For short tour in Russia with guide, no visa needed
This item appears on page 46 of the July 2016 issue.
I read with interest the article “Spending Time in St. Petersburg” (March ’16, pg. 18), as my husband and I are sailing with Viking Ocean Cruises (866/984-5464, www.vikingcruises.com/oceans) soon and will spend two days in St. Petersburg. I was surprised by the author’s comment, “there is a much-less-expensive visa available to cruise-ship passengers who only leave the ship with their guide and don’t stay in Russia for more than two days.”*
We plan on taking only the Viking shore excursions and were not aware that we had to make any arrangements for a visa. I looked at the Viking website for this trip and found the following explanation: “Guests traveling to Russia on Viking Cruises organized shore excursions do not require a Russian visa provided their stay does not exceed 72 hours in Russian ports, and private tours are available that do not require a separate visa.
“If you intend to step off the ship alone or to explore independently, you MUST obtain a visa before your cruise commences; please consult your respective embassy or consulate. You must carry your passport with you at all times when ashore in Russia. To assist us in meeting Russian immigration requirements, please bring (in addition to your passport) a photocopy of your passport photo page to provide to our staff at check-in.”
Three years ago we were scheduled to take a much longer cruise to Russia with Viking River Cruises and a visa was required. I agree with the author that it was a long, complex process, and the cost was upward of $600. We, too, used a third party to help with the process, and it was well worth the additional cost.
NYLAH CHILTON
McMinnville, OR
*The article’s author was mistaken about a special visa being available to cruise passengers visiting Russia. If traveling with a guide and staying no longer than 72 hours, cruise passengers do not require visas. For any passenger exploring a Russian city unaccompanied (or staying longer than 72 hours), a visa is required, but it is the same tourist visa that is required for any traveler visiting Russia.