Rollcalls Oceania VS Prince

[ropomo]

9 minutes ago, clo said:

does that mean you have to be 'joined at the hip' with your group

 

Not necessarily 'joined at the hip', but you will be on a relatively short leash.  For example, at most destinations (e.g. Peterhof, etc) once there we were at liberty to explore on our own after any formal tour.  I have read on CC of some tours that will provide some free shopping time, but within a very limited area and the guide is nearby.  We did an excellent Alla tour and in no way ever felt 'captive'.  At lunch I was able to excuse myself after finishing my meal and go out on the street for a cigar, etc.

 

Also, all the major tour companies in SPB will provide a CC discount and if you form and coordinate a CC group and manage to fill a 16 seat van, the 16th seat is free, which can provide you with a free tour or as I did, the cost of the free seat was spread evenly as a discount across the group.  If you choose to do this, you contact the company in advance and set up the group and then promote it on your Roll Call asking anyone joining the group to mention the group name when booking.

[pinotlover]

17 minutes ago, clo said:

Thanks tremendously. A couple of years ago I did a little preliminary research about independent Russia travel. So do you not have any 'document' and does that mean you have to be 'joined at the hip' with your group. TIA.

Joined at the hip is very accurate. Some guides will give you minimum freedom to roam , but others won’t. One guide was “ If one goes to the bathroom, we all go to the bathroom “. The lease is Always relatively short , some some individual guides give you more rope than others.

[clo]

3 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

Joined at the hip is very accurate. Some guides will give you minimum freedom to roam , but others won’t. One guide was “ If one goes to the bathroom, we all go to the bathroom “. The lease is Always relatively short , some some individual guides give you more rope than others.

Would it be worth it to get a visa? I see it's $216pp. Do you feel like you missed anything that would have prompted you to get one? And that's x2.

[ropomo]

You would most likely see much less on your own.  The organized tours have the advantage of: dropping you off/picking you up at the venue door; navigating traffic with knowledge; providing personalized background info on what you are seeing; early/priority entrance to many venues, thus avoiding lines (prior to general public, we were in the Hermitage an hour before opening and it seemed we had the place to ourselves, Catherine's Palace we walked right in bypassing lines that we were told were 2-3 hours long).  Also, the Visa costs nearly as much as a two day intensive tour.  Also, if you have consensus of your group or book a private tour, you can adjust the itinerary to include whatever you wish.

[Paulchili]

1 hour ago, clo said:

Would it be worth it to get a visa? I see it's $216pp. Do you feel like you missed anything that would have prompted you to get one? And that's x2.

One word - DON’T.

Not only is it expensive but also very cumbersome.

Getting around on your own in SPB is not like in Paris or Buenos Aires.

Not many cab drivers or people on the street speak English and if you don’t speak Russian or even can read the Cyrillic, you will be lost. Getting to places out of town  like Catherine’s Palace and Peterhof is not that easy (although there is a hovercraft to Peterhof).

Go with SPB or Alla and you ‘ll enjoy it much more. Forget Oceania’s excursions in SPB.

Try to include Faberge museum on your itinerary. Also, if you are in SPB on a Monday, schedule your visit to Hermitage on that day. It’s closed to the public but open to groups - you’ll find the Hermitage almost to yourself.

Like ropomo said,tour companies have it down pat - most efficient itineraries, bypassing lines , getting lunches - in SPB leave it to the pros.

Edited January 13, 2020 by Paulchili

[sunlover12]

1 hour ago, Paulchili said:

One word - DON’T.

Not only is it expensive but also very cumbersome.

Getting around on your own in SPB is not like in Paris or Buenos Aires.

Not many cab drivers or people on the street speak English and if you don’t speak Russian or even can read the Cyrillic, you will be lost. Getting to places out of town  like Catherine’s Palace and Peterhof is not that easy (although there is a hovercraft to Peterhof).

Go with SPB or Alla and you ‘ll enjoy it much more. Forget Oceania’s excursions in SPB.

Try to include Faberge museum on your itinerary. Also, if you are in SPB on a Monday, schedule your visit to Hermitage on that day. It’s closed to the public but open to groups - you’ll find the Hermitage almost to yourself.

Like ropomo said,tour companies have it down pat - most efficient itineraries, bypassing lines , getting lunches - in SPB leave it to the pros.

I agree with this.  I wouldn't even think about trying to tour SPB on my own for the reasons listed.

 

We were in SPB last summer on the Marina and took an O excursion to the Faberge Museum. It was actually quite pleasant.  We didn't have to wait more than a few minutes at the entrance.  Our group was only 16 and we had a very good guide.  We also took an O excursion to the Hermitage and it was crowded as expected.  Whatever you choose to do, book with a guide or take an O excursion.

[tropicalkerry2002]

With SPB tours, I did not feel at all like we were on a short leash. The group obviously stays together while touring, and having lunch at the included restaurants,,,which I would expect with any group tour that has no "free time". I'm in a place like St. Petersburg to see as much as possible, not to shop. We had planned 2 days with SPB, a 12 hour day, followed by an 8 hour day, and we were going to have R&R on day 3. As we got closer to the cruise, I thought many would enjoy a half day "subway and shopping" tour on day 3. SPB did not offer such a thing at the time, but said it could be done. Everyone in the group signed on for the extra four hours.

We started our first day, and I think everyone was still jet lagged(it was the first port after boarding the ship in Stockholm, I think), and after 6 hours or so, the guide could see us all looking overwhelmed, yawning and with square eyes from seeing so much already, and she asked if we wanted to make the first day 8 hours rather than 12, and add the 4 hours to the last day, after the subway/shopping tour. A resounding YES was the reply.

So we did our S/S tour which was fabulous, then the guide took us to a short street, and told us about each of the 4 or 5 restaurants on the street, and each couple could dine where they wanted. We were given a time to reconvene to finish the tour, and it worked perfectly!

Edited January 13, 2020 by tropicalkerry2002

[Paulchili]

30 minutes ago, tropicalkerry2002 said:

We were given a time to reconvene to finish the tour, and it worked perfectly!

We had a similar experience with SPB

One evening we wanted to go out and have tea/cakes at the amazing Singer building bookstore and see the Nevsky Prospect at night.

Our driver dropped us off and picked us up later at the agreed time.

[tropicalkerry2002]

Perhaps I should add, after saying that I wasn't in St. P to shop, that we did a subway and Farmers Market tour, and we also got to walk along Nevsky Prospect. I wanted to see everyday Russian life! I'll never forget our wonderful guide telling us while we were on the subway, that the locals would all know we were foreigners because we were all smiling!

May I also add, that we also had free time at Peterhof to wander the gardens. It was stunning!

Edited January 13, 2020 by tropicalkerry2002

[clo]

5 hours ago, Paulchili said:

I second STP although Ala was excellent as well.

STP also provides tours in other Baltic ports like Tallinn & Berlin. In fact, the founder of STP splits her time between St Petersburg & Berlin.

Good to know as this is a very port intensive trip. Thanks.

[venice07]

On 1/12/2020 at 8:41 PM, Paulchili said:

I agree with Mura.

In the past I have arranged and participated in many small group excursions in Asia, Africa, Middle East, etc.

These days it is very different.

I am trying to get people to join a couple of Spain Day tours in Seville and La Corunna as they have a minimum Participation requirement.

I’ve had ONE single response for one of the tours.

Someone else on the cruise is arranging tours for different ports without any success.

The cruise is in May - so it’s not that far away.

I feel your pain.  I am trying to get some traction for a Spain Day tour to Barcelona/Montserrat and so far zip, nada, zilch response.  But our cruise sails in October and I'm hoping I can stir up more interest over the next several months. As you mention, your cruise is in May which is cause for alarm if you've only had ONE response.  Are people waiting until after final payment before getting their shore activities planned?  In our early days of cruising with Oceania (2007-2010) there was lots of activity on the roll calls more than a year out!  Folks who left joining private shore excursions to the last minute were out of luck -- that's how organized people used to be.  And willing to commit well ahead of time, I might add.

[Paulchili]

45 minutes ago, venice07 said:

I am trying to get some traction for a Spain Day tour to Barcelona/Montserrat and so far zip, nada, zilch response. 

Don’t despair - there is still lots of time, especially for a popular tour like Montserrat.

Also, SDT will try to fill your tour independently of you.

Our tour to Seville now has the 10 people that are the minimum required despite the fact that only 1 person on our roll call responded.

They filled the tour with other people. Whether they are from our ship but not on roll call or from other ships I do not really care as long as the tour is as planned.

Good luck!. 

[Marseydotes]

Agree with other posters—SPB or Alla tours open St. Petersburg. You will have a chance to see much more than just one place or two each day. (By the way, the tour guides DEVOURED the tiny packets of M and M’s we gave them—Halloween size.)

 

Rome in Limo is super—asked for a “driving tour” for an hour or so on the drive from the airport to our hotel since my in-laws had never been there. The next day, pre-cruise, they returned us to many of the sights we had seen from the car and many more. 

[venice07]

7 minutes ago, Paulchili said:

Don’t despair - there is still lots of time, especially for a popular tour like Montserrat.

Also, SDT will try to fill your tour independently of you.

Our tour to Seville now has the 10 people that are the minimum required despite the fact that only 1 person on our roll call responded.

They filled the tour with other people. Whether they are from our ship but not on roll call or from other ships I do not really care as long as the tour is as planned.

Good luck!. 

Nice to hear your tour filled up.  Good that I don't have to rely on our roll call members for our tour either. Thanks for letting me know!

[Paulchili]

18 minutes ago, venice07 said:

Nice to hear your tour filled up.  Good that I don't have to rely on our roll call members for our tour either. Thanks for letting me know!

You are welcome.

I am betting that you’ll be OK.

[clo]

39 minutes ago, Paulchili said:

Also, SDT will try to fill your tour independently of you.

 

That's what I've read about St. Petersburg also. I'll book through SPB or such. Just not into the roll call thing. 

 

BTW we had a wonderful time in Seville, traveling DIY.

[Paulchili]

15 minutes ago, clo said:

That's what I've read about St. Petersburg also. I'll book through SPB or such

Both SPB and Alla as well as others will do it. Having people from your roll call join you would only help IMO.

Edited January 20, 2020 by Paulchili

[clo]

9 minutes ago, Paulchili said:

Both SPB and Alla as well as others will do it. Having people from your roll call Join you would only help IMO.

From what I've read and supposed it just puts another layer into the process. And I've read here about people getting quite 'territorial' about such things. I've been described as "she doesn't suffer fools gladly" so it's probably best that I just show up at the appointed time 🙂

PS: The "green" soup was pretty darn good.

[Mura]

Clo, it sounds from your posts that you prefer to do things on your own.  Am I wrong?

 

Whatever the case, traveling with a small group is more economical (if that matters) and we've very rarely had a problem with our companions on such ventures who'd pretty much been unknown to us before meeting up in the group.  Yes, some of us "met" on the roll call and depending on their posts, you can get an idea of how they will be as travel companions.  Not always!  I've heard stories of people who really did not fit in but we haven't encountered that ourselves.

 

On our Black Sea cruise there was one older woman who was suffering from early Alzheimer's and it was heart warming to see how the other members of the group (aside from her two family members) rallied around to help her.  In truth, she probably should not have done the trip.  We were never sure how much she understood of what we were seeing.  But she was never alone.  This was a very unusual situation in our experience!

 

Back to the St. Petersburg possibilities, if you really do not want to travel with people you don't do well, you CAN book a tour for two.  It will just cost you a lot more $$.  Or should I say rubles?

 

Mura

 

[clo]

1 hour ago, Mura said:

Back to the St. Petersburg possibilities, if you really do not want to travel with people you don't do well, you CAN book a tour for two.  It will just cost you a lot more $$.  Or should I say rubles?

 

But I can sign up with the same tour companies that the ship people are signing up with and travel with the same people. As I said I would just be cutting a layer out of the process.

[cruisemom42]

When I went to St. Petersburg with my son (at the time he was 13), people talked us out of doing it on our own. Once I was there, I saw it would have been quite possible. I'm not saying it would have been necessarily a "better" experience, as we had an excellent private tour with one of the well-vetted groups. But I just greatly prefer doing things on my own -- it's not the cost (visas are pricey) but the experience.

 

So -- in the intervening time it has only gotten easier in StP to go it alone if you want to. On the other hand, a private tour for two isn't a terrible idea for a first visit IF you want to get outside the city and go to Peterhof or Catherine's palace.

 

[pinotlover]

Since I’ve done it on several occasions, here are my observations. The typical costs of getting a driver guide with vehicle is a negotiated price of X. Put together a Roll Call group of 8, the cost per person is X/8, for 12 it’s X/12th. You’re doing the work for them filling up the van, you get the discount.

 

Companies like viator are the other option. They do the work filling the van or bus, you don’t get the discount. Plus, you don’t know where the other passengers are coming from! Are they going to drive you around town for an hour, picking up guests at hotels and other locales? You don’t know what’s in that box of chocolate , you just get what you pay for! Uncertainty!

[clo]

17 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

Since I’ve done it on several occasions, here are my observations. The typical costs of getting a driver guide with vehicle is a negotiated price of X. Put together a Roll Call group of 8, the cost per person is X/8, for 12 it’s X/12th. You’re doing the work for them filling up the van, you get the discount.

 

Companies like viator are the other option. They do the work filling the van or bus, you don’t get the discount. Plus, you don’t know where the other passengers are coming from! Are they going to drive you around town for an hour, picking up guests at hotels and other locales? You don’t know what’s in that box of chocolate , you just get what you pay for! Uncertainty!

From what I've read here the roll call excursions are generally the same companies that I can book with on my own. And most of the passengers are from the ship. And "uncertainty" for us is a good thing. It's one of the reasons we (likely) stopped doing escorted land trips. For our trip in the fall we'll certainly do a tour in SPB because of the Russian aspect. I need to do my research about the other ports, two of which we'll have already DIYd before then. 

[GeorgesGal]

On 1/13/2020 at 10:36 AM, ORV said:

 

Perhaps one reason the ship doesn't do a tour from Naples to the Amalfi coast is distance. While it can be done it's a pretty good drive. Much easier from Sorrento. 

 

While this is true, there is also the fact that the large buses would probably have a tough time on those narrow, winding roads throughout the region of Amalfi on the Sorrentine Peninsular!

 

Donna

[Paulchili]

2 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

Once I was there, I saw it would have been quite possible.

Really?

Almost anything is possible but doing SPB on one’s own on a cruise is not for everyone.

Do you speak and read Russian? Nothing is within walking distance of the new port thus requiring taxis. The taxi drivers are notoriously unscrupulous and do not speak English as a rule. One may have to deal with long lines at Hermitage, Catherine’s palace, etc, etc, etc.

If one is staying in SPB on a land trip in a hotel that makes things a lot easier to navigate on your own but with a more limited time on a cruise ship it is an unnecessary hardship IMO. The guides maximize one’s time in SPB as they are familiar with the best routes for given itineraries, bypass lines and minimize lunch times, etc.

I have been to SPB 4 or 5 times on both cruises and land trips and am almost fluent in Russian and yet have never chosen to tour SPB on my own on any of those trips.

Have no problem touring any other European city on my own.

Can it be done - yes. Is it worth it - no (IMO).

As always, YMMV.

Edited January 20, 2020 by Paulchili