Visas in St. Petersburg.

[Bristol]

Help!!! Carnival states that anyone booked with a private tour will not be able to leave the ship without a visa, anyone on a ships tour wont need a visa. Alla say's we are covered by our tour ticket. Can anyone straighten this out??? :confused: :confused: :confused:

[traveller123]

This question has been asked and answered quite a bit on this board. But it is confusing.

 

If you are taking a tour with Alla Tours then there is a "blanket" visa for your group and you will be just fine. It is the same as for the ship's tours. If you are planning to visit St. Petersburg on your own (no tour group, etc.) then you need to apply for a visa before you leave home.

 

Carnival is just trying to get everyone to do ship's tours in St. Petersburg. I'd say just about every cruise line has pulled the same stunt with the wording.

[belle907]

This link was posted by one of the cruisers on our roll call: http://stpetersburg.usconsulate.gov/citizen_ship.htm

[queenofdnile]

I used Red October. If you can get 6 or 8 (The number that fits in a van) It should be about the same amount as the ship excursion. Plus You are in a much smaler group so you can beat the big bus load into most sites. This is a mubh better deal!! Yes, your tour company has the "umbrella" just like the ships tour.

[ontheweb]

Help!!! Carnival states that anyone booked with a private tour will not be able to leave the ship without a visa, anyone on a ships tour wont need a visa. Alla say's we are covered by our tour ticket. Can anyone straighten this out??? :confused: :confused: :confused:

 

Your ticket from Alla will include your visa.

 

We used Alla's service last August departing from the Star Princess. Princess tried to tell us the same thing as Carnival is telling you. Alla said she hears this all the time, and not to worry.

 

Our group of 10 decided on a meeting place. As soon as the ship was cleared, we all were among the first to disembark.The Alla van (along with a van each from Red October and Den Rus) was there waiting.

 

Do not worry. This is a scare tactic that all the cruise lines seem to use.

[California Native]

The cruiselines have been pulling this doo doo for years

You are covered with Alla, Denrus, Red October to name the biggies here.

You can NOT be detained until shorex have gone off..

Have your paperwork that Alla, Denrus and Red Oct. gave you

If you are on a private tour with the one of the above companys you just go out as soon as the ship clears

If you want to go out on your own past customs you need to purchase a visa IN ADVANCE!

every year the cruise lines do this doo doo and every year all of us that have done this itinerary before

...have to assure all of you ready to embark on your 1st Baltic cruise.

I don't mind doing it at all,

What grows tiresome is the carefully worded intimidation letters all of you get!

Please just exhale!