St. Petersburg

[Pam & Ira Scheer]

Hi gang,

We're getting excited about our two week Baltic cruise coming up this
summer. As always, we're busily poring over all of the tour books to decide
what we'll do in port.

With our two girls (ages 11 and 12) we expect that most of the ship
excursion bus tours will be pretty boring and are planning to go on our own
except when something appropriate for them is offered.

The problem with this idea is, of course, St. Petersburg where we will need
to arrange a visa in advance and hire a private tour guide in order to avoid
the ship tours. We have been in contact with a guide in St. Petersburg who
will help us with all of the arrangements and has good references. It's
expensive but I'm sure it's probably less than the price of excursions for
all four of us. It also could be well worth the price if we can be more
flexible about our stops and the time we spend at each one.

Any thoughts, suggestions, etc.? I think we will probably work with the
private guide but I thought I'd see if anyone had had any experience with
this.

Thanks,
Pam

[Jeff Coudriet]

The fountains at Peterhof, a day in the Hermitage, climbing the stairs
at St. Isaacs, the legend of the bronze horseman, a canal trip in the
evening....I could go on!

Jeff

--
Travels With Jeff & Robert
"http://members.bellatlantic.net/~m12q47"

[Randall Krakauer]

We hired a driver and a guide (yes two people) last summer through Hertz. It
was OUTSTANDING. The cost, even including the expensive visas, was about half
the cost of the private car available through the ship. (Princess wanted about
$1000/day for a van - we were 6 - a car is less.) Our guide was a University
student. Her English was excellent, as was her knowledge and pride in her
city. Make sure you take the kids to Peterhof and enjoy the gardens and
gountains.

Pam & Ira Scheer wrote:

[Mike Cordelli]

I was on that cruise with Randy and his family, they are very nice people.
I can say that seeing them in the evenings after they were on their all day
tours with their private guide made us wish we had done the same at times.

The only thing I would add is if you are getting a visa on your own (not
using the service the cruise line will recommend) apply the day you get your
paperwork, and use overnight services both ways. They told us (the Russian
Consulate) it would be a 21 day turn around in the New York City office at
the most, it was longer then that, so don't delay if you do it yourself.
I'm not a big fan of using services when you can mail it in yourself, but
this is one case where it is probably worth the extra money.

I think you will be quite surprised at how much the kids will find
interesting. It's a fantastic cruise, you will have an excellent time.

"Randall Krakauer" <rmkra...@home.com> wrote in message
news:3AC91703...@home.com...

[Asya Kamsky]

In article <xr9y6.9125$GD.32...@typhoon.snet.net>,

Mike Cordelli <mi...@cordelli.com> wrote:
>The only thing I would add is if you are getting a visa on your own (not
>using the service the cruise line will recommend) apply the day you get your
>paperwork, and use overnight services both ways. They told us (the Russian
>Consulate) it would be a 21 day turn around in the New York City office at
>the most, it was longer then that, so don't delay if you do it yourself.
>I'm not a big fan of using services when you can mail it in yourself, but
>this is one case where it is probably worth the extra money.

Actually, they have one of those "your turnaround depends on how
much you pay" schedules. We needed ours fast, so we went to
the (SF) Consulate and had them in 2 hours.

--
Asya Kamsky

I'm doing a 3 day walk to raise money to fight breast cancer, July 27-29, 2001
To sponsor me, walker #3730 go to: http://www.breastcancer3day.org/donation.htm

[Margie Stinson]

We used a service in Houston and got turnaround from Washington DC in 7 days
(for Russia).

Margie on the Dream 4/30!!
Asya Kamsky <as...@bayarea.net> wrote in message
news:9adbmt$btr$1...@localhost.localdomain...

[Bobbie]

We sent our paperwork in to Ziere passport service (recommended by NCL) out of
San Francisco on March 1 - we are still waiting for our visas to arrive! We
call them and they have more excuses than a high school senior ditching school!

[Hal Turell]

I have used Ziere, never again! Had the same problem.

Bobbie <ted...@aol.comnojunk> wrote in message
news:20010405101627...@ng-cj1.aol.com...

[news.neta.com]

What are the options if you don't live in NY or SF? We just signed up for
an NCL cruise at the end of the month - any chance of getting visas?

jan pengelly
tra...@pengelly.net

"Asya Kamsky" <as...@bayarea.net> wrote in message
news:9adbmt$btr$1...@localhost.localdomain...

[Bobbie]

Well we sent our visa request to Zierer Visa service March 1 and just got our
visas today April 6!!! But I know one person who sent hers to washington and
got hers 7 day later!!! The key is the letter of reference - find some place
that already has one.