How Do I Book a Red October Tour?

[swdke]

I am planning a trip for next July and would like to book with Red October. However, I am not clear on how to book with , or contact them. Can anyone tell me who I need contact, or how do I book a tour, instructions? Are there several tours to choose from, or is there just one tour? A detailed explanation of Red October will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

Steve

[VaTraveler]

I want to add a little to what Texas Duck wrote. We also used them in July, and ditto to everything he said. Regarding the itinerary, they will do whatever you want to do. They e-mailed their standard itinerary, and we made some slight changes to suit ourselves. For example, we requested lunch with a Russian family in a Russian apartment instead of the restaurant. If you would prefer to concentrate on current Russian lifestyles instead of the history-intensive tour, let them know. The important thing is that you tell them of any desired changes prior to beginning the tour because they like to stick to the printed itinerary. They were wonderful!

[nny92825100]

We used RO in May and were very happy. We shortened our first day to 6 1/2 hour and did a folk lore show in the evening. I was thankful for the shorter day, skipping lunch, so that we were refreshed for the evening show which was wonderful. One thing I have heard mentioned time and again is to go to a Russian grocery store and also see the subway. We missed both, but heard they were worth the time.

 

We opted not to do lunch as we wanted to get a lot of touring in. We did take cookies, bottled water and fruit off the ship with no problems. If you would like our itinerary, let me know and I will email it to you.

[elynch]

Yes, I would like to see your itinerary for Red October tour. Will be sailing on the Constellation May 21, 2005. Have heard such great things about them.

Thanks for your help.

 

Elaine

[swdke]

Yes, please send meyour itinerary, my email is swdke@aol.com Thank you.

[elynch]

Looks like I forgot to include my email address.... here it is

 

elynch@hsph.harvard.edu

 

Elaine

[nny92825100]

Here is our two day tour from Red October. Since a number were interested, I felt maybe putting up here would help. Like I said before, we were so happy with a shorter day as you get so tired. Also with a small group, we were 7, you can see all what the cruise lines offer in a shorter time. RO sure knows how to grease hands to get you in early so there is no waiting in lines like the cruise tours. In the evening we went to a folk show in a hotel. The show was excellent. People who chose the ballet were also impressed. Any more questions just ask.

 

 

 

St. Petersburg, Russia2-day Shore Excursion Program

 

DAY ONE – 6 HOURS

May 23, Sunday

 

07:00 AM - Ship’s arrival in St. Petersburg

09:00 AM - Start from the pier for a city orientation drive (city highlights): St. Nicholas’s Church, Theatre Square with Mariinsky Theatre, St. Isaac’s Square, majestic St. Isaac Cathedral, “Bronze Horseman” – the most famous monument to Peter the Great, Shmidt Bridge, Vasilievsky Island with Arts Academy, Menshikov Palace, University, Kunstkamera, “Strelka” with Stock Exchange and Rostral Columns and with the most beautiful view of Neva Embankments Winter Palace and other buildings of the Hermitage Museum, Twelve Colleges, Palace Bridge, Palace Square with Winter Palace and Alexander Column, Admiralty, Nevsky Avenue, the central street of the city, Smolny Cathedral and Smolny Institute, “Field of Mars”, drive by the Savior on the Spilled Blood Cathedral, Troitsky Bridge, Peter’s the Great Cabin, Cruiser “Aurora”.

10:15 AM - inside visit of Peter-and-Paul Fortress, place where the city was founded in May of 1703, incl. the Peter-and-Paul Cathedral (1712 1733), burial place of the Romanovs

11:00 AM - Shopping opportunity at the biggest and best souvenir shop of St. Petersburg – Red October (wooden dolls of various dimensions and quality, authentic lacquer boxes from Palekh, Mstera etc., splendid amber, china, Russian shawls etc.)

11:30 AM - Tour of the Hermitage Arts Museum · Excursion to the West-European Masters’ collection (Rembrandt, Rubens, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, El Greco, Murillo, Van Dyck etc.)· Living and gala halls of the Winter Palace,· French Impressionists and art of XX century.· Optional visit to the Gold Rooms (Treasury) of the Winter Palace for additional $ 15 per person (minimum 10 persons in a group)

02:00 PM - Visit to the Savior on the Spilled Blood Cathedral built in 1907 as memorial church to honor Russian Emperor Alexander II murdered on the spot by the terrorists. It is a sample of "Russian style" architecture and decorative art of the edge of the XIX-XX centuries. Mosaic attire of the church (over 7.000 sq. m) was created by the most famous Russian artists of the epoch.

02:30 PM - Drive back to the pier

03:00 PM - Return on board

 

The per person cost of the program:

if you are 7 is USD 94 pp

Extra charge for the Gold Room USD 15 pp

The above costs include car transportation, highly qualified English speaking guide services, entrance fees to the museums as mentioned in the program.

 

 

DAY TWO – 5 HOURS

May 24, Monday

 

09:30AM10:30 AM11:30 AM - Departure for Peterhof. Drive 30km/19 miles west of St. Petersburg.Peterhof is a jewel of the Russian art, a town of parks, palaces and fountains. In the past it used to be an exquisite summer residence of Russian tsars. - Arrival in Peterhof. - Visit to the GRAND PALACE famous by the unbelievable splendor and beauty of its interior decoration.- Stroll through the wonderful “LOWER PARK” with its 150 fountains, cascades and various pavilions and palaces.

00:15 PM - Drive back to St. Petersburg

01:30 PM - Visit to St. Isaac's Cathedral (architect Montferrand), one of the finest architectural monuments of the XIX century, the former principal Cathedral of the Russian capital, the largest cathedral in town able to accommodate about 10,000 audience. The cathedral is beautifully decorated inside: marble of 13 colors, malachite, lapis-lazuli, paintings and mosaics made by the most famous Russian artists, impressive stained-glass image of Christ seen through the open doors of the magnificent Icon-Stand etc.

02:00 PM - Drive back to the pier

02:30 PM - Return to the ship

06:00 PM - Ship’s departure

 

The per person cost of the program:

If you are 4 is $ 118 pp, if you are 7 is $ 98 pp, if you are 8-9 is $ 93 pp, if you are 10 is $ 86 pp

The above costs include car transportation, highly qualified English speaking guide services, entrance fees to the museums and visit to the Grand Palace on special arrangement as mentioned in the program.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

We used Red October in June.

 

I obtained the address from this board and contacted Laura,

gave her the date of arrival and the ship , and asked if she could match us up with others on that date.She forwarded emails of two other groups for that date and ship, who I contacted ,and together ,we made up a party of eight...........turned out to be a perfect number.