3 DAYS ST. PETERSBURG AND MOSCOW HIGHLIGHTS - a PREMIUM Shared Van Tour
3 DAYS ST. PETERSBURG AND MOSCOW HIGHLIGHTS - a PREMIUM Shared Van Tour
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ShoreTrips says...
You finally find yourself in Russia. Now - how can you see both cities? St. Petersburg is the "Venice of the North" and Moscow, the "Third Rome". You don't have to choose! See both of these fabulous cities with this shared tour at an affordable price.
ShoreTrips' PREMIUM van tours are a perfect choice if you are looking for a deluxe tour that's economical but without the crowds of a big bus.
We will confirm your reservation when we have at least 6 passengers booked. You will be notified about two weeks prior to the start of the cruise with options of more expensive private trips if we are not able to run the shared tour.
Day 1
An early pickup at the ship will bring you into St. Petersburg for an introductory tour of the city. Disembark your van at the river's edge and board a hydrofoil to Peterhof, landing first at the lovely gardens where you will begin with a walk through Fountain Park and the Upper Gardens. Energizing yourself for the afternoon, a local traditional lunch is next and included in your day. Ready, you will move on through the Tsars' Village and head for your inside, guided tour of Catherine Palace including the Amber Room.
Your van will be chatting about those palaces on your return ride to the city, where you will visit the subway station. Always more to see here and you cannot leave without an inside guided tour of St. Isaac's Cathedral. Its history is wonderful to hear but pales once you enter the Church of Spilt Blood, always an incredible visit. Where to look first, as your guide fills you in on the background of this incredible monument. You will have plenty to talk about once you board your ship for dinner and a good night's sleep.
Day 2
An early morning transfer from your ship to the train station begins your day. The "Sapsan" high-speed train will take you easily to Moscow. You are already in the middle of Moscow when you arrive and your city tour will take you past Red Square, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and the Metro tour which includes the most beautiful stations.
A traditional lunch will follow your introduction to Moscow and ready you for your afternoon.
Next, you will head over to the Kremlin grounds where your imagination will take over. (On Thursdays, the Kremlin is closed and you will visit the Tretyakov Gallery instead.) Then, enjoy a visit to Saint Basil's Cathedral. A quick ride to the train station and then a high-speed train ride back to St. Petersburg finishes the day as we will bring you back to your ship for some well-deserved rest.
Day 3
Greet your guide this morning as we head to the Hermitage Museum for early admission, before the official museum hours. Several hours of walking with your guide will deliver the magnificent story of the cluster of buildings that comprise the museum and its contents. Lunch, as much a part of your tour as any other cultural experience, will follow before you move over to the Yusupov Palace, which is a must-see. This is the perfect way to end your stay in the city.
- This Tour Includes:
- Round trip transportation from the cruise ship pier
- English-speaking driver/guide
- Blanket visa, port fees, all local taxes
- Standard admission to all museums listed in the itinerary
- Admissions fees to all museums in the program
- Metro visit fees
- Early admission to the Hermitage Museum
- Guide’s services for 3 days
- Driver’s services for 3 days (Comfortable car [Mercedes]/ minivan with A/C)
- Photo and video permissions at the museums (except for Yusupov Palace)
- Head sets for the groups of 10 and larger
- One bottle of water per person per day
- Three lunches in traditional Russian style
- Roundtrip Train tickets to/from Moscow Economy Class (Optional Upgrade information below under Special Instructions)
Days of Operation
Departures (local time)
- 8:30 AM (34 hrs) Days 1: 8:30am-6:30pm. Day 2: 6:00am-11:30pm. Day 3: 9:00am -5:00pm.
Transfer / Meeting Instructions
No Taxi Required Specific pick up or taxi instructions will appear on your voucher after you purchase your trip.Special Instructions
• This excursion is a non-visa tour for cruise ship passengers. According to Russian Federation law, visas are not required for shore excursions if you book through companies that are officially licensed and authorized by the Russian government to receive foreign cruise passengers and to operate inside St. Petersburg port areas. We will supply you with the Tourist Ticket, also called a blanket visa, which you will pass to the customs/immigration offices. Due to the length of time needed to acquire the Tourist Tickets, we ask that you please MAKE YOUR BOOKING NO LESS THAN 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE DAY YOU LEAVE HOME. Thank you.
• We will need the following information at the time of booking: Each passenger's full name as it appears on their passport; Citizenship; Date of birth; Passport number; Passport issue date; Passport expiration date; Arrival date into St. Petersburg; Departure date from St. Petersburg.
• Any information forwarded to ShoreTrips necessary to obtain a Tourist Ticket must be exact. We will pass on a $10 processing fee if corrections are necessary after we receive the Tourist Ticket. This is a per person fee, charged for each Tourist Ticket that requires changes.
• This tour includes standard admission to all museums listed in the itinerary, guide's services for 2 days, driver's services for 2 days, transportation by minivan, permit for photo and/or video use in palaces and museums, and all port fees.
• The cost of daily lunch is included.
• The TRAIN RIDE is almost 4 hours each way. We include Economy Class seats, which has adjustable back rest, foot rest, arm rest, reading lights, folding table, built-in audio and video outputs. You are able to upgrade to Business Class, which adds leather seats, electrical outlets, Wi-Fi, Drinks and Hot Meals.
You can also upgrade to First Class, which has everything listed plus Recliner Seats. Children must be seated in the same section as adults, even those children who 6 years and under who are exempt from the excursion cost.
• Gratuity is not included. We suggest a 10% gratuity to your guide and 5% to your driver.
• Please keep in mind that this is a shared tour. It is not private. The tour operator must maintain his schedule for a fair and successful day for all.
Restrictions
• VERY IMPORTANT: YOU MUST BRING YOUR RUSSIAN TOURIST TICKET (BLANKET VISA) WITH YOU, AS WELL AS YOUR SHORETRIPS TRAVEL VOUCHER, OR YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM. IF YOU FAIL TO BRING THESE, THERE ARE NO REFUNDS.
• PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU OPEN YOUR RUSSIAN TOURIST TICKET ON A LAPTOP OR DESKTOP COMPUTER, AS MOST SMART PHONES OR TABLETS DO NOT SUPPORT PDF FORMAT AND YOU WILL SEE IT BLANK.
• You are not able to move around St. Petersburg alone. Your blanket visa requires you to travel only with a guide.
• SHORETRIPS WILL SEND YOUR TOURIST TICKET AFTER THE BOOKING IS CONFIRMED. THIS IS A DIFFERENT DOCUMENT THAN YOUR PRE-PAID VOUCHER, AND YOU MUST HAVE A PRINTOUT OF YOUR TOURIST TICKET BEFORE YOU DEPART. If you cancel your trip after the Tourist Tickets have been issued, a $75 per person fee will be charged.
• Please note: When necessary, we will adjust your itinerary in response to museum closings. You will visit all of the sites listed in the tour description.
• The Gold Room is not available to shared services.
• If you wish to add an evening activity, such as a theater performance, a folkloric show, a boat trip, or even a typical Russian dinner experience, please choose one from the add-on options.
• This tour is not wheelchair accessible.
• You are purchasing a shared tour and you will be expected to maintain the pace of the group.
• If you arrive late for the tour, you will need to be transferred to meet your group. By the time you meet up with them you will most likely have missed a portion of the tour.
• If you use a walker, wheelchair or scooter or if you have mobility problems you will be refused service and not refunded. We suggest that you purchase a private tour for your best enjoyment.
• If you arrive late for the tour, you will need to be transferred to meet your group. By the time you meet up with them, you will most likely have missed a portion of the tour.
• There is a minimum of 6 people required to run this shared tour. We will do our best to fulfill that number.
• Photo and video permit at the Yusupov Palace (camera pass is 3 USD per person, video pass is 6 USD per person)
• On Mondays, the Hermitage, the General Staff Building (impressionists), the Grand Palace at Peterhof and the Ethnography Museum are closed and will be replaced with other sites.
• On Tuesdays, the Catherine Palace with the Amber Room and the Russian Museum are closed and will be replaced with other sites..
• On Wednesdays, The church on the Blood and St. Isaac's Cathedral are closed and will be replaced with other sites.
• On Thursdays, the Kremlin Grounds are closed and will be replaced with a guided tour of the Tretyakov Gallery. PLEASE NOTE: The order in which the sites are seen on Thursdays will vary slightly.
• Gratuities to the guide and driver are not included.