jeanb Posted June 17, 2004 #1 Share Posted June 17, 2004 Has anyone taken a boxed lunch on a tour with Red October? We would like to take lunch on one of the 2 days and eat in a restaurant on the other but I do know what the procedure is. Do you order the boxed lunches from your waiter in the dining room the night before or do you order it from the buffet? I would appreciate any suggestions from those who have taken boxed lunches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andee Posted June 17, 2004 #2 Share Posted June 17, 2004 I've been flamed for my opinion on this topic before, but I still hold to it, and I'm tough, so here goes: I think it's fine to take food off the ship for passengers who paid for a cruise. I do not think it is right to take food off the ship for the guide and driver--that seems like stealing to me. I also think the guide and driver put in a long day, and deserve a break from thier customers' company, no matter how amazingly charming those customers might be. When we cruised to St. Petersburg, our ship didn't offer boxed lunches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasm8449 Posted June 17, 2004 #3 Share Posted June 17, 2004 I agree about everyone needing a break in a long day of touring. That being said,this is what I do on the rare occasions when I need to take a lunch off the ship: I pack a small (6-can) softsided foldable cooler, some Ziplock sandwich bags, and a Ziplock freezer bag. The day before, I'll get some fruit (apples, oranges, bananas) from the buffet. I'll order cookies and sandwiches from room service. I pack these in the Ziplocks, and store them in my mini bar. In the morning, I make an ice pack with the freezer bag and ice cubes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clare Husted Posted June 17, 2004 #4 Share Posted June 17, 2004 Hi, We just came back from touring with RO and did take a canal ride with a packed lunch from the ship. We ordered room service and got a club sandwich plus some chips. There was no problem taking food from the ship. We had to leave very early AM so just brought some baggies and had the sandwiches in the refrigerator ready the night before. Also fruit and cookies can be included to balance out the lunch. We did this for the first day of touring and then did lunch with a Russian Family the next day. A good meal was prepared by this family and an experience to remember. Third floor apartment building was very old and depressing but gave us a first hand experience to their way of life. Elena Babanova (our RO guide) was excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Kruzer Posted June 25, 2004 #5 Share Posted June 25, 2004 Just back from a Norwegian Dream cruise to Baltic and Russia. Used Red October and can not praise them enough. They were excellent!!!!!!!! Boxed lunches???????? We had read on this board that you could take food ashore, and were all set to do so. However........ BE WARNED ...... Quarantine regulations in Russia prohibit the taking ashore , of food ,of any kind. After finding this out ,one of our party simply emailed RO from the ship,and they arranged lunch at a restaurant for us. It turned out to be a very interesting and enjoyable experience. After a full morning of sightseeing,it was a great break ,before we set off again in the afternoon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canyousayvacation Posted June 25, 2004 #6 Share Posted June 25, 2004 Which restaurant did you chose? How was the food and prices?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Kruzer Posted June 25, 2004 #7 Share Posted June 25, 2004 We did not choose the restaurant, just left it in the hands of RO. We where not dissapointed. Dining in Russia is like stepping back in time. An experience to be treasured ........ Food and prices? Day 1 $19 Day 2 $21 Food? Well ,that is why you travel.... To experience the difference........ Go for it and enjoy....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mek Posted June 26, 2004 #8 Share Posted June 26, 2004 We had no problems taking sandwiches off the Grand 2 weeks ago in St Petersburg. The first day we had a very nice buffet lunch at the Hotel Europa,($20 each), and the second day to save some time, we decided to bring our own lunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celem Posted June 26, 2004 #9 Share Posted June 26, 2004 My 2-day tour in St. Petersburg is not with RO, but rather with Baltic Travel through American Express. It includes lunch on both days with no option to not include the lunch, so there is no profit incentive for the warning printed on the tour tickets. It reads: "Lunch is provided. Do not ask for a box lunch from the ship. Immigration cannot clear food from the ship, so please respect the local authorities and leave all food onboard". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toots Posted June 28, 2004 #10 Share Posted June 28, 2004 We were on the same ship as Kiwi Kruzer and were told several times not to take food off the ship because of immigration rules. We didn't want to chance being sent to the Gulag for sneaking in sandwiches and fruit!! I'm surprised that other cruiselines don't have the same restrictions. We asked Red October at the last minute to provide lunch for us that we could eat while traveling in the van and they provided two sandwiches, fruit and bottled water for each of us. I think it was about $15, not cheap, but very convenient. Brigitte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spappa Posted June 28, 2004 #11 Share Posted June 28, 2004 I was traveling on Red October with Kiwi Cruizer--and I think we were all pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable our lunches in the St. Petersburg restaurants were. The first day, the soup wasn't ready so they gave us a drink of our choice--beer, wine, soft drink--as their apology. The food was excellent and as Kiwi says, it was a very nice break. You really don't realize how much you have been going until you sit down! Plus we were eight people from five different locations--and we enjoyed the opportunity to visit more in-depth with each other. Very wonderful way to enjoy the culture. It was one of those lagniappe items--a very pleasant surprise that you didn't plan. And I just brought all those zip-lock bags and cute little lunch bags back home with me--I'll use another time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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