captain102

Our last cruise was pre-covid, and the cruise bug is beginning to bite again. However, my wife is less enthusiastic as she fears endless mask wearing / distancing  / rules / restrictions / testing / not serving yourself at buffets etc etc. She feels that she woud not be able to relax fully because of the inconsideration of other passengers, and their expectations of her etc. So - is post covid cruising still relaxing or is it best avoided ??

We'll be travelling in June to the Baltics and Russia. Both the Cruise line and our agent are adamant that all excursions in Russia MUST be booked via the ship to avoid having to get a visa or running into other disembarkation problems. We have looked at a few independent tour operators in Russia who come well recommended on various review sites, and they are saying that if you book via them in advance then NO visa will be required because they are registered / approved by / recognised by xyz etc etc. Any experiences would be very helpful and appreciated