Russia - Page 2 - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 06:44 AM

Step 4: So, How Long and How Much Will It Take?
First of all, you should get an invitation ready. After it's ready, you can take the invitation to the Russian consulate along with other documents needed and a visa application form.
The Russian consulate will accept your papers, charge a visa processing fee, and issue your visa in 1 to 14 days (depends on how much you pay). So, the total processing time will be about 1 day to apply and receive an invitation + about 1 day to submit the documents to the Russian consulate + average 7 days for visa processing = about 9 days. The total visa expenses will be about $30 US for the invitation paid to a travel agency (for a tourist visa) + about $50 US for visa processing paid to the Russian consulate = $80 US.

Step 5: Migration Card:
As of 25 November 2002, all foreigners are obliged to fill in a migration card, which will be given to them the instant they cross the Russian border. It is required to put in the migration card: 1) personal information, 2) terms of stay in Russia and the purposes of the visit and 3) the prospective residential address. It is obligatory to fill in the name of the inviting company and the address of the inviting company (all this should be provided in your visa support paper -- write it down!). Everyone, who has not put a registration mark due to the address of prospective stay of residence within three days (in other words, visa registration), will be considered illegal. The card should be handed over to immigration officials on the border when leaving the country.
The migration card is not something complicated, it's just another paper to fill in and is similar to the "landing card" given to non EU citizens when they fly to Europe. Don't fill it in, because all the cards have a unique number!
Foreign visitors will also be asked how long they intend to spend in Russia – and may be asked to show a proof – return tickets, for example. Their migration card will then be stamped with a specific departure date – according to this information! Even if the visa is valid for a full 30 days, for example, but the migration card was issued for only 25 days, that person will need to leave Russia IN 25 DAYS or before the date on his or her migration card.
The "early interview" is going to be extremely important and may very well determine if the person is even admitted to visit Russia. However, most of the foreigners are admitted without any problems, if their answers match with the information in the visa and visa support documents.

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 06:45 AM

Step 6: Russian Visa Registration:
Your visa must be registred within 72 hours upon your arrival to any Russian city excluding weekend and holidays either by a hotel you're staying in or, if it's not possible (in case you're not staying in a hotel), by the company that issued your invitation (visa support), or by a local registration office (UVIR). The registration is a small stamp in your passport or the migration card, showing a place of your stay, and is a

legacy of Soviet times. If you don't register your visa within 72 hours, you may be fined, detained for not longer than 3 hours by police (if they stop you on the street), fined by passport control when you leave Russia, or at the worst — deported from Russia.
Thus, we strongly advise you to register your visa. Usually, the visa is registered for the whole period of its validity, so you'll need to do it only once.
There are several ways to register your visa.
If you stay in a hotel or a hostel, they should (according to the law) register your visa for the whole period of its validity, but not longer than 3 months. It'll cost about 20 R ($0.7 US) or be free of charge.
If you stay with your friends or rent an apartment (in other words, not in a hotel), the visa should be registered by the inviting party.
If you obtained your invitation (tourist invitation) from a Russian travel agency (company, organisation), this travel agency must (according to the law) register your visa. Usually, it takes about 3 days to register your visa, so you should bring it to the agency, as soon as you're in Russia.
If you were invited by your friends (personal invitation), they should register you in a local UVIR (immigration) office. To register you, they'll need to bring a landlord letter, saying they don't mind having you registered at their apartment (see a sample of landlord letter here - text format). It is a long process to register in UVIR by yourself, that's why many people choose to be invited by a travel agency, to avoid queues.
If you stay in Russia for longer than 3 months, the registration should be made through a local UVIR office. The company that issued your visa invitation should assist you in this matter or register it for you.

Good & important advice: the company, that processes your Russian visa support, must have an office in Moscow, St. Petersburg or another Russian city (where you will travel), to be able to register your visa. Always ask for this address, as you might need it to register your visa and for emergency cases. Remember, if you don't register your visa, you might be fined and deported from Russia.

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 06:45 AM

Russian Railways Rules - Know Your Rights When You Travel by Train in Russia

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you are late for a train, suddenly decide to stop in the middle of a 4-day Trans-Siberian journey, or

People selling food outside of a train (c) Celine Smith 2003 whether you can carry this fancy motorcycle back home?
All these and many more situations are regulated by the two acts: The Transport Codex of the Russian Railways (further - TC) and The Rules of Passengers and Cargo Transportation (further RPT). We carefully read through the both documents to present you a concise summary of the most interesting and important rules. It is not a legal advice, but useful information that will allow you to make your train journeys through Russia more flexible and less expensive.

Lost and Damaged Tickets (Article 90 of TC) will not be re-issued or renewed if it is not possible to do so or to identify the owner.

Children Tariffs (Article 92 of TC). Passengers have the right to carry one child for free (maximum age 5 years old) if the child doesn't require an extra place. A special child ticket should be obtained prior to departure. Children aged from 5 to 10 can travel on a reduced fare.

Stopovers (Article 92 of Transport Codex and Sections 24 and 44 of Passenger Transportation Rules). Passengers have the right to make one stop along the way for not longer than 10 days (to be able to use the ticket for the remaining journey). In order to prolong the validity of their tickets, passengers should present it to the station's master during the first 4 hours after the train's arrival. The station master should make two special stamps on the ticket: one prolonging the validity and the other specifying the time and date of the next train's departure.
These rules are not valid for local suburban trains.
Comment: You should make sure that you stamp your ticket at the station's master to indicate that a stopover at a particular station was made. You will need to get a reservation for the next train you're going to take directly at the station, before boarding it.
In reality this procedure might take a lot of time, so a more time-efficient way is to buy separate tickets. However, if you have more time than money, this is a good option.

Early Departures (Article 92 of TC). Passengers have the right to depart with an earlier train than the one they have tickets for, but a special mark made on the ticket by the train station ticket office is required.

Late Departures (Article 92 of TC). If a passenger is less than 3 hours late for the train, he has the right to get another ticket for an extra payment that equals the price of "platzcarta" (the reservation for a certain train - usually 25% of the total fare). If a passenger is late for the train because of an illness or an accident this time span is prolonged up to 3 days.

Returns and Refunds (Article 92). If a passenger returns the tickets to the train station's ticket office, he has certain rights for a refund (or for a new ticket), depending on how much time is left before the departure:
- Not later than 15 hours before departure. Get the full refund for the fare paid (consisting of the ticket price and platzcarta-reservation price) or have the ticket exchanged without any fees.
- Between 15 and 4 hours before departure. Get the refund minus 50% of platzcarta (reservation price) - usually this equals 13% of the total fare paid or have the ticket exchanged (the fee that equals 50% of platzcarta price is payable)
- Less than 4 hours before departure. Get the refund minus platzcarta (reservation) - usually this equals 25% of the total fare paid (or get a new ticket issued).
Passengers are entitled to the full refund (ticket exchange) before the train departure if the train is cancelled or is going to be late.
If a passenger is late for a train connection due to the Russian Railway's fault, he is entitled to the full refund for this train.
Passengers can also get a refund for the part of the journey they didn't make, if they decide to stop along the way, but the price of platzcarta (usually 25% of the total fare) will be retained. To prove that only a part of journey was made, passengers should get a stamp from the train master or station's master at every stop they make.
Comment: If you paid a service fee to a travel agency, this fee is not usually refunded if you return your ticket. The tickets should be returned directly to the train station where they were purchased. Also, it is important to note, that the other document (RPT) provides different time spans: the first is up to 24 hours (instead of 15), the second is between 24 and 4 hours. The TC should have a priority, but if you want to avoid any fees, it's better to refund / change your ticket 24 hours before the departure.

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 06:46 AM

Seat / Couch Reservation (Article 94 of TC). If it is impossible to provide the reserved seat or couch to the passengers, the Russian Railways have to propose a similar place of the same or higher category at no extra charge. If a lower class place is proposed the difference in the fare should be refunded. It is up to passenger to accept or refuse this alternative, and in case of refusal, the full refund should be provided.

Late Trains (Article 130). If the train is departing later than the scheduled time or arrives to the destination later than scheduled, the Russian Railways will pay a fine to the passenger that equals 3% of the total fare for every hour of the delay. Unless it can prove that the delay was incurred by force-major situation or by a technical problem that was putting to risk the passengers of the train. The Number of Seats Available for One Passenger (Section 11 of RPT). Each passenger has the right to occupy only one space in regional, seating, or platzcart (common) trains, no matter how many tickets were purchased. In 2nd class (kupe) and 1st class (sleeper) carriages one passenger can purchase maximum two places.

If You are Left Behind Your Train (Section 35) you should notify the station's master about this, and he will be able to prolong the validity of your ticket by stamping it. If you had your belongings left in the train that you missed, the station's master will send a telegram to the train's master to ask them put out your belongings from the train and store it at the next available station. You will then be given a free ticket to this station to be able to collect your belongings (and ticket). All this service should be provided for free.

Upgrades & Place Changes While on Train (Sections 49 and 50 of RPT). Passengers have the right to upgrade their accommodation in the trains by notifying the master of the train and paying the price difference. In case a passenger decides to downgrade his accommodation, it is also possible, but no refunds will be made.
Comment: This is an useful rule especially for those who are traveling on long-distance trains where you have a risk of sharing a compartment for four days with a neighbor you don't like. The easiest way is to ask the conductor to change your seat and then if it's not possible use the procedure described above.

Refusal in Boarding (Section 57 of RPT). The Russian Railways have the right to refuse carrying or to put out of the train the passenger who is drunk or who disturbs other passengers.

Smoking. Smoking is allowed in "tambur" only (the passage areas between the carriages).on long-distance trains.

Luggage Restrictions (Section 59). Each passenger has the right to carry for free up to 36 kg of hand luggage. Each item should be not more than 180 cm in 3 dimensions. These restrictions do not apply to handbags, ski, fishing equipment, kayaks, cameras, umbrellas and other small items. It is allowed to carry camping gas bottles.
Comment: It is possible to carry bigger items in the baggage carriage of the train. In order to do it, you need to purchase a special ticket before the train departs. The minimum weight is 5 kg, the maximum is restricted by the space there is in the carriage (it is even possible to carry motorcycles, mopeds, etc.)

Pets (Article 64-65). It is allowed to carry dogs on the train, in baggage carriages (a cage with a tray is required).

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 06:47 AM

Introduction.
One of the things that you could possibly do in Russia is to make a river cruise. This kind of vacation was quite popular among Russians in the Soviet times: people used to go around small provincial towns, make short sightseeing tours, moving on, and enjoying picturesque views along the way, especially in the mornings.
Now it is not so popular, mainly because of slightly high prices for most of the cruises. But the real fans find their way. In this section we list some least expensive and most interesting (from our point of view) river cruises. We will also give you some useful internet addresses in the end of this section, so you can contact the cruise companies yourself and see their offers. But before, some useful hints about river cruising in Russia.

What River Cruises in Russia are Like?
Traditionally, there are short and long river cruises. Short cruises usually take two to five days, start in big cities (like Moscow) and cover small provincial towns along the way (the towns of Golden Ring - Uglich, Yaroslavl and Kostroma; Tver). Long cruises usually take nine to twenty days or longer and, starting in big cities (Moscow) go to some other big cities, like St. Petersburg (9 days), Astrakhan (20 days), Nizhni Novgorod etc. Usually, all cruises are return, that is, you'll come back where you started.
Generally, going on a river cruise, means that you'll board a cruise ship, have your own compartment (shared between 2 or 4 passengers), have a meal three times a day (or only once, if you want to save money), stop in the most attractive towns and places along the way, have a few hours or whole days to make a tour or walk around by your own.
The people who would make your company for the whole cruise are usually quite nice, well-educated Russians, schoolchildren or old people on vacations. If you take an expensive cruise, you might share your compartment with a foreigner.
Your main entertainment while the cruise will be observing the views along the way, making sightseeing tours in cultural and historical centers, participating in various entertainment events on the ship (which aren't always interesting).
Some recommendations are:
(a) it's better to start with short trips if you never tried river cruises before, because you might not be the kind of person who likes this kind of thing;
(b) don't take the most expensive tours, they aren't necessary the best ones;
(c) don't try to save your money on buying a tour, that includes only breakfast (and not a 3-days meal), because you won't have much time to buy food in the towns you stop and there'll be not chance to cook it;
(d) if you would like to hop off in one of the places you stop for a walking tour, ask your cruise company if they will refund you for the rest of the trip;
(e) the price for the most 'luxury' conditions with a meal 3 times a day and a private compartment is three times more expensive than the price for the cheapest compartment (shared between 4 people) and no meal included.
(f) it's better to take a compartment shared between 4 people, you'll have a chance to meet people, and it's less expensive too.
(g) ! before choosing a cruise, ask to see what kind of compartments are offered, because what is called 'luxury' in one company, may be 'economy' in the other. it's always better to go on the ship and to see the conditions yourself, especially, if you're going to spend long time in the cruise.

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 06:49 AM

St Petersburg

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 06:50 AM

A Walk in St. Petersburg

It's better come to St.Petersburg in spring. Early May would be excellent. Go out in the morning about 7 am when everybody only gets

up or even sleeps. Start at Petrogradskaya side (metro Gorkovskaya). Go through the Troitsky bridge. Take a look at this. The river, slow, dark and cold; the embankment, splendid palaces, big halls, rising sun; the city, you can see its central part, plain landscape without hills; Admiralty Tower, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Peter and Paul Fortress, Spit of Vasilyevsky Island. You are the only person on the bridge.

Go to the opposite side, walk through those uninhabited streets passing by museums, monuments, architecture masterpieces. Sleepy men come out, take away trashcans, salute each other, chat, don't pay attention to you. Millionnaya street, channel of Griboyedov, here were stables long time ago, Moyka river, people cleaning the boat. You dive under the arch - Palace square, Alexandriyskaya column, Winter palace, you feel like you

are the thief. I shouldn't come here so early, you think. Nobody is around. Empty trolley-buses cross the river. Nevsky Prospect, dwellers appear, Peter the Great on his horse. Everything needs reconstruction, houses seem invisible covered with dust. Don't sniff the dust, go back to the embankment. The river is fresh. Catch the wind, look at the seagulls. That's the point. You've got a feeling that the city is a big living museum. It is. Ok, you want a pick of life? Then cross the bridge of lieutenant Shmidt. This is Vasilyevsky Island, explore it. While there are only few people on the streets, you'll feel the atmosphere of Dostoyevsky novels. Don't miss the larches. Be careful with the pavement, look where you step, because there are many holes and splits. When did they repair it? Check out names of the streets. If you can't read in russian - they are 1st line, 2d line, 3d line, 4th line and so on until 27 and they go absolutely parallel to each other, planned to be channels. It works in cooperation with squared yards, 5 steps, the only escape through tight gateway. Sad windows are often broken, nobody uses them, there is nothing to look at. Hiding stairways entice you, closed wooden doors frighten you. And again dust is everywhere. Afraid to meet someone suddenly? Don’t go further.

Go down to the subway, your station is Primorskaya. See straight line of the channel, boulevard ? This way. Look at the bay. The sun is high, morning fog/haze is in the air so you can't recognize the horizon line. The city ends. Big houses are build in line, turned to the river. Try to walk through this boulevard, to reach where it ends and meets the water. You won't succeed, it's endless. Simple.
That's the city.

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 06:51 AM

If you're not tired yet, there is one more place worth seeing. Actually, it's a sad place, splinters/fragments of somebody's life. Go to Finlyandsky railway station, take a train to Zelenogorsk and enjoy an hour trip. It can never be boring to travel by russian УelektrichkaФ. Every minute somebody passes next to your coach and entertains you. Some of people sell something. Gloves or garden gloves if it's summer, medicine, historical novels, fiction, "Your Garden" magazine, horoscopes, "1000

and 1 crosswords", scandals, chocolate, tons of seeds, scissors, rain coats, sun glasses, nails, hammers, cosmetics and slippers, "anti-insects" and Уsuper knifeФ.
Before the train departs somebody’s voice says "Attention! It is forbidden to sell anything in the trainФ. Ok, don't buy anything if you are not hungry, but an ice-cream might be wonderful. Anyway people passing by will ask you some money, they'll sing, play accordion, show their hungry children and their wounds. They were in cruel wars, they came from far away and live on the streets and they need an operation and a piece of bread. But some of them are good enough. There is an interesting band at Moscow club scene УArkhip and his AliceФ, a boy plays guitar and his girlfriend sings simple songs. They used to sing in trains and suddenly one producer had found them.

Anyway, you are in Zelenogorsk. Take a bus, it's very funny. Your destination is УVeseloyeФ. Find a small hotel (pension «Teatralnoye») and go to the shore behind it. It won’t be difficult .
It’s always windy. The sea is quite shallow, a lot of sand banks, big stones.

Here is an old soviet summer pioneer camp. 70s-80s, now it’s
empty. Nobody has been here for years. And still nobody is here. It seems like Уmuseum is closed for reconstructionФ. You will be puzzled by

old monuments in the shape of football balls. What is the message in two football balls about two meters in diameter on two big stone pedestals? There is no football playground at all, just a little courtyard. Perhaps they are volleyball balls. Anyway.
Look in amazement at two giant flaming torches right on the beach. Flame is made out of stone, it used to be red. Another example of soviet social architecture. Pathetic but still romantic and naive, a version for children. I guess young pioneers used to come here every morning at 9 am before the breakfast for some reason, to say eternal words Уalways readyФ in response to Уare you ready?Ф. Straight rows, eyes fixed on the flag. I remember that. Of course we didn’t care. Nobody wanted to get up so early, we thought about breakfast and our little problems. Who cares about the honour of pioneer? But those flaming torches are still here by the sea. Here are asphalt avenues, lights (lamps), benches, swimming pull, open air theatre, iron spiral stairway on the beach, information boards. All this stuff does exist somehow. Nice place to visit for all romantics and young researchers.

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 06:52 AM

Museums in St. Petersburg: Art, History & Ethnography, Erotica, Literature, Military

contents: art history museums - historical & ethnography museums - thematic museums - literature museums - military history museums

All museums don't work on holidays. Average ticket price for the museums listed here is 15 to 25 roubles ($0.5 - $0.8) for Russians and up to 200 roubles ($7) for foreigners. A good way to save money is to pretend a native when you buy ticket (just don't speak English), or to ask a Russian person to buy you a ticket.

Art History Museums

Hermitage. The State Hermitage Museum owns the largest museum collection in the world, which is located in 6 buildings, one of which is Winter Palace (`Zimni Dvo`rets) – the residence of Russian emperors. So, be prepared – you won't be able to look through all the exposition in one day. It can be hard to navigate over the museum, but if you have any problems ask babushkas (supervisors, who sit in every hall) to help you. They don't speak English, but if you neatly tell them what are you searching for, they will recognize it.
The main departments of the collection: Department of Western European Art, Russian Culture, Art and Culture of Antiquity, Department of Primitive Culture, Art and Culture of the East.
Address: Dvortsovaya naberezhnaya (embankment), #34. Directions: walk along Nevsky Prospekt to the direction of Neva River and then on your right there'll be a large green and white palace – Winter Palace, that's where the Hermitage is. Phone: (812) 311-3465. Opened: 10.30-17.00, Sundays 10.30-16.00, closed on Monday. Entrance: foreigners adults 200 roubles ($7), foreigners students - free. Internet: http://www.hermitage.ru/

St. Isaac Cathedral. Impressive cathedral of 19th century, the former main cathedral of St.-Petersburg. There is an observation deck on the colonnade which provides nice view of the city.
Address: St. Isaac's Cathedral, Isaakievskaya square (Directions: metro Gostiny Dvor , Nevsky prospect, walk along Nevski Prospekt avenue to the direction of Neva river until you see the monument to Peter the Great on your left, and a but further - St. Isaac Cathedral. Phone: (812) 315-9732. Opened: 11.00 - 18.00, closed on Wednesday.

Yusupovsky Palace.A richly decorated palace.
Address: Moika river, #94. Directions: Nevsky prospect metro, make a left turn right after Kazanski cathedral (on the side of the cathedral) and walk along Moika river. The palace will be on your right after 10-15 mins walk. Phone: (812) 314-9883. Opened: 11.00 - 16.00

Thematic Museums

St. Petersburg Erotica Museum. The first Russian sex museum was opened in May 2004 in St. Petersburg by a local gynecogist in prostate

research center's building. The permanent exhibition hosts quite a lot of interesting objects, sculptures, and paintings. The opening got an extensive coverage on the press because the museum exhibits Rasputin's Penis - quite a unique object by all means. They say the owner of the museum is going to buy the organs of Janne d'Arc on an auction in France to "get a girlfriend for the old man".
Address: Furshtatskaya embankment, 47/11a (metro Chernyshevskaya), tel.: (812) 320 76 00. Internet: http://www.prostata.ru Opened daily 8.00 to 21.30

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 06:52 AM

Historical & Ethnographic Museums Peter & Paul Fortress. Peter and Paul Fortress (Petropavlovskaya Krepost) was founded by Peter the Great in the 1703 to protect the city from Sweden navy. But it had lost military significance before it was completed. So it had been used as a prison for two centuries. There were plenty of famous prisoners like Alexei (son of Peter the Great, whom Peter put there himself), Dostoevsky (the author of the "The Crime and Punishment"). Nowadays the fortress cannon fires at noon, midnight and when the flood is coming. The fortress is interesting itself and there are also some nice museums in it, like Sts Peter and Paul Cathedral (18 century), where Peter the Great and other Russian emperors (except Nicolay II) were buried. Trubetskoy bastion is a former prison. The Mint museum. Museum of Gas-Dynamic Laboratories with cosmonauts' personal items and other space related stuff, I don't know why they placed it in the fortress.
Address: Petropavlovskaya krepost . Directions: metro Gorkovskaya walk to Neva river. Phone: (095) 238-4540 (excursions, should be booked at least 3 days beforehand). Opened: 11.00-17.00 (tuesdays 11.00-16.00), closed on Wednesdays and last Tuesdays of every month.

Peter's House. Small wooden building near Peter and Paul Fortress was actually the first building in the city. The house was constructed for Peter the Great in the 1703, because he wanted to look after the building of fortress. The exhibition of the emperor's belongings and a small exhibition devoted to the North war (Russia-Sweden, beginning of the 18th century).
Address: Petropavlovskaya naberezhnaya (embankment), #6. Directions: Gorkovskaya metro, between The Paul and Peter's Fortress and Aurora Cruiser. Phone: 232-4576. Opened: 10.00-17.30, closed on the last Mondays and Tuesdays of every month.

Museum of Russian Political History. This mansion belonged to the famous Russian ballerina Matilda Kshesinskaya, soon after the revolution communists set there a museum of Great October revolution, now it is Museum of Political history. There are four exhibitions in the building: "Russian political parties and movements from the 19th century to the present", "Matilda Kshesinskaya", "Russian Duma from 1905 to 1917", "Finance and Banking, in the 19th and 20th Centuries". The entrance ticket is valid for all exhibitions.
Address: Kuibysheva Ul., #2/4. Directions: metro Gorkovskaya walk down to Neva river and then make a left turn on Kuibysheva street. Phone: (812) 233-7052. Opened: 10.00-17.00, closed on Thursdays.

Kunstkamera. "Kunstkamera" is German for "Chamber of Art". It was start up in the 1718 by Peter the Great. He placed here the collection of curiosities, which he collected during his travels. It was the first museum in St. Petersburg.
Sometimes the museum hosts art exhibitions, which are very interesting, for example, the exhibition of Japanese Kokasi dolls (until 1 September, 2001).
Address: Universtiteskaya Naberezhnaya, # 3. Metro: Nevsky Prospekt. Phone: (812) 218-1412. Opened: 10.00-17.00, closed on Thursdays

The Ethnographic Museum. The exhibitions are devoted to the everyday life of different Russian people in the 19th-20th centuries. Folk art, national dresses, crafts -- all the standard ethnic stuff.
Address: Inzhenernaya ul., #4/1. Metro: Gostiny Dvor, Nevsky Prospect. Phone: (812) 313-4320. Open: 10.00 - 17.00, closed on Mondays and on the last Friday of every month.