what to do on an empty ship ??

[sheilauk]

We are going on a Baltic cruise in May on Century. As this is very much an extra cruise squeezed in, we plan to keep the cost down, so we won't be getting off ship at St Petersburg, so 2 days confined to barracks:confused:

 

Just wondering what there might be to keep us entertained, whilst everyone else is enjoying the city. Does the spa have any fantastic offers on port days, will the pool be warm enough to use ( is it heated ?) and most important will there be anything to eat :):). Or should we just stay in bed for 2 days:eek:

[ellbon]

I am so sorry you will not be getting off in St pete. It i s a great city. The psa always has good prices on port days. the pool should be heated. wonderful to sit outside with a good book and drink. there is always food on a ship.

 

enjoy the cruise

[wander]

There WILL be Spa specials. Although most I would not call fantastic they are reduced in price. There will also be some reduced price options where you can pick 2 different treatments, each of which is half its normal length with a slight to modest price savings. They must be started within the timeframe that the ship is in port. They usually do not extend into evening hours.

 

There will be plenty of food available.

[mek]

I generally don't ask these type of questions, but I can't help it this time. Why did you decide to not get off in St Petersburg? Have you been there before? Of all the ports on this itinerary, this is THE one I would not miss and I would cut out something else if necessary. We did a Baltic cruise five years ago and this one port remains my favorite of all my cruises.

[hylasgirl]

We are going on a Baltic cruise in May on Century. As this is very much an extra cruise squeezed in, we plan to keep the cost down, so we won't be getting off ship at St Petersburg, so 2 days confined to barracks:confused:

 

Just wondering what there might be to keep us entertained, whilst everyone else is enjoying the city. Does the spa have any fantastic offers on port days, will the pool be warm enough to use ( is it heated ?) and most important will there be anything to eat :):). Or should we just stay in bed for 2 days:eek:

 

 

I am on the other side of things... If I were to go on another Baltic cruise, I would not get off in St. Petersburg either. It didn't do a thing for me. Parts were OK to see, but I wouldn't go back. I think you will have a great time on the ship. We loved the Century. Have fun!:)

[Hamburg Avon Lady]

:) Just remeber the shops and casino will be closed - however, you may find

these to be the two most enjoyable days of your cruise. Not everyone is

"gunho" about shore trips - if you have been there before and have "done that and seen this" - you probably would be much happier staying onboard. It's your vacation - do what pleases YOU - not everyone else. JMO.

[Elaine0138]

There will be spa reductions but the big bonus would be, getting a time slot that you want. no chair hogging round the pool either :)

You will be surprised at the number of people who do stay onboard.

[hcat]

I generally don't ask these type of questions, but I can't help it this time. Why did you decide to not get off in St Petersburg? Have you been there before? Of all the ports on this itinerary, this is THE one I would not miss and I would cut out something else if necessary. We did a Baltic cruise five years ago and this one port remains my favorite of all my cruises.

 

Just a thought...Do you need a Visa to get off there? (with or without ship's excursion)

[Live4Miles]

How much does it cost to get off the ship?

[nonrev1]

We did the Baltic cruise last May on the Constellation...quite a few people chose not to leave the ship. They went to the indoor pool, read etc...but there was not a lot going onwhile we were in port and there was no on board entertainment the night the ship over-nighted in Russia.

 

As for a Visa - you need one if you are leaving the ship on your own. You do not need one if you are going on a cruise-line sponsored tour or arrange a private tour with a company that will sponsor a visa for you.

[AHB27]

How much does it cost to get off the ship?

 

On Baltic cruise ports like Oslo, you can just get off the ship and walk. You could even spend nothing and still have a good, albeit thirsty, time.

 

St. Petersburg is rather different. You COULD get off the ship, walk up and down the dock and re-board the ship - all for free. But, if you want to visit St P you need to pass through customs and they will want to see your Visa. You can get your own Visa(s) or a tour company may include you in a Group Visa but, either way it will cost. It is taxi ride just to get to the entrance to the docks, never mind to St P - and there are no waiting taxis other than those arranged for tours.

 

Having said that, when we did a great private tour in 2007 (off the Jewel of the Seas) we found St P to be one of the most fantastic cities to visit. If we went back, we could consider staying aboard because we have been before. However, we would recommend that somebody going for the first time ought to have very strong reasons for staying on ship !

[sheilauk]

Thanks for your replies, I am glad that there may be other people staying on board.

I am with the earlier poster, I can't get too excited about museums and churches, although I do like the architecture, its the contents that leave me cold :confused: So why pay $400 for a tour that doesn't interest me, plus I hate being organised, so the fact that I can't just wander off, wherever I fancy is also a big drawback. So there you have it, :)

[hylasgirl]

Thanks for your replies, I am glad that there may be other people staying on board.

I am with the earlier poster, I can't get too excited about museums and churches, although I do like the architecture, its the contents that leave me cold :confused: So why pay $400 for a tour that doesn't interest me, plus I hate being organised, so the fact that I can't just wander off, wherever I fancy is also a big drawback. So there you have it, :)

 

We paid $800 US dollars for our 2 day private tour. And, although this was definitely the way to do it, I would not do it again. I found the entire city to be cold.

 

We definitely are not into organized ship tours... so you either have to do that or a private tour to benefit from the blanket visa... or go about getting your own. Which I don't think is worth it. We had 8 in our private tour and all of us agreed that 1 day in St. Petersburg would have been plenty! It is really too bad that you can't get a Baltic cruise without St. Petersburg. For people who have been there, it would be nice to see some more of that gorgeous part of the world without going there!

 

Have fun on the ship! :)