SOJOURN ex Dover 20June 2010

[MARIANH]

Yes you will need a special visa. Having got a reduction on the price of this cruise, we feel it gives us scope for booking the (probably quite expensive) tours!! We have been to St. P before, and do feel that if you really want to see the Hermitage properly you do need to go on a special tour, not the one probably specified by Seabourn. It does need a long time to see even some of the wonderful things there. This only matters if you are really interested in the works of art there.

 

Really, really interested! The question is - if we book with a bona fide " approved" specialist tour operator but not through Seabourn ,does this mean we do not need a visa? If we do , do you know the most reliable route to obtain one and the cost? A Google search suggests this procedure could be a minefield! I will be ringing my TA tomorrow for advice. If anything comes of this, I will post. PS Maybe it is a different matter if you are brave enough to go walkabout.

 

Regards

[Pipkins]

Wine, women and song.:D But hang on, Seabourn is AI - so no need. I am sorely tempted to launch into one of our amusing exchanges - except that our previous missives have been excised and I do not wish to be excommunicated. So back to topic. My reason for changing TA is not mercenary. I look forward to exchanging experiences around TA's on our 14 days sojourn on Sojourn. I do hope that none of the aforesaid breaches protocol or etiquette, is ultra vires or otherwise unconstitutional. Advice anyone?

 

Well MarianH - as we avoid discussing prices paid for trips on the cruise, we were hesitant to bring this to the forum, and used the phrase ' price adjustments' with care, knowing that a holiday could be spoilt by some injudicious words! However, it seemed it might be our holiday!! We have no advice to give on protocol or e-etiquette - this is the only forum we use. However, this is the first, and possibly last time we book so far in advance. Just a footnote - our agent has just phoned to say we will be refunded with seven days - so we will wait and see...

[MARIANH]

Update re Visa for Russia. TA has confirmed that anyone trying to jump ship other than on a Seabourn booked tour will need a Visa. There is an agent recommended who can process your application - total cost approx £325 for two. The application form is " comprehensive"! I will now have a look at the Hermitage tours offered by Seabourn to see if they are good enough for us( details in pre cruise documentation).

[MARIANH]

Well MarianH - Just a footnote - our agent has just phoned to say we will be refunded with seven days - so we will wait and see...

 

Good news and good luck! Maybe it will be worth us keeping an eye on the Seabourn site to check if any further "price adjustments" occur before we sail. At the moment some categories are "wait listed".

[LN50]

Update re Visa for Russia. TA has confirmed that anyone trying to jump ship other than on a Seabourn booked tour will need a Visa. There is an agent recommended who can process your application - total cost approx £325 for two. The application form is " comprehensive"! I will now have a look at the Hermitage tours offered by Seabourn to see if they are good enough for us( details in pre cruise documentation).

 

My sister was in russia last year (withNCL) and did an independent tour organised with one of the travel companies on the internet, they organised the visa for her and the whole trip, incuding visa was only about £300. she was very impressed with it all and they could tailor it to what they wanted to do.

 

You cannot disembark without someone having organised the visa.

 

Hope this helps.

[Pipkins]

We too have a list from the web of independent tour operators who claim you do not need a visa if on their tours. Review sites of these tours seem to confirm this. We are interested because we will move at our own speed, and hopefully get more into the day. However, our investigations seem to result in that you do need a visa if going it alone/ or not pre-booked tour.

 

I was in the 'USSR' in 1969 - but it is too far back for me to remember what we did then! Mind you, we could have funded the trip by selling Levi Jeans over and over again! If only we had known!

[lincslady]

Good news and good luck! Maybe it will be worth us keeping an eye on the Seabourn site to check if any further "price adjustments" occur before we sail. At the moment some categories are "wait listed".

 

Hi MarianH and Pipkins - first, Pipkins, I imagine you meant repayment within. not with 7 days? I would be surprised if the price came down any more anyway.

 

MarianH - I am sorry if I have introduced a lot of problems re St. P. We have only done a ships tour, very like the one Seabourn are advertising for the second day there. All I can say is that it is interesting, but you do not have much time at the end to look at the paintings in the various galleries on your own, and in any case, by then are fairly tired. We have not done the 'repository' tour. If you do want to an in-depth tour of art work I am sure you will have to get a special visa and prebook it; I'm sorry I have no knowledge about this. I think we will do the repository tour, with a different trip the next day.

 

We have not yet received our cheque - will post when and if it arrives.

[Pipkins]

Hi MarianH and Pipkins - first, Pipkins, I imagine you meant repayment within. not with 7 days? I would be surprised if the price came down any more anyway.

 

MarianH - I am sorry if I have introduced a lot of problems re St. P. We have only done a ships tour, very like the one Seabourn are advertising for the second day there. All I can say is that it is interesting, but you do not have much time at the end to look at the paintings in the various galleries on your own, and in any case, by then are fairly tired. We have not done the 'repository' tour. If you do want to an in-depth tour of art work I am sure you will have to get a special visa and prebook it; I'm sorry I have no knowledge about this. I think we will do the repository tour, with a different trip the next day.

 

We have not yet received our cheque - will post when and if it arrives.

 

We are delighted to report that our debit card has been refunded today - so we have our cruise at the adjusted price.

[Seabourn-nail]

We have just booked Sojourn leaving Dover UK for the Baltic 20 June 2010. Anyone else?

 

We enjoyed Odyssey December 2009 in the Caribbean; but were not enamoured with the vibration. Does anyone know if the problem has been sorted and if therefore Sojourn should be vibration free?

I suppose this is also the roll call for this cruise to the Baltic?

Well, in that case count us in! :)

I think it is rather weird that Seabourn doesn't advertise this cruise on their own website... The Sojourn cruises start there from July 4! While there still is availability. I noticed because I wanted to add this cruise to my "saved cruises". I couldn't do that, so instead I booked the cruise! Let's hope the cruise will be more than a "try out"! ;)

Marja

[lincslady]

I suppose this is also the roll call for this cruise to the Baltic?

Well, in that case count us in! :)

 

I think it is rather weird that Seabourn doesn't advertise this cruise on their own website... The Sojourn cruises start there from July 4! While there still is availability. I noticed because I wanted to add this cruise to my "saved cruises". I couldn't do that, so instead I booked the cruise! Let's hope the cruise will be more than a "try out"! ;)

 

Marja

 

Hi Marja

 

Glad to hear that you will be on this cruise. We have met briefly (I know because I recognise you from your photos!) on Pride a year or so ago. And I will certainly recognise you and come and say hello. Have loved your pictures from the world cruise, and I think you were on an early one on Odyssey so will be able to compare how well the new ship is doing.

[MARIANH]

I suppose this is also the roll call for this cruise to the Baltic?

Well, in that case count us in! :)

 

I think it is rather weird that Seabourn doesn't advertise this cruise on their own website... The Sojourn cruises start there from July 4! While there still is availability. I noticed because I wanted to add this cruise to my "saved cruises". I couldn't do that, so instead I booked the cruise! Let's hope the cruise will be more than a "try out"! ;)

 

Marja

 

Hi

If you search the Seabourn site for cruises in June it does come up - but not on a "general" search for Sojourn. Wierd.

 

Enjoyed your pictures of Odyssey. They brought back fond and not too distant memories of this splendid ship. It looks as if Sojourn is not only a lovely sister but a remarkably similar twin - albeit delivered rather late!

 

Regards

[shefinch]

I suppose this is also the roll call for this cruise to the Baltic?

Well, in that case count us in! :)

I think it is rather weird that Seabourn doesn't advertise this cruise on their own website... The Sojourn cruises start there from July 4! While there still is availability. I noticed because I wanted to add this cruise to my "saved cruises". I couldn't do that, so instead I booked the cruise! Let's hope the cruise will be more than a "try out"! ;)

Marja

We will be on the Baltic cruise out of Dover as well!

Shelagh and Larry

[lincslady]

We will be on the Baltic cruise out of Dover as well!

Shelagh and Larry

 

Shelagh = I remember meeting you too on Pride, after seeing your pics. on a later trip. Lucky you to be doing both inaugural trips, and I believe you were on the maiden voyage on Odyssey? So you will certainly be able to see how much improved the new ship will be, hopefully more ready for her maiden, than Odyssey apparently was.

[lord of the seas]

We will be on the Baltic cruise out of Dover as well!

Shelagh and Larry

 

It's good to see lottery winners spending their money wisely

[shefinch]

Shelagh = I remember meeting you too on Pride, after seeing your pics. on a later trip. Lucky you to be doing both inaugural trips, and I believe you were on the maiden voyage on Odyssey? So you will certainly be able to see how much improved the new ship will be, hopefully more ready for her maiden, than Odyssey apparently was.

Can I see your pic somewhere lincslady to refresh my memory? As far as we were concerned on the maiden of the Odyssey we found very little to complain about. I'm more worried about the weather and the seas going to Iceland on this one - can't imagine it's going to be anything like the weather and seas we had out of Venice!!

[shefinch]

It's good to see lottery winners spending their money wisely

Well you should know John - it takes one to know one!!!

Shelagh

[lincslady]

Can I see your pic somewhere lincslady to refresh my memory? As far as we were concerned on the maiden of the Odyssey we found very little to complain about. I'm more worried about the weather and the seas going to Iceland on this one - can't imagine it's going to be anything like the weather and seas we had out of Venice!!

 

I am a complete duffer with the computer, and have no idea how to put a pic on!! I remember some people mentioning problems with the Odyssey maiden, but it was probably not you. I do know it was not really as ready as it should have been, and hopefully the shipyard will have learnt from their previous experience.

 

I do hope you are going to have a super send-off from Greenwich; haven't yet read anything about the plans for it. We were lucky with the weather on a previous summer cruise to Iceland, and it was a fascinating place to see.

[robertsw15]

"According to the Russian Federation law, visas are not required for shore excursions if you book the tour through a company officially licensed and authorized by the Russian government to receive foreign cruise passengers and to operate inside the St. Petersburg port area." This quote is from a tour company's website. So there are alternatives to going on the Seabourn shore excursions, without the hassle and expense of getting a Russian Visa. Just do an internet search:)

[shefinch]

I am a complete duffer with the computer, and have no idea how to put a pic on!! I remember some people mentioning problems with the Odyssey maiden, but it was probably not you. I do know it was not really as ready as it should have been, and hopefully the shipyard will have learnt from their previous experience.

 

I do hope you are going to have a super send-off from Greenwich; haven't yet read anything about the plans for it. We were lucky with the weather on a previous summer cruise to Iceland, and it was a fascinating place to see.

I'm sure I'll recognise you when I see you! We haven't heard anything yet about plans for the send-off from Greenwich either. I hope we'll be as lucky as you were when you went to Iceland.

[lincslady]

I'm sure I'll recognise you when I see you! We haven't heard anything yet about plans for the send-off from Greenwich either. I hope we'll be as lucky as you were when you went to Iceland.

 

I think you will recognise me. I am pleased to say that we have now received our refund from our agent to bring the price of our cruise down to the latest offer. This means we will feel much more like booking some excursions, particularly in St. Petersburg. We also received our 'travel planner' today, and I note that the tour of the Hermitage Repository seems to have vanished. However, there are still various interesting ones to choose from.

 

Look forward to seeing you, and 'Pipkins' again, and meeting MarianH. on June 20th or shortly after.

[shefinch]

Looking forward to seeing you too Lincslady!

Shelagh