I can put you in touch with a wonderful man (Andrey) who is not an official guide, but who would be able to serve as an "escort/bodyguard/interpreter" in St. Petersburg. Red October is great, but if you want to explore on your own for one day, you might want to consider doing so with Andrey's help. You would need a Russian visa for this, however. Email me if you want more details. cruisemuse@yahoo.com