quote:

Originally posted by Sunprincess:
I did really consider doing a Den Rus tour, but, travelling alone I thought it might be better just to book Princess. Did try to get some interest here & on another board to share a tour, but, no replies. If my friend can manage to get time off I will consider changing for sure. Still 22 days to go, perhaps I can get some interested.
Will keep you posted. I appreciate all of your help.
Do hope that the weather stays nice. It has been wicked hot & humid here. Finally the humidity broke, but, still high 90s.

Take Care

Cathy

Hi Cathy
Before booking anything, if you are interested in going with others check out Denrus vs Princess

The weather has been warm but rainy over the weekend but it is predicted to be nice for a while. I am not used to heat so I am glad it is so mild here, 74-78, perfect for me but it might seem cool for someone used to 90s and humidity. Last weekend I did little except work and walk, one night it was raining so hard that I stayed in the internet cafe until it stopped...as the sun was coming up in the morning. The city is really pretty at 6 a.m., it is a great time to walk with deserted street, silence and the colors of the buildings, rivers and bridges look other-worldly. After midnight and early morning are my favorite times to walk. I walked home from the Marble Palace last night(this morning) at 1:30 taking the back way and it was lovely. Although it is only about 1.5 miles as the crow flies, I dawdled and the walk lasted until 2:45 when I got to my door. Itis past White Nights so the sky is a lot darker but it there is still a lot of sky glow.
Hope to see you when you arrive...

HI Stan,

I cannot believe this, I had a huge reply all typed out & hit something & it went away Who knows what I did.

Anyway, let me start over.
As always thanks so much for your information.
I think I have a couple who is interested in changing over from the Princess Tour to DenRus.
I have copied what you sent me for them to review. One question was about going to Catherine Palace. Can this be added or swapped for something else??
I am trying to figure out my friend's plans as well.
Really appreciate your help.
Would be fun to be able to meet you in person. I owe you some drinks for all of your help

I think now I will welcome the cooler temps in SP. It has been wicked hot & humid here. I am a sun person, but, this hazy, humid stuff is not for me. Trust me you would not enjoy it here now. We did have quite the rain/thunderstorm tonight. Maybe this will improve things??

Exciting news......my cruise docs arrived today.
I am doing the happy dance for sure. No cabin assignment yet, perhaps an upgrade will be coming for my birthday cruise???

Baking now for my staff meetings, so better go & get that done.

Yet another weekend coming in 2 days.
I just love your descriptions & cannot wait to experience SP

Take Care

Cathy

Cathy, if you and Stan get hooked up. you have to share a picture here. I can't wait to hear about your experiences. I want to go back to St. Petersburg in the worse way.

Tom

HI Tom,

Of course
I really am so excited. Here I am up at 4:45am with 16 days still to go. My mind racing with ideas.

Cathy

Hi Cathy and Tom
Well, I am waiting....the fall is a great time to visit, good weather, few lines at theaters and museums and a slower pace. I figure neither of you is interested in a slow pace however;> Gather up Nancy and we can make part of it.

Cathy, my email address is stan@nevanet.net so I can answer any specific questions you might have or you can write to fit@denrus or visit the web site( that is being revamped so there are a couple pages not completed) at http://www.denru.ru and check out the new Value Excurtions.
On Custom tours the sights and destinations are entirely up to you and your party, if you wanted to spend 2 day sitting on the granite embankment with your feet dangling in the water, that is fine, just as shopping for antiques or whatever but most people have specific interests in the arts or architecture, history or gardens or whatever. Both programs have the pluses depending on how much you want to see of the normally desired "Must-Sees". Personally, even though I am a museum hound, I like spending more time getting to know a current culture when I travel so plan side trips that give me as much contact with locals as possible. St Petersburg is a problem for many however because there are so many Must Sees that missing any of them makes people feel as if they really missed out.
One way to do both would be a full featured group tour during the day that concentrated on the Must sees and go out in the evening for the current cultural contact, the metros, night canal cruise or ballet, or night clubs or just walking around in the late evening...that is my favorite pasttime here, I love the night air, beautiful lighting illuminating the grand buildings, the reflections on the dark waters of the canals and river, and the energy of the active people on the streets, cafes and strolling. I walked 1.5 miles last night at about 2a.m. and was sorry that I got home and wanted to walk some more. I never get tired wlaking around just absorbing the sense of the city...it really is unique.

HI Stan,

Finally today I was able to connect with my Star friends, they are in SP today.
Seems they have got a lot planned for me.
I was told not to go crazy booking tours as they have got it all sorted out.
SO, we will have to see exactly what they have planned.
I really do appreciate all of your guidance & will let you know.

2 weeks tomorrow night I fly

Have a fabulous weekend.

Cathy

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sunprincess,

quote:

Originally posted by Sunprincess:
HI Stan,

Finally today I was able to connect with my Star friends, they are in SP.
Seems they have got a lot planned for me.
I was told not to go crazy booking tours as they have got it all sorted out.
SO, we will have to see exactly what they have planned.
I really do appreciate all of your guidance & will let you know.

2 weeks tomorrow night I fly

Have a fabulous weekend.

Cathy

Hi Cathy
That is great that you have them working it out. That means you will have a individual visa so you must get that started right away. That gives you a lot of freedom for them to take you around and just hang out. Getting a visa is not as intimidating as many people assume.
First get an Voucher, that is a kind of tourist invitation from a hotel, hostel or tour company in Russia. It can be faxed or emailed to you. Include that two part document in your application to your nearest Russian Consulate(NYC, Washington DC, Seatle and San Francisco)with Consular fee in m.o. or bank check for $100 if you allow their longest processing time but the price goes up with faster processing, a completed visa application form(this form is now longer than for other nationalities because the US requires a long and intrusive form from Russian citizens now, a passport type photo(available from your TA or any Wallgreene's or Rite-Aid for about $6 for 2), your passport with 6months more remaining with two ajacent pages open(the visa is a full page sticker)and a self addressed stamped envelope large enough for your passport. You should send off for this immediately, this weekend. I can send you a copy of the application form by email if you wish.
You will need an individual visa for independent travel in Russia or getting out of the dock area without an authorized tour company acting as your sponsor. Cruise ship passengers are allowed a 72 hour visa waiver if they are in the company of one of the few tour companies authorized to host visa-less visitors, and the last requirement is not staying overnight in a local accomodation, either an apartment or hotel...but staying up all night and partying is ok;>.
The cargo port is a high security area so your friends can not come pick you up, there is a special taxi that can take you from your ship after you clear passport control(lst I hear it was about $30..ouch!, to the front gate of the port area, 2-3 miles from your ship. From the gate they can wait for you with their car or a taxi, or you can walk to the next street and take bus #22 which for 15 Rubles will take you all the way to the city center, Nevsky Prospekt) where you want to go.
You need to get cracking on this since you leave so soon. I'll check the messages tonight so if you have any specific questions or need any addresses. The application form requires a lot of intrusive info but much of it can be glossed over but I would probably have to help you with which lines are important and which are not. it is really simple if you have done it before.
Since you will be out on your own, with your friends, maybe I can meet up with you to introduce myself and show you a little about my adopted city that most westerners would not know.
Good crusing...
Stan

Stan,
Once again you have provided some valuable information. I hope Cathy is able to connect with you in SPB - I would love to hear the details of that meeting from both of you <VBG>.
BTW - I have made a firm commitment to find a cruise that will allow me time to visit SPB next year. So, be prepared!!!!

Cathy,
The ships have blanket visas that allow crew members to visit the port, but, as a passenger you will need your own visa as Stan suggested if you plan to tour on your own. Hope you can heed his advice so that you can enjoy SPB to its fullest.

Nancy

Hi Nancy
It would be terrible if after all the building excitiment Cathy was reprevented from leaving the ship. The cargo port is so far from the sights that she would not even be able to see anything of the real city from down there. The cargo port is...well..a cargo port with mostly shipping containers and big cranes dominating the skyline.
A new passenger terminal is being working on now, it will be open in 2007 and it will be a fairly quick taxi or bus ride across the Neva River to the Palace Embankment. It is a big project because they are reclaiming the land now and it will accomodate 8 BIG ships at a time eventually with a deep draft.

I will be waiting for your arrival. Get a visa so I can show you the real St Petersburg! Also get some sleep beforehand, you will need it;>

Hi Stan,

I am so sorry to cause you all of this confusion.
My dear friends who I am meeting is the Maitre D & one of the head waiters from the ship.
I think they have plans to do the Princess tour with me. They did not tell me I needed a visa for that. Although if we wanted to go out after dinner I would need the visa. ???
I will see what they think.

Really would be awesome if we can meet up somehow. We'll figure something out.

What weekend plans do you have?? Walking & see what comes your way??
DO enjoy whatever

Take Care

Cathy

Hi Cathy
I am sorry I did not realize they were going to take a bib bus tour which is highly unusual for people with visas. You can take the ship bus tour without a visa but you will not be able to do your own thing or meet people outside the bus tour. When you wrote that your friends had plans for you, I read it as being "plans" as in some activities other than with bus loads of hundreds of people which is not what crew ever do.
Ignore my post and confusion, you do not need a visa since you are to be in the control of a tour company for your entire off-ship activities.
Have a great visit with your friends and seeing the city

Cathy,
I, too, am surprised the crew members would consider taking one of the ship's shore excursions. They are quite expensive (as you are aware) so I would be surprised that anyone with their own visa would choose that route. On such popular shore trips - the crew would have to pay the same price as guests (Can't see that happening)

I may be off-base, but I would bet that your friends assume you have secured a visa. Since they told you not to go crazy booking tours as they had it all sorted out - I would make the assumption that they were planning to show you the city through their eyes.

Don't mean to throw my 2 cents in where it may not belong, but I am concerned that without a visa - you will not be able to do what you hope to accomplish.

Nancy

Hi Nancy
You missed Navy Day! It was a the biggest crowd and traffic jam I've seen here including New years. We walked to the Neva where 9 Russian Navy ships plus an Italian square rigger were moored for the festivities thinking we would get a head start. As we know no one gets up before noon on weekend so arriving at 10 seemed smart. Wrong, the lines to tour the ships were already 50,000 long and getting longer by the second. Ships were docked on both sides of the river so we headed over to the far side and found that line almost as long. No thanks, took some photos and headed inland thinking everyone awake was in line. That was true to a degree, walking about the city center was easier since several hundred thousand were on the river.
Later last night there was a blues concert on a river boat that was fun and relatively cheap. It cruised up and down the river at about 10 knots while we listened, danced and ate for two hours and it was over as fast as it started.
There are some really good exhibits opening this next week and non-classical dance performances to attend. Otherwise you can tell the summer is winding down a little and the pace is slower. Nice.
I like September for the pace, lack of crowding and decent weather, more predictable and warmer than May.
Come on back...

Stan,
You manage to rekindle my desire with each new post. Navy Day sounds like it was quite a treat!
One of the things I particularly liked about the city was the whole Neva River experience. It appears to be the "heart" of the city and left an indelible impression on my mind.

Since my visit was in May this year, perhaps I will look for a cruise that will allow me to appreciate the end of summer next year.

BTW - My Baltic cruise review was just posted on CruiseReviews and there is a picture of me with our DenRus tour guide in the SPB section of the review. Since you know many of the people who work with them, perhaps you might recognize the very nice young man who was our guide.

Nancy

HI Stan,

Are you still "speaking" to me. I'm so sorry for the confusion.
Navy Day sounded awesome. What a crowd!!

Have been shopping & getting things ready.
I cannot wait. Hard now to stay focused for sure.

Hope all is well with you.

Take Care
Cathy

Hello Cathy
Nancy and I were concerned about your plan since your friends might not know that you must go on the ship tours when they can leave on their own. Have you talked to them about whether they intend to go on the big buses of the ship excursion or they intend to have independent off ship activities? Neither of us understood why they would opt for the crowded 50 person bus tours when they have visas. Have you asked them directly if they intend to buy the shiptours and ignore their visas? Or are they assuming you can follow them on their independent exploration of the city which of course you can not.
Since both Nancy and I are jumping to the same conclusion maybe there is something to our confusion about your plan and your friends understandings of the rules.
At the present state, the only way for you to see the city is by buying a ship excursion and the way to see your friends off the ship is if they are on the same bus as you. If as crew contractors they can use the tours do not be surprised if they are not able to choose which bus they are on unless they signed up as a group including you. There will be 40-50 large buses involved.
We know you are very excited about this visit so any problem is going to cause a great deal of disappointment and currently the major source of potential problems is your friends enderstanding of the rules and your restrictions. Ask them one question directly; "did you order a group excursion for me and you to travel together on the ship sponsored bus excursion?"
The answer to this one question will determine if there is a major problem or not.
If they haven't have them do that immediately because it has to be done in advance for the port access documents to me completed in time. A groups tour is billed to the ship account from only one of the group members accounts. Did one of them assume the cost of your tour to be billed to their account and credit card? For example a family traveling together has only one of their accounts billed for the entire family's excursions. If you book separately, being assigned the same bus is a 1 in 50 possibility.
If this is their first time sponsoring someone on a tour they might not know this.
I hope everything was worked out but from your comments and responses to our questions leave us confused and worried that you will be disappointeed.
Good luck Cathy

HI Stan,

I do appreciate the concern that you & Nancy share. I have been told not to worry all is taken care of.
I do have a spot reserved on the Princess Grand 2 day tour. So at least I do know we will see the sites.
I look at it as a learning experience for next time. Then I will be sure to get a visa to do some more exploration.

With only 8 days left now things are really taking shape. I have my luggage down from the attic in the living room. Lined up my toiletries. Making some last minute wardrobe decisions this weekend.

Not sure how I will concentrate Monday-Thursday next week.

Hope you have a lovely day & excellent weekend.

Cathy

Hi Cathy and Nancy
I am glad all your tour plans have been worked out. Too bad you are going on a bus tour or else I could have met up with you(on second thought..maybe that is better for you if you didn't meet me...some people are know to mutter and talk to themselves and walk into walls at odd times after meeting me;> ) You will have a great time, the city will be less crowded than in the peak of summer and the weather should still be mild. Be sure to take layers, iti will not get cold even if a storm comes in but it might rain with a strong breeze as the worst that could be encountered.
Take lots of photos but it is probably better to buy the great photobooks for the interiors of palaces and cathedrals because the professional photos are stunning. Every bookstore has a pretty good selection but House of Books on Nevsky prospekt which you might be near on your tour, has a wonderful selection of photobooks of St Petesburg.

Nancy, I've been off line for a few days due to Bill Gates. His stupid Service Pack 2 has prevented me from getting on the internet from my computer...I can't uninstall it, I can't fix it, I can't do anything with it. All works fine except the main reason I need it internet/email access.
I have my computer at my desk at work but it has none of my needed programs or data on it.
Anyway this is a long story as to why I did not comment on your review on Cruise Reviews. Wow, what a wonderful review, the detail and photos were great. I doubt if the ship's architec knew as much detail of the passenger experience.
It made me want to hop on next time it is in port...hey..maybe we could work out some sort of trade out. I was thinking of going on a tour and record every detail like that with photos to accompany each view and exhibit as a virtual excursion for people to get the feel of what they are in for. What do you think? Or I should talk you into doing it because you show such a flair for it.

Question about the forum layout. What about breaking the ports of call forum into regions? I think it would encurage more posting and older posts would be easier to find.
Talk to later...

Hi Stan,
Thanks for your kind words regarding my review. You make me laugh regarding your problems with microsoft/windows. You sound like Tom! When we are working on the various websites, he is always complaining - but what are the options??

Hmm, I think your idea about a visual presentation of the tours is a great one! Do you think we can find a way that I could be called in as a consultant, which would necessitate a more extended stay in St. Petersburg?

As for the Ports of Call Forum: You have a point. When we initiated the site, we chose one forum as our membership was very small and there were so few postings. It is not very impressive to see a message board with no posts in a particular forum. However, since our numbers have grown - the forum may be getting too cumbersome to navigate easily. Tom is presently enjoying a family vacation in Puerto Vallarta - but when he returns we will discuss it. Thanks for the suggestion.

Nancy

Hi Stan,

This time next Friday I shall be at JFK waiting for my flight. Cannot wait.
My only regret will be not being able to meet up with you. I really was looking forward to that. Again, another wonderful reason for a return trip.

Have just come home from seeing my nieces & nephew. They are getting ready for our family trip to Chatham(Cape Cod). I was showing them on the globe where I am travelling to this time. The 7 & 5 year olds were in awe about where I was going, the 2 year old just wanted to spin the globe.

Again, thanks for all of your advise & tips.
Really appreciate it.

Enjoy your weekend.

Cathy