ST PETERSBURG 2 day Celebrity excursion-HELP

[traveller]

HI ALL...my adobe reader wont open and I need to know if the 2 day CELEBRITY ST PETERSBURG excursion includes TOURING the Hermitage?

 

there is a listing of tour PZN8 and PZN3 and I cannot see any listings of what is included in either tour since my computer is not opening up the brochure..

 

All help will be appreciated...

 

thanks

 

Andy

[DebbieMacG]

Both go :)

 

This is PZN8

 

Experience the history, culture and extravagance of St. Petersburg over 2 days without overlapping any venues, attractions or options. This port package is available on any Celebrity's Constellation sailings with a 2-day stay in St. Petersburg, Russia. Tour packages will only be sold via the website; they will not be available onboard although individual tours will be sold onboard, subject to space availability. A minimum is required in order for this package tour to operate.

 

 

Day 1: Hermitage Museum, St. Isaac’s Cathedral & Panoramic Sights

 

On the 30-minute transfer to downtown St. Petersburg, your guide will call attention to the splendid architecture and fascinating history of the city. Pass Palace Square, the main square of the city, beautifully balanced and proportioned around the Alexander Column, an important focal point for this architectural ensemble. On the northern side of the square stands the picturesque Baroque Winter Palace. Drive across the Neva River to make your first stop on the Spit of Vasilievsky Island, flanked by two Rostral Columns.

 

Drive around Peter and Paul's Fortress before exiting the coach right in front of the main entrance to the Hermitage. The guided tour in the Winter Palace will include numerous reception halls such as the Small Throne Room, the Armorial Hall, the Grand Throne Hall and the Malachite Room. Marvel the exhibits of the 15th 16th century French art as well as works of Impressionists. The next building on your tour is the Small Hermitage, famous for its exquisite decoration with a marble colonnade, crystal chandeliers and the amazing Peacock Clock. In the Old Hermitage, you will see a splendid collection of Italian Renaissance including masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci and Rafael. Your guide will lead you to the New Hermitage, where the 16th & 18th Italian art is presented. Halls containing the Dutch collection is so rich that you can observe Rembrandt's artistic career from his early masterpieces to the very last revelations of the genius.

 

Enjoy lunch in one of the local St. Petersburg restaurants before continuing your afternoon tour program. A short drive will take you to St. Isaac's Cathedral, one of the world largest cathedrals (1818 - 1958) designed by French architect August Montferrant. The Cathedral is named for St. Isaac of Dalmatia whose Saint's Day (May 30) coincides with Peter the Great's birthday. You will view the vast and opulent interior that covers 43,000 sq ft. The church's interior is filled with hundreds of impressive 19th century works of art. After your visit to St. Isaac's Cathedral, continue to the Cruiser Aurora, which signaled the beginning of the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917. Proceed through the Field of Mars to the Cathedral of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood, built on the spot where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. During your tour, you will visit one of the souvenir shops with an abundance of traditional Russian souvenirs. You’ll make a drive down the main street of Nevsky Prospect on the return to the ship.

 

Day 2: Puskin and Peterhof Parks and Fountains

 

You'll begin with a visit to Catherine Palace, designed by Rastrelli, has a stunning facade of nearly 1,000 feet long adorned with gold and white ornaments. You'll be guided through the various rooms, including the Grand Throne Room, a masterpiece of the Baroque style, the State Dining Room, the Amber Room, the Blue Drawing Room, and others. After the tour of the Palace interior, you'll take a short walk through the gardens towards the coach park where you can look at the souvenirs on offer by local merchants.

 

Following lunch at a local restaurant, you'll reboard the coach for a drive to Peterhof. Begin with a walk in the Lower Gardens, a 300-acre fountain park with a number of pavilions and palaces overlooking the Gulf of Finland. The park consists of approximately 150 fountains including four cascades decorated with gilded statues of mythological characters. Enjoy a stop at the Grand Cascade, the largest fountain ensemble in the world that is justly considered the chief delight of the grounds. A large variety of fountains concentrated in the Lower Park includes the Checker Board Hill Cascade, Golden Hill Cascade, Lion's Cascade, Adam and Eva fountains, the Sun fountain, the Pyramid and lots of others.

 

Note: Guests must be able to walk approximately 3.5 miles over gravel paths, cobblestones and even surfaces with approximately 200+ steps in Peterhof Gardens and approximately 120 steps covering two stories in the Hermitage. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Special shoe covers must be worn touring Pushkin Palace. Camera and video fees for the Hermitage and Pushkin are included in the tour cost. Flash photos restrictions might apply in certain rooms. Large carry bags, umbrellas and heavy coats are not permitted in the palaces, and must be checked prior to entering the museums. Please be aware that the Peterhof fountains are subject to maintenance work without advance notification. As heavy traffic can occur along the route to/from Peterhof Palace; Pushkin Palace, guests should expect delays and tour interruptions due to same. No interior visit to the Peterhof Palace will be made on this tour. As a result the total time spent at the Palaces might be impacted. The order of the visited sights may vary due to local circumstances that are not advised in advance. The Museums may change their expositions or close some of the halls without prior notice. This is beyond the control of the local agent and/or Celebrity Cruises.

 

 

PZN3 which also goes to The Hermitage

 

Experience the history, culture and extravagance of St. Petersburg over 2 days without overlapping any venues, attractions or options. This port package is available on any Celebrity's Eclipse sailings with a 2-day stay in St. Petersburg, Russia. Tour packages will only be sold via the website; they will not be available onboard although individual tours will be sold onboard, subject to space availability. A minimum is required in order for this package tour to operate.

 

Day 1:

 

Begin with a visit to Catherine's Palace in Pushkin, originally known as Tzar's Village. Renowned for its splendid fairytale interior of fine furnishings and china, it ranks as one of the masterpieces of world art. Peter the Great presented the estate to his wife Catherine in 1710; it served until the time of the last Tzar as the imperial family's summer residence. You will be guided through the various lavish rooms including the Throne Room, the State Dinning Room, the Reception Room, the Blue Drawing Room and others. During World War II, the palace suffered significant damage; painstaking work restored it to its original splendor. After the tour in the palace, you will be escorted through a section of the garden decorated with several pavilions, monuments and bridges in a variety of styles.

 

A Russian lunch will be served in a local restaurant before continuing your exploration of the city of St. Petersburg. Begin your city highlights tour with a view of the monumental St. Isaac's Cathedral. Its golden dome, coated with more than 200 pounds of gold, dominates the city skyline. Pass the main square of St. Petersburg with its 4754 centimetres high column erected as a monument to victory over Napoleon I. Stop at the Rostral Columns to enjoy a splendid view of the Neva River, the Hermitage, and the golden spire of Peter and Paul Cathedral. You will be guided through Peter and Paul Fortress, which is considered the birthplace of St. Petersburg. This extensive walled complex includes the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, now part of the St. Petersburg History Museum. The cathedral became the burial place of the Tzars starting with Peter the Great. While in the cathedral, you will see the tombstones of the Imperial family including Nicholas II and his relatives.

 

Continue to the Cruiser Aurora, which signaled the beginning of the Bolshevik Revolution. Proceed past the Field of Mars and the Marble Palace before arriving at the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood where you will stop for photographs of this exquisitely decorated church that was built on the spot where Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. Continue with a drive along Nevsky Prospect, the main thoroughfare of St. Petersburg past the Kazan Cathedral and further on out of the city for the short transfer back to the vessel.

 

Day 2:

 

An approximate one-hour drive will take you to Peterhof, the town of Palaces, fountains, parks and the most brilliant of all the summer residences of the Russian tsars. Conceived by Peter the Great to rival Versailles, the complex was officially opened in 1721. Explore the Palace with its opulent staterooms and priceless art. See the breathtaking Grand Cascade, a series of 64 fountains, 37 gilt statues and 3 waterfalls. Following a Russian lunch, return to the heart of the city to visit the famous Hermitage Museum. Discover Russia's largest art museum with an astounding collection of over 2 million pieces of art. Founded by Catherine II in 1764, the collection is housed in four buildings, the most impressive of them being the Winter Palace.

 

Note: Guests must be able to walk approximately 5 kilometres over gravel paths, cobblestones and even surfaces with approximately 200+ steps in Peterhof and approximately 120 steps covering two stories in the Hermitage. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Special shoe covers must be worn touring both Peterhof Palace and Pushkin. Camera and video fees for the Hermitage and Pushkin are included in the tour cost. Flash photos restrictions might apply in certain rooms. Large carry bags, umbrellas and heavy coats are not permitted in the palaces, and must be checked prior to entering the museums. Effective with the 2009 season, video and still photography are not permitted in the Grand Palace of Peterhof. The Museums may change their expositions or close some of the halls without notice. Please be aware that the Peterhof fountains are subject to maintenance work without advance notification. As heavy traffic can occur along the route to/from Peterhof Palace and Pushkin Palace, guests should expect delays and tour interruptions due to same. As a result the total time spent at the Palaces might be impacted. This is beyond the control of the local agent and/or Celebrity Cruises.

[traveller]

HI

 

thanks for the info on the PZN8 tour..

 

STILL need info on the PZM3 tour in order to compare and book..

 

My adobe reader is not opening up...

 

MANY THANKS!!

 

Andy

[traveller]

Just realized you posted BOTH tours for me..MANY THANKS....

 

Now I have my reading cut out to figure which one I should take...ANY suggestions?

 

thanks

 

Andy

[fleckle]

Just realized you posted BOTH tours for me..MANY THANKS....

 

Now I have my reading cut out to figure which one I should take...ANY suggestions?

 

thanks

 

Andy

My suggestion would be instead to book a 2-day excursion in St. Petersburg with one of the wonderful, highly recommended private tour operators there.

 

Here is a link to the forum for

 

Northern Europe & Baltics - Cruise Critic Message Board Forums

 

You can find lots of discussions there about what to do in St. Petersburg, as well as the other ports you will be visiting on the cruise.

 

 

Here is also a link to

 

St. Petersburg Activities - TripAdvisor

 

 

We used SPB Tours for our two days in St. Petersburg, were very pleased with them and recommend them highly. Their tour was excellent, and they personalized it to include all the features that the members of our group requested.

 

Cruise passengers who used other recommended private tour operators in St. Petersburg were also very pleased with their tours.

 

I would suggest that you go to the websites of the various recommended tour operators and look through the descriptions of the tours they offer.

Then email them with your questions, interests and concerns, see what kind of replies you get, and pick the company that looks like it will be the best fit for you.

 

[Mulege]

A private tour is the way to go. Who wants to be on a tour bus with 46 people when you can have a private guide in a comfortable van with 6-8 others. The price is cheaper. The ship tour will be like herding cattle. Constantly waiting for stragglers.

 

The ship docks outside of the city. Traffic is bad all time of the day. A van can get through much easier than the big bus.

[Mulege]

A private tour is the way to go. Who wants to be on a tour bus with 46 people when you can have a private guide in a comfortable van with 6-8 others. The price is cheaper. The ship tour will be like herding cattle. Constantly waiting for stragglers.

 

The ship docks outside of the city. Traffic is bad all time of the day. A van can get through much easier than the big bus.

[Hapytocruise]

Check out "Peter's Walking Tours" we used him and had a wonderful two day excursion which included the Hermatige, walking tour of the markets and food tour.

Peter speaks perfect English and will assist in customizing your visit.

[BSinPNS]

We pre-booked with Alla and had a wonderful time. Walked by lines of people with Celebrity and HAL stickers waiting to get into the Hermitage and then had a small group tour with our guide who spoke excellent English. Mom was a curator there. Tour was arranged so that the distant sights were visited on the first day. On the second day we did the close in ones so we were never concerned about geting back to the ship on time. We've discoverd the ship's tour flow is directed by the most discourteous people on the 40+ passenger bus who get back when they want, not at the time set by the guide.

[4774Papa]

A private tour would probably be better. My Son did one with Red October (no visa needed) and loved it.

 

If you have to pick one of the two X tours, I would go with PZN3 which also goes to The Hermitage, since it goes inside Peterhof.

 

One thing about the X tours, I don't understand why they don't combine the Peterhof and Catherine's palace tour on the same day, since they are both some miles from the city and not that far from each other.

[DebbieMacG]

I would do a private tour, we used Anastasia they were fantastic :)

[happy 2 b cruising]

HI ALL...my adobe reader wont open and I need to know if the 2 day CELEBRITY ST PETERSBURG excursion includes TOURING the Hermitage?

 

there is a listing of tour PZN8 and PZN3 and I cannot see any listings of what is included in either tour since my computer is not opening up the brochure..

 

All help will be appreciated...

 

thanks

 

Andy

 

The tours are only as good as your tour guides. We had a excellent guide

last May and we were on the PZNB, what an amazing two days! We will go private or ship sponsored, it all depends on what the excursion offers.

Either way this is a fabulous trip, enjoy :).

[traveller]

A private tour would probably be better. My Son did one with Red October (no visa needed) and loved it.

 

If you have to pick one of the two X tours, I would go with PZN3 which also goes to The Hermitage, since it goes inside Peterhof.

 

One thing about the X tours, I don't understand why they don't combine the Peterhof and Catherine's palace tour on the same day, since they are both some miles from the city and not that far from each other.

 

HI Papa,

resaon for using Celebrity was we received the 2 day St Petersburg excursion as a FREEBIE ( a $600 saving) so that is why we wer going to do one of them...But as I read them, I see that there is TONS of walking..and hubs is walking with a cane and I wonder if he can even keep up with the crowds.

 

Celebritys website listed the 2 day tour as MODERATE but the Celebrity Excursion lady said she feels it is strenuous...so has anyone been on the cruise 2 day St Pete tour and can accurately tell me if it is a doeable tour with a husband using a cane? are there places to sit down to rest the weary backs if it starts to hurt..

 

 

HELP and thanks ahead of time...

 

Andy

[bigbenboys]

For me the must sees in St Petersburg are The Hermitage, Peterhof Palace and fountains. Also Yusupov Palace, the place where Prince Felix Yusupov tried to kill Grigory Rasputin. From my visit to St Petersburg all I know is that I have to go back and spend some more time in St Petersburg. So much to see. Richard

[SixOneTwo]

FYI if you're dealing with limited-mobility travelers, Peterhof and Catherine Palace will require alot of walking; also stairs. These are palaces in park-like settings of many acres.

[happy 2 b cruising]

HI Papa,

resaon for using Celebrity was we received the 2 day St Petersburg excursion as a FREEBIE ( a $600 saving) so that is why we wer going to do one of them...But as I read them, I see that there is TONS of walking..and hubs is walking with a cane and I wonder if he can even keep up with the crowds.

 

Celebritys website listed the 2 day tour as MODERATE but the Celebrity Excursion lady said she feels it is strenuous...so has anyone been on the cruise 2 day St Pete tour and can accurately tell me if it is a doeable tour with a husband using a cane? are there places to sit down to rest the weary backs if it starts to hurt..

 

 

HELP and thanks ahead of time...

 

Andy

 

 

We did the Celebrity tour, lots of walking I would not call it moderate. Could you upgrade your freebie? Last year Celebrity did offer smaller tours in cars and vans.

[fleckle]

Celebritys website listed the 2 day tour as MODERATE but the Celebrity Excursion lady said she feels it is strenuous...so has anyone been on the cruise 2 day St Pete tour and can accurately tell me if it is a doeable tour with a husband using a cane? are there places to sit down to rest the weary backs if it starts to hurt..

As others have stated, there is a lot of walking.

 

Our tour operator provided a wheelchair for a passenger who used a cane. They brought it along in their van so he would have it available to use as needed.

 

The Hermitage is a good place to use a wheelchair because the various galleries are spread out with huge areas to cover and there are elevators (lifts) for getting a wheelchair up and down from one floor to another.

 

Our guide was very familiar with the layout and knew exactly where the elevators were located so it was not a problem.

The wheelchair folded up to take along on the hydrofoil and canal boat rides.

 

Your husband would not need it for the subway, where there are steep escalators. The escalators move very quickly, and seats may not be available on the train. We needed to stand on our subway ride.

He may want to skip the subway if that would be a problem for him.

 

At other places, he may not necessarily need to do the entire walking tour with the group. That is one of the things to ask about in advance and let your tour operator know your limitations. They may allow you a certain amount of flexibility. There are some places where you need to stay with the guide, but other places where they can be more lenient.

 

Also, in addition to the full tours most of the St. Petersburg tour operators offer slower paced tours for people with physical limitations.

Those hit the major highlights but visit fewer attractions.

 

You can also arrange private tours, but those are more expensive.

Since you are being offered a free tour, your best bet may be just to find out how much flexibility they will let you have and how accommodating they will be before deciding.

 

If they cannot accommodate your needs, maybe they would let you substitute the equivalent value in other tours at other ports and let you make your own arrangements for St. Petersburg.

 

 

[gagirl7143]

Go to Alla tours and email Alla. tell her of hubby's limits and see what she can offer!

Alla tours are FANTASTIC!!!!!!! I would never do a ship tour there>

[TravellingSketcher]

Has anyone from Eclipse booked a local 2-day tour of St Peterburg? My husband and I have booked with TJ Travel who are taking very small groups.

[cynalan]

Agree with the private tour recommendations. We used a company called DenRus. We were a group of 12 with a very knowledgeable guide who spoke perfect English. Because we were a smaller group, we were able to see more at about 2/3 the cost of the X excursion. Go private... its the only way to do St. Petersburg.

[alcpa1]

I have been to St. Petersburg twice, once by land and once by sea.

We used SPB for our private shore excursion while cruising.

(While with SPB we were traveling with a dear lady who had mobility issues and from time to time needed the wheelchair.)

Here is a little info about your proposed stops.

The Hermitage - only someone who knows the ins and outs of this vast museum can find the elevators. The steps start from the moment you enter the building. Many tours go up three floors. You will walk in unair conditioned palace rooms. There is almost no seating available.

Just a note about bus limitations at The Hermitage. There is a large bus parking facility adjacent to the museum but the large busses do not drop off passengers at the door. Your parking spot will determine the distance to and from the museum.

St. Isaacs will be easy.

The Church on Spilt Blood is very doable. It is no longer an active church and has been converted to a concert hall so there should be chairs available. I'm not sure where the busses park and you may have to walk a short distance. There are two outdoor craft/trinket markets near the church.

On Day 2 Catherine's Palace may be a challenge. Even vans cannot get close to the grounds. I am not sure if there is an elevator. There are steps and the Palace is huge. I don't recall any sitting areas for tourists, especially upstairs.

Peterhoff - while the bus parking area is not a bad walk to the fountains there are either steps (about 150) or a graded switchback path down into the gardens. All of the paths are pebbled and challenging for a wheelchair. (We took turns and there were 3 of us trying to help.) My best advice would be to remain on the patio and enjoy the fountains.

I found the interior of Peterhoff to pale in comparison to the splendors of all of the other palaces I have seen.

From the second tour option....

The Peter and Paul Fortress - This may not be too much of an issue since the bus lot is not too far away, but the majority of the large fortress is cobbled with centuries of feet making the walk somewhat uneven. The church is small and will be packed. There are a few benches scattered around the grounds.

 

If there is any way you can convert your certificate to any other city on your itinerary I'd highly recommend you do so and take a small group tour in St. Petersburg. This would provide the best tour for your husband, and you too. Two days will only provide a few highlights but with no air conditioning in any building, except perhaps a restaurant, it will be tiring. Private tour operators can better plan when to visit sites with the fewest tourists and how to expedite the drive etc.

If you have not joined the Roll Call for your cruise, please do so. You will find others planning tours with the recommended tour operators.

Have a wonderful trip.

[TravellingSketcher]

Thanks Cool Cruiser. I know there are others booked from our ship doing the TJ Travel tour (local Russian company) and just wanted to see if they had all the information.

[harz99]

HI ALL...my adobe reader wont open and I need to know if the 2 day CELEBRITY ST PETERSBURG excursion includes TOURING the Hermitage?

 

there is a listing of tour PZN8 and PZN3 and I cannot see any listings of what is included in either tour since my computer is not opening up the brochure..

 

All help will be appreciated...

 

thanks

 

Andy

 

Hi Andy; if there is no way to upgrade this tour to a private one with "X" or a different port and you still want to go, I would suggest PZN8 as the most important "must visit" Hermitage is first on day one followed by lunch, which will give you a break after which if necessary you could remain on the coach rather than do the walking, or even get a taxi back to the ship.

 

Whether or not you went on the ships tour on day two would then be up to you; you could go for "the ride" as it were, and simply stay on the coach if needed, doing the bits you both feel comfortable with.

[Charles4515]

Has anyone from Eclipse booked a local 2-day tour of St Peterburg? My husband and I have booked with TJ Travel who are taking very small groups.

 

I used TJ Travel last year. Did their two day with a modification we desired (more time at Hermitage and a stop at Synagogue) and it was a great tour. Small group and very good guides. I highly recommend them.

[Groovybusybee]

We cruised the Baltic last year with my mother who has severe mobility issues.

 

She booked the Celebrity tours for those with limited mobility. She did two separate tours, both on small vans. One day there were three couples, the next day two.

 

I can't remember where they went on be first day, but did visit multiple sites, day two was Peterhof gardens where they were dropped at a separate disabled entrance. Both tours were much enjoyed.

 

The only hassle was actually booking the tours as it can't be done on-line but via an email to Miami who were exceeding slow to respond.

 

One thing to bear in mind is that is an extreamly tiring intinery, especially as you lose multiple hours on the preceding nights as you approach St Petersberg, make sure you get enough rest to cope with the long days. I needed a holiday to get over the cruise!

 

:eek: