|
|
Services for Cruise Passengers
|
St. Petersburg is a popular destination for many Baltic cruises.
Normally cruise ships spend two days in St. Petersburg. They arrive early morning and depart the following day in the evening.
This provides an opportunity for two days sightseeing around the city.
Passengers can either take the organised excursion provided by the cruise company, or use the services of a private guide such as myself.
What I can offer:
Personalized excursions
I can create an excursion to fit your particular requirements and to match your interests. There are many interesting places in St. Petersburg catering for all tastes, for example: history, museums, churches, art, architecture, Russian cuisine, parks, rivers and canals, theatre, ballet, circus, opera etc. Together we can plan your personalized itinerary, to make the best use of your limited time in the city. The most popular sights are covered by my
2 day tour
, but there are many, many other options and possibilities that we could discuss.
Unfortunately many buildings in Russia have a poor level of accessibility for visitors with mobility or health problems. For example you may encounter steps not only in historic palaces, by also restaurants, toilets, shops and other buildings. So, if needed, I can help you plan an itinerary that will minimize the impact of such obstacles and still allow you to see beautiful sights our city has to offer.
Small Groups - Individual attention
If you take an excursion from the cruise company you will generally be in quite a large group, travelling by coach to the major sights. You can imagine how crowded many museums and attractions get when several tour coaches arrive at the same time. You will need to follow the schedule and pace of the guide, which can be quite demanding. In the worst case it can feel almost if if you are running through the museums and palaces, unable to hear the guide, unable ask questions or stop and linger to admire !
I only take individuals, couples and small groups (usually friends or family). We travel either by private car or small minibus. This way you control the pace. If you are tired and want a break - we can stop. If you want to eat, then I can recommend a good restaurant. I can help you avoid the worst crowds of tourists that we get here in the peak summer periods.
|
Tickets
As a licensed guide I can can buy tickets in advance for the most popular and crowded museums. No need for you to stand in line with hundreds of other visitors.
Money
The only currency accepted in St. Petersburg if the Russian rouble - dollars and euro are not taken at museums, shops or restaurants. I offer visitors the opportunity to visit a cash machine (ATM) to withdraw money using a plastic card, visit an exchange bureau to change cash or to change currency directly with myself (at the published bank rates) in order to save time. Please note that Russian banks and exchange offices are notoriously fussy about foreign notes - they must be perfect condition with no tears, marks, staples, holes or other blemishes.
|
What I can't offer:
I am an experienced and licensed private guide, so I can officially guide you around all the main tourist sights in the city.
However unfortunately I can not provide you entrance to Russia without a Visa. This opportunity is only available through the large tour agencies that work directly with the cruise companies. If you do not wish to buy a Visa, then I'm sorry but your only option is to take the tour offered by the cruise company. I can provide everything necessary for you to obtain a visa. Please see my
Visa page for more information.
|
|
