Who'll be on this one?

THE KIMMIS
John and Kimmi :D :D :D

I'm currently signed up. Hopefully, I'll be able to work out a few scheduling issues to make it work.

Can I go?
Please! It looks like so much fun!

Doug

I was going to take my Swiss lover, but there are no such things as Swiss lovers. So, I guess you can come (figuratively and literally!!) I'm so baad....

This closed down today for the special so Congratulations to all of you who booked fast and got the special

I'm glad we made it

Gretchen and Greg will be on board with our daughter Sarah. We'll be doing one day each pre and post cruisein Copenhagen. :D :D :D

Welcome USNA72 I look forward to meeting you. I will not hold the Navy thing against you :D :D
John

Looks like we'll have a great crowd.

Reminds me of a joke I heard the other day:

How do you know if you're in Heaven?

The Italians are the lovers, the Germans are the police, the Swiss run the trains, and the French are the cooks. :cool:

How do you know if you're not?

The Swiss are the lovers, the French are the police, the Italians run the trains, and the Germans are the cooks. :eek:

That reminds me of
"Remo de Roma"

Remo has that great joke about the different branches of government. What's great is that everyone I tell it to has never heard it before!

OK, Lawrence, so what's the joke? Not fair to leave us in limbo

Olivia, it's hard to tell the joke in writing, but I'll try. Basically each government branch can be represented by a finger on your hand:

1. Thumb = Department of Transportation (as in hitchhiking)
2. Pinky = Department of Health (as in picking one's nose with the pinky finger)
3. Index = Department of Education (how a teacher points at students)
4. Ring = Department of Treasury (that's where rings are worn)
5. Middle = IRS or whoever the revenuers are in a particular country (this is pretty self-explanatory though it helps to make the appropriate gesture ;) )

Well, we're back from Tahiti :app: . Specifically, I'm wondering if anyone is interested in joining the three of us on Red October tours either or both of days in St. Petersburg? The three of us are only interested in day trips and not the evening ballets, etc. Trying to conserve a little energy and a few dollars. I've traded some initial e-mails with the Red October folks and would be happy to forward those to anyone interested. We would also gladly entertain anyother ideas/approaches to seeing this great city.
<img border="0" alt="[beer]" title="" src="graemlins/beer.gif" /> Greg

Greg, and all those going to St. Petersburg. I'd highly recommend the folklore show by the locals in their theater (lots of singing, acrobats dancing, and magnificent costumes). We too were NOT into attending an opera or ballet (zzzzzzzzz) but someone highly recommended the folklore show. We were wiped out after sightseeing all day but reluctantly went. We were so happy we did. It's packed with amazing talent and high energy, Russian teens and young adults at their finest!

I had understood that RSSC frequently arranges on-board entertainment similar to the folklore show. That's one reason we were thinking of staying in that night.

Hi Greg, can you forward your Red Oct info to us? jbirk@bellsouth.net
We are interested in doing the Red Oct tour, but I'm not sure if we're up to two full days. We too, were thinking of seeing the folklore show onboard. Do you know if that is scheduled for sure?
Doug and Andi, what are you two doing in St. Pete?
Thanks!!

Kim:

As you know, my job is to show up & have a good time. I might add that I am rather good at my job. That being said, I don't plan these things. (Ask Denise! I drove her crazy!) My Basel Babe will -I'm sure-see this thread & reply.

A private tour in St Pete sounds appealing. Let me know what you think after Greg sends you the info.

BTW, the opera hold no interest here.

Doug

Doug,
I'm afraid it's true: Denise and I are the vacation planners in our respective families <img border="0" alt="[bang]" title="" src="graemlins/banghead.gif" /> (one reason we enjoyed Alaska so much <img border="0" alt="[beer]" title="" src="graemlins/beer.gif" /> ). I believe your European connection has already seen the itin RO proposed to me back in Feb. Kim has made a couple of suggestions that I'll ask RO to incorporate next iteration. I'd be more than happy to add anything you and Andie would like to see/omit.

Remember, Semper Gumby!
Greg

Greg:

Keep me/ us in the loop.
Red October aka RO (see Tom Clancy for references) sounds good....but more info is better than less..

Are you any where near Tucson?

Best, Doug

About 75 miles Southeast and 2000 ft higher. Doug, if you'd like, I can forward you the itin I sent John and Kim.

Lawrence, you still in on this one?
Greg

I'm interested in knowing some personal experiences with Red October.

One of my tennis friends will be on Celebrity in St. Petersburg this summer and asked for more information. I found this link, but I'm sure I read other post about their services. Can anyone help me on that?

(I also have to get her to try RSSC - she says having a butler is the best part of their cruise!)

Red October Web Page

Well, here's where I am today in my discussions with Red October. As of right now there are 5 of us potentially interested in doing this two day St. Petersburg tour. Are there any others out there who might be interested???

Ngaire, thought you might have some clients on this cruise who aren't LCT "boardies" that might be interested, too.

BTW, this proposed itinerery is just that...proposed. If some one would like to join in but sees something missing or isn't interested in the "Whole thing" please let me know.

All five of us would also be interested in any comment, suggestions, recommendations anyone might have.

Thanks,
Greg


DAY ONE - 8 HOURS
August 17, Tuesday
08:00 AM - Ship’s Arrival in St Petersburg
09:00 AM - Start from the pier for a city orientation drive (city highlights):
St. Nicholas’s Church, Theatre Square with Mariinsky Theatre, St. Isaac’s Square, Decembrists Square with the Bronze Horseman, Shmidt Bridge, Vassilievsky Island with Arts Academy, Menshikov Palace, University, Kunstkamera, “Strelka” with Stock Exchange and Rostral Columns and with the most beautiful view of Neva Embankments Winter Palace and other buildings of the Hermitage Museum, Twelve Colleges, Palace Bridge, Palace Square with Winter Palace and Alexander Column, Admiralty, Nevsky Avenue, the central street of the city, Smolny Cathedral and Smolny Institute, Shpalernay Street, “Field of Mars”, Troitsky Bridge, Peter’s the Great Cabin, Cruiser “Aurora”.
10:00 AM - Shopping opportunity at the best and biggest souvenir shop RED OCTOBER (vodka, tea/coffee are served with our compliments on your arrival there).
10:30 AM - Drive to the Savior on the Spilled Blood Cathedral
10:45 AM - Flea Market
11:00 AM - Visit to the Savior on the Spilled Blood Cathedral built in 1907 as memorial church to honor Russian Emperor Alexander II murdered on the spot by the terrorists. It is a sample of "Russian style" architecture and decorative art of the edge of the XIX-XX centuries. Mosaic attire of the church (over 7.000 sq. m) was created by the most famous Russian artists of the epoch.

11:20 AM - Drive to St. Isaac’s Cathedral
11:40 AM - Visit to St Isaac's Cathedral (architect Montferrand), one of the finest architectural monuments of the XIX century, the former principal Cathedral of the Russian capital, the largest cathedral in town able to accommodate about 10,000 audience. The cathedral is beautifully decorated inside: marble of 13 colors, malachite, lapis-lazuli, paintings and mosaics made by the most famous Russian artists, impressive stained-glass image of Christ seen through the open doors of the magnificent Icon-Stand.
00:00 PM - Drive to the pier
00:30 PM - LUNCH ON BOARD THE SHIP
01:30 PM - Drive to Peterhof –“Russian Versailles”, official Summer Residence of Russian Tsars
02:30 PM - Stroll through the wonderful “Lower Park” with its 150 fountains, cascades and various pavilions, palaces, among them the small and cozy “Mon Plaisir” of Peter the Great on the very coast of the sea.
03:00 PM - Visit of the Monplaisir Palace, the favorite of Peter I, preserving the memory of the greatest of Russian Tsars and illustrating his private life style.
04:00 PM - Drive back
05:00 PM - Return on board
The per person cost for the full day tour without lunch: is $ 180 pp if you are 3, $ 151 pp if you are 4, $ 122 pp if you are 6 persons, $ 115 pp if you are 7-8, $ 105 pp if you are 10, incl. the comfortable private minivan, services of the highly qualified English speaking guide and entrance fee to the museums as mentioned in the program.

DAY TWO – 8 HOURS
August 18, Wednesday

08:00 AM - Departure for Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin), drive 25km/15 miles south of St. Petersburg
09:00 AM - Arrival in Tsarskoye Selo, official residence of Russian Tsars.
- Stroll in the wonderful Catherine park with beautiful valleys, Cameron Gallery, Agate Rooms etc.
09:30 AM - Visit to the Catherine Palace founded by Peter I for his wife Catherine I and re-built and enlarged for their daughter Empress Elizabeth by Italian architect F.B.Rastrelli; the striking luxury of the interior decoration of the palace was created by the best artists of XVIII and XIX centuries. The most famous Amber Room with the walls paneled with amber was completely lost during the WWII is restored completely (Early admission to the Catherine’s Palace on special arrangement included in the cost)
10:30 AM - Stroll in the beautiful Catherine park with its numerous pavilions and small palaces, ponds and canals, marble statues and monuments.
11:00 AM - Drive back to St. Petersburg
00:15 PM - Lunch at the “Adamant” restaurant Near St. Isaac Cathedral– very good Russian cuisine, pleasant atmosphere, excellent service
Menu suggestion :
&#61656; Fish Salad “Ladoga”,
&#61656; Russian Soup “Rassolnik” (with pickled cucumbers)
or Russian Cabbage soup “Schi”,
&#61656; Fried Pike-Perch
or Beef-Stroganoff
&#61656; Dessert of the day
&#61656; Coffee / Tea, Mineral water
Price = $ 21 per person
01:00 PM - Drive to the Hermitage
01:30 PM - Tour of the Hermitage Arts Museum
• Excursion to the West-European Masters’ collection (Rembrandt, Rubens, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, El Greco, Murillo, Van Dyck etc.)
• Living and gala halls of the Winter Palace,
• French Impressionists and art of XX century.
03:00 PM - Drive to the pier
03:15 PM - METRO RIDE
04:30 PM - Return on board
06:00 PM - Ship’s departure
The per person cost for the full day tour without lunch and Gold Room: is $ 164 pp if you are 3,
$ 149 pp if you are 4, $ 118 pp if you are 6, $ 111 pp if you are 7-8, $ 100 pp if you are 10, incl. the comfortable private minivan, services of the highly qualified English speaking guide and entrance fee to the museums as mentioned in the program.

Please delete as I double posted...sorry.

The Master Researcher and Planner strikes again!
:app:
Excellent itinerary, Greg. But, of course, I would expect nothing less from you!

I will be saving this in the hopes of using it next year when we sail to the Baltics.

I want lots and lots of details, upon your return, OK?

Our best to you and Gretchen!

Hi Greg:

I do have people that are not LCT on this trip but after one experience that I wont go into I have stopped "suggesting" this type of thing to people I have not met or dont know for various reasons. Some clients you really do get to know and others you dont really know at all.

You are stuck with whoever is in that van for 2 - 3 days and the wrong situation can really mess up your time. Not worth saving a few dollars over.

Unfortunately I dont know any of these people well at all.

Greg et al: It's a great itinerary. Ngaire, thanks again for setting up similar tours for us last summer. They were just great!!

A few suggestions:

(a) bring some rubles with you. When you go inside most of these places, they have you pay a camera and video camera fee that was on the order of $3 to $6 each. If you don't want to pay it, you have to leave your cameras in a check room and they will insist upon it. They didn't take $$ and our guide wasn't willing or able to give us the rubles. The killer was the exchange booth was in the bookshop that was at the END of the tour, and there's no way you've got time to go back without your guide to get any pictures that may have been important to you.

(b) consider adding the gold room in the Hermitage. I'd put it in the "very nice to do" but not a "must, must, must do" sight. I think I was expecting aristocratic and royal jewelry; instead, it's a collection of a lot of very old treasures unearthed in digs that (don't hold me to this - the memory doesn't always get it right) took place up near Siberia. The complexity and quality of the artifacts were a big surprise. It reminded me of some of the wonderful treasures we saw from Peru and I'd love to go back to see more of the ancient cities they are finding in Russia. It took about 45 minutes and involves having a guide who only works in that room work with your guide to tell you about the exhibits. I got itchy with the double translation process, but all in all I'm still glad I voted to include it in the Hermitage tour.

(c) If you have the option to do the all-day Moscow tour, it's also great. I think that was the highest point in a cruise that had a whole bunch of high points.

Cheers, Anne

SARAH HERE (gretchen and gregs cruz daughter) Sounds like a plan. I can hardly wait

Our daughter found out today her passport will be mailed on the 23rd of June
Greg

Prices for RSSC Excursions on this cruise are now on RSSC's web site
Greg

Prices for RSSC Excursions on this cruise are now on RSSC's web site
Greg

Prices for RSSC Excursions on this cruise are now on RSSC's web site
Greg