Mayflower1306 Posted March 18, 2018 #1 Share Posted March 18, 2018 I hear the news that Russia is closing the British Consulate in St Petersburg. Has anyone heard whether this will affect the planned visit to the city? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nb125 Posted March 18, 2018 #2 Share Posted March 18, 2018 I would think that Fred, in line with all holiday companies, will follow Foreign Office advice, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Eglesbrech Posted March 18, 2018 #3 Share Posted March 18, 2018 At least on Fred you don’t have a dirty great British flag painted on the front of the ship which will be the concern of those travelling on P&O! There is an update to the current guidance available on the gov UK site. Hopefully it will all calm down soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayflower1306 Posted March 18, 2018 Author #4 Share Posted March 18, 2018 I see Foreign Office advice is cautionary at the moment. Probably not going to be a problem, but not too bothered if the itinerary changes. Morally maybe we should avoid bolstering their tourism business, but the world is full of dodgy dealings nowadays and we would go nowhere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tring Posted March 18, 2018 #5 Share Posted March 18, 2018 I do not see it will make any difference to the port call, but I would be particularly careful about taking care of your passport when ashore - maybe keep it in a money belt under your clothes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayflower1306 Posted March 18, 2018 Author #6 Share Posted March 18, 2018 I do not see it will make any difference to the port call, but I would be particularly careful about taking care of your passport when ashore - maybe keep it in a money belt under your clothes. Yes, good point. I understand that we are limited as to how free we will be on land, as we have a group visa only, so excursions will be organised and escorted. Can't really see too much in the way of problems, provided the Foreign Office advice stays as it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tring Posted March 18, 2018 #7 Share Posted March 18, 2018 (edited) Yes, good point. I understand that we are limited as to how free we will be on land, as we have a group visa only, so excursions will be organised and escorted. Can't really see too much in the way of problems, provided the Foreign Office advice stays as it is. Yes do not see any problems with the port call, but even in an escorted group I would still be ultra careful of your belongings. Our son was going into his hotel near Red Square with his school exchange group in 1991 and had his wallet stolen with £50 in it. OK it was largely our fault as the group had been told by teachers just to take a minimum amount and have them look after it, but like a number of other parents we thought it a good idea to give him some extra. Seems he had left his passport on the coach and returned for it, so ended up at the rear of the group and a pick pocket saw their chance to take his wallet which was in a loose pocket as he gathered his things together. I often feel more at risk with an escorted group as it is obvious you are tourists. We will be in Russia for a river cruise from St Petersburg and Moscow (with hotel stays each end) in early May. I am now very glad we have booked the pre and post cruise stays with Viking, rather than book the hotels independently, as we had considered doing. At least we will have someone to turn to for advice in case of problems. We have our own visas, so can go places independently, but there will be a Viking concierge in the hotels for advice. On a previous river cruise, the Viking hotel concierge (who were also the cruise director/tour guides on the boat) did things like book restaurants for dinner if we wanted that done and gave general tourist advice, so better than a hotel concierge. Enjoy the cruise, Barbara Edited March 18, 2018 by tring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nb125 Posted March 19, 2018 #8 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Yes, it does seem as though people on organised trips should have a trouble free visit. I think the problems will occur with the football fans at the World Cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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