Amsterdam St. Petersburg disembarking

[workerbees]

Hello all,
I've seen multiple posts about this issue but none specific to HAL. We have a tour with DenRus that starts at 9:00am. What did you find was the most efficient way to get off without delays by HAL?

Thanks so much.

AA

[doone]

If you have delays getting off the ship, it won't be HAL that will delay you, it will be Russia. They are very strict and when I sailed this itinerary, it was before 9/11, the Russian's weren't very friendly when they boarded the ship. I am sure you won't be the only people with your own arrangements here, I would speak to someone onboard, perhaps at the Excursion Office or maybe someone else has another suggestion here.

Have a wonderful cruise, this was my favorite itinerary.

[Brandis]

Do you have/need visa for Russia? We once were on a cruise to St. Petersburg and while the ship did have a group visa, only those on ship organized tours were covered by it.

Getting an individual visa would have been very complicated and expensive. We would have needed a "invitation" from a person or company in Russia and while such an invitation can be found quite easily on the web, the persons offering it want money for it as well, of course...

So in the end we opted for the ship tours, even though it meant that we couldn't go back ashore after the tour finished.

Marc

[doone]

Check the Visa situation with your tour group, good thought. Sometimes when you book independent excursions in Russia, the tour group has their own visa's which you are covered under, but most definately, check that out.

[localady]

We took a private tour via Red October last year during our 2 days in St. Pete's on the Prinsendam. Red October had provided us with letters to show to HAL and the Russian authorities and we breezed off the ship and through Russian Customs with the letter and our passports in less than 5 minutes.
As soon as they announced the ship was cleared, we were able to disembark and within 5 minutes we were thru Customs, had located our Red October rep and were hopping into our tour van.
I understand that Denrus does the same and we did see Denrus representatives waiting for pax each morning for private tours also. It's easy, and is the BEST way to see the most of St. Pete's!!! Enjoy!!

[dakrewser]

You'll get good advice in the Baltic Ports forum, but your tour provider (Denrus I think you said) should give you the best information. Our provider, Alla, of Alla Tours (http://www.alla-tour.com/index.html), has been fantastic in keeping us informed about what will happen during our stop in Petersburg June 29-July 1.

[RuthC]

I'll second localady's post about how it worked with Red October. I used them in '03.
I was advised to be ready to fly off the ship as soon as the clearance announcement was made. I did.
It was over the gangway, across the way, through the door to Russian Security, and out the other side. Fast, simple. Very easy.

My understanding is the Denrus uses the same procedure to the same effect. I also understand Denrus supplies your visa.

Have a wonderful time. It's worth it to exhaust yourself for this port.

[workerbees]

Thanks to you all for your replys and advice. We are very excited. I have arranged for both days with DenRus seeing all the sites that you would get with the "Glories.." and "Imperial.." St. Petersburg tours with an added tour of the Gold room in the Hermitage and a little jewelry shopping for Alexandrite.
We also are doing the Yusupov palace Gala with HAL, so we definitely are packing it all in!:) :o :D

AA