Explore Russia’s cultural capital with a 5-day Helsinki to St Petersburg Cruise and 3-day tour.
From breath-taking Tsar Palaces to the world famous Mariinsky Theatre, you can devour all the grandeur, history and world-leading culture that the Helsinki to St. Petersburg cruise has to offer on this ultimate Russia visa free travel.
Our affordable 5-day Helsinki to St Petersburg cruise package includes sumptuous accommodation in an amazing city centre hotel, fascinating guided tours, luxury transfers and delicious, hearty breakfasts without the need for a Russian visa!
Best of all, this 3-day St Petersburg tour city break can be tailored to suit your requirements. From Private Sightseeing Packages to luxury class cruise cabins – the choice is yours.
The cruises to St. Petersburg are suspended in 2023
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Day 1 – Helsinki to St Petersburg cruise
With a cruise departing at 6pm or 7pm (depending on the scheduled date), you have all the time in the world to explore Finland’s cosmopolitan capital. Named Design Capital of the World in 2012, Helsinki is packed full of incredible sights and experiences like the Temppeliaukio Rock Church – carved directly out of solid rock.
The compact city has first-rate public transport, allowing you to browse the very best boutique shops, designer stores and open-air markets before setting sail on a Helsinki to St Petersburg cruise.
Day 2 – Welcome to St. Petersburg
Begin your Russia visa free tour from Helsinki to St Petersburg with a stunning Baltic cruise. Soak up unforgettable views and breathe in the fresh Baltic air as you sail towards St Petersburg in style.
Your second day starts with an optional buffet breakfast on board, before a 9am arrival in the Russian cultural capital. After disembarking, passport and border control will take around an hour. Shuttle buses will be ready and waiting at the harbour to transfer you to the St. Issac’s square, located in the heart of St Petersburg.
Passengers will then have a short walk to their hotel. Rest assured, all hotels are centrally located so this will only take between 10-20 minutes. Fancy an upgrade? A private transfer directly to your hotel is available for an extra charge.
All hotels are located in the heart of St. Petersburg – just a few minutes’ walk from the city’s main street, the Nevsky Prospect. Take some time to relax in your beautiful surroundings before being greeted by our superb English-speaking guide at 3pm in the hotel lobby.
From here, you’ll be guided through a 3-hour walking tour of St Petersburg, taking in all the enchanting sights of the 18th century city. This includes a visit to the mesmerising Kazan Cathedral – a monument to Russia’s victory over Napoleon, built in the style of the Vatican’s Basilica.
The tour returns to your hotel at 7pm for some time to yourself and the most relaxing overnight stay.
Day 3 – Hermitage Grandeur
Wake up refreshed on day 2 of your 3-day St Petersburg tour. Indulge in a delicious breakfast before optional extra tours, or explore the city however you feel free. Then it’s onto another outstanding walking tour (included) with our exceptional guide.
Meeting in the hotel lobby at 2pm, you will be guided on-foot to the spectacular Palace Square, followed by the State Hermitage Museum. Entrance fees are included to this remarkable art museum – the second largest in the world. Feast your eyes on masterpieces by Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Monet and Matisse to name just a few, across a complex of six historic buildings on the Palace Embankment. We have the time slots reserved in the museum, so there are no lanes for us.
Day 4 – Discover St. Petersburg
Ready for another day in one of the world’s most beautiful, historic cities? Following a delectable breakfast, you are free to explore St Petersburg to your heart’s content. Take a ride on the city’s extensive public transport system – comprising metros, buses and trams – to discover even more hidden gems and fascinating culture.
St Petersburg’s network of canals, picturesque bridges and an abundance of Baroque and Neo-Classical architecture is just waiting to be explored. Before long, you’ll know exactly why this city is known as the “Venice of the North”.
Whether you choose to gaze upon the city’s magnificent waterfront across the River Neva or experience St Petersburg’s beatnik bands, contemporary art galleries or delectable dining experiences – the choice is yours.
After another half-day of exploration on your visa-free St Petersburg tour, you can return to your hotel truly fulfilled for even more rest and relaxation. A public shuttle bus will pick up passengers from the city centre and transfer them to the harbour, with the option of a private transfer directly from your hotel at an extra charge.
Public shuttle buses depart from St. Issac’s square every 30 minutes, with the last departure at 4.30pm. For those who booked a private sightseeing package, your driver will be waiting for you at the hotel reception for the transfer back to the harbour.
Boarding closes at 5.30pm, with departure from St Petersburg back to Helsinki at 6pm or 7pm depending on your day of departure.
Day 5 – St Petersburg to Helsinki Cruise
Your once-in-a-lifetime trip isn’t over yet. Get ready for more picturesque views on a luxury cruise across the Baltic. The ship arrives at 7am or 8am depending on your day of travel, following the option of another delicious breakfast.
From there, you can embark on a fascinating sightseeing tour of Helsinki or explore the city at your leisure, to complete an unforgettable visa-free tour of St Petersburg.
Sam J. –
We stayed in the upgraded four star hotel, it was perfectly located in the very city centre. It is just next to the main street with lots or restaurants, shops and places to visit. The trip itself was great. In St Petersburg our guide was perfect. The only thing is that we lost almost 1,5 hrs at the border control upon arrival. Maybe we will come back to St Petersburg again. Thanks.
Simon P. –
Thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Everything right from the start was brilliant. Hotel was nothing special but then I wasn’t expecting 5* (I booked 3*)! A special mention to tour guide Olga who was absolutely fantastic.
Dora S. –
Thank you so much for our trip to St. Petersburg. Everything was beautifully and expertly planned. My husband and I are so grateful for your expertise and planning on our behalf. We loved St.Petersburg!!! We were blessed to have had Maria as our personal guide and Vladislav as our driver. Maria was so professional, knowledgeable, and gracious in guiding us around St. Petersburg, especially at the Hermitage Museum.
Because of Maria our trip was a most memorable and enjoyable experience. Everyone from the ship personnel (we loved the caviar), Domina Hotel personnel and locals, were very nice, gracious, and welcoming. Again, thank you so much.
We loved our trip!!! Sincerely, A. & D. S
Fred L. –
Our stay in St. Petersburg was fantastic. Our guide, Olga was terrific. She was very informative with regard to the history of St. Petersburg and Russia and amazing in how efficiently she got us through the Hermitage and other museums/palaces that were on our itinerary. She was a superb guide through all the buildings. Enabling us to circumvent many of the long lines was greatly, greatly appreciated. She also responded to some additional requests, like seeing the Metro in St. Petersburg and giving us recommendations for nearby restaurants.
In addition, she was very nice to chat with and we felt she was fully engaged with being sure our visit was enjoyable.
Our 4* Hotel exceeded our expectations in every way — cleanliness, breakfast and staff.
The ferry was the only thing that was a minor disappointment — and beyond your control — in that the ship was well-worn and not up to standards of other ships we traveled on. The staff was helpful and having priority disembarkation was VERY good, since the time at passport control entering Russia for others appeared to be hours, rather than the 30 minutes or so that we had to wait. Very much appreciated that you took care of that!
All in all, we were very pleased with everything else on our trip and would highly recommend Scandi Travel to our friends.
Paul H. –
Your 5 day plan is absolutely ideal, especially considering we ordered the private guide for our 3 days in St. Petersburg. She was so wonderful and informed and really highlighted the most important things in much less time then we would have been able to do on our own. Unfortunately, I forgot her name, but I can’t say enough good things about the wonderful guide! St. Petersburg is such a revelation! The hotel is also great, very clean and comfortable, and the location superb! So close to a great Russian specialty restaurant. The ship, while not luxurious, is perfectly adequate. And going Visa free feels so great!
Candace Y. –
We loved every minute of our tour to St. Petersburg! The hotel and our fabulous guide Maria. We give you the highest ratings possible. We especially appreciated the teamwork everyone had to get us to the ferry at the very last minute when we were held up by the “White Night” traffic jam. A once a year event but you overcame the difficulties and we made it to the ferry in time for another delicious meal. Please don’t hesitate to give our email to anyone from the usa who might be hesitant. We traveled for 5 months around Europe, and your tour was a memorable highlight!
Mike S. –
We were given the wrong info about the return shuttle to the ship so we took a taxi; tell people to pick up the return shuttle in the same place they were dropped off!
The Domina Hôtel was outstanding (5/5) in every way, our guide Katia was helpful, informative and kind. Her English was superb and her knowledge of the city and The Hermitage made her a true expert. We could not have done the museum without her; it was extremely crowded and her knowledge of the layout meant she could steer clear of some spots and return when they were less crowded. She is a true gem!!!!
We liked that this tour gave us lots of free time to explore St. Petersburg on our own so we could visit other museums, walk neighborhoods, eat where we wanted and catch a ballet.
Except for the glitches, it was exactly what we expected and wanted.
Guido D. –
Well organised; excellent trip to St Petersburg ; very good hotel and perfect guide.
Good balance between free time and guided tours.
Highly recommended for free visa trip .
Ian P. –
Helsinki to St Petersburg 5 Day Russia Visa Free Travel. Delighted with this holiday, and with the service provided by Scandi. The ferry service was efficient, and the centrally located hotel was very nice with the reception staff being particularly helpful. Plenty of time to explore St Petersburg independently, and also with Tatiana the local guide who was very endearing and knowledgeable. This tour is the perfect way to discover the history and attractions of this marvellous city.
Chelsea Z. –
The travel experience was enjoyable. Based on some reviews, I expected the boat to be in much worse shape, and while it wasn’t fancy by any means, the experience was pleasant. The staff on the boat was very nice and the itinerary and information I was given ahead of time was accurate and made it easy to get to where we needed to be when we needed to be there. The tours organized in St. Petersburg did a good job of giving a general overview of the city and allowed us time to explore on our own as well. The 3* hotel was ok, basic, but had what we needed. Overall it was a great way to get an introduction to a country we wouldn’t have been able to easily visit otherwise.
Alex H. –
It was our first time on a Ferry Cruise boat. We did not know what to expect, but the staff helped us figure it out. We did not purchase in advance the meal tickets for the dinner buffet, and I would recommend this to my friends. It was not that much to buy them on the boat, but a discount if purchased in advanced.
We opted for the middle class rooms, and since there were three of us, I think in the future we would spend a little more for the suite.
Overall, very well done.
Patrick M. –
Six of us three retired couples did the visa free package helsinki st petersburg tallin in commodore cabins three private tours in st petersburg grand nevsky hotel we all would highly recommend this tour package everything went beautifully our tour guide was exceptional thanks to Scandi Travel for a wonderful experience
John R. –
Being in our mid seventies means we are not as quick as we once were.The facilities of our tour with a one-to-one official guide and our own personal chauffeur meant in real terms we were able to see most of the really important sights in the vibrant City of St Petersburg. Our guide,Tatiana, was absolutely magnificent. Very knowledgeable, extremely friendly to the extent that we thought we were being taken around by a personal friend.
There is know doubt in our mind that the cost of the car and guide was money well spent. We would not have seen half the interesting sites that we were lucky enough to see.
We have been fortunate, as independent travelers, to see many places around the world often with many weeks to see what a country has to offer. With the limited time of a 72 hour visa on the ferry from Helsinki, all the excellent arrangements made on this trip made it a holiday to be remembered for a very long time
John
Ivo S. –
Very nice travel experience. Good value for money (visum free trip to
Petersburg, nice well organized hotel with perfect location, perfect
guide, 2 tours and entrance included). Top!
Minor remark: on the way back we where not well informed that
check-in at a different desk (and in a differente queue!!!) is
obligatory before you go to passport control. Not so nice to find that
out if you are (as many others) already an our in the wrong queue,
nobody tells you in Petersburg. Can you put that information on the
travel information?
Carlo P. –
Enjoyed my trip across the sea to St Petersburg, Russia from
Helsinki. There were some obvious language barriers that one will have
to expect if you do not speak Finnish or Russian.
The ship was fairly quiet for a cruise ship and my room was adequate.
Paul R. –
First I’d like to say, the trip was enjoyable and as advertised.
As with any trip it had it ups and downs.The ship certainly wasn’t
first class but I didn’t pay for first class. I don’t believe I enjoy
traveling by ship but that’s just me. All so it’s the only way that I
found to get into Russia without a Visa. The hotel was certainly up to
par and the staff was excellent.The restaurant that served breakfast
for the hotel was excellent also for lunch and dinner. My only real
down for the whole trip was the shuttle bus service.They dropped me at
St. Isaac square and I had to walk to the hotel in a strange city and
I didn’t know one word of Russian.But I got it done no problem. It was
the return trip that was the problem. I’m glad I started early.I went
back to St. Isaac square where they drop me off, they were supposed to
run every half- hour.After a 2 hour wait no van, so I missed four
rounds.There was a local Russian there who offered to take me to the
terminal for 5 euro, neither one of us spoke each other’s language.
Now I don’t if this was a good idea but I took him up on the offer all
well that ends well. When I told them at the terminal about the
shuttle bus they suggested that I probably went to the wrong pickup
spot. However I talked to two other couples that had problems also and
had to walk back to the terminal. I would like to commend Scandi for
the way they handled all of my questions and concerns when I emailed
them.Thank you for the trip all in all the good outweighed the bad.
Paul
Michael S. –
All my selected arrangements and options through Scandi were well organised and happened to the programme with good information provided. I even got a partial refund on my deposit due to exchange rate movements! We opted for an upgrade to a Commodore cabin which I think was well worth it especially as regards the priority disembarkation at St Petersburg and no queues for the upgraded breakfast – of champagne and caviar! We also included private tours in St Petersburg which again were very good value with a terrific guide. All in all we would recommend this Scandi trip as a great and economical way to see St Petersburg.
Scott H. –
I have heard visiting Russia can be difficult but Scandi Travel made it simple. They handled the 72 hour visa, the hotel, the ground transportation and the wonderful tour of the Heritage! We would absolutely use Scandi Travel again! The only issue was that they were unable to secure our tour of Catherine’s Winter palace and the Peterhof which was disappointing but they refunded my money promptly.Overall, A very enjoyable experience!
Glenn L. –
The trip went very well. The only downside was the disembarkation process – there was no notification which immigration lines were for tours and which were for individuals. It was chaotic and it took 1.5 hours to get through!
Perhaps the ferry line needs to work more closely with the Russian immigration.
David B. –
Thank you. The tour went well and was successful. The tour guide met
me on schedule in the hotel reception and was efficient, courteous and
helpful. The hotel was central to numerous attractions in St
Petersburg and was very comfortable. Hotel reception staff were
helpful in advising places to eat, etc. The hotel restaurant had very
good food. The shuttle bus connected promptly to and from St Isaac’s
square. The only problem, which you could not have foreseen, was on
arrival in St Petersburg. There was a 2 hour delay in docking due to
ice and immigration was exceedingly slow – it took 3 hours.
Joe H. –
Julia, our guide in St. Petersburg was a gem – very knowledgeable and enthusiastic and friendly. She gave us a review art history course at the Hermitage. Highest possible praise for her. Eugene was a great driver – plus being helpful, courteous, and friendly.
Ann M. –
Cruise ferry excellent staff friendly and helpful.
One problem was disembarking and embarking up and down steps in ST Petersburg too steep trying to carry 2 cases without holding on to rail impossible and dangerous. Suggest moveable zig zag shallow steps like some airports.
Marie our guide was excellent and helpful excellent driver. Thank you.
Jennifer –
We loved the tour and Maria, our guide, was fabulous! As a St. Petersburg native with a family history, she made the three days we spent there truly memorable. She was a wealth of knowledge and because of her we added the tour on the third day. We will recommend you to any friends or colleagues who are planning a trip.
Best wishes.
Mark –
Our tour was fantastic–everything as promised–except for the final day when the transfer from the Lansisatama to the Airport did not show up. I called your office at 0845 and the operator answered promptly. He said there had been a problem and we should take a taxi to the Airport. He promised that the transfer fee would be refunded, and that we would be reimbursed for the taxi fare to the airport. Attached is the invoice for the taxi in the amount of Euro 45.90. Please let me know how I will be credited.
Otherwise, we were very happy with all your arrangements. Everything to board the ship was in perfect order. The accommodations and meals, although far from luxurious, were clean and adequate. We were met immediately upon disembarkation in St Petersburg by our guide and driver.
Our guide exceeded our expectations. Her English was excellent, her knowledge encyclopedic, and she was a very friendly pleasant person. She even assisted in going to the Pharmacy to get medicine for my cough. We visited all the sites you had outlined in the guide. The stop for souvenirs was greatly appreciated! We skipped all the lines at the Hermitage and she took us through all the highlights, even spending more time than was allotted.
The Petro Palace also exceeded our expectations. The staff was efficient, the room spacious, the shower was awesome, the breakfast was good, the location excellent. The pick-up driver to return to the St Peter’s Line was waiting for us early!
The only other negative thing was that we had to wait over 20 minutes on a line in front of a locked door at the Nikolevsky Palace to exchange our voucher for admission tickets to the Russian Folklore Show. We were there early, but still ended up sitting in the back of the room because of the delay. This should be handled more efficiently.
However, this delay and the driver failure were the only bad experiences we had. We really did have a wonderful trip. So, BRAVO for delivering on your promises!
Mark and Judite
W.., USA
Anne –
– How likely are you to recommend Scandi Travel to your friends or colleagues? Likely
– How can we improve our service?
I made a mistake in assuming that the food would be part of the cruise. It was never explained, and I never thought to ask. It might be wise to explain to customers that everything on the cruise is extra so there are no misconceptions about what is being offered.
Other than that, everything was fine.
Nahalie P. –
– How likely are you to recommend Scandi Travel to your friends or colleagues? Very Likely
On-line booking process Easy
We did not know that the hotel was included in the price and crossed for an upgrade (we thought it was the hotel booking and not an upgrade but nevertheless we were happy with the upgrade:-)
– How satisfied were you with the Customer support before purchasing the tour and during your travel Very Satisfied
– How satisfied were you with the cruise ferries? Satisfied
– How satisfied were you with the hotels? Very Satisfied
petro palace is a great hotel situated in the centre:-)
– How satisfied were you with the local meals? Satisfied
– How satisfied were you with the local restaurants? Very Satisfied
John R. –
– How can we improve our service?
We did not sleep well on the ferry in either direction. The bunks were not comfortable and in one instance the mattress was very stained. I would be willing to pay more if a better standard of on board accommodation and meals were offered. Are there other lines aside from St Peter Line that you could use? Arranging for easier access to and from the ferry at the St Petersburg dock would also enhance the travel experience. Climbing up and down stairs while carrying luggage when boarding and disembarking is not my idea of fun.
– Would you use our product / service in the future? – Probably
– How satisfied were you with the tour program? – Very Satisfied
Our guide Inge, driver Dennis and the tour they took us on were excellent. We really feel we were given a great introduction to St Petersburg.
– How satisfied were you with the cruise ferries? – Unsatisfied
Our cabin was very basic and noisy. Mattresses thin and in one instance stained. Pillows lacked support. All this lead to a lack of sleep, particularly on the forward journey. Unimpressed with the evening meal and being hurried out of the bistro before we had finished our coffee. There appeared an authoritarian style of control from bistro manager. Food on offer was very average in the bistro.
– How satisfied were you with the hotels? – Very Satisfied
Highly recommend the Petro Palace Hotel. Our stay was in complete contrast to the service and facilities on the St Peter Line. The Petro Palace Hotel was as good as any hotel we have stayed in and the staff were friendly, efficient and helpful. It is also well located for strolling to many of the landmarks in St Petersburg.
– How satisfied were you with our local guides? – Very Satisfied
Inge was warm, friendly and informative. We could not have asked for a better guide.
– How satisfied were you with the local meals? – Satisfied
Hotel meals were good, bistro on the ferry was very ordinary.
– How satisfied were you with the local restaurants? – Very Satisfied
We ate in the Italian style restaurant on the 8th floor of Petro Palace Hotel. This meant we could bill our hotel room and avoid the need to carry any roubles. The food and service were very good, prices very reasonable for hotel dining.
Leslie R. –
– Would you use our product / service in the future? – Definitely
– How satisfied were you with the tour program? – Very Satisfied
– How satisfied were you with the cruise ferries? – Satisfied
-How satisfied were you with the hotels? – Satisfied
Awesome location.
– How satisfied were you with our local guides? –Very Satisfied
Valentina was extremely knowledgeable about art and architecture. She helped us see A LOT in our short amount of time.
– How satisfied were you with the local meals? – Neutral
Food at the hotel was mediocre, but acceptable.
– How satisfied were you with the local restaurants? – Satisfied
Tasha W. –
– How can we improve our service?
Need some more information about what is available on the boat, i.e. other meal options. The buffet wasn’t the greatest.
– Would you use our product / service in the future? Probably
– How satisfied were you with the tour program? Very Satisfied
– How satisfied were you with the cruise ferries? Satisfied
– How satisfied were you with the hotels? Very Satisfied
hotel was good, nice and central.
– How satisfied were you with our local guides? Very Satisfied
She was very knowledgeable and helpful. It was especially good having a personal guide for the Hermitage.
– How satisfied were you with the local meals? Very Satisfied
We used search engine to find local restaurants and all were very good.
– How satisfied were you with the local restaurants? Very Satisfied
John R. –
How can we improve our service? It was just fine.
Would you use our product / service in the future? Probably
Bryan B. –
– How can we improve our service?
Better connections with the ferry. Did not have meal vouchers for voyage to St Petersburg (Scandi Travel refunded that cost and offered extra tour) and only had meal voucher for Dinner on return, but not for breakfast (paid out of pocket)
– Would you use our product / service in the future? Definitely
– How satisfied were you with the tour program? Very Satisfied
Very knowledgeable and patient tour guide. Tours were well planned.
– How satisfied were you with the cruise ferries? Neutral
Mix up on meals as described above, beds not comfortable, less than friendly support staff by ferry
– How satisfied were you with the hotels? Very Satisfied
Great hotel!!! Absolutely Great. Literally in the middle of everything we wanted to see so nothing was difficult to walk to or find. Great service and assistance from staff
– How satisfied were you with our local guides? Very Satisfied
Valentina was one of best tour guides I have ever had on any tour anywhere. We would adopt here and bring her home.
– How satisfied were you with the local meals? Satisfied
Mixed
Juliet B. –
– How can we improve our service?
The whole package worked very well. Efficient travel arrangements, good accommodation, etc.
– Would you use our product / service in the future? Definitely
– How satisfied were you with the tour program? Very Satisfied
Very well planned itinerary; varied, with a full program but not rushed
– How satisfied were you with the cruise ferries? Very Satisfied
Clean, comfortable, excellent range of optional activities including cabaret and several restaurants, but also plenty of quiet space to “chill out”.
– How satisfied were you with the hotels? Satisfied
Room in Petro Palace was spacious and comfortable, with a good bathroom. Breakfast was excellent but a congested at the buffet: it would be good if it could be spread out a bit, eg with the coffee machine located to one side.
– How satisfied were you with our local guides?
Not used. We made our own arrangements with a local guide (friend of a friend) for a half day tour on train and bus to Peterhof, a much more interesting way to travel than the tourist ferry, but it would have been difficult to do by ourselves even though we can at least read cyrillic..
– How satisfied were you with the local meals? Satisfied
What is the difference between meals and restaurants? The hotel pizza bar was very good, quick, quiet and easy after a long day.
– How satisfied were you with the local restaurants? Neutral
Not used – ate in the hotel.
Mark W. –
– How satisfied were you with the tour program? Neutral
– How satisfied were you with the cruise ferries? Satisfied
– How satisfied were you with the hotels? Very Satisfied
– How satisfied were you with the local meals? Very Satisfied
– How satisfied were you with the local restaurants? Very Satisfied
Gina R. –
– How can we improve our service?
I think the guide could be more transparent about the extra activities. For example, my mom and I wanted to see a ballet. Our guide told us that Swan Lake was playing that night at the Mariinsky Theatre and it was going to be about 100 euros each for a ticket. She told us that it was the only theatre that still had tickets available for that night. After getting to the hotel that afternoon I decided to my own research and found that the Mariinsky wasn’t even showing Swan Lake that night, and there were numerous other options for reutable ballets that still had tickets available. We opted for a show at the Mikailovsky Theatre, walked to the box office in the Arts Square, and only paid equivalent to 35 euros per ticket. It felt like she was trying to get us to pay a lot more when it just took a few minutes on Google to find a much more reasonably priced ballet.
– Would you use our product / service in the future? Definitely
– How satisfied were you with the tour program? Very Satisfied
It was great to be part of the tour because my mom and I were able to see everything we wanted to while knowing that there was a local looking after us and sharing with us the cultural and historical significance of what we were seeing.
– How satisfied were you with the cruise ferries? Neutral
I have taken 2 ferry trips to St. Petersburg using the St. Peter Line Princess Maria ferry. While I find the cabins pleasant and clean, the common areas seem dirty and rundown to me. The restaurants smell a bit funny. I’ve had better food on other ferry companies in the region.
– How satisfied were you with the hotels? Very Satisfied
The Nevsky Grand Hotel was perfect. Great location and good breakfast.
– How satisfied were you with our local guides? Satisfied
I was very impressed with how knowledgeable the guide was. I did feel like she was trying to pressure us into buying more activities at one point though.
– How satisfied were you with the local meals? Very Satisfied
– How satisfied were you with the local restaurants? Very Satisfied
The restaurants I went to were reasonably priced and tasty. Especially the Marketplace and Teaspon (that’s the translation of the Russian name), both on Nevsky Prospect.
Barbara W –
How can we improve our service? – All my enquiries were answered in good time and all my expectations met.
Would you use our product / service in the future? – Definitely
Our services
How satisfied were you with the tour program? – Very Satisfied
How satisfied were you with the cruise ferries? – Satisfied
How satisfied were you with the hotels? – Satisfied
How satisfied were you with our local guides? – Very Satisfied
How satisfied were you with the local meals? – Very Satisfied
How satisfied were you with the local restaurants? – Satisfied
Matthew B. –
– How can we improve our service?
Our guide in St. Petersburg, Ingrid, was intelligent, knowledgeable, professional, friendly, and we could not have asked for a better guide. She made our visit truly memorable. Because of her we will recommend your service to our friends.
– How satisfied were you with the tour program? – Very Satisfied
The quality of service we received from Ingrid was excellent in every aspect. Our driver was professional and a credit to your company.
– How satisfied were you with the cruise ferries? – Satisfied
The only problem on the ferry was not of your making. A very large group of extraordinarily crude and vulgar tourists from China detracted from our and most people’s enjoyment. But that was not of your making.
– How satisfied were you with the hotels? – Very Satisfied
The hotel was nicely located. After our superb city tour with Ingrid and our driver, we were able to venture out on our own and enjoy the city to our delights.
– How satisfied were you with our local guides? – Very Satisfied
Ingrid was what every guide ought to be.
– How satisfied were you with the local meals? – Very Satisfied
Our meals were fine. There were so many other fine restaurants around our hotel that we could find great meals on our own also.
– How satisfied were you with the local restaurants? – Very Satisfied
I was there when it was Leningrad. The food situation, and everything else, has improved a million times since then.
Thank you.
John W. –
– How can we improve our service?
Doing a bank transfer for payment is inconvenient for customer — having a credit-card option would be great, even if it adds 1-2% to the cost. (now any type of payment can be made by credit card – comment of Scandi Travel)
– Would you use our product / service in the future? : Definitely
– How satisfied were you with the tour program? : Very Satisfied
Excellent communication / quick response time from Scandi prior to the trip. Outstanding communication and quick resolution of an issue (overnight, in response to my email) that occurred during the trip. The tour itself was just as advertised and expected.
– How satisfied were you with the hotels and cruise ferries? : Very Satisfied
Cruise ferry was a bit nicer than expected and had good food and other services. Upgraded hotel in St. Petersburg had a good breakfast and a spacious room, and was well located.
– Guiding service
— Knowledge: Very Satisfied
— Helpfulness:Very Satisfied
The guide spoke English well, was quite knowledgeable, and accommodated our questions and preferences. She also put up with a little crankiness from John on one occasion (related to the issue that was quickly resolved by Scandi).
– How satisfied were you with a local transportation included?: Very Satisfied
Our driver was more than competent and provided safe, smooth, and comfortable transportation
– Food quality: Satisfied
– Friendliness of stuff: Neutral
– Design of the restaurants: Neutral
Only hotel breakfast and breakfast/dinner on the ferry were included. Nothing fancy.
Valerie –
First of all, I would like to thank you for the wonderful quality time I had in St Petersbourg on May 6th 2015.
Everything was perfect. My guide, Maria was such a great guide. She is passionate, professional, very knowledgeable and very sympathic at the same time. She made a whole difference. In addition her English speaking is perfect…better than mine since I am a French canadian!
The car was comfortable. The driver was dependable and very polite and courteous in his manners. The lunch was really good and the waiter was really attentive.
I did enjoy my tour very much but…believe it or not I did not know that I had paid for a private tour when I reserved. It was written nowhere on the document I had printed before leaving Finland. I am sure you can imagine my surprise and my “fear” when Maria said to me that I was alone in the tour…and when I saw the black car waiting for me in the parking. I told Maria that there must be a mistake and she answered that there was no mistake and that I have paid for that. I was really astonished. I decided to get in the car but I was not convinced I did the right thing a that time. Thanks to Maria my fears went away very fast.
In summary, I will recommend your company to my family and friends…..I already did since I am back home. It was the greatest surprise of all and finally the best way to discover this unique city in a day!
Thank you again, V.R.
Christine R. –
I came across your agency in an Internet search. Our family was very pleased to partake in the “72 Hours Visa Free” trip to St. Petersburg. We stayed at the Petro Palace Hotel, which was a lovely hotel with an ideal location. We also purchased the meals for the ferry trip, which were appropriate for a member with food allergies and for eating vegetarian. All of the paperwork and reservations were in complete order for us. I would reccommend your agency without hesitation.
You might consider listing your agency on a site like Trip Advisor. I always use it as a reference, and came across an old forum where this trip was discussed. I have never seen the 72 hour visa free option advertised or written up in the NYC area. It was only by chance that I came across this option, and was thrilled to find it.
Peter B. –
– How can we improve our service? : All good no problems
– Would you use our product / service in the future? : Definitely
– How satisfied were you with the tour program? : Very Satisfied
– How satisfied were you with the hotels and cruise ferries? : Very Satisfied
– Guiding services:
Knowledge: Very Satisfied
Helpfulness: Very Satisfied
– How satisfied were you with a local transportation included?: Very Satisfied
– Food quality: Very Satisfied
– Friendliness of stuff: Very Satisfied
– Design of the restaurants: Very Satisfied
Brendan C. –
How can we improve our service? : Hi There – Thank you for giving me the opportunity to provide some feedback. My wife and I travelled on the Princess Maria between Helsinki and St. Petersburg on the 16th and 19th March, and to be honest we were disappointed as services that were advertised were not available on board as follows:
1. Advertised on Deck 7 (or 8 I cannot remember exactly) was the Casino, however during our voyages the Casino was not available due to some kind of renovation (all the carpet was ripped up).
2. The onboard Sushi restaurant was also unavailable (closed the entire time).
3. Deck 7 advertised a cigar lounge, however when my wife and I entered we were told ‘we don’t actually sell cigars onboard, only cigarettes’. Given neither my wife or myself smoke cigarettes only cigars it was obviously a problem.
4. On Deck 2 it was advertised there was a pool, gym and sauna however the pool was completely empty!!! On the return trip to Helsinki on the 19th March, just prior to leaving St. Petersburg a lady came over the loud speaker onboard ‘advertising’ or informing passengers of the facilities onboard and clearly mentioned the pool and sauna. My wife and I went to Deck 2 to use the pool however it was completely empty!
So overall we were disappointed as several of the services and facilities we had both paid for and would like to have used were not available to us.
Regards,
Brendan
Would you use our product / service in the future? : Not Sure
How satisfied were you with the tour program? : Very Satisfied
Outstanding local guide and very prompt.
Knowledge: Very Satisfied
Helpfulness: Very Satisfied
How satisfied were you with the hotels and cruise ferries? : Neutral
Hotel was great – cruise facilities not so good.
How satisfied were you with a local transportation included?: Very Satisfied
Food quality: Very Satisfied
Friendliness of stuff: Very Satisfied
Design of the restaurants: Very Satisfied
Michael –
– How can we improve our service? : Very good!
I thought the breakfast could have been of better quality, but the trip was excellent 🙂 🙂
– Would you use our product / service in the future? : Definitely