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Home Cruise Deals Hurtigruten Cruise Deals Hurtigruten Cruises From Dover

Hurtigruten Cruises From Dover

Book Today – NEW Hurtigruten itineraries for 2024 and 2025! Explore the British Isles, Scandinavia, coastal Norway and the Arctic Circle.

Experience Hurtigruten Expeditions without needing to fly, courtesy of these fantastic ex-UK cruises. Take your pick of over 20 voyages departing from Dover throughout 2024/25 and set sail for adventure aboard the newly refurbished MS Maud (previously MS Midnatsol) with no more than 530 like-minded guests.

Several fantastic itineraries are available, with enough choice to suit even the most discerning traveller. For example, you may recently have seen Channel 5’s ‘ Cruising With Susan Calman ‘, during which she headed to arctic Norway to see the Northern Lights . You can follow in her footsteps on a 14-night itinerary from Dover, which includes an overnight stay in northern Norway’s largest city, Tromso.

Alternatively, choose to cruise with Hurtigruten from Dover during spring or summer and enjoy touring some of the British Isle’s most remote regions and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, or spend time exploring scenic archipelagos and charming villages in southern Scandinavia and the Norwegian Fjords .

Regardless of the itinerary your choose, you will enjoy the following complimentary onboard benefits on every sailing:

  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Wine and beer included during meal times
  • One expedition activity each day
  • Onboard Wi-Fi
  • Use of the ship’s wellness facilities, which include hot tubs and a panoramic sauna
  • Daily lectures on a range of topics related to the region you are exploring

You will also receive a FREE expedition jacket and water bottle, plus expert guidance throughout your voyage from Hurtigruten’s Expedition Team.

For further information regarding Hurtigruten’s cruises from Dover, please call our Voyage Consultants on 0800 008 6677 or make an online enquiry for one of the sailings below.

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Winter expeditions from Dover

Be amazed at the beauty of Norway in winter on one of our expeditions departing Dover throughout 2022/23 and 2023/24.

Our Winter Expeditions

Northern lights expedition cruise from london.

  • Enjoy an exciting expedition cruise from London (Tilbury) to explore the Norwegian coast under the Northern Lights.
  • Experience five magical nights above the Arctic Circle, visiting beautiful coastal destinations including Tromsø, Lofoten and Narvik along the way.
  • See nature up close by taking part in activities like dog sledding, hiking, kayaking and snowshoeing with our Expedition Team.

Expedition Cruise from the Northern Lights to Dover

  • Explore the rarely visited islands and villages of Senja, Mosterøy, and Kalvåg
  • Sail above the Arctic Circle for possibilities to see Norway’s Northern Lights

North Cape and Northern Lights Expedition Cruise from Dover

  • Five days above the Arctic Circle searching for Norway’s Northern Lights calling at three of the best winter activity destinations – Alta, Tromsø, Narvik
  • Stand at the top of mainland Europe, with a visit to the North Cape and it's iconic globe monument.

Christmas Expedition Cruise from Dover

  • Experience the magic of Christmas and New Year’s along the Norwegian coast
  • Spend four days above the Arctic Circle under the Auroral Zone

Hurtigruten

  • Norway Fjords Cruise
  • Northern Lights Cruise
  • Norway Midnight Sun Cruise
  • HX Expeditions UK

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From cliffs to fjords; another super season of winter adventures with hurtigruten complete.

Dover Cruise has said Farewell for now to Hurtigruten’s Maud until 2024, after an incredible run of expeditions between the iconic White Cliffs and Norwegian fjords over the 2022/2023 winter season.

At the end of 2021, Hurtigruten launched winter expedition cruises from the UK with MS Maud for the first time, with Dover becoming its UK home port and a new all-year-round cruising destination.

Sonia Limbrick, Head of Cruise at the Port of Dover said:

“It’s been another amazing season with Hurtigruten – I’m very grateful for the brilliant partnership and aspirations that we share together – we can’t wait to welcome them back again soon.”

“Being on the doorstep of the Garden of England and with our own inspirational heritage, Dover Cruise is at the heart of British Isles adventures. The magic of cruising brings communities together from across the world; whether it be from hidden corners of the Arctic, or the paradise islands of the Caribbean.”

Nathaniel Sherborne, Sales & Marketing VP at Hurtigruten Expeditions said:

“Our thanks go to Sonia and the Port of Dover team, who have been hugely supportive since our first MS Maud sailing in late 2021. We look forward to returning in April 2024, as we take more guests on incredible expeditions around the British Isles and Southern Scandinavia!”

MS Maud will return to Dover in spring next year for more turnaround calls as part of the 2024 expeditions season.

The full Port of Dover cruise schedule is now online here .

Notes to Editors

  • The Port of Dover is closing the gap every day between the UK and the world by connecting trade, travel, visitors and communities locally-globally, collaborating with local and international partners to create a more seamless, sustainable and tech-enabled port.
  • As the UK’s busiest international ferry port and a vital gateway for the movement of people and trade, Dover handles £144 billion of trade per year, 33% of UK trade in goods with the EU and welcomes over 11 million passengers.
  • Dover is also an award-winning cruise port, delivering world class travel and visitor experiences to the most prestigious cruise lines. With a growing and diversifying cargo business operating from state-of-the-art facilities, a brand-new marina which is a major feature of the exciting waterfront development, and opportunities for further expansion in the future, Dover’s proud history dating back 400 years has a new modern twist.
  • Hurtigruten establishes Dover as UK home port for expedition cruises from March 2021
  • VesselFinder
  • Maritime News

The Norwegian operator, considered to be the world’s greenest cruise line, has launched 4 adventurous itineraries as expedition cruises from March 2021, on sale from 20 June.

Hurtigruten establishes Dover as UK home port for expedition cruises from March 2021

Sonia Limbrick, Head of Cruise at the Port of Dover said: “We are thrilled to be the UK homeport for Hurtigruten ’s expedition cruises from next year and are eager to embark on our exciting new journey together.
MS Maud will bring an amazing sense of excitement and adventure to Dover when she arrives in March 2021. We are delighted to now be welcoming Hurtigruten here all year around, including for the first official winter cruise season at the Port.”

The health and safety of guests and staff has always been the number one priority for Hurtigruten. Following guidelines recommended by the Norwegian Government, the company has built on existing protocols to introduce additional practices to ensure safe, sustainable and enjoyable expedition cruising.

MS Maud – a small, sustainable, expedition cruise ship

Taking less than 500 passengers, MS Maud will be freshly refurbished prior to her arrival in Dover. She goes into the refurb project as the currently in-service MS Midnatsol, already well-known to those who have sailed on Hurtigruten’s Coastal route in Norway.

As part of the multi-million-pound refurb project, MS Maud will proudly emerge with all new public areas. Natural Scandinavian materials will be used to seamlessly bring the great outdoors inside – Scandinavian wool, pine, birch, oak, and granite will unknowingly provide the perfect backdrop to your voyage from Dover.

Three new restaurants will be introduced – Aune, the main restaurant; Fredheim, for casual international dining; and Lindstrom, our exclusive fine dining restaurant. Each serving cuisine with character, locally sourced in line with our sustainability principles.

Departing directly from Dover

Eliminating a flight adds convenience and ease to your expedition cruise. You can begin your adventure from much closer to home and immediately you swiftly pass through the gorgeous cruise terminal, without suitcase restrictions or the need to pack and unpack multiple times. Dover is very well connected by road and rail, so joining is simple and quick, be it by private or public transport. Your fellow British passengers will be kindred spirits as you venture forth on your expedition.

Expedition cruising

At Hurtigruten, we actively shun the bright lights and the crowds of mass tourism; instead, we visit remote nature destinations; we engage in unassuming beach cleans; we showcase local wildlife; we take part in Citizen Science experiments; and we learn from each other and from the Expedition Team. You’ll certainly not get any stuffy formality, nor the needless luxury of boutique cruising, nor will you feel overwhelmed by the sheer scale of your ship, the number of guests or the razzmatazz of ‘big white ship’ cruising.

In the recent past, MS Midnatsol has been in service in Antarctica, where she was heralded as the blueprint for modern expedition cruising in both size and facilities - most significantly, the tender pits and purpose-built platforms used to launch her fleet of expedition boats for landings and local exploration. These will be in use regularly as we bring expedition cruising to Dover.

Leading the cruise industry in sustainability and environmental standards

The very latest fuel and environmental advances will be incorporated ‘below decks’ as part of MS Maud’s refurbishment. The ship will be powered on BIOFUEL, mixed in with regular diesel, to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides. Furthermore, the BIOFUEL used will be environmentally certified and made from waste produce from other industries including fishing, meaning no palm oil used in its production and no negative effects on rainforests. Once in port, where possible, MS Maud will be fitted with shore power connectivity eliminating emissions whilst alongside.

Citizen Science

MS Midnatsol is a tried-and-tested thoroughbred and pioneer in expedition cruising, and through the refurb, MS Maud will emerge even stronger. A state-of-the-art Science Center is the ‘beating heart’ of all expedition cruises, and MS Maud’s will be complete with the very latest tech and experiment apparatus, touch screens and microscopes. Guests will not be disappointed, and the Science Center will become the hub to informally learn from the Expedition Team on topics ranging from geology to ornithology, from Northern Lights to the conservation and Citizen Science projects we support.

Crafted expedition cruise itineraries

Each of our 4 expedition itineraries visit hard-to-reach destinations, which test seamanship and resolve, and as a result, provide unique experiences to savour and share.

Norway’s winter fjords and the Northern Lights – 15-day voyages visiting Norway’s southern fjords and Arctic North. Highlights include Stavanger, Alesund, off-the-beaten-track Lofoten Islands, 2 days in Tromso, the North Cape and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bergen. Hurtigruten’s unique Northern Lights Promise applies.

Departures from Dover in March 2021, and Oct 2021 – March 2022

https://www.hurtigruten.co.uk/destinations/norway/dover-north-cape-dover/

Summertime in Norway’s fjords and her islands – 15-day voyages along the Norwegian coast, known to be one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, with countless fjords, mountains and charming coastal villages. Norway has been Hurtigruten’s backyard for 127 years - explore the hidden gems, handpicked by your expedition cruise experts.

Departures from Dover in Apr - September 2021

https://www.hurtigruten.co.uk/destinations/norway/norwegian-fjords-north-cape-and-the-arctic-sunshine/

The British Isles – 13-day expedition cruise visiting remote islands off the British mainland – less-visited, mysterious and varied, where the elements, the coastline and the indigenous wildlife are to be both respected and revered. Highlights include Fishguard, Rathlin Island (excursion to Giants Causeway possible), Iona, Staffa (sail by scenic cruising of Fingal’s Cave), St Kilda, Stornoway, Islay, Isle of Man, Waterford, Isles of Scilly and Dartmouth.

Departures from Dover in May - September 2021

https://www.hurtigruten.co.uk/destinations/british-isles/remote-islands-natural-wonders-and-a-diverse-coastline/

Southern Scandinavia – 15-day voyage offers expedition, culture, wildlife and nature, combined with urban exploration. Across 4 countries we encounter wide, white sandy beaches in Germany and Denmark, peaceful archipelagos and charming marinas in Sweden and the beautiful fjords and islets of Norway. Highlights include the Kiel Canal, Skagen, Koster, the Weather Islands, Oslo, Hardanger and Lysefjord.

Departures from Dover in June & July 2021

https://www.hurtigruten.co.uk/destinations/europe/southern-scandinavia-archipelagos-fjords-fishing-towns/

Prices are yet to be released by Hurtigruten, and the voyages go on sale from 20 June 2020.

Additional information about Dover Port at CruiseMapper

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  • Dover says Farewell to Hurtigruten’s cruise ship MS Maud until...

Dover says Farewell to Hurtigruten’s cruise ship MS Maud until 2024

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Dover Cruise has bid farewell to Hurtigruten 's ship MS Maud for the time being until 2024, marking the end of a remarkable series of expeditions between the renowned White Cliffs and Norwegian Fjords during the winter season of 2022-2023.

Hurtigruten initiated winter expeditions from the UK with MS Maud for the first time at the end of 2021, designating Dover as its UK homeport and a new destination for year-round operations.

Sonia Limbrick (Port Dover's Head of Cruise) expressed her gratitude for the exceptional partnership and shared aspirations with Hurtigruten, eagerly anticipating their return in the near future.

With its proximity to the beautiful Garden of England and rich heritage, Dover Cruise plays a central role in British Isles adventures, fostering connections among communities worldwide, whether they hail from remote Arctic regions or the enchanting Caribbean islands.

Nathaniel Sherborne, the Sales & Marketing VP at Hurtigruten Expeditions, extended gratitude to Sonia and the Port of Dover team for their tremendous support since the inaugural MS Maud voyage in late 2021. They eagerly anticipate their comeback in April 2024, bringing more guests on incredible expeditions throughout the British Isles and Southern Scandinavia.

MS Maud will make a comeback to Dover in the spring of the following year for additional turnaround calls as part of the 2024 expeditions season.

Hurtigruten Expeditions is now HX!

  • Inspiration

Don't just visit Norway. Live it.

The beauty of the norwegian coast is calling. currently, enjoy flight-inclusive deals and save up to £1,200pp on select 2024 and 2025 voyages., our voyages.

There’s more than one way to sail with us and discover the many wonders of the Norwegian coast.

norway lofoten hamnoy krcil shutterstock 2064790703

The Original Coastal Express

Mainland Norway

This is our classic route that has faithfully served the families and communities of the Norwegian coast for generations.

norway lofoten northern-lights giulio-ercolani alamy e7amh0-original-1

The North Cape Express

For the first time, we sail to or from the capital Oslo, journeying between Norway’s southernmost point and its northernmost.

longyearbyen_svalbard_hgr_156586_1920_photo_alamy_stock_photo

The Svalbard Express

Mainland Norway & Svalbard

Embark on a nostalgic summertime voyage along the Norwegian coast up to the Svalbard archipelago at the edge of the world.

MS Nordstjernen at Svalbard. Photo: Vegard Åsen

The Spitsbergen Adventurer

A nostalgic voyage of the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago to experience a remote wilderness of fjords, glaciers, and polar wildlife.

Northern Lights, Hamnoy, Norway

Explore nature's greatest lightshow

Experience to the (Solar) Max: Scientists predict the Solar Maximum in 2024-25 will result in the most frequent and impressive Northern Lights in more than a decade. The best time to go is now.

Learn about the Science and Causes: Our experts share how solar activity and magnetic fields cause the auroras.

Relax in the knowledge that our unmatchable Northern Lights Promise means you’ll get another chance to see the aurora if they don’t make an appearance on your voyage of 11 days or more ( T&Cs apply ).

Featured Voyages

Choose how you want to discover the Norwegian coast

Roundtrip Voyage from Bergen | Explore Norway’s Coastline

Bergen - Kirkenes - Bergen ( Roundtrip )

Roundtrip voyage from bergen | explore norway’s coastline.

Departure Dates

Regular departures - 12 days

Northern Lights and Charter Flights

Winter 2024 & 2025 ( Roundtrip )

Northern lights and charter flights.

October - March - 12 days

Price from £2,464

Expert-led Astronomy and Northern Lights Voyage

Expert-led Astronomy and Northern Lights Voyage

September - March - 12 days

Introducing Norway

Norway’s wild and dramatic coastline is made for adventure all year round. Sailing here since 1893, we’re the experts, showing you both its highlights and its hidden gems.

Norway Bodo Summer HGR 163732 Photo Kent Evan Grundstad

Bodø, European Capital of Culture 2024

Bodø is the first European Capital of Culture north of the Arctic Circle, and only the third in Norway. Bold, unexpected, and modern, this Arctic city’s time to shine has come.

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As a member of our 1893 Ambassador Loyalty Programme, you'll receive exclusive offers, benefits, discounts, and newsletters packed with inspiration.

Colourful houses on the River Nid in the Norwegian port town of Trondheim

  • Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Cool Cruiser

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

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If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

5,000+ Club

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

RachelG

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

  • 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

greygypsy

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

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