I had thought that we had six weeks until excursion booking would open for C2C; plenty of time for research. However, the website is allowing bookings; therefore, I need to figure out excursions for St Petersburg fast before they are filled.

I know many of you have taken the Regent Baltic cruise before with the three days in St Petersburg. Given that Regent will allow us to only book one excursion per day, we need your feedback on which excursions to book for each of the days.

thanks,

So I think I'm going to plunge ahead and sign up for some excursions in the hope of adding a couple more when we're on board. I'm thinking of Classical St. Petersburg all day on the 24th, Yusupov Palace and Canal Cruise the afternoon of the 25th (Ngaire said she particularly liked that Palace), and Hermitage, a Wealth of Art and History the morning of the 26th. Perhaps we can work in the Peterhof the morning of the 25th. I guess we can call if we want to make changes to these plans. I noticed Talinn was open too, so I thought we'd sign up for the Walking Tour and Concert thinking it would be nice having a guide for the tour. I certainly don't understand how the Regent Web site is operating since Marc saw that these were available already, while Helsinki and the other ports are not.

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Eugene

Talinn is the most wonderful city. Don't forget the market right outside the old city. The Regent shuttle takes you there. I still use the wonderful mittens I got there.

As for St Pete's, Yusopov Palace was great and aided by the guide

No one is doing the private Red October tours of St. Petersburg?

With Regent's excursions being free, Red October becomes a big cost for a small advanatage.

I know, but I hope that Regent bus tours are going to be able to cut those huge lines at Peterhof and Catherine's Palace. Only reason I would take a private tour now that they are free.

Actually, I found a big advantage of using Denrus. The cost was not major, and we had just a handful of people with our guide. We were able to designate exactly where we wanted to go, and, especially in the museums, the tiny group was well worth it. When I returned to St. Pet. on my own, we had three of us with a guide and I thought the cost was really reasonabl. I realize it is not the same as a free excursion, but I really benefited from it and would do it again.

Diane, exactly my thoughts. Back in 2001 when I was there on the Navigator, I got a private guide AND driver for only $25 per hour. We did SO much in our time there, but never felt rushed. I know cost is a lot different now, but if you remember those lines, you know what I mean.

I just made reservations for excursions on the Greece portion of this trip and it went through OK. When I tried the Voyager portion it would let me select excursions, but when I went to checkout it sent me back to the home page for Regent. Has anyone else actually booked for this cruise?

Susan

Marc, it's going to be a tough choice between Red October and free excursions. It's a van with private guide and driver and the ability to get to the front of long lines vs bus tours.

I would recommend seeing Peter's Palace, Catherine's Palace, the Hermitage and the Church on Spilled Blood. Tom.

Last July we took a river cruise on the Volga River from St.Petersburg to Moscow. Our bus got in early & went to the head of the lines everywhere: Catherine's Palace, Peterhof, Hermitage & Yusopov Palace. It was a delightful trip.

We were on Ngaire's Regent Baltic cruise in 2005 & used Red October for all 3 days. This time we saw & learned more. All guides were excellent & it was a better experience as we had earphones. We were 25 to a bus and were not as rushed.

Unless you get an individual visa which takes months to get on your own, you will not be allowed off the ship to wander in St. Petersburg unless you are with a tour. It is not like other ports or countries.

The Denrus tour we took with 4 other couples was one of the best experiences. For 3 days our split was about $300 per person. Our guide was so adept as getting us in and seeing places - she knew exactly how to get us in and what to see. If a bus was coming, she'd detour rooms and entrances and we actually saw so much. We actually even had a private tour at Yusopov's Palace - we were early and it was "lunch hour", she called ahead because we'd finished where we were and had an extra half hour. It was an incredible experience.

Eugene, looks like we will see you on some excursions.

Tom, thanks for the recommendations. Even though they allow us to book only one excursion a day, all sights covered.

We will add additional tours including evening concerts once they allow us to book additional tours.

Marc, looking forward to seeing you two. After spending time on the Web last night, Gail and I decided we would probably switch the Yusupov for the Peterhof, and then try to book the Yusupov excursion onboard. It hasn't been easy to contact Regent, however.

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Eugene

Russell and I are looking forward to meeting several of you on this trip.

If anyone is interested in going together to reserve a small group tour for 1,2,or 3 days with either Denrus or Red October let me know. If you could do it for $300ish we would be interested.

We are booked for:

Classical St Petersburg
Exclusive Peterhof Pavillions of Russian Tsarinas
Hermitage and Gold Room

We hope to pick up one of the Yusupov evening or afternoon tours and Jewish Heritage afternoon tour.

In Med we have:

EXCLUSIVE PALIVOS WINERY - TASTING AND LUNCH in Nafplion
HIGHLIGHTS OF SANTORINI
DISCOVER EPHESUS WITH AN EXPERT
RHODES AND THE ACROPOLIS OF LINDOS
MYKONOS AND MONASTERY
TOPKAPI AND THE BLUE MOSQUE

Given that this will be our first time in all these ports (except Nafplion and Mykonos), we are taking pretty extensive tours; after all, the price is right.

On the subject of private tours or Regent tours for St. Petersburg.

I have taken both Regent tours and Red October tours having been to St. Petersburg a number of times.

Normally I recommend Red October for following reasons. The price is normally the same as the Regent tours, but we can get smaller groups with just the Brown and Keene people. We can also control the tours and come back to the ship for lunch if we wish to do that.

Getting ahead of the crowds
Red October, other private companies and Regent all have the same access to the palaces via the group entrances. They can all get ahead of the public lines. How well this works varies depending on the amount of ships in port that day. The group entrances can also get jammed and I have problems with both Regent tours and Red October tours. So really there is no big advantage either way.

Once inside the palaces
You move from room to room when the group ahead of you moves on. So whether you are in a group of three smaller groups or one large group really does not matter. You are going to go at about the same speed. Some of you will notice guides arguing with the women who sit and watch everything to move ahead. I have seen this with Red October and Regent tours. Once again it is the same situation whether it is private or Regent.

Guides
I have had some outstanding guides with Regent and Red October. I have also had some very average guides with Regent and Red October. I remember one year Denise was enthralled with her Regent guide for Moscow and she had been with Red October guides for St. Petersburg. Again I think this is a hit or miss situation. I just do not think Red October or other private companies guides are a lot better than Regent. They are all individuals, all called Helen (it seems that way) and luck of the draw. Many work for different companies.

Personally I just do not see the point of hiring Red October or any other individual operator if the Regent tours are included free of charge. There are advantages to the private situation but not enough in my mind to justify the extra cost.

Ngaire, thanks!

Arlene wants to know when the egg buying excursion is scheduled. :D

Thanks, Ngaire

So does Gail (want to know when the egg-buying excursion is scheduled). Meanwhile, Marc, we are now scheduled for all the same excursions in St. Petersburg.

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Eugene

If you are talking about the painted eggs, they are everywhere! For less expensive ones, there is a big street market across from the Church of Spilled Blood, and for better ones, there are the gift shops in the museums. When I was there, they were also sold in the gift shop on the Navigator. I'm sure that on your tours, you will be taken to stores where you will have ample opportunity to buy lots of lovelies!

Olivia, I think we're talking about the little egg pendants that Ngaire wears in every color of the rainbow.

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Eugene

Not to worry, Gail will have plenty of choices of them in the gift shops as well. I just don't remember them at the street market, but they must have been there. I can't remember where I bought mine (other than my very first, purchased in Vail), but I came home with at least 3, and didn't go to any stores on my own.

The market across from the Spilled Blood Cathedral is a good place to go. They are always in the markets and you will see them lots of places. I am going to take one of the Regent shopping excursions to buy some more eggs.