Mighty Quinn, Question Alla Complete tour

[pattyj 1204]

Saw that you took the Complete St.Petersburg with Alla, and I was just wondering how the tour was. No one seems to have taken it and wrote about it. How many people were on your tour and did you have a satisfactory tour? It sounds like we will see a lot of places and learn a lot. How was the Hydrofoil ride?Smooth?? Thanks for sharing. Pat

[MightyQuinn]

Saw that you took the Complete St.Petersburg with Alla, and I was just wondering how the tour was. No one seems to have taken it and wrote about it. How many people were on your tour and did you have a satisfactory tour? It sounds like we will see a lot of places and learn a lot. How was the Hydrofoil ride?Smooth?? Thanks for sharing. Pat

Everything you need to know..... and then some......

 

We were in St. Petersburg aboard the Prinsendam on June 8-9 and did Alla Tours “Complete St. Petersburg”. This is the first season that Alla offered a “package” group tour to cruise passengers, so we had a touch of anxiety mixed with eager anticipation. Here’s our experience:

 

Sunday June 8 – The Prinsendam docked at 7:00am and shortly thereafter we went to the gangway ready to disembark. Other passengers on independent tours were also gathered. Once the ship was cleared at 7:25am, we were off. No hassles by ship personnel. We entered Russian Customs and presented our passport, a copy of our passport and our Alla tour ticket to the officials. Our passport was stamped and we were given a red laminated card for entry to the city. Once through customs, we were greeted by Elena (we couldn’t believe our fortune to get one of Alla’s most senior guides) who escorted us to our Mercedes minivan. Our group comprised 7 couples and 1 child, for a total of 15 people. This turned out to be an excellent size.

 

We started with a city sightseeing drive, covering such highlights as St. Nicholas Church (where we popped in and caught part of the Russian Orthodox service), Theatre Square with Mariinsky Theatre, St. Isaac’s Square, Bronze Horseman, Smolny Cathedral, Nevsky Prospekt, Kazan Cathedral, Grand Hotel Europe and Winter Palace with the Hermitage Museum. We were scheduled for early entry to the Hermitage at 9:00am, but we didn’t actually get there until 9:45am due to road closures and delays associated with an Economic Summit happening downtown. The rescheduling turned out to be brilliant, since when we arrived we had the Hermitage to ourselves - literally JUST OUR GROUP. Once inside, we climbed the majestic Jordan Staircase and marveled at the grandeur of this incredible building. We toured the State Rooms of the Winter Palace, Malachite Room, St. George’s Hall, 1812 Gallery and Pavillon Hall. We’re still alone! But by the time we reached the rooms of da Vinci, Rembrandt and Rubens, it was becoming more crowded. Elena did an outstanding job of highlighting pieces and whisking us to/from rooms to avoid any congestion. At the Gallery of French Impressionists, she gave us free time to enjoy this collection at our own pace. In total, we were at the Hermitage for about 2 hours, which for us was just about right.

 

It was now 11:45am and we stopped for lunch at a Russian restaurant next door to the Hermitage. Lunch consisted of mushroom & egg noodle soup, cuke salad, chicken with cheese sauce, rice & beans with a cherry tart for dessert. Unremarkable but satisfying. After lunch, we visited the Church of the Spilled Blood, modeled on St. Basils’ in Moscow and known for its multi-colored onion domes and richly decorated mosaics. Simply stunning.

 

Next we visited Yusupov’s Palace on the banks of the Moika River. Elena guided us through the elegant rooms of one of the richest families in Russia. We saw the reception rooms, private living quarters and the former wine cellar where Rasputin was assassinated. The highlight was a visit to the exquisite Yusupov Theater, still in use today and renowned for its outstanding acoustics. We learned it’s an honor for artists to perform on this stage and we were delighted to be there.

 

Our first day ended with shopping at a store near Mariinsky Theater called Swan Lake. Elena explained that Alla has decided to take clients to selected stores where quality is assured and prices are fixed. Swan Lake had the usual assortment of Russian souvenirs, as well as free vodka tastings. Staff were friendly and there was no pressure to buy. Cash registers automatically showed any purchase in Rubles, Euros and USD! Our group made a few purchases and we returned to the Prinsendam by 5:15pm. Later that evening, some people went to the Russian Folk Performance and reported a great time.

 

Monday June 9 – We passed through Russian customs at 7:45am, showed our passports and received another red laminated card. Alla was waiting on board the minivan to process payment for the tour. We paid cash - US$300 in crisp clean bills - while others paid by credit card. By 8:15am we continued on another sightseeing drive, this time covering Vasilievsky Isalnd for great views of city centre and Neva Embankment, Rostral Columns, Stock Exchange, Admiralty and Cruiser Aurora. Then we visited Peter & Paul Fortress, toured the Cathedral with its landmark spire and saw the tombs of the Russian Czars, including those of the Romanovs.

 

The rest of the day was spent in the suburbs. We traveled 25 km south of St.P to Tsars Village to visit Catherine’s Palace, a former summer residence of the Russian Czars. We arrived at 11:30am and the place was packed. Despite the crowds, Elena did an expert job of guiding us through this opulent palace. The ceremonial rooms are an unequalled example of Russian baroque architecture. Utterly extravagant. We easily understood how the imperial balls held here overshadowed those held in the Winter Palace. The Amber Room is awesome, albeit a replica of the fabled original. No pics allowed, but you can get some good shots from either doorway.

 

After our visit to Catherine’s Palace, we drove to Peterhof, 32 km west of St.P on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. We ate a box lunch en route - chicken pancake (crepe), yoghurt, Wagon Wheel type biscuits, chocolate bar, fruit juice and bottled water. Nothing special. Peterhof is known as Russian Versailles and its principal attractions are beautiful fountains and waterfalls. We wandered the lovely Upper Garden and Lower Park and admired the unique waterworks, including the extravagant Grand Cascade Fountain with many gilded bronze statues. We delighted in the Jester Fountains, especially once Elena told us the secret of how they work!

 

Our program included a hydrofoil ride back from Peterhof to the city centre, but unfortunately, very strong winds caused the hydrofoils to be cancelled that afternoon. Apparently this is not uncommon. So we were back on the minivan for the drive to St.P. On the way, we saw the aftermath of the wind storm - uprooted trees along the main highway and several traffic accidents. Once back in the city, we made our final excursion to St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the largest in Russia and one of the largest cupola cathedrals in the world. This architectural wonder can accommodate up to 10,000 worshippers at once. By now, we were used to everything about St.P being over-the-top, but we were still wowed.

 

Sadly it was time to return to the ship. Traffic was heavy and it took a while to reach the port gates. Once there, we needed to cross railroad tracks to reach the ship but we encountered a very long train blocking our path. Our driver Dmitry took several detours looking for an alternate route and finally secured the help of a forklift driver who escorted us through the railyard maze. This was all very exciting and we made it back to the Prinsendam within minutes of “all aboard”.

 

We had an exceptional time in St. Petersburg with Alla Tours. Her “Complete St. Petersburg” exceeded our expectations in every regard. It’s still hard to believe that we got such a comprehensive itinerary, expert guidance and personal attention of a small group for US$300. That’s only US$15/hr! For us, Alla Tours “Complete St. Petersburg” was a real winner.

[LHT28]

It’s still hard to believe that we got such a comprehensive itinerary, expert guidance and personal attention of a small group for US$300. That’s only US$15/hr! For us, Alla Tours “Complete St. Petersburg” was a real winner.

 

Was that $300 pp, a couple or for a group?

[jspirit]

Did you get a refund for the hydrofoil since it was cancelled?

For the cash payment, did she accept $100.00 bills in US currency or do we need smaller bills?

Thank you for posting your experience . Very helpful!

[MightyQuinn]

Did you get a refund for the hydrofoil since it was cancelled?

For the cash payment, did she accept $100.00 bills in US currency or do we need smaller bills?

Thank you for posting your experience . Very helpful!

Yes the tour is US$300 pp. We paid her 3x100 bills each. Alla really scrutinizes the bills looking for flaws so the requirement for clean, crisp bills must be met.

 

As for the hydrofoil, we didn't receive (nor did we expect) a refund. In the material that Alla sent before we booked, she made a disclaimer that the hydrofoil is weather-dependant and in the event of cancellation due to adverse weather conditions, no refunds would be made. We were disappointed that the hydrofoil was cancelled, but we understood.

[LHT28]

Yes the tour is US$300 pp. We paid her 3x100 bills each. Alla really scrutinizes the bills looking for flaws so the requirement for clean, crisp bills must be met.

 

 

Thanks for the info

[egit]

Excellent review. Do you know if there is an option for the canal boats?

[pattyj 1204]

Thank you so much MightyQuinnn, I'm glad your tour was spectactular. One thing that people going on tours should do is to read the fine print, not complain in the end if they don't. It sounds like this is the right tour for us.

Egit, I understand that the Complete tour allows for NO deviations by the tourist. It is a set tour. I got this info from the website. She does offer custom tours and that can be designed as you want. A lot of people like that option, but we wanted it set up and didn't want to set up our own group. For the cost I believe this is a good value. Good luck with your planning.

[MightyQuinn]

Excellent review. Do you know if there is an option for the canal boats?

"Complete St. Petersburg" is a set price tour with a fixed itinerary for both days. You sign up knowing exactly what you'll get. The only variable is the schedule which may need to be adjusted depending on traffic, weather or crowds. But in the end, you'll see everything on the itinerary. A canal boat ride is not part of "Complete St. Petersburg" but you could include it as an option for an evening tour.

[as19111]

Someone asked about the ride on the hydrofoil. It was extremely comfortable and some seats were equal to first class seating. The ride from Peterhoff to Hermitage was about 30 minutes. The ride IMO felt like you were taxiing on an airport runway the entire time. It was an interesting experience. You are fully enclosed (imagine riding on a large speed boat) and you can see a view along the coastline. We passed some tour boats at a high rate of speed and they looked like they were standing still compared to our speed. We were scheduled to take the 4 pm. but moved it up to 3:30 pm because of concerns on traffic and making the ship (see below).

 

As for the elusive train near the pier, you really need to be aware of this if you are on a private tour. We (a group of 10) encountered THE TRAIN on our first day in St. Petersburg. It was about 6:45 pm. THE TRAIN moved oh so slowly and came to a complete stop two cars before clearing the crossing! We sat and watched workers leaving the train for the evening. Then the train started up....IN REVERSE, oh so slowly for about 13 cars and then it stopped, again! Then the train started up again, and went forward again oh so slowly, finally clearing the crossing. This all took about half an hour. Since it was the first day, we were not worried about missing the ship, but we were grateful it was not the second day. Needless to say, we all had a good laugh in our van and we also have photos that will make it into our vacation show. Twelve (including the guide and driver) tired, hungry people at the mercy of this train keeping us from the ship! If we had made plans to take an evening tour to the ballet or folk show, we would have missed the tour (although those buses were waiting to exit on the other side of the crossing). I can't help but wonder if the "train" enjoys putting the tourists through this torture! Note: If this happens to you, hope there is a ship sponsored tour bus in back of you! They will wait for that bus.

 

We were touring with Alla and I highly recommend them. Angie was our guide and Viktor was our driver. They were a great team and made our time in St. Petersburg a truly memorable one...especially the train!

[gostars]

egit,

You can add the canal boat option if you want to the Complete SP tour. We are going in August, and it has been added to the end of the last day for those that want to do it. While the others return to the ship, we will be taken to the canal boat. If I remember correctly, it costs an extra $20pp and then you pay $30 an hour to retain the car and driver. Alla told me that it should take about 1 hour. :)

[gostars]

oops!!

I meant "end of the FIRST day!"!

[PharmacyRx]

I have e-mailed this web site (Alla) for about 2 weeks trying to book a tour,get info, etc. and have yet to receive a reply. What has been your experience in reaching Alla to book? Any ideas?

Also, does this require a credit card to hold your booking?

 

Thanks in advance!

[MightyQuinn]

I have e-mailed this web site (Alla) for about 2 weeks trying to book a tour,get info, etc. and have yet to receive a reply. What has been your experience in reaching Alla to book? Any ideas?

Also, does this require a credit card to hold your booking?

Thanks in advance!

We have never had any problem reaching Alla by e-mail but I know that others have. In addition to trying to contact her via the website, you can also copy your e-mail to her other address (allaushakova@aim.com). This thread below has some other helpful suggestions:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=792990

 

And no, you don't need to give any cc info to book. Alla will need some personal details to secure your booking but she doesn't take payment until the beginning of the second tour day.

[PharmacyRx]

Thank you for the link and the great recap of your travels!

[recia]

If you go to Alla's web site and register on the message tab. Then when you log back in send her a message in the box provided. She has always replied within 24 hours to me on this message site.

[PharmacyRx]

I did what you all have suggested and have just gotten a response! Thank you so much for the help!

 

Safe travels!

[scamper01]

Is there anything on the 2 day tour that a person in a wheelchair could not do? She can transfer from the chair to a vehicle without a problem. She is 83 years old and walking any distance is out of the question. We travel with a folding wheelchair. Thanks.

[pattyj 1204]

You could try e-mailing Alla with your question about the wheelchair. I think I read somewhere that not everything is w/c accessible. But if it were me, I'd go right to the source. I could answer this question by Sept., but they may be too late. Have fun planning.

[MightyQuinn]

Is there anything on the 2 day tour that a person in a wheelchair could not do? She can transfer from the chair to a vehicle without a problem. She is 83 years old and walking any distance is out of the question. We travel with a folding wheelchair. Thanks.

Hi Scamper - I'll put it this way: If “Complete St. Petersburg” was offered thru Shorex, I think it would be graded as 3-stickmen. It’s designed to provide the best of STP in the short time that a ship has in port, so you’re always on the move. We had 19 hours of virtually non-stop touring over the course of our 2 days. This can be energizing for some people and tiring for others. Some sites may be difficult for your friend - Catherine’s Palace has a steep staircase that is not wheelchair accessible (and no elevators IIRC), Yusopov’s Palace has narrow steps into the basement and there are long distances to cover at Peterhof Gardens. The Hermitage requires considerable walking as well, but there are elevators. I think it's good advice to contact Alla directly. Hope this helps & I wish you a fabulous time in STP.