Black Sea in September

[manc]

Just had an email from Azamara saying thus is currently going ahead. Has anyone heard about earlier cruises to the Black Sea? We have been cancelled previously so aren't surprised that it is being monitored currently 

[Leo_On_Geo]

I am on May 5 cruise to Black Sea and just received the "it's a go" email as well

[fowlisbabe]

Same here for our June cruise.

[KirkNC]

Let’s hope it stays that way.

[john1970]

Am booked for June from Istanbul and haven't received anything. I am very wary about paying the final balance in March. I got a great deal but am thinking about changing it to something later in 2023. My worry is that I will pay the balance and then they start cutting the ports we want to see the most.

[manc]

The September cruise had cut ports even before the current situation began and so we envisage loss of more ports with the uncertain situation. 

[sheeng]

We were receiving communications from Azamara that South Africa was still  “a go”

until the time it wasn’t. 😢

[john1970]

Funny didn't get an email about my Black Sea cruise in June but did get one yesterday promoting the upgrade auction for my April cruise.

[psygist]

I’m on the June 29 Black Sea cruise. Very hesitant to make final payment which is due shortly. Azamara canceled Black Sea cruises in the past due to the Russia/Ukraine situation so I think it’s likely they’ll do so this year as well. They changed the itinerary to a Greek Isles cruise. I have no interest in that itinerary. 
The question is, when will they cancel or change the itinerary?  

[yogagal47]

On 2/1/2022 at 1:00 PM, fowlisbabe said:

Same here for our June cruise.

Which one?

[manc]

We have had the Black Sea changed or cancelled in the past.  We feel very uncertain about the cruise we are booked onto this year. We don't want to sail.th4 Greek Islands as an alternative. UK and US governments already saying that it is nor an area to visit  

[Janet&Carl]

further to my earlier post ...........So preparing for my holiday I go to the Consulate website to get a visa for Russia - the Australian site says Visa's are "temporarily suspended" for Australians. No worries, I'll get a visa on my UK passport so go to the site and get this....these are the exact words as appearing on the Russian Governments Visa website.... "The UK Foreign Office continues with a series of provocative statements on the situation around Ukraine. Sidelined by its short-sighted policy from the real diplomatic processes, Britain sees its role in constantly stoking anti-Russian sentiments. The logic is simple: let no day pass without accusing Russia of preparing an 'imminent' invasion of Ukraine, and, on this concocted 'basis', try to play the ideological leader of the 'free world' defending itself from 'autocrats'.

[Grandma Cruising]

4 hours ago, Janet&Carl said:

further to my earlier post ...........So preparing for my holiday I go to the Consulate website to get a visa for Russia - the Australian site says Visa's are "temporarily suspended" for Australians. No worries, I'll get a visa on my UK passport so go to the site and get this....these are the exact words as appearing on the Russian Governments Visa website.... "The UK Foreign Office continues with a series of provocative statements on the situation around Ukraine. Sidelined by its short-sighted policy from the real diplomatic processes, Britain sees its role in constantly stoking anti-Russian sentiments. The logic is simple: let no day pass without accusing Russia of preparing an 'imminent' invasion of Ukraine, and, on this concocted 'basis', try to play the ideological leader of the 'free world' defending itself from 'autocrats'.

Do you need to get a visa beforehand? Is it just for St Petersburg. I’ve never been myself, but have read a lot about it as a destination.From what I’ve seen if you book tours with many of the tour companies, they organise the appropriate visas for you. 

[NC&KY]

It's been 10 years since our Baltic cruise, but on it if you took only ship excursions, you did not need a visa (or perhaps the cruise ship got a mass visa). If you had opted for private tours, you (or someone on your behalf) had to get a visa.

[john1970]

From the FCO website

 

Cruise or ferry passengers can stay in Russia for 72 hours without a visa if they have booked tours through officially licensed companies. You are free to use any authorised travel agency, not just cruise ship tour companies.

Cities where this applies are:

• St Petersburg
• Kaliningrad
• Vladivostok
• Sochi
• Vyborg
• Korsakov (Sakhalin Island)
• Novorossiysk

 

[Janet&Carl]

John is right but we have been to St Petersburg before - we have been to all the top sites that normal tours take you on and wanted to explore on our own and spend more time at the Hermitage. So being unescorted by a tour company or a cruise ship excursion we needed a visa.

[john1970]

We did a ships tour that was St Petersburg on your own. They basically bussed us in gave us a map and that was considered an official tour! We then did our own thing.

[Baynanno1]

9 minutes ago, Janet&Carl said:

John is right but we have been to St Petersburg before - we have been to all the top sites that normal tours take you on and wanted to explore on our own and spend more time at the Hermitage. So being unescorted by a tour company or a cruise ship excursion we needed a visa.

 

If you are unable to sort the visa problem, it may be worthwhile communicating with a tour company or companies, letting them know what you have seen and more to the point what you want to do.

 

We had an excellent two days with a guide some years ago. We saw most of the usual sights (as you know they don't all fit into two days) and several areas off the beaten tracks were included, in and around St Petersburg, on foot, metro and on the water.

 

On the third day I did an excellent full day ship's tour to the Catherine and Alexander Palaces (not DH's cup of tea).

 

On another visit I did a ship's tour to Peterhof Palace. Unfortunately that day did not live up to my expectations after my experience a few years earlier.

[annandme]

4 hours ago, john1970 said:

From the FCO website

 

Cruise or ferry passengers can stay in Russia for 72 hours without a visa if they have booked tours through officially licensed companies. You are free to use any authorised travel agency, not just cruise ship tour companies.

Cities where this applies are:

• St Petersburg
• Kaliningrad
• Vladivostok
• Sochi
• Vyborg
• Korsakov (Sakhalin Island)
• Novorossiysk

 

 

The above statement is true.  However, DO NOT read the above and think that you can book with just anyone.  You ABSOLUTELY MUST book with "Officially Licensed Companies" that are "Authorised" by the Russian government.  This booking must be made long in advance of our arrival so that they can complete and submit their paperwork, wait for the bureaucracy to work, then obtain the necessary government approvals.  Don't be surprised if you need to make full payment up front for this booking, too.

 

If you book a ship's tour, no visa is needed.  You goes on your tour and you returns back to the ship.

 

If not doing either of the above, do not expect to walk off the ship for a little look.  That will just not happen without a visa.

Edited February 16, 2022 by annandme

[Janet&Carl]

45 minutes ago, john1970 said:

We did a ships tour that was St Petersburg on your own. They basically bussed us in gave us a map and that was considered an official tour! We then did our own thing.

I have never heard of this done  John - which ship ? and I wonder if they will still let you do that

 

[Janet&Carl]

On 2/2/2022 at 6:56 AM, Leo_On_Geo said:

I am on May 5 cruise to Black Sea and just received the "it's a go" email as well

 

 

Hi - I'm Australian - our travel advice as little as two days ago was ok until I booked a cruise on the 15th ... wouldnt you know it - it changed to "Do NOt Travel"...."The threat of armed conflict in Ukraine is increasing. Leave immediately if safe to do so. "

 

Now I'm worried that travel insurance can be cancelled if we travel to Ukraine.  

[Janet&Carl]

On 2/14/2022 at 4:08 AM, manc said:

We have had the Black Sea changed or cancelled in the past.  We feel very uncertain about the cruise we are booked onto this year. We don't want to sail.th4 Greek Islands as an alternative. UK and US governments already saying that it is nor an area to visit  

 

 

I booked on the 15th and our travel advice changed the same day to "Do Not Travel and leave immediately if you are in Ukraine" - given that you have experience of this cruise being cancelled previously can you tell me how soon will Azamara make this decision?  

[Janet&Carl]

Sorry Manc - I dont seem to be able to edit my posts - I wanted to add that we are booked to go 26th August Black Sea cruise leaving from Athens and finishing in Istanbul - we are quite flexible in that we havent booked airline yet

[Leo_On_Geo]

As with any cruise contract, the cruise  line can modify or cancel the cruise up to the minute it sails  or even after while en route. These decisions are made with the safety of the crew and passengers in mind    If your  only reason for taking this cruise is to go to Ukraine, Then I would cancel if I were you. However if you’re flexible you should sail . I personally don’t think I’ll be going to Odessa in May, But I will enjoy the rest of the cruise and the three following. I will be very happy to be sailing again

Edited February 17, 2022 by Leo_On_Geo

[john1970]

15 hours ago, Janet&Carl said:

I have never heard of this done  John - which ship ? and I wonder if they will still let you do that

 

I am sorry I don't actually remember. It might have been Celebrity. It wasn't Azamara. We will just book a ships tour and save the hassle. They will be overpriced but when you factor in the hassle and cost of getting a Russian visa it is cheaper.