Shore Excursions

[travel-to-go]

I'm just curious, having never been anywhere near there.

It says you have to be sponsored by a tour company. Is this a political thing? (Such as Castro's retaliation at Bush's harshening of the exceptions to th Cuba travel rules, wherein he now requires Cuban tour operators, even on those tours with Treasury department licenses) or controlling borders (people are fighting to sneak in to Russia?) or what?

What if one just wanted to get off the ship and walk around? No can do?

Just curious. Not going there any time soon.

 

Karie

[cruisegal101]

I'm just curious, having never been anywhere near there.

It says you have to be sponsored by a tour company. Is this a political thing? (Such as Castro's retaliation at Bush's harshening of the exceptions to th Cuba travel rules, wherein he now requires Cuban tour operators, even on those tours with Treasury department licenses) or controlling borders (people are fighting to sneak in to Russia?) or what?

What if one just wanted to get off the ship and walk around? No can do?

Just curious. Not going there any time soon.

 

Karie

 

Karie, as you probably know, many, but not all, countries require visas for anyone to visit, and yes, even to get off the ship. Russia allows the ship's excursions to get a group visa for those using the ship's excursions. If you want to do an independent tour, you are required to get your own individual visa just like you would in other countries requiring visas. My understanding is that there is more red tape for a Russian visa than for other countries. We did ship's excursions when we visited St. Petersburg because we didn't want to be bothered with individual visas and they were not required in the other ports we visited.

[cruiseonly]

If my QV cruise is not until November when can I expect to see the shore excursions that the ship offers.

 

I presume it will be on the same page as my Voyage Personalizer is.