St.Petersburg excursion-HAL

[chickenoregg]

I have been in contact with private excursions in St. Petersburg and they have said we can simply walk off the ship (it will be the Eurodam) to get to the car, driver & guide they will have waiting dockside. Of course, in our HAL documents, it states we cannot leave the ship (without a visa).
Has anyone had experience with HAL personnel and independent private tours in St. Petersburg? Please share.
Thanks.
http://clocks.cruisecritic.com/countdown.pl?name=chickenoregg&date=8-4-2008&image=Beach-9&text=&ship=Eurodam (http://www.cruisecritic.com)

[jhannah]

The tour operators there (Denrus, Red October, et. al.) arrange a group visa that allows you to tour with them. You cannot strike out on your own, but have to be with your "sponsor" (the guide) at all times. You do not need a visa for this, or for taking a ship's excursion.

[chickenoregg]

I am aware of the 72 hour rule for tourists accompanied by tour operators and the 'no visa' rule; however, how difficult is it to leave the ship when you are not using their excursion company in St. Petersburg? HAL's paperwork (and other cruiselines, from what I understand) are pretty emphatic about NOT allowing cruisers to disembark there, with a pre-arranged tour that is not their vendor.

[RuthC]

Guessing here that they all operate the same way.

I used Red October when I toured there in '03. I had to send them the visa info. In return they sent me a "pass" to get through Russian Security. My guide was waiting there. I passed through with my passport and "pass", and off we went.

[dakrewser]

The private operator (which one is it, by the way?) should send you a form (or email you one which you will print out) with your tour booking info and itinerary. You get off the ship and present that & your passport to the immigration official. They will pass you thru (don't even try to joke with them. They make our TSA people look like jolly old comedians!) to the area where the buses and limos are waiting. It all goes very smoothly.

HAL has nothing to do with whether you get out of the port area or not - that's up to the immigration folks.