Viking in St Petersburg

We are considering booking the new Russia and the Baltic cruise in 2019. I'm trying to get a feel for total costs. Does anyone know how much Viking charges for some of their optional St Petersburg tours? They don't list the prices on the website!

We are on Viking Homelands on May 29 so our excursions and prices have been up for a bit. In St. P there are quite a few, ranging from $69 for one site, to $509pp for the 2-day full tour. By way of comparison, we booked a two day tour with TJ and the price was $225pp. We put together our own group through our roll call and got a discount.

thanks, SantaFe1 - that's very helpful!

We are on Viking Homelands on May 29 so our excursions and prices have been up for a bit. In St. P there are quite a few, ranging from $69 for one site, to $509pp for the 2-day full tour. By way of comparison, we booked a two day tour with TJ and the price was $225pp. We put together our own group through our roll call and got a discount.

We are on Viking Homelands May 12th, and experienced the same thing.. We booked the 2 day tour with TJ.

We have booked the Russia and the Baltic cruise leaving 11 July 2019 (and following cruise) so I am just starting to do similar research re tours :)

Cheers

Neil

Everyone we've spoken to say go with a private, or semi-private tour. True? Have not yet, Bucket list is still long, and getting bigger.

We are booked on the Russia and the Baltic Sea for April 26, 2019. Previously, we have only taken Viking tours, either included or optional, and enjoyed all but one of them. We book the Veranda cabin, so we are the last to select our excursions, and this was not a problem on our first cruise. However, I am concerned about the St. Petersburg visit. With three days in port and only one included excursion, I am afraid of being shut out of most of the places we wish to see.

I will soon book a 3 day tour with Alla Tours (have been waiting for our new passports, which arrived today!). I have read many posters on Cruise Critic who were very pleased with Alla, and their 3000 + reviews on Trip Advisor are excellent. Check out their 3 day Grand Tour at $385 for a group tour (maximum 16). The Alla website had very good information. My communication with Polina, by email, has been very helpful.

Obviously, I have no actual experience with this company, but I do have high expectations.

We are on Viking Homelands on May 29 so our excursions and prices have been up for a bit. In St. P there are quite a few, ranging from $69 for one site, to $509pp for the 2-day full tour. By way of comparison, we booked a two day tour with TJ and the price was $225pp. We put together our own group through our roll call and got a discount.

Took Homelands last May 28th and did St Pete with TJ plus my wife was the only one to do the Swan Lake ballet with TJ

FIRST CLASS TOUR

We used Alla and had a wonderful experience. Our guide listened to our preferences and wove them into the tour. She lived in Texas for a short time and was fluent in many languages. Her name is Katsiana. We were a group of 8 friends and relatives. The driver was also excellent.

I put together a CC group on our 9/2017 Homelands cruise in St. Pete - Alla gave us CC discount and it was a fabulous small group - max 16 - experience, cheaper and with added sites plus small group (vox earphone system used as well so "easy listening" and nothing missed) - guide was excellent - met us at dock on other side of customs so very easy - very responsive to email inquiries and res are easy

We used Alla as well for the 2 day Grand Tour. We decided to book it for 6 of us for slightly more than their regular tour, and we thought it was a good idea...she did a few extra things for us since we could get in and out and on and off pretty quickly. I'd go with Alla again for sure!!!

I'm another cheerleader of Alla. We had a small group of 6. They were easy to work with, always responded quickly to any questions, they knew how to avoid crowds, small groups, on time for pick up (wait, they were always early and so were the people in our group so we left early), nice touring vehicle. I believe all the tour companies in SP offer discounts if you can get X amount of fellow CC cruisers to book with them. They had two tours for us one was easy and the other one was more intense. We chose the latter and so glad we did. You certainly want to see and do all that you can the days that you are there. If I remember correctly, they are all much cheaper than Viking.

Much cheaper!!! They gave us the CC discount even though we wanted a private tour for 6..

A bit more than the larger tour but well worth it.

Alla was fabulous for me last May in St Petersburg. Everything was absolutely perfect on a two-day tour. Even the included lunches were beautiful.

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We Were on the Viking Homelands last year and we booked the 2 day 20 hour tour with TJ Travel and they were amazing. We had a small group from both the Sea and Star (both ships were in the port at the same time) and really left St. Petersburg feeling we had seen absolutely as much as we could in 2 days. They took care of meals (in small cafes) and visas. Highly recommend TJ Travel. About 1/2 the price of the cruise package too!

We booked Tzar Travel for our small group of 6 that we created from our Roll Call on the Sea last September. At $250pp for two extremely full days, it was a bargain! They provided the same services noted above - no lines, great transportation, etc., and were able to accommodate my very ambitious itinerary beautifully, including adding on the Faberge Museum one evening when we had some extra time, and arranging a tour of Dostoevsky's neighborhood from Crime and Punishment. Can't recommend them highly enough!

The three tour companies that are most used and recommended by ship passengers are Alla, TJ and SPB. All three seem to be comparable in quality. During our Oceania cruise last year we booked SPB because that was the company that most of the passengers on the ship used and we got a group rate of about $350 inclusive for our group of about 15. The only extras were tips to guide and driver. Everything was excellent. My recommendation is to use the company that most of the passengers on the ship have booked . That way your bus will not be dropping off passengers at more than one ship and you will be with familiar cruisers. The buses used are always small and they don't use the back seat. Ours were luxurious Mercedes models. This is one of the best bargains available regardless of company. Three days including luncheons, all tours and visa. Since our ships docked downtown rather than at the large port one hour from the center, we were always finished with the day's tour in time to request an extra stop of our choice.

Just finished VK Homelands April 28, 2018 cruise. In St. Petersburg we used the SPB Tours to provide a customized 2 itinerary for 2 couples. Day 1- 8:30 am-6 pm. Day 2- 8am-5pm. We wanted to see the impressionist collection no longer housed in the Hermitage. Now in the general staff building and not included in the regular Hermitage tour. We dropped a little & added a little. SPB Tours did some fine tuning of the regular 2 day tour and we had a great time with guide Kate and driver Max (both fluent in English). Without a large group we moved very fast and got to see everything we wanted. The ride on the Metro was one of many highlights. Two enjoyable lunches at local places are included (some tours charge extra), Yes there is a cost ($375 pp or $750 for a couple over 2 days), but you get a private car (6 person Mercedes SUV), and no crowds/delays, and an extensive tour. If we had a third couple the rate would be somewhat lower. Do some research and enjoy a great cruise.

We are booked on the Russia and the Baltic Sea for April 26, 2019. Previously, we have only taken Viking tours, either included or optional, and enjoyed all but one of them. We book the Veranda cabin, so we are the last to select our excursions, and this was not a problem on our first cruise. However, I am concerned about the St. Petersburg visit. With three days in port and only one included excursion, I am afraid of being shut out of most of the places we wish to see.

 

I will soon book a 3 day tour with Alla Tours (have been waiting for our new passports, which arrived today!). I have read many posters on Cruise Critic who were very pleased with Alla, and their 3000 + reviews on Trip Advisor are excellent. Check out their 3 day Grand Tour at $385 for a group tour (maximum 16). The Alla website had very good information. My communication with Polina, by email, has been very helpful.

Obviously, I have no actual experience with this company, but I do have high expectations.

Good choice!! The included tour was really bad.

If possible try for a smaller group than 16!

When in St Petersburg in Sept 2017, we used Alla Tours. Our ship had about 20 sign up with Alla and we could easily have fitted in the mini bus.

However, Alla split our group, providing 2 drivers, 2 guides and 2 mini buses. Our guide spoke exceptional English, possible as her other job was Professor of English Language at the University.

We also used Alla Tours in Tallinn, having an exception tour with only 5 of us.

I agree with deec try for less than 16. We booked for 6 of us (found a few on cc). A little more than the group of 16 but really nice!

I agree with deec try for less than 16. We booked for 6 of us (found a few on cc). A little more than the group of 16 but really nice!

We began our European travel experiences on escorted bus tours, and did most of our tours with around 35 people. We actually had great fun. A group of 16 will feel positively intimate for us!

I've got to say, though, that 6 was perfect. We spread out in the van, we each could talk to the guide privately...we went extra places...shops, a market, some side streets, a local snack shop...didn't have to wear headphones as we were right there, didn't have to wait to round up people...it was perfect.

We are booked on the Russia and the Baltic Sea for April 26, 2019. Previously, we have only taken Viking tours, either included or optional, and enjoyed all but one of them. We book the Veranda cabin, so we are the last to select our excursions, and this was not a problem on our first cruise. However, I am concerned about the St. Petersburg visit. With three days in port and only one included excursion, I am afraid of being shut out of most of the places we wish to see.

 

I will soon book a 3 day tour with Alla Tours (have been waiting for our new passports, which arrived today!). I have read many posters on Cruise Critic who were very pleased with Alla, and their 3000 + reviews on Trip Advisor are excellent. Check out their 3 day Grand Tour at $385 for a group tour (maximum 16). The Alla website had very good information. My communication with Polina, by email, has been very helpful.

Obviously, I have no actual experience with this company, but I do have high expectations.

We just got back and used Alla! It was stellar!!!!!