Circle of Interest- Art

[basedow]

We are taking an August sailing to the Baltics which includes St. Petersberg. This cruise includes what Regent calls an Art Circle of Interest for St. Petersberg.

 

I was curious if others have availed themselves of this added amenity. Have you enjoyed it? Did it add greatly to your experience and would you choose this over a personal guide?

 

Thank you for your response.:)

[Hambagahle]

We participated in the Art and Architecture Circle of Interest in Nov 2006 on the first part of a cruise Rome/Florida. Our Circle was led by Sandra Bowern, who is wonderful!, and we had specially qualified guides, most of whom were outstanding. Sandra got us all together the first night and then came on all the visits with us. She organised small groups for the busses - we were 30 in all and divided into two groups each with its own bus and guide. She also gave at least one special lecture for us. Then she organised a dinner at la Veranda along with quiz on what we had learnt. Lots of fun and I am happy to say that our table did really well.

She disembarked in Madeira and I was sorry to see her go! We had been on a Baltic cruise that June and she had been on board too and so we felt like old friends.

After Funchal one of the couples in the Circle very kindly hosted a cocktail party for all of us who were still on board - which was around 25 or so! And then we sporadically got together with people we had met during the actual Circle all the way across to the US.

I found it well worthwhile. We learnt a lot and met some nice people. We are now signed up for the Falklands Circle of Interest on the Jan 16 cruise from Lima to BA on the Mariner. It was really lovely to explore new things at a reasonably good level with a bunch of like-minded people!!

My advice then is - do it! You will not regret it.

[basedow]

Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply. It sounds like it was a wonderful part of the tour!

 

In reading the description on the Regent site, I'm not so sure the St. Petersburg cruise employs the use of the guide as extensively as your cruise. It looks confined to the day at the Hermitage. People I've spoken with earlier seemed to hire personal guides. This is before I knew of the circle of interest offered so I didn't ask them specifically.

 

Thanks again for your recommendation. I will remember that for future cruises!

[Hambagahle]

Hi Basedown,

I think that only some visits are normally included in the Circle of Interest, not visits in all ports. On our Med. cruise, for example, we had CoI special guides/bus/visits in: Monte Carlo and Sevilla. So you have to supplement these with taking "regular" excursions.

We arranged our own guide when in St Petersburg in June 06. (we weren't in a Circle of Interest on that cruise...) On recommendations from friends we contacted Galina (at www.Galinatrvel.com) She is a wonderful person who has guided Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, to name two! She used to work directly for the US consulate in St P and is now on her own. She specialises in tailor-made itineraries. You tell her where you want to go and she will take care of it including getting a car or van (depending on how many you are) and driver. She also will get you into places when they are closed to the general public. For example, we visited the Gold Room at the Hermitage when it was closed. We were taken around by the Director. We visited Catherine's Palace, had coffee and cake with the Associate Director and went around it when the only other people in the building were the cleaners! Same at the Chinese Palace. Needless to say, this costs - we paid around $1000/day all in for 3 of us. (All in means Galina, car, driver, entrances) But it is worth every penny. Galina is a super person who makes history come alive. I never thought I would enjoy the Yussopov Palace, but with her - I loved it! Her only drawback is that she is always late. Make sure you have her cell phone if you hire her...she lives quite far from where we docked and St P traffic is horrendous!

[basedow]

Thanks you for this recommendation. I will keep her name handy!