St Petersburg Visa question - British passport holders

[hebbie67]

We're visiting St Petersburg in a few months and plan to take an excursion with SPB Tours. However a letter from RCI states that if we are not purchasing a shipboard organised tour and don't possess a valid visa we will not be permitted ashore.

 

Has any British passport holder used SPB Tours previously - and was there a problem with being permitted ashore by RCI?

 

Many thanks

[Paulxyz2004]

We're visiting St Petersburg in a few months and plan to take an excursion with SPB Tours. However a letter from RCI states that if we are not purchasing a shipboard organised tour and don't possess a valid visa we will not be permitted ashore.

 

Has any British passport holder used SPB Tours previously - and was there a problem with being permitted ashore by RCI?

 

Many thanks

 

 

This has nothing to do with RCI.

 

You will Need a Visa to enter Russia when not on a tour that provides Visa.

 

It´s not RCI stopping you but Russian Immigration.

 

RCI tours include a visa for the Duration of the tour. This same Service is offered by many other tour Operators. You Need to check with SPB, if they offer this to you.

 

Note that you won´t be able to go ashore outside of a tour whithout a Visa.

[little britain]

We're visiting St Petersburg in a few months and plan to take an excursion with SPB Tours. However a letter from RCI states that if we are not purchasing a shipboard organised tour and don't possess a valid visa we will not be permitted ashore.

 

Has any British passport holder used SPB Tours previously - and was there a problem with being permitted ashore by RCI?

 

Many thanks

 

Nothing to do with RCI. Your private tour company will require your passport info and they will issue you with a visa, which they will send to you. It'll probably all be in Russian! This will enable you to get off the ship and pass through passport control.

[Ashland]

We're visiting St Petersburg in a few months and plan to take an excursion with SPB Tours. However a letter from RCI states that if we are not purchasing a shipboard organised tour and don't possess a valid visa we will not be permitted ashore.

 

Has any British passport holder used SPB Tours previously - and was there a problem with being permitted ashore by RCI?

 

Many thanks

More than likely SPG will be including the "blanket visa" for their tour guests. We did a private 2 day tour with TJ Travel and they took care of everything and emailed us the necessary form to show Russian Immigration as we got off the ship along with our passport...This is very easy to do don't be concerned. Enjoy !!

[Illyria]

We're visiting St Petersburg in a few months and plan to take an excursion with SPB Tours. However a letter from RCI states that if we are not purchasing a shipboard organised tour and don't possess a valid visa we will not be permitted ashore.

 

Has any British passport holder used SPB Tours previously - and was there a problem with being permitted ashore by RCI?

 

Many thanks

RCI is just trying to scare you into taking ship's tour. SPB Tours is a very reputable company that's been around for years and are licensed to provide "tour tickets" (blanket visas) for their customers. If you read their FAQs, they apply to Brits too, not just U.S. passport holders.

[Neelix]

We did a tour of St. Petersburg with SPB last year. They sent us all the relevant visa documentation by email. We showed this and our passports at passport control and there were no problems. It was the highlight of our Baltic tour. Enjoy.

[cruizers]

We are also going with SPB in St. Petersburg at the beginning of June. They have issued a Tour Ticket which encompasses what is needed to use as the Russian visa. It is restricted to their tours, but as others have posted, you will some kind of visa (tour ticket) if you wish to disembark. Have a great trip!

 

Caren

[hebbie67]

Thanks everyone - it's great to be reassured!

 

Maybe it was just the way we read the RCI letter - we had visions of them not allowing us to depart the ship and get as far as Russian immigration!!

 

Thanks again for your help.

[Paulxyz2004]

RCI is just trying to scare you into taking ship's tour. SPB Tours is a very reputable company that's been around for years and are licensed to provide "tour tickets" (blanket visas) for their customers. If you read their FAQs, they apply to Brits too, not just U.S. passport holders.

 

 

I can´t see any scare in what RCI told the OP.

 

However a letter from RCI states that if we are not purchasing a shipboard organised tour and don't possess a valid visa we will not be permitted ashore.

 

RCI tells exactly how it is. You Need a visa to enter Russia or in other words to be allowed ashore.

As stated by RCI you can book an RCI shore excursion, which will take care of your visa.

Another Option is to take care of the visa yourself. In which way you do this is your choice. You can just apply for a visa yourself(which I´ve done before) or book an excursion with a tour Company that takes care of the visa.

 

Nothing scary about the note. It simply says take a tour with us and we take care of the visa. If not be Aware you will Need to take care of your visa to be admitted ashore.