This St. Petersburg shore trip allows you to see the major sites in St. Petersburg plus an interior visit to the Yusupov Palace where you learn the mystery of Rasputin's murder.
After passing through customs at the port you meet your private licensed guide and depart for St. Petersburg. Your day begins with a three hour city tour which includes photo stops at major attractions. During the city driving tour you see the Square of Arts, the Russian Museum, the Cathedral of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, Griboedov Canal, Nevsky Prospect, the Palace Square, the Winter Palace, the spit of the Basil Island, the Menshikov Palace, the Senate Square, the Bronze Horseman, St. Isaac's Cathedral, Peter and Paul Fortress, the Palace Embankment, the Field of Mars, the Summer Garden and Smolny Cathedral.
Following your city tour is a break for lunch (meal not included).
This afternoon you visit the Yusupov Palace which is located on the embankment of the Moika River. This long yellow building is one of the most beautiful examples of the classicism style in Saint Petersburg. The palace was the residence of the wealthy Yusupov family. The building became famous because it was the place of one of Russia's most dramatic events, the murder of Grigory Rasputin.
In 1916, the city's noble elite conspired to kill the man they felt threatened the stability of the Russian Empire. Rasputin had won the favor of the Tsar's family and his control over the decisions of the ruler was a threat to the elite's power. Rasputin was murdered inside the Palace on December 16th, 1916. Your private guide will explain the mystery of his death as you tour the palace and Rasputin's cellar.
Mobility: NO wheelchairs
Russia Visa-Free Entry Voucher Information
With these private St. Petersburg shore excursions, our partners in Russia provide everything you need to satisfy Russia's entry requirements. You will NOT need to purchase a separate Russian Tourist Visa.
Russian law requires that cruise passengers taking Private Shore Trips have the following documentation:
1) A valid passport
2) A photocopy of your passport
3) Proof that you have purchased an escorted tour arranged by a government licensed agency authorized to receive foreign cruise passengers inside the St. Petersburg port area. Our partners in Russia provide a Visa-Free Entry Voucher as proof of your tour.
To process your Visa-Free Entry Voucher we will need the following information for each person in your private party at the time of your reservation.
-Full name as listed in the passport
-Passport Number
-Passport Expiration Date
-Date of Birth
-Nationality
-Gender
Special Note- Your cruise line may tell you that you must purchase an expensive Russian tourist visa to get off the ship if you are not taking their big bus tour. This is not true. The visa they refer to is only for passengers who plan to go ashore unaccompanied by an authorized guide. With the Visa-Free Entry Voucher our partners in Russia provide, you are required to depart and return to the port with the tour we have organized for you. You do not have the option to stay in St. Petersburg and return to the ship on your own. Visa-Free Entry Vouchers are sometimes called a "blanket visa".
Four Week Notice- To obtain the needed Russian Tourist Visas we can only accept reservations with a minimum of four weeks notice.
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St. Petersburg Shore Excursions can also be customized to fit your needs. If you have a larger group, we can offer you a private
St. Petersburg tour using a mid-size bus or full size coach. Please
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