Frequently Asked Questions

1) Are you an officially registered company?

Yes, we are. Our registration number in the Russian Federation of Tourism is МВТ 002395 As we are officially authorized by the Russian government we will supply you with a tour ticket which will allow you to easily pass through customs and immigration. In addition, we have a contract with the new St Petersburg sea port “Morskoy Fasad”, to which most of the cruise ships will arrive in 2010, and the old sea port “Cargo Port”. From this we can guarantee to meet you directly near your ship. Lastly, we are board members of the “Cruise Industry Association.”

2 ) Do we need a Russian Visa if we arrive by cruise ship?

No. We are one of the very few companies in St. Petersburg which can provide you with visa free excursions. This can save you at a minimum of $130 per person! According to the Russian Federation, a Russia Visa is not required for shore excursions if you book your tour through a company officially licensed and authorized by the Russian government to receive foreign cruise passengers and to operate inside St. Petersburg’s port area. As we are officially authorized by the Russian government we will send you a tour ticket (also called a “blanket visa”) via e-mail, which you can print at home and bring along with you to St Petersburg. We will send you instructions on how to pass through customs immigration as well.

3) What documents should I have with me when leaving my ship?

A valid passport

One photo copy of your passport ( just for the first day)

The tour ticket (sent to your e-mail by TJ Travel)

4) Where do you meet our tour group? Near the ship? Inside the port?

As we have a contract with new St Petersburg sea port “Morskoy Fasad”, to which most of the cruise ships will arrive in 2011, and the old sea port “Cargo Port”, we guarantee our experienced guides will meet you directly near your ship . On the morning of your ship’s arrival, we are there waiting for you! We will meet you after you pass through Russian customs with a sign of our company (TJ TRAVEL) and introduce you to your private guide and driver. We are waiting by your ship well before you arrive. If for some reason you can’t find us, you can call us using the telephone number on your tour ticket, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

5) What information do you need to book a tour?

We will send you a tour ticket (blanket visa) by e-mail and you will have to print it at home and to bring it with you to pass through Russian customs control. . The following information is required to issue your Tour Ticket:

1. Your full name (as it reads in your passport)
2. Citizenship
3. Date of Birth
4. Passport number
5. Passport Issue Date and Passport Expiration Date
6. Arrival and departure dates in St Petersburg
7. The name of your ship

6) Is there a deposit to book with TJ Travel?

No. One the advantages of a tour from TJ Travel is that you don’t have to send us a deposit in advance. You just need to confirm the tour of your choice and send us your passport information. We will reply with a blanket Russian Visa by e-mail, which serves as a reservation confirmation.

7) How can I pay?

You can pay us on the morning of the second day of your tour either in cash or by credit card (we accept only MasterCard or Visa). If you pay by credit card we charge an additional 3% (our bank charges this commission). Please note, American express is not accepted as well as Traveler’s checks.

Is there a discount for children/ students?

If you travel with children under 7 years old, you don’t have to pay for them-the tour will be free of charge for them

Children and students over 7 years old receive discount of US $40 for our 2-day tours. Students must present a valid student ID to qualify.

9) How much cash should I bring with me for some shopping and lunches?

Do they accept US Dollars or Euros for souvenirs and lunches?

In all souvenirs shops they accept Euros and US Dollars, or you can pay by credit card. Regarding lunches, in small local cafes they accept only Russian Rubles (credit cards are not accepted there), but you don’t have to worry about this as we provide our guides with enough Russian Rubles and you can simply pay your guide for the lunch in US Dollars or Euros. We kindly ask you to bring clean, crisp, un-torn US Dollars and Euros, as our banks do not accept notes with even the slightest damage.

10) How much tip should I leave to the guide and driver?

Gratuities to a guide and driver are not included in the price of the tour. In Russia

gratuities are usually 10%-15% of the tour cost as in other western countries.

Please note, we cannot include gratuities on a credit card.

11) How experienced are your guides?

We strongly feel that your trip’s success depends on your guide’s knowledge, personality, and the ability to create a friendly atmosphere. We take this very seriously and pride ourselves on giving you a truly memorable experience in St. Petersburg. We provide you with full service excursion packages: both inside and outside excursions. As we are a small company, we pay strict attention to choosing only the most experienced guides with an incredible record of success – our guides are the best in the industry, and are natives of St. Petersburg – so you will see our city through the eyes of a local! They speak excellent English, are fully licensed, have a good sense of humor, and create excursions that are flexible – depending on your interests, on your pace, and whether you are with children or not.

12) What about your drivers?

All of our drivers are friendly, professional, and some even speak English – which is rare for Russia. All our drivers have vast experience working with cruise passengers. You can be sure you will never be late to your ship at the end of the last day. All our vehicles are smoke-free.

13) What type of vehicles are utilized for the tours?

We use only air-conditioned, western cars, mini-vans, and buses (typically Mercedes). All of them are smoke-free.

14) Do we have to stand long lines to enter the museums?

If you travel with us you don’t have to stand in long lines – unlike those tourists who are on their own. This, as you’ll see, is a big time-saver in Russia! The exception can be Catherine Palace and The Grand Palace in Petergof. Sometimes tourists have to wait about 15 minutes to enter the Palace because the guards limit the entrance.

15) Do you recommend an early entrance?

We can organize early admissions to the Hermitage Museum and Catherine Palace, as well as the Grand Palace in Petergof. Please note, sometimes it is less crowded than during the regular entrance, but sometimes you can meet all your cruise mates from the ship- so there is no any guarantee that the museum will be empty. Another disadvantage is that you pay double price for the ticket. If you decide to book the early entrance, you must confirm about it 1 month before your tour.

16) Do you organize evening programs as well?

Yes, and in fact, we recommend you to take advantage of this unique chance. Don’t miss the opportunity to see a Russian ballet or to enjoy an evening of Russian opera in one of the best theatres of St. Petersburg. We also highly recommend a visit to the Folk Show or a night boat trip along the famous canals. Or perhaps to feel yourself as a Russian aristocrat and enjoy an extravagant dinner in one of the former royal Russian palaces. Upon your request we will send you additional information about our “optional evening” programs

17) Where do you recommend having lunch?

We don’t include the cost of lunches in our private programs for small parties / groups because we want to give you more freedom and flexibility. Our guides will recommend a restaurant or cafe where local Russians frequent, rather than “touristy” restaurants. We want our guests to experience real Russian life with Russian people! The cost of an average lunch is $10-$15 per person in such places like” Pie” Caf? (where there is a wonderful variety of freshly-baked pies, salads, and soups) Blinny Domik (famous Russian pancakes or crepes, tasty soups such as Russian Borsch, and Chicken Kiev). Please note that it is more difficult to find inexpensive caf?s when you travel to the Summer Palaces in the countryside.

For larger groups we recommend to order pre-arranged lunches to save time.

Any other Questions? Please Contact Us and we will gladly assist you!

If you’re arriving on a cruise ship, please have a look at our list of St Petersburg Shore Excursions.
Otherwise you can choose from our packaged St Petersburg Tours.

This entry was posted on May 3, 2010 at 8:04 am.

Posted in the TJ Travel Info category