Happy grandma Posted June 13, 2017 #1 Share Posted June 13, 2017 We are on the Celebrity Millenium on April 26th 2018. They visit Petropavlovsk in Russia for a day. We don't fancy the ships excursion and they are only short. Do we need to purchase a visa? Does anyone know alternative providers who maybe go to volcanoes? Any advice from previous passengers of this cruise would be gratefully received. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Timber Posted June 13, 2017 #2 Share Posted June 13, 2017 I was on the recent transpacific cruise. I did not take a private excursion so cannot help you with that, but visa's were NOT required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowmc Posted June 13, 2017 #3 Share Posted June 13, 2017 (edited) According to a different post on this board (question about transpacific cruise)...VISAs are not required. Rules for St. Petersburg do not apply. However, they did say that there is not much to do in the city and that customs took a long time. They highly recommended a private company.... http://www.kamchatintour.ru Here is the link to the conversation: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2500999 Edited June 13, 2017 by snowmc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydrokitty Posted June 13, 2017 #4 Share Posted June 13, 2017 I would check into this thoroughly well before your departure. I've been to Moscow and St. Pete on a river cruise and had to have a Visa which was around $400 if I remember correctly, took about 5 weeks to get, and while it wasn't hard to get it did involve a lengthy form to be filled out....and that was when we were friends with Russia!!! I'm going back there in August on X and you still need a Visa..... BUT if you take a ship X you're covered under a blanket Visa...however you must leave and return to the ship with the excursion. If you hire a private guide, most of the time the guide will include the Visa in the tour price, but again you must leave and return to the ship with the guide. If you do not have a Visa and are not with a ship or private guide, you may not be allowed to leave the port....or more importantly, get back on the ship!! I would not fool around with Russia...go the the US State Dept website and read their instructions very carefully...things may be changing at any time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribill Posted June 14, 2017 #5 Share Posted June 14, 2017 Being so far from Moscow, Petropavlovsk has its own set of rules. I have never been on a cruise ship there, but when we were on a cruise ship that stopped in Vladivostok there were no restrictions about going around on your own without a visa. We did have to carry our passports with us while off the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downundermatt Posted June 14, 2017 #6 Share Posted June 14, 2017 I was on the May 2017 sailing (with Big Timber) and confirm no need for a Russian Visa for Petropavlovsk. The highlight of our cruise was our visit to the Siberian huskies (expensive but well worth it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alakegirl Posted June 14, 2017 #7 Share Posted June 14, 2017 Hydrokitty is correct as far as the places she went goes, but there's different rules for Petrozavodsk where no visa is required for cruise ship passengers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAVTAM Posted June 14, 2017 #8 Share Posted June 14, 2017 Both Vladivostok and Petrozavodsk do NOT require visa. Been to both places. Just walk off ship. Do agree the customs people take their time looking at passports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy grandma Posted June 14, 2017 Author #9 Share Posted June 14, 2017 I was on the May 2017 sailing (with Big Timber) and confirm no need for a Russian Visa for Petropavlovsk. The highlight of our cruise was our visit to the Siberian huskies (expensive but well worth it) Thanks for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy grandma Posted June 14, 2017 Author #10 Share Posted June 14, 2017 Hydrokitty is correct as far as the places she went goes, but there's different rules for Petrozavodsk where no visa is required for cruise ship passengers. Thanks for that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy grandma Posted June 14, 2017 Author #11 Share Posted June 14, 2017 According to a different post on this board (question about transpacific cruise)...VISAs are not required. Rules for St. Petersburg do not apply. However, they did say that there is not much to do in the city and that customs took a long time. They highly recommended a private company.... http://www.kamchatintour.ru Here is the link to the conversation: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2500999 Thanks for that. Very useful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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