Baltic ruise....excursions???

[millyman]

So far i've only looked at St. Petersburg and the tours i like the look of are:


1.Peterhof Grand Palace & Fountains....4 hrs...£25-£50 pp

2.White Nights River Neva Cruise...2 1/2 hrs.

3.Catherine Palace & Neva River Cruise....8 1/2 hrs.

4.Panoramic St. Petersburg....3 hrs 25mins.

I won't be able to fit them all in so i'll just have to choose between them.

What's anyone else thinking of in St.Petersburg?

[Jim]

We did the canal cruise which went out on to the river also included a visit to the Yusopof palace where Rasputin met his end but so much to see in two days some pictures of our trip on the Thomson Celebration post.Meant to say you will also be charged to take photographs and video and some places they wont allow you to do any photography.

[sparkieplug24]

Peterhof not to be missed is the prices that carnival are quoting???

I also think a river cruise would be good

[sparkieplug24]

Good point Jim you have to pay to take photos/videos inside peterhof (was only couple of pounds at most ) but you are not permitted to take any flash photography what so ever inside

[sparkieplug24]

Trish far be it from me to comment on someone elses spelling seen as I am the worst speller on here. However just curious whats a ruisewhistlesmi.


PS I am just repaying the favour from a few months back whistlesmi told you I got a long memory whistlesmi24smi

[millyman]

Trish far be it from me to comment on someone elses spelling seen as I am the worst speller on here. However just curious whats a ruisewhistlesmi.


PS I am just repaying the favour from a few months back whistlesmi told you I got a long memory whistlesmi24smi


24smi24smi...i know i tried to change it but it wouldn't let me....madsmi...oh and by the way it's a cruiseshysmi

[sparkieplug24]

24smi24smi...i know i tried to change it but it wouldn't let me....madsmi...oh and by the way it's a cruiseshysmi

this is going to sound stupid but a baltic Ruise sounds more romantic foxes_279

[silver1]

So far i've only looked at St. Petersburg and the tours i like the look of are:


1.Peterhof Grand Palace & Fountains....4 hrs...£25-£50 pp

2.White Nights River Neva Cruise...2 1/2 hrs.

3.Catherine Palace & Neva River Cruise....8 1/2 hrs.

4.Panoramic St. Petersburg....3 hrs 25mins.

I won't be able to fit them all in so i'll just have to choose between them.

What's anyone else thinking of in St.Petersburg?

Trish, great minds think alike. Donna says that Peterhof is not to be missed, the city tour would take in a lot of the sites & st Catherines Palace looks amazing. I think the night river cruise sounds really good especially as theres champagnefoxes_279. I have emailed a couple of tour operators to see if we can do a private tour taking in these.

[sparkieplug24]

Just a thought but I think you would be better doing a private tour for Peterhof as 4 hours sounds a bit rushed just a thought

[silver1]

Just a thought but I think you would be better doing a private tour for Peterhof as 4 hours sounds a bit rushed just a thought
thats what I thought Donna, as we are there for two days, I wont b too worried about getting back to the ship before it sails.

[sparkieplug24]

thats what I thought Donna, as we are there for two days, I wont b too worried about getting back to the ship before it sails.

I would have thought maybe 5 or 6 would be better especially if its a nice daysmilesmi

[millyman]

Thanks for the input Donna...smilesmi...I've been looking at Tallin.

1.Family fun:Tallin,Rakvere & spirits of Estonia...7hrs...£25-£50.

2.Medieval old town walking tour....4hrs.

3.Walk & shop in old Tallin...3hrs.

[Jim]

We did one of the tours in Tallin but in truth we would have been better doing our own thing where the cruise terminal is its not too far to walk into the centre of Tallin there is a large shopping mall on two floors close to the cruise terminal.My enduring memory of the outskirts was trees and more trees there are a lot of trees in Estonia.

[silver1]

We did one of the tours in Tallin but in truth we would have been better doing our own thing where the cruise terminal is its not too far to walk into the centre of Tallin there is a large shopping mall on two floors close to the cruise terminal.My enduring memory of the outskirts was trees and more trees there are a lot of trees in Estonia.

Thanks Jim, I think we will 'do our own thing' in Tallinn, its looks a lovely place to have a walk aroundsmilesmi, the old town especiallysmilesmi

[yorkshirephil]

St Petersburg is a fantastic place to visit, we did the Baltic capitals last year on Artemis. We will definitely go again in a few years. You can't cram everything into 2 days. Have you considered an organised tour with a local tour company. We were recommended Alla tours by several people who have used them, If you check out their site you will see other people who have already booked with them, you may be able to join another party which can save quite a bit of cash. www.alla-tour.com/?module=guides&id=8 . There are several other tour companies with good reputations.

[sparkieplug24]

Thanks for the input Donna...smilesmi...I've been looking at Tallin.

1.Family fun:Tallin,Rakvere & spirits of Estonia...7hrs...£25-£50.

2.Medieval old town walking tour....4hrs.

3.Walk & shop in old Tallin...3hrs.

Trish take the shuttle to the town and do your own thing from there everything is mostly quite close together although like everything in that area its all up hill.foxes_279 Also dont forget about the castle behind the Russian church i got distracted by something and it wasnt until we walked back down the tompela (or whatever its called) beautiful views to be had. I think I have a book on Tallinn I could give you it when we meet for coffee 24smi

Oh one more thing that occurred to me earlier when you go to Russia remember to use any currency just dont get caught and if you do a bribe should be enough to get rid of the police offficer in question foxes_279. Its also illegal to take any food off the ship with you if your caught you will be arrestedconfusedsmi

[millyman]

Thanks Donna....arrested!!!!....confusedsmi

[sparkieplug24]

just a thought but what about doing both Peterhof and the river cruise the first and then the city sightseeing the second day

[silver1]

just a thought but what about doing both Peterhof and the river cruise the first and then the city sightseeing the second day

Donna I have been researching Peterhof tonight, looks amazing. One of the private tours includes a hydrofoil trip back to the city, which sounds goodsmilesmi

[millyman]

Hi kerry....just wondering if you've heard from the private tours yet. I really can't decide what to see in St. Petersburg....i want to see everything!!....24smi.

[silver1]

Hi Trish, had lots of emails from private tours, i'm even more confused nowfoxes_279, once i've got to grips with it and read them all, i'll let you knowsmilesmi. Peterhof, City tour so far are a mustsmilesmi

[timespliters]

St Petersburg is a fantastic place to visit, we did the Baltic capitals last year on Artemis. We will definitely go again in a few years. You can't cram everything into 2 days. Have you considered an organised tour with a local tour company. We were recommended Alla tours by several people who have used them, If you check out their site you will see other people who have already booked with them, you may be able to join another party which can save quite a bit of cash. www.alla-tour.com/?module=guides&id=8 (http://www.alla-tour.com/?module=guides&id=8) . There are several other tour companies with good reputations.


I used Alla and we all had a great time 12 of us booked her and we did see the best .

[millyman]

Tricia & Kerry....have you booked any excursions yet?

[P1TKL]

Tricia & Kerry....have you booked any excursions yet?


No I havent but I am on the brink of booking panoramic tour and Peterhof.
had a letter last week from Ideal cruising explaining visas etc... think its going to be easier going on a ships tour...what about you ?

[millyman]

Tricia, i had a letter from Thomas cook about the visa's and it's panicked me a bit. I'm not bothered about the other one's but want to make sure i have my petersburg ones booked.

The Panoramic tour, the river cruise for the evening & peterhof for the second day. It costs a fortune but i'd be so annoyed if i missed out.

[retromal]

I had the fortune of going to Tallin just after it became independant, and we got a taxi into town that cost a full 50pence... no doubt things have changed a bit since then but from what I can remember (the locals were very hospitalby... hick) I think doing your own thing is the way to go.. we were berthed there for a few days, so I managed to see a lot of the place, and really enjoyed it.

Mal

[timespliters]

I was in Tallin last year, get a taxi to the top of the town and then its all down hill to the square

[millyman]

Kerry...have you booked any excursions yet?

Tricia has.....i was going to book my St Petersburg one's this weekend but didn't get round to it. I think i'll do it in the week as i don't want to leave it too late.

[Jim]

Kerry Trish Tricia lots of good advice above whatever you do dont change into Russian money they will take any western currency everything we saw was priced in euros but would take US or UK or EUROS and you will have to do an organised tour whether the ships tour or with one of the local ours was with Red October.We had all our passports photocopied on the ship which you handed to an army officer who was on board next to the gangway they stamped your passport issued you with a visa which you had to hand back when you came back on board this proceedure was the same next day.

[sparkieplug24]

just remember that they take any currency but that its actually illegal to do this so be careful I also thinks its illegal to take Russian currency out of Russia

[Jim]

just remember that they take any currency but that its actually illegal to do this so be careful I also thinks its illegal to take Russian currency out of Russia
You are correct Donna but they dont want Russian Roubles in fact in the Red October shop they gave a discount if you spent either 40 or 50 Euros cant remember the exact amount and it was good quality gifts and memoribilia they sold and good toilet facilities.Just another thing if anyone is going to the Hermitage there are no toilets or seats

[millyman]

Thanks for the advice Jim and Donna.....happysm


TS.....think i'll do as you say in Tallin....happysm

[silver1]

Kerry...have you booked any excursions yet?

Tricia has.....i was going to book my St Petersburg one's this weekend but didn't get round to it. I think i'll do it in the week as i don't want to leave it too late.

Hi Trish, No not booked anything yet, like you just not got round to it yet!
I want to book 3 in St. Petes but dont know if that will be too much. I'll let dh make the decision for a changegiggle

Thanks for the info TS, Donna & Jimhappysm

[timespliters]

get a move ongiggle so much to see in such a short time

[P1TKL]

You are correct Donna but they dont want Russian Roubles in fact in the Red October shop they gave a discount if you spent either 40 or 50 Euros cant remember the exact amount and it was good quality gifts and memoribilia they sold and good toilet facilities.Just another thing if anyone is going to the Hermitage there are no toilets or seats


Do you mean no seats on the toilets ? or no toilets and no seats either ?giggle

Not that we`ll be visiting the Hermitage anyway....the kids would not be too happy if we did !

[P1TKL]

Hi Trish, No not booked anything yet, like you just not got round to it yet!
I want to book 3 in St. Petes but dont know if that will be too much. I'll let dh make the decision for a changegiggle

Thanks for the info TS, Donna & Jimhappysm


Kerry + Trish... we ended up booking just two trips... Panoramic St Petersburg and Peterhof fountains. Neither of them are early starts which suits us .... difficult to get the boys up too early on a cruise !!

[Jim]

Do you mean no seats on the toilets ? or no toilets and no seats either ?giggle

Not that we`ll be visiting the Hermitage anyway....the kids would not be too happy if we did !
lolsmilolsmilolsmi If there were toilets possibly not have seats also be aware you will not be allowed to take drinks into most of the buildings this is because someone threw acid at a painting in the Hermitage you will also be charged for taking cameras and most places wont allow flash photography.There are a few pictures on my Thomson Celebration review.We only scratched the surface in two days thats not enough time to go through the Hermitage on its own.We certainly intend to do the Baltic again. happysm

[millyman]

Kerry + Trish... we ended up booking just two trips... Panoramic St Petersburg and Peterhof fountains. Neither of them are early starts which suits us .... difficult to get the boys up too early on a cruise !!

Tricia, i'm booking the Panoramic for the 1st day and Peterhof for the 2nd day...like you say they aren't early starts! Also booking the night river cruise...i think....but may decide this onboard rather than now!

[P1TKL]

Tricia, i'm booking the Panoramic for the 1st day and Peterhof for the 2nd day...like you say they aren't early starts! Also booking the night river cruise...i think....but may decide this onboard rather than now!


Thought we might consider night excursions once onboard..... you never know if theres something good planned onboard for the same evening and then you will wish you hadn`t already booked it !

[silver1]

Looks like we could all be doing the same excursions thengiggle. I do like the sound of the night cruise so will probably book this as well. I have told dh to make some time this weekend to go through the excursions so that I can book at least St. Petes

[P1TKL]

Looks like we could all be doing the same excursions thengiggle. I do like the sound of the night cruise so will probably book this as well. I have told dh to make some time this weekend to go through the excursions so that I can book at least St. Petes


I tried that with DH and he just said " I`ll leave it to you !" But when I`d booked them he said "HOW MUCH ?!!!!!!!! "

[millyman]

I tried that with DH and he just said " I`ll leave it to you !" But when I`d booked them he said "HOW MUCH ?!!!!!!!! "



lolsmilolsmi.......men.....tut....typical....giggl e

[millyman]

Kerry, Tricia.....my saint Petersburg excursions are now booked....happysm

[P1TKL]

Kerry, Tricia.....my saint Petersburg excursions are now booked....happysm


Well done ! Did you decide to book the evening cruise or not ?

[millyman]

No....just the daytime ones...Panoramic for the Sunday.....Peterhof for the Monday an earl start though....surprisesm...but didn't really have much choice.

Tricia....i know what you mean about missing something good at the night time if you do a night tour....giggle....i looked at the river cruise on youtube and it doesn't look that great to be honest.

[P1TKL]

No....just the daytime ones...Panoramic for the Sunday.....Peterhof for the Monday an earl start though....surprisesm...but didn't really have much choice.

Tricia....i know what you mean about missing something good at the night time if you do a night tour....giggle....i looked at the river cruise on youtube and it doesn't look that great to be honest.


Have you gone for the Peterhof palace and fountains tour then ? I went for just the fountains cos its a later start.

[millyman]

Yes Tricia....Peterhof Palace & fountain's....4hrs.....starting at 8.30am.....i didn't notice the fountains only one.

[P1TKL]

Yes Tricia....Peterhof Palace & fountain's....4hrs.....starting at 8.30am.....i didn't notice the fountains only one.

I didnt until I looked further down the page....it starts at either 1pm or 1.30 for 3 and a half hours..there wasnt much difference in price though.

[millyman]

Tricia...i've just seen it now....blummineck!....i didn't see it at first until i scrolled down. I'll ask Dh which he'd prefer to do as i can cancel/modify without charge.

Quite fancy the Hydrofoil back to st petersburg....giggle

http://www.saint-petersburg.com/virtual-tour/peterhof.asp

Have you seen this?happysm

[P1TKL]

Tricia...i've just seen it now....blummineck!....i didn't see it at first until i scrolled down. I'll ask Dh which he'd prefer to do as i can cancel/modify without charge.

Quite fancy the Hydrofoil back to st petersburg....giggle

http://www.saint-petersburg.com/virtual-tour/peterhof.asp

Have you seen this?happysm

No I hadnt seen it... thanks for the link. Just thought are we there on a Monday cos it says palace closed on Mondays ?

[millyman]

No I hadnt seen it... thanks for the link. Just thought are we there on a Monday cos it says palace closed on Mondays ?


Yes we are there on a monday...i saw that too but nothing to say it was closed on Carnival's sight.....may have to change it anyway then.

[silver1]

Trish & Tricia, I think I remember reading that certain Palaces would open for Carnival cruisers somewhere, cant remember where I saw it thoughgiggle

I quite like the odd early excursion (not too many mindgiggle), means I can get the family up and about for a changetut.

[yorkshirephil]

No....just the daytime ones...Panoramic for the Sunday.....Peterhof for the Monday an earl start though....surprisesm...but didn't really have much choice.

Tricia....i know what you mean about missing something good at the night time if you do a night tour....giggle....i looked at the river cruise on youtube and it doesn't look that great to be honest.

Good choice Millyman, these are the two cruises we did in St P. We were glad we did the early start at Peterhof as we were the second party in and didnt get rushed through as fast as some people we knew on a later trip.

[silver1]

Good choice Millyman, these are the two cruises we did in St P. We were glad we did the early start at Peterhof as we were the second party in and didnt get rushed through as fast as some people we knew on a later trip.

Thanks for the info Phil, I think I'll stick to the early start then, I wanted to see one of the Palaces and as this seems a short tour thought it would be the best onehappysm