Oceania Planning for St. Petersburg G8 Closure?

[boom_boom]

According to Red October and posts on the "Baltic Ports" board, the Russians are closing the port at St. Petersburg from 14-20 July for the G8 Summit. Anyone know if Oceania has made plans to cope with this? We see St. Petersburg as the highlight of the cruise, I hope Oceania doesn't plan to stick us with 3 "sea days" in place of St. Petersburg!:confused:

[LHT28]

The summit is from the 15 -17th so maybe they will open the port again on the 18th and O is scheduled for the 19th.

Maybe Frank del Rio is reading this and will comment

[shedevil]

We have booked on Oceania's Insignia and have reservations with Red October July 19-21, 2006. Red October contacted our friends, Boom Boom, that are traveling with us and told them the port would be closed July 14-20 due to the U.S. Secret Service's concerns.

I keep trying to think happy thoughts and keep my fingers crossed that the information is just the Secret Service being overly cautious and St. Pete's will only be on lock down during the actual summit - July 15-17.

The 3 days in St. Pete's was the highlight of this trip - so, fingers crossed we will be able to still visit. :rolleyes: Or that Frank del Rio can pull some strings and get the Summit to end early.

[boxsterr]

We are also booked with Red October for July 19-21st, but have not heard anything about the port closing yet. Maybe no news is good news?!!
Brenda

[shedevil]

As of right now...it appears the Summit won't impact the July 19-21 docking of the Insignia in St. Petersburg. It seems that the important thing will be that Tony Blair and George Bush need to go home right after the G8 Summit. So, cross your fingers and think.....fly home politicians, fly home politicians.


Below is the reply I got from the Oceania Destinations Services Manager on May 9th:

“We were advised by our ground operator that the port will be closed from July 13-17 and it would not affect our cruise. We are waiting for something in writing from the ground operator regarding this. The actual summit takes place from July 15-17 so it shouldn't affect us. The question is if some heads of state decide they want to visit some of the sights we go to, they may close it off to the public and there is no way we can predict that. I will try to verify the closure dates for the port again and keep you posted.”

Presently, we had been advised by our ground coordinator in Russia of the prospective closures of the port based on the G8 Summit, but would not affect any of our sailings. However, depending on what the different security measures will be imposed at that time, we have no assurance from Russia at this point. If certain itinerary with in the sailing had to be changed, we would try our very best to advise our travel agents/guests as soon as possible. We will then offer alternative itinerary/shore excursions.

Finally, there are no changes in the itinerary at present, but we are monitoring the situation closely.

[LHT28]

Just noticed on Orientlines forum they have cancelled their time in St Petersburg for that week I wonder if O has rearranged thier schedule for those on this cruise

[F11]

I hear Siberia is under consideration for alternate destination....

[shedevil]

I hear Siberia is under consideration for alternate destination....

Ahhh... but is Siberia the alternate for the criuse ships or the G8 politicians?;)

[Arkie_L]

I had my travel agent do some checking on the G8 port closure. Here is what he was able to find out from two different sources:

The information from Oceania (and Inflot, in Russia) is that the Port will be closed from 8 am on the 13th of July till midnight (24.00) on July 17th. The Insignia is scheduled to arrive in St. Petersburg on July 19th, so it should not be affected at all.

If he is correct then we do not have a problem. This guy hasn't been wrong on anything yet.