Pier shopping in St P

[cruzky]

Are there shops at the pier? If so, are they before or after you go through immigration to get back on the ship? Anyone know how late into the evening they are open?

Thanks,
Roseanna

[mushroom]

Are you referring to St Petersburg Russia? If so, there is NOTHING where the ships dock other than containerized freight and industrial operations. We were told that in a few years, there will be docking out near Catherines Palace...but for now, ships dock far from any tourist-type of commercial activities.

[onlyparrotlets]

We were on a Baltics cruise with HAL 7/3-7/13 2007. Right after you pass through immigrations on the left was a small shop with Russian souveniers. Our first day we returned to ship at night around 7:30p and it was raining, so I cannot remember if it was open ot not. On the second day, we returned close to 5pm and went inside before going through immigration back to the ship.

It was extrememly crowded in there and the prices seemed to be high, but there was a little asst of just about everything.

[eh2zed]

There is nothing at the pier or in walking distance if they allowed you to. You need an excursion in St. Petersburg. You must go to the Hermitage even if you are like us non museum people. Shops there and elsewhere on tour.:) :) :D :D

[amanda blake]

yes I remember seeing some small stalls as you leave the ship...yes crowded and yes very expensive...

[cruzky]

Thanks everyone for the info

[Cazz]

The differences in the above answers may be explained by where the ship docks - either the English Embankment or the container port. I understand only the smaller cruise ships can dock at the embankment, but that may be where the stalls were, because there was nothing but containers and an immigration portacabin at the container port last summer.

[sarh]

With the Constellation, there are no shops, stalls, anything. But there is more than the portakabin - the Russian band playing to match the nationalities of those leaving. We really laughed to hear them playing American marching songs - Lenin must be turning in his grave (or in his mausoleum?).

[2Xayear]

The Rotterdam docked at the cargo port. A small souvenir shop just after immigration. Not sure how late they are open and NO idea if their prices are good or bad.

Bob

[GuideDiva]

Everyone has a different answer to this question because there are several ports and several piers in the Cargo port. The port contractors have rented little kiosks to vendors on some of the piers while other piers have none.

The large ships dock as piers 29-33 at the cargo port and smaller ships on the city center Neva River ports. A new Gulf of Finland passenger terminal is being built now but last minute changes will make it into a dual use port, passengers and cargo. Passenger ships alone can not justify the high cost of building the terminal, cargo is the main purpose of any of the ports and the income producer. The new passenger terminal will start taking a few ships next year and be in full operation in 2009. Because of the cargo being handled, this new one on Vasilievsky Island will also be a high security area with limited access. Its advantage is being very close to the city center of St Petersburg.

[jstducky]

I was on the Veendam and we docked at the container port. When we arrived in the morning we saw the Celebrity Constellation (I think it was the Constellation) and the Star Princess docked right next to us.

Right after immigration, there is a small gift shop that sells an assortment of all sorts of Russian souvenirs. Everything you can imagine was sold there and all prices were listed in Euros. There was even a container just outside the immigration building where they had a DVD store selling all sorts of DVDs.

On the first night, I arrived back at the pier at 11:00 pm, and the shop was still open and going strong. A lot of people who had evening entertainment excursions were just getting back at that time and were stopping at the shop. I beleive it was open until midnight.

I am also pretty sure that where the Celebrity ship was docked, there was also a souvenir shop there.

[cruzky]

Thanks for the info everyone.

Roseanna

[SPKR]

On the Regent Voyager we were docked in the industrial port (container/cargo) and I found the shop just outside of immigration to be excellent. Prices are in euros and we bought wooden toys, and miniature liquor inside of what looked like a Russian nesting doll. We thought the prices were comparable to what we saw on a Russian shopping excursion we paid to take! Have a wonderful cruise
Suzie