Scandinavia & Russia > Topics >  Re: 2-Day vs. 3-Day St. Petersburg

2-Day vs. 3-Day St. Petersburg

Last post 06/01/2012, 9:27 AM by TotalOasis. 4 replies.
< Previous Topic    Next Topic >
Sort Posts:
TotalOasis
Joined: 05/30/2012
Posts: 8
Re: 2-Day vs. 3-Day St. Petersburg
06/01/2012, 9:27 AM
What I have discovered it, Yes if you are not with an official tour group it does require a Visa but if you use a tour group, Azamara's or any other you get a visa waiver.  There is a visa waiver rule for up to 72 hours if you use a tour company ANY authorized tour company.

Report abuse
Fremontster
Joined: 09/23/2008
Posts: 258
Re: 2-Day vs. 3-Day St. Petersburg
05/17/2012, 8:28 PM
Correct- you have to have SOME official Russian guide or another, but it doesn't have to be someone who works with Azmara. Just a guide who can give you a tour voucher.

Report abuse
steg1
Joined: 02/20/2008
Posts: 32
Re: 2-Day vs. 3-Day St. Petersburg
05/16/2012, 11:08 PM

The non-Azamara tour companies all seem to "want" at least three days notice to process cruise visa paperwork, though I suspect that they could expedite for a "small fee". Keeping in mind that we'll be there from SAT through MON, the likelihood of the government folks being available to process last-minute paperwork is also low.

Regarding whether you really have to take Azamara tours only, or if the 80+ different "authorized" tour companies can also process cruise visas for you, I'd venture to say that if the "authorized" tour company cruise visa thing truly didn't work, there would have been a major outing about it on the Interwebs.  As it is, multiple companies have made a living offering these "cruise visa" tours to folks on boats for years; that suggests legitimacy.  As I've mentioned on this board before, I'm taking a custom tour with one of these "authorized" companies, and have grilled my tour organizer repeatedly about this topic (and my tour is NOT pre-paid- they want payment on the LAST day of the trip).  If for some reason they really don't let me off the boat even with my "tour tickets" etc, then I'll just have to suffer through three days of decadence onboard :)

Report abuse
labrys1
Joined: 08/25/2010
Posts: 158
Re: 2-Day vs. 3-Day St. Petersburg
05/16/2012, 5:27 PM
REMEMBER THAT DE-BOARDING IN ST. PETERSBURG REQUIRES A VISA UNLESS YOU ARE ON AN AZAMARA EXCURSION.

Report abuse
LakeErie
Joined: 07/13/2007
Posts: 6
2-Day vs. 3-Day St. Petersburg
05/16/2012, 5:10 PM
We are currently booked on the 2-day package and were planning to take the river cruise (PZG3) or the walk down Nevsky (PZS2) on the middle day.  Does anyone have any thoughts?  Also we wondered if there would be opportunity to group with others "at the moment" to join a van or car on that 2nd day. 

Report abuse
View as RSS news feed in XML

Olivia Travel, the premiere lesbian travel company, provides amazing cruise and resort vacations for lesbians worldwide. We create unforgettable holidays for women from around the world. From upscale European luxury trips to Caribbean cruise holidays filled with 1,800 women, or Club Med resort buy outs on island paradises, Olivia creates amazing all-lesbian vacations. We help lesbians travel the world—our guests have visited Europe, the Galapagos, the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, Africa, Tahiti and French Polynesia, Antarctica and the Amazon on our trips. Olivia has 20 years of experience serving the lesbian traveler; we have taken over 100,000 women on 150 lesbian vacations, and maintain a 98% approval rating for our holidays! Whether you crave a fun-in-the-sun cruise or a stroll through a historic European city, Olivia, as the oldest and largest lesbian travel company, knows how to make your vacation dreams come true. Everything about our cruise, resort, adventure and luxury vacations is done with you, the lesbian traveler, in mind. We bring you outstanding entertainers—female musicians and comedians such as Melissa Etheridge, the Indigo Girls, kd lang, HEART, Margaret Cho, Whoopi Goldberg, Leisha Hailey and Lily Tomlin—and fantastic destinations. Let Olivia take you on your next lesbian vacation! Come on holiday with us, and you will never be the same!