how to get from St. Petersburg Port to center

[goldengirl4ever]

This will be my first cruise and will be with Orient Lines on the Marco Polo.
Traveling with my son. We don't want to take the shore excursions! Hate being in a crowd of cattle. Can someone tell me how to get from the ship to the center? After that, I think we can find our way. Are there city tours one can take? Do buses run out to the port? I'm sure this is all very basic for the rest of you, and I'm a very experienced travler by train, Eurail, rental car, etc. But this is a new animal. Please help? Also anyone going on that cruise? Departs Stockholm Aug. 13, 06.
thank you! :confused:

[Host Kat >^..^<]

Howdy goldengirl4ever!

Welcome to Cruise Critic and the Help Forum! http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/04.gif

I fully understand your need to know more information. However, you have posted on the Help Forum where members find information about the board's software and how to use it. This is not the place for your type of post and the information you seek is off topic here. http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/05.gif

To help you out and per the Guidelines, I am moving your thread to the Orient Lines Forum where it will be more on topic. I hope your fellow Cruise Critic members will be able to help you there.

Sincerely glad to have you aboard Cruise Critic and thank you for stopping by the Help Forum. I also hope you will find your thread in the new location!

http://skins.***********/skins/mailskins/em/042202/042202_1319_92_prv.gif Happy trails to you... http://skins.***********/skins/mailskins/em/042202/042202_1319_92_prv.gif

Kat http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/50.gif

[LHT28]

When we did this cruise in 2003 we docked at the shipping port ...no way to get out of dock area without walking. (not recommended)
Remember you MUST have a Visa if going on your own.
We did the ship's tour so cannot answer your other questions regarding transport out side the dock area.

I would consider booking with Red October or Denrus rather than going on your own in this port or call.
You could look for others on your cruise to share the expenses.

[edinburgher]

There are several different docking areas in SPB, from the most conveniently situated (right in the city centre along the embankment) to quite a long way out. I think there are maybe 4 different docking areas in total, but not 100% sure. I do know that they are well scattered. Unless you know which particular dock you are going into its hard for anyone to advise.

And to leave the ship independantly (ie NOT on a ships excursion or with RO/Denrus/any other similar official companies as they have a "group" visa for you) then you MUST have your own personal Russian visas for which you would need to apply. You should be able to find info on applying for Russian visas online, including cost, how long it takes etc. You would probably still need an "invitation" from a Russian company unless this rule has changed recently. I think many issue an invitation for a fee. All the info should be online. Others have done this from ships.

And again, if you go onto the BALTIC forum and SEARCH THIS FORUM for SPB, you should see all the past threads and replies in the results. You can then read through them.

I agree with the above. This is a port where to get the most from it you would be advised to take organised excursions, either with the ship or privately.