/22 on the Holland America Westerdam.

Not sure if you have a tour lined or or tour mates but I was just talking to someone on your ship who is interested in sharing their van. It is with Den Rus, so contact Ilya at sia@denrus.ru for details if you still need a tour with other passengers.

quote:

Originally posted by Tom Ogg:
Do you need a Russian visa?

Tom

Tom
There is a lot of confusion about visas and Russia. The only class of visitor who eligible for a visa waiver program is the cruise ship passenger who is in port less than 72 hours. The conditions of the visa-less entry into Russia is that 72 hour limit and they must be escorted by an authorized tour company that is licensed to host visa-less visitors. The there are 3 main companies do this. Arctur, Red October and Den Rus Ltd. Arctur is primarily large bus tours of 45-50 passengers, and R.O. and D.R. offer both the large buses and the popular private small personalized 2-12 passenger VIP tours. The latter type of tour greatly prefered by visitors because they are personal and more effective in getting into the best sites without lines or waiting. I prefer Den Rus because they are known the be the most flexible and they are the only American-Russian tour company which means western business practices and customer service. But any of them can provide a great visit to a facinating and beautiful city.
If you use a smaller tour company who is not registered for escorting foreign visitors you will need your own visa. Visas cost about $100 for Consular fees plus letter of invitation or tourist voucher which is usually $25-35. There are some advantages to having a visa, you can wander around without a guide and come or go as you please, and stay out all night. Staying out all night is a possibility because White Nights is not a time for sleeping, just too many things to do and too many festivals to attend than to go back to the ship.

Stan, I just returned from St. Petersburg and used the services of Den Rus for two days sightseeing and a nightclubbing tour. The experience was excellent. We attended the opening of the Palace Bridge marking the beginning of the White Nights Festival (along with a few hundred thousand other folks) and then hit some nightclubs. I think the most memorable moment was driving near the Church of the Spilled Blood as it was lit up in the White Night at around 3 am.

However, because of the celebrations we could only gain access to one nightclub on Nevsky prospekt, Would you know the name of it? It was both a restaurant and disco. I want to mention it in the review I am writing, but didn't obtain it while I was there.

I completely agree with your assessment of Den Rus.

Tom

Hi Tom, I am glad you enjoyed your visit. Night clubs on Nevksy are pretty slim pickings right now, the lease payments are way to high for the return in investment so the are located on side streets and further out. Did it have a restaurant towards the street, that served Sushi and Moroccan food? That would be Magrib at 84 Nevsky prospekt. I sort of have a love-hate relationship with that place. It is the home of some real low lifes who just happen to have money but they also have some of the best DJs. I always have fun there but it is known for foreign guys getting drugged by ladies they meet. They wake up with their apartment or hotel room, wallet and pockets cleaned out. It is the only place I warn western men to be careful in. All other places I can think of are cool and safe.The problem with Magrib is that it is not like St Petersburg, it attracts southern Russian from the Casasus and ex-pats who look up to hoods and tough guys. You will notice the staff looked different than any other club, most were mafia wannabes. Going with a group or as a couple is not a problem at all, it is a fun place.Single men should be warned however. For no hassle good evening out dancing try the 3 floor Metro, or the large British pub on steriods called Red Lion, friendly crowd, English is the normal, 6 bars, good sound control and lots of interesting people to dance with. Only problem is that they hire super lame DJs about 1/2 the time. A real Russian club with the style and flash Russian trendy clubs are known for try Plaza, next door to the old Stock Exchange building that is now the Naval Museum. It is full of young people having a great time but spending a lot of money doing it...good DJs, great sound, fashion shows, bands between the DJs. Casino downstairs. Jet Set is another upscale place with stylish people, the "beautiful people" and tight face control. For good dance but no too many young people to make you feel too old, try Marstall, a foreigner hang out, funky wood interior, good DJs, continuous mild erotic acts( male and female dancers) moderately priced drinks, food, fun contests and packed everynight. It is within rock throwing distance from the Church on Spilled Blood on Gribiedov canal. I never have had a bad time there even though it is not a high class place. A few Pros work the crowd but they are nice and just telling them you are not looking for Company and they are quite gracious in thanking you for the dance. The rest of the people who go there are nornal typical Russian girls who do not go out often so are not part of the club scene, local guys and lots of foreigners. I've met some of the nicest people there....I could on and on as what to do in SPb in the evening.....Oh yes, one more that is really fun, relatively cheap, and very friendly. Two places next door to each other on Fontanka canal close to Nevsky pr: Purga. One of them is New Years Eve every night and the other one is a wedding every night. It really is not a wedding but it is played like one and even a couple or a single man and woman is picked out as the lucky couple and they become the focal point for a festive wedding party complete with cake, lots of drink and good dance music. It is a blast. Plus the cover is only $3.50
I am tired of typing:> Be careful of what you ask me, i might write..and write and write....Come back, but spend more time, the longer to stay the more likely you will find it isn't enough.

Wow! That is great information. It was Magrib that we were at and it kind of looked like what you described, complete with muscle bound bouncers and all. We had a great time, but I now want to come back and try the clubs you have suggested. It is such a great city.

We ran into our wine steward from the ship in Magrib. He and his friend were from Columbia and when we left, they had hooked up with two really good looking blondes,,,now it makes all kinds of sense. BTW, I don't think I have ever seen a collection of more beautiful women in one place than were in Magrib that evening.

You must be having a great time living in St. Petersburg.

Tom

Stanj,
Thanks for the outstanding information. And once again I ask, "Where were you before we went on this cruise?" We needed you as our guide that evening!

I can only echo Tom's sentiments regarding the women of St. Petersburg - I don't think I have ever been so demoralized as spending a night amongst those beautiful women. Ah, to be 20 something again!!! (Of course I am not sure I ever looked like that)

Hi Nancy and Tom...excuse the long post....
I know exactly what was happening with your friends. Jet Set or Plaza will have more really attractive women than Magribs because they attract a different sort of visitor than Magrib. Even relatively poor women look very sharp in their corrordinated outfits and super slim figures and 10 cm heels. Style is very important to a large portion of the population but not as much as a few years ago. Now, western style extreme casualness has become popular with about 40-50% of the college age people. They were a lot of unisex layered casual clothing but not the baggies and sags as in the west. Just 3 years ago it would have been almost unheard of to see a woman under 40 not wearing high heels on or fully made up if she anywhere outside the home. I visited at least 6 times before I saw a woman under 40 who was overweight back in the late 70s and early 80's. Back then, imported designer clothes were difficult or impossible to find but they were copied by many women who kept stylish by visiting Italian boutiques each season and sketching the new styles and going home to make them. I used to have a girlfriend who was poor, making about $160/month and had never had a date in the 6 years after her divorce. She was 28 at the time and about as stylish as any girl you might have seen on Nevsky or in Magribs, a truly beautiful ultra-feminine young woman. All her clothes except for her high heels were home made. When I started buying her clothes as gifts, it was funny to see her so carefully inspect each item and the quality of fabric and stitching and report whether I was taken advantage of. For two years of being together I never saw her without looking like she came from the pages of Vogue, even if she was just going out to buy vegetables at the open air market down the street. I doubt she would have been able to walk a block in my home town without being accosted by men trying to meet her, but in Russia the men are spoiled rotten. Teenage boys have learned that women and girls exist for one reason, to take care of them and treat them as kings. All women in their lives proved that to them. Most can not and will not do anything for themselves, why, that is what women are for. As a result many self confident young women find it fair play to get what they can from the men. Foreign men do not understand that dynamic and often get chewed up in the process. Nowhere I have I seen as dramatic difference in the sexes in behavoir and rolls as in Russia, women want to be feminine and what men who are completely opposite them. Personally, being a bit older and having grown up in another era, I enjoy being around feminine women but it took me a long time to figure out how to be firm and decisive regardless of situation. I was always "a partner" type, wanting fullly balanced decision making in a full democracy of a relationship. That does not work here. Asking too many questions probing the interests or feelings of a partner is considered weak and unmanly. I've learned that if as a true gentleman I try order all food, decide where to go and when to do it all without asking but carefully observing and deciding on choices as if she DID tell me exacty what she wanted. It takes getting used to but both men and women seem to be happy with such an arrangement. It is a GREAT pleasure to socialize here because social behavior stresses gracious and and slightly formal set of manners that never confronts or embarasses anyone. That is changing however as more and more western influence on behavoir and expectations is dramatically changing all cultures world wide, it is sad to see. A man if polite and well spoken can approach any woman and start a conversation and be assured it is a pleasant experience and no hint of rejection even if she is not interested, she will politely and graciously demure. Men and women do not seem to fear each other and both enjoy emphasising the differences between men and women. But make no mistake, despite what men believe and their titles, the country is run by women both in the home and in the work place, even if the salaries do not reflect that.

That is an interesting perspective and really helps me to understand why so many absolutely drop dead gorgeous women we simply standing around in the disco. There was this one blonde young lady dancing by herself that would have been to most beautiful lady in all of San Diego, without question. I couldn't believe it.

Isn't the Mayor of St. Pertersburg a lady?

Tom

quote:

Originally posted by Tom Ogg:
That is an interesting perspective and really helps me to understand why so many absolutely drop dead gorgeous women we simply standing around in the disco. There was this one blonde young lady dancing by herself that would have been to most beautiful lady in all of San Diego, without question. I couldn't believe it.

Isn't the Mayor of St. Pertersburg a lady?

Tom

Yes the Governor if the city and region is a woman.
There are many very attractive ladies for sure and today was a warm and sunny day, one of the first so the new spring/summer outfits were on display strolling by while I waited for a lady friend who was going to lunch with me. It is cause of a malady foreign guys get here, a severely sprained neck, locally called the dreaded "Nevsky Neck" it usually goes away a few days after the visitor is back home and after he has stopped muttering in his sleep "wow...look at THAT one". I get invited to a lot of parties for various functions and I remember one at the British consulate where there was garden party and even I was awe struck. All were local girls, not Brits just girls invited for the party celebrating the opening of a new English language magazine. Later we retreated to the Red Lion and 3 bands were playing in 3 different areas of the club. The one I ended up with was one I had known well from before but assumed she was just too cute and way too young. I am headed of to Nizhni Novogorod on the train in a few hours to meet a very attractive slim blonde doctor and ring in my birthday on the 13th. I will probably not be reading or posting until Monday evening.
When you come back, stay in an apartment...cheap, in the middle of the city center, and cozy...for a week or more and have fun and/or enlighenment. There is a lot more to see than just pretty women(they tell me that anyway) Thanks for letting me post.
See ya Monday
Stan

Stan, have a great weekend! We are all thinking of you.

Tom

Hmm,
With all those lovely ladies inhabiting the city - no matter how much I might like to go back and spend some time really exploring SPB, I am not sure I could handle it. <VBG>

Have a wonderful week-end and look forward to chatting when you return.
Nancy

Hello Nancy and Tom
I am back, and what an ordeal;>( I had a great time....until I fell asleep on the beach and ended up with extreme sunburns. All week, after my return, my legs and feet have been so swollen that I could not walk. I've never seen such a reaction to the sun but it was intense and fun...otherwise it was great. Nizhniy Novgorod is a 16 hour train trip which was comfortable and relaxing but not when your feet are like ballons and extremely painful for the return trip. Today I was able to put on shoes for the first time and get to the grocery store. It was a beautiful day today in SPb and several ships were in port. There are several festival going on right now, one is the international film festival which I was part of last year. Another of interest is the Star of the White Nights at the Mariinsky Theater and a chamber music festival held in many palaces around the area.
There is also a dance series, theme parties that have become international hits.
Great time to be cruising the Baltics...
Stan

Stan,
Welcome Back. OUCH! Sounds like you may have been in some subSTANtial pain (pun intended). Anyway, glad that you had a great time, despite the sunburn. Too bad I am not due to return to the Baltic soon.
Nancy

Hi Nancy
There is no reason not to plan your next trip now, that is part of the fun of travel. Personally, I am terrible about planning however, I just go and discover what I find as I go and quite often do not even end up in the country I planned to visit. I used to be in the recording industry for many years in the US which gave me lots of intense work for a few months and then complete breaks with nothing to do until the next scheduled album I was contracted for. I had a habit of leaving the studio with my bags already packed( I had a set of get-away bags always in the truck)and simply buy the very first ticket for the first plane departing from SFO. This way I ended up in a lot of countries that I never would have planned to visit but I always enjoyed where ever I ended up. So 5-6 times a year I disappeared this way and ended up in 86 different countries....but I always came back to St Petersburg regardless of where else I visited. Now things have changed and I have to actually work for a living and do not travel first class anymore. But I still ended up in St Petersburg, going on 2 years now as resident after 26 years of just visiting.
It there are any questions about cruising the Baltic regions or St Petersburg in particular just let me know, I am pretty familiar with the whole region and ships.
Talk to you later...
Stan

Stan, good to hear from you. Sorry about the sun trama. Here in San Diego we have a situation known as "June Gloom" where the sun does not come out for weeks on end. While we enjoy perfect weather for ten months of the year, May and June are the worst. I envy that you had sunshine and warm weather.

If you only had twoo days (and one night) in Saint Petersburg, what would you do?

Tom

Hi Tom
I am from San Francisco, the home of the coldest summers in the US so I understand your switch in ocean air currents and fog billowing in.
What would I do if I only had two days? Sulk;>
The more you know about what there is to do and its facinating history, the more you become convinced anything you do will mean 95.78% goes uninvestigated. It is almost better to be unfamilar with the city when first visiting so you do not feel like you are missing out. I've had guests from the US who asked the same question and I try very hard to create an effective tour but it turns out that sending them on one of the private tours like you had with Den Rus packs more into a couple days than I could. That is because of the early admissions to major attractions and the effiecent timing using experienced drivers add up to seeing a lot more per day I could even for myself.
For someone never in the city before the first thing would be a orientation drive around the city center and on ajacent islands. This gives a good overview of the city, its layout, major landmarks and sheer beauty on a macro level.
The Hermitage is, for many the best museum in the world. I agree with them and its venue is certainly worth the visit even if it did not have one of if not the best collection of art in the world. A walking tour south west of the Palace Embankment would also be high on my list, in a big circle covering the major canals, Summer Gardens, Church on Spilled Blood, Arts Sq, the Russian Museum, Nevsky prospekt, Kazan Cathedral, Gostiny Dvor, Passage, and heading back towards the river again follwing the Moika River to St Isaac Cathedral, St Isaac Sq. Decemberists Sq, the Senate, Admiralty, Bronze Horseman and back to the Neva Embankmant. That is all doable in an afternoon. The next day I would get up early and explore the city waking up...it is not a very early wake up since it parties till dawn..and take the hydrofoil to Peterhof and visit the lower park and the Grand Palace or smaller more intimate palaces on the grounds. If there was time I would then go to Pushkin and Catherine Palace(my favorite palace), the grounds and then on to Pavlosk to see one of the most beautiful parks and palace grounds in the world. Not many cruise ship passengers see that but it is will work it if that short ride from Pushkin can be fitted in.
On the first night, regardless of how exhausted I was, I would take in a classical Ballet performance at the incomparable Mariinsky Theater. In the Summer, small intimate performances are also available at the Hermitage Theater. Except for viewers clothing, it would be almost impossible to detect clues what century your performance was being performed in. Sitting with the same view and opulent surroundings as the Tsars and court is a pretty heady feeling. Everyone walks out of one of these personal performances walking taller and dressing nicer the next day. Really.
Well, i left out many of my favorites but this is a good beginning.
What do you think?
Stan
On a BEAUTIFUL day sitting in an window within a stones throw of the Admiralty and Palace Sq.