FAQ

Cruises

Is airfare included in the cruise price?

No, airfare is not included. You can easily book discount tickets yourself through our own internet ticket office or use another flight booking engine of your choice.Please browse our :AIR: section to learn more.

What time do we need to arrive on board and what time do we need to depart?

On most of the cruises, check-in is after 14:00, check-out is before 10:00. You can arrive earlier than 14:00 and wait for the check-in on board. You can depart later than 10:00 by leaving your cabin and waiting on board.

PLEASE NOTE: On 7-day Moscow - St. Petersburg and St. Petersburg - Moscow cruises, the ship departs Moscow/St. Petersburg on the very first day and it extremely important to arrive on board on time. Please check your cruise program for more information. 

Check-in and check-out times are also indicated on your cruise confirmation document. 

If our flight arrives late in the evening do we miss any part of the tour program?

On most of the cruises, there is no tour program planned for the first and the last days. Therefore, you can arrive in the evening and depart early in the morning without missing any tours. The only activities you will miss in this case are dinner on the first day and breakfast on the last day.

PLEASE NOTE: On 7-day Moscow - St. Petersburg and St. Petersburg - Moscow cruises, the ship departs Moscow/St. Petersburg on the very first day and it is extremely important to arrive on board on time. Please check your cruise program for more information. 

Can we order extra excursions in addition to those listed in the program?

Yes, optional tours are offered on most of the cruises. You will learn about the options when you arrive on board. 

Will we have an English-speaking guide throughout the cruise?

You will have a local English-speaking guide in each city you'll be touring and you will also have an English-speaking guide on board. Other languages are available on request.

Can I take my cat/dog on the cruise?

No, pets are not allowed on the cruise ships.

Which excursions are included into the cruise program?

Excursions vary depending on the cruise that you have selected.  You can find a detailed itinerary on the individual page of each particular cruise. 

Can I book part of the cruise only (e.g. I'd like to disembark in Yaroslavl)?

No, our cruises are non-dividable and provided as packages only.

What does "green stop" mean?

"Green stop" is free time on the riverbank. At a green stop we offer active games, competitions and in many cases shashlyk (traditional Russian kebab) organized during each stop. You can also have a swim and in some places order optional excursions.

Can you open portholes in cabins of the lower deck?

No, portholes cannot be opened.

What kind of cuisine is on your cruises?

The cuisine is a combination of Russian and International dishes.

If I am allergic or have food restrictions, can I still travel on your ship?

Yes. Our cooks can adjust the menu to meet your needs. All you need is to tell us beforehand of your restrictions and identify yourself in the restaurant. We recommend that you stick to the same table in the restaurant. It will help the waitress remember your food restrictions.

Is there a special dress code on the ship?

No. But you might want to dress up a little for the captain's welcome cocktail and the captain's farewell dinner. Also, please keep in mind that during some excursions you will be taken to active churches and monasteries. To get inside men and women should not wear shorts, women also must have a kerchief or a scarf to cover their heads.

Are your ships equipped with facilities for disabled people and those on wheelchairs?

Unfortunately, no. In addition, most museums in Russia are also not equipped to handle tours for handicapped people.

What is the size of the cabins on your ships?

The size of the cabins varies, depending on the type of ship, the cabin's category and the deck where the cabin is located. The average size of a standard cabin on 3-star and 4-star ships is 9-10 m2 on 5-star ships - 11-13 m2. To learn more please see the description of your motorship on our website.

What is the AC voltage on your ships?

220v

Is there a currency exchange office on board?

No, unfortunately, this is now prohibited by Russian legislation. You can exchange money during the city tours in the larger cities (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yaroslavl, Kostroma).

How far are the piers from the city centers?

In Moscow and St. Petersburg both piers are outside the city center. In other cities, they are more central. In St. Petersburg, your pier is also dependent upon which ship you are traveling on

Transfers

Where and by whom will I be met for my transfer?

You will be met by a driver holding a signboard with your name on it. If you arrive on an international flight, you will be met at the Arrivals hall of the airport. If you arrive by train you will be met next to your carriage (you should tell us the number of the carriage beforehand) or at the head of the train if you have not indicated your carriage number. After you order and pay for your transfer (or a tour/cruise that includes transfers) you will receive a confirmation indicating the exact point of meeting with your driver. You will have your order manager’s phone number for urgent cases.

How long will the driver wait for me?

Airport pickup: the driver will wait up to 2 hours after the scheduled time of your arrival if you have not contacted us regarding your delay (please use your order manager's phone number or e-mail to inform us).

Train station pick up: the driver will wait up to 30 minutes after the scheduled time of your arrival if you have not contacted us regarding your delay (please use your order manager's phone number or e-mail to inform us).

Pick up from Apartment or Hotel: The driver will wait up to 30 minutes after the scheduled time of pick up indicated in your confirmation.

If the client does not appear within this time frame or does not for any other reasons use the ordered transfer services at the time specified in the order, the order will be considered fulfilled and no refund will be available.

Cancellation or any changes in your order must be advised not less than 3 working days before the date of execution or by agreement with your order manager.

Visas

What documents are required to receive a Russian visa?

Usually the documents consist of: your original passport, 1-2 passport photos, 1-2 Russian visa application forms, an HIV test if you are applying for a business visa (tourist visa applications do not require this) and the visa invitation (voucher) - this is the document that we can supply you with. However, to be 100% sure of what documents are required at specific Consulates, we suggest that you contact the Consulates directly. You can find a listing of phone numbers and addresses here.

Is it possible to order Russian visa support documents 6 months or more in advance of applying to the Russian Consulate for the visa?

Yes, you can make an order on our website in advance. Our tourist visa invitation will be valid for more than 6 months (with business invitations, we can only issue you a visa within 45 days of your planned arrival in Russia). But it is important that you actually apply to the Consulate within 4 months of your arrival in Russia – for example, trying to apply at the Consulate 6 months in advance is usually a problem.

I want to enter Russia from China (via the Trans-Siberian train). Can I apply for a visa at the Russian Consulate or Embassy in Beijing, China?

It is only possible to apply for a Russian visa in the country of your citizenship or in the country where you have a residency permit valid for longer than 90 days. Therefore, if you are planning a long journey, you should always apply for the Russian visa before you leave. Applying in a different country may cause problems, for example, the original invitation might be required. We always recommend contacting the Consulate first to confirm if you are allowed to apply there and obtain the list of specific documents you will need to submit your application.

How do I get a Russian visa?

We can send you a visa invitation (sometimes called a voucher) - the main document that you need to apply for a Russian visa. The invitation is needed when you submit your visa application forms to the Russian Consulate in your country. For the application forms, see the visa section of our site where you can download them and learn more about the process of applying. You can either mail in the forms to a :FULL: or visit the Consulate in person. We can issue the visa invitation during 1-2 working days. If you need your visa invitation urgently, we can issue and send it to you on the same day. We usually send scanned versions of the invitations by email. Sometimes, Consulates in certain countries require the original invitation. In this case, we can mail you the original by Federal Express. Please check with the Consulate to know if you need the original. Postage is an extra charge.

What are the new Russian visa regulations for US citizens?

In accordance with the agreement between the Russian Federation and the United States on the simplification of visa formalities for nationals of the Russian Federation and the United States effective September 9, 2012, US citizens shall as a rule be issued multiple-entry business, private, humanitarian and tourist visas for a stay of no more than 6 months starting from the date of each entry. The visas shall be valid for three years (36 months) from the date of issue of the visa.

Do I have to register my visa when in Russia?

All foreigners staying in Russia for more than 7 working days, excluding holidays and weekends, must have their Russian visas registered for the entire period of their stay. You must register on the day of your arrival or you may be required to pay fines or may experience trouble when leaving the country.  If you are staying in a hotel, the hotel will register your visa.

I received an invitation from you. Where is the confirmation number?

The confirmation number is the number of your voucher (invitation), you can find in on the top of the document.

The Consulate requests a tourist voucher and confirmation letter, do you issue both?

The invitation that we send to you is comprised of a tourist voucher and a reservation confirmation (all in one document). This document can only be issued by a Russian travel agency registered with Rosturism (the Federal Tourism Agency). This satisfies the requirements of the Russian Consulate.

Do I need to register my visa if I am staying for 7 business days?

No, you need to register only if you are staying in Russia for more than 7 business days.

I didn't mention Novgorod (or any other city) in my invitation, but now I changed my plans. Can I visit this city?

Once you have received your Russian Visa, no cities are stated there, so you can travel almost anywhere in Russia, except to restricted areas (closed cities and regions)

Do I need an original invitation to apply for a tourist visa or is a printed copy is enough?

If you are applying in the country of your citizenship, the invitation copy will be enough in most cases, but please check with the Consulate first as they might have slightly different rules by region. You can find a listing of Consulate phone numbers and addresses on this here.

I cannot find the country of my citizenship in the list when ordering an invitation.

Unfortunately, we do not issue visa invitations to citizens of certain countries. Please check the list under the price table.

What should I put in the field "Address in Russia"?

According to Russian law, a hotel reservation for the entire period of your stay is required for a tourist visa, so we recommend that you to have a real hotel booking when you order your visa invitation and apply for the visa. Once you obtain your Russian Visa you can stay elsewhere.

I want to apply for a 3-year multiple entry Russian Tourist Visa. Do you provide this type of invitation?

This option is available for USA citizens only. If you are traveling for tourism or if you do not want to receive a business or private visa, you can still receive a standard tourist invitation letter (up to 30 days) and then use this to apply for a long-term 36-month tourist visa. Please check with the Russian Consulate in the USA for more information.

It has been more than 3 days since I ordered an invitation and I still have not received it.

Please note that we always send an invitation within the requested period. If you have not received the email, please check your spam folder and contact us by chat, email or phone.

Payment

I would like to use your services but at the moment I can't pay with my credit card. Can I use someone else's credit card?

For security reasons, we prefer that our customers pay with their own credit cards. You may also pay with a credit card of your co-traveler – a person you are traveling with. If both options are not available, we may offer that you pay through bank transfer (please ask your order manager to send you our bank transfer form).

Can I pay by credit card for the balance of your services when I arrive in Russia?

For tours, cruises, hotels, tickets and visas we require 100% prepayment before arriving in Russia.

I want to pay by bank transfer. Please advise the best way.

If you would like to pay by bank transfer, please contact us and we will send you an invoice with our bank details. Your order manager will advise the terms of payment.