St. Petersburg 2 Day Small Group Highlights, Yusupov Palace with Lunch Excursion

Description

• Round trip transportation from your St. Petersburg cruise ship terminal!
  
• Professional, licensed driver air-conditioned transportation!
  
• 2 day private guided excursion with English speaking and certified shore excursion guide!
  
• "Blanket" Visa for Russia is included for the duration of your St. Petersburg sightseeing shore excursion!
  
• Visit Fountain Park in Peterhof, Catherine Palace with the Amber Room, Church on the Spilt Blood, Hermitage Museum, Yusupov Palace, and St. Isaac's Cathedral!
  
• Entrance fees to all museums in the program and metro visit!
  
• Photo and video permissions at museums (except for Yusupov Palace)!
  
• A boat ride along the rivers and canals!
  
• Traditional Russian Lunch for two days!
  
• All port fees and taxes!
  
• Small groups only, personalized service - 12 maximum!
  

This unique two-day tour begins outside the immigration booth in front of your ship in St. Petersburg where you will meet your professional, knowledgeable guide and driver. With this unique excursion, you will receive a blanket visa that is included in the cost. You just provide us the information and your local operator arranges everything!

You will travel in style as you step into your air-conditioned Mercedes vehicle for the duration of your trip of this small-group excursion. The first leg of your journey is the scenic ride to Peterhof, a series of palaces and gardens established by Peter the Great. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will tour the Upper Gardens and Lower Fountain Park. Following your guided tour you will jump back in your vehicles for the short drive to Pushkin, just south of the city. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a mouthwatering lunch consisting of traditional Russian favorites (your lunch includes soup, chicken/turkey, bread, dessert, and coffee or tea). Following your meal, you will visit one of the most popular tourist destinations in St Petersburg. Catherine Palace was originally constructed by the German architect Johann-Friedrich Braunstein for Catherine I in 1718. The original 2-story building had 16 rooms and the original staircase is still visible today inside the palace. A designated Amber Room was originally created for the palace and was reconstructed for the 300th anniversary of the city. Amber, described as the "Tears of God", has been used for healing, jewelry, and even money over thousands of years.

While making your way back to your St. Petersburg cruise port, you will stop to explore a stunningly beautiful subway station and do some souvenir shopping along the way. Lastly, you will pay a visit to St. Isaac's Cathedral, towering majestically above the rooftops, and one of the city's premier tourist attractions. Its opulent interior with fourteen kinds of marble, gilded stucco, malachite, jasper, mosaics, and frescoes are just as impressive as its exterior. The view from its colonnade offers an unsurpassed vista of the city, featuring 360 degrees of history visible below you. At this point, day one is over and your friendly guide would take you back to your St. Petersburg cruise terminal.

After meeting at your St. Petersburg cruise terminal again for day two of your excursion, it will start with a unique shared boat ride along the rivers and canals of Saint Petersburg, traveling under the famed drawbridges viewing old palaces and mansions along the way. The boat ride is about one hour, don't forget to have your camera ready, there would be plenty of photo opportunities. Arriving at the State Hermitage Museum, prior to opening for the public, you will view amazing examples of Italian High Renaissance art, as well as unrivaled collections of paintings by Rembrandt, the extensive collection of Dutch and Flemish masters, treasures from Siberia and Central Asia, Egyptian and classical antiquities, and Persian and Chinese artworks, among many others. In addition, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the sheer opulence of the Winter Palace where the Tsars once held court. Visiting all of its' 350 exhibition rooms would entail a walk of over 6 miles (10 km) while glancing at every item, even just momentarily, would take over 9 years to accomplish.

Following this tour you will have time to sample local fare, enjoying lunch at one of the many local cafes and restaurants. Your next visual treat, the Yusupov Palace which many people know as the scene of the assassination of Grigory Rasputin. The building started in 1770 by the French architect Jean-Baptiste Vallin de la Mothe and during the years the Palace changed and some additions and alterations were made. Lastly, you'll visit the Church of the Spilled Blood, was erected to commemorate Tsar Alexander II as an outstanding Russian figurehead. The Church is renowned for its architectural design and works as a museum, showcasing rare examples of Russian mosaic art.

At the conclusion of your adventure, you will make your way back to your St. Petersburg cruise terminal.

What is included?

• Round trip transportation from your St. Petersburg cruise ship terminal
  
• Professional, licensed driver air-conditioned transportation
  
• 2 day private guided excursion with English speaking and certified shore excursion guide
  
• "Blanket" Visa for Russia is included for the duration of your St. Petersburg sightseeing shore excursion
  
• Visit Fountain Park in Peterhof, Catherine Palace with the Amber Room, Church on the Spilt Blood, Hermitage Museum, Yusupov Palace, and St. Isaac's Cathedral
  
• Entrance fees to all museums in the program and metro visit
  
• Photo and video permissions at museums (except for Yusupov Palace, camera pass is $3.00 USD per person, video pass is $6.00 USD per person)
• Traditional Russian Lunch for two days
• All port fees and taxes
  
• Small groups only, personalized service - 12 maximum

Excursion Notes

• We suggest you comfortable footwear and clothing.
• We suggest you bring along your camera (your guide will tell you where photos are not allowed or if there is a fee), cash (USD) for balance payment, shopping purchases or extra food/beverages, gratuity for your excursion guide and driver (customary is 15%), sun protection and/or light jacket, your passport and special visa which will be emailed to you, and a great sense of adventure.
  
• The actual order of activities may vary slightly depending on venue closures, traffic, etc.
  
• Do expect traffic and crowds.
  
• Shoulders and knees must be covered in all religious venues such as cathedrals.
  
• In order to minimize the flow of tourists inside the museum, the Hermitage authorities reserve the right to adjust the entrance time slot.
  
• Shore Excursioneer will need the passport information from each participant which will be forwarded to the operator to obtain your visas. After booking this excursion you will be re-directed to our "Additional Info" page where the operator requires Passport information from each participant booked. The operator will send us your visas and we will forward them to you. Your visa from the operator and your valid passport must be presented to Russian officials and are required in order to get off the ship in St. Petersburg. Also note, your passport needs to have a minimum of 6 months validity left (does not expire within 6 months of your stop in Russia) and a minimum of 2 blank pages for your Russian entry stamps.

Where we meet

For this St. Petersburg 2 Day Highlights, Faberge Museum with Lunch Excursion, you will meet your shore excursion guide just passed the passport booth outside of your ship (visa included in excursion price) in St. Petersburg cruise ship port terminal. All of the detailed information will be included on your Electronic Shore Excursion Ticket.

Excursion Restrictions

• This excursion is foldable wheelchair accessible.
• Please note that guests must be able to step in and out of the transportation. If anyone in your party is coming in a wheelchair, please let us know to make the proper arrangements ahead of time and with prior ok.
  
• Families with children need to take into account the duration and level of activity of this excursion before booking.
  

Excursion FAQ

Cancellation

• Your ship arrives into port late and you cannot make it in time to the meeting location (we will verify with the tour operator).
• Your ship skips/misses the port.
• Weather conditions or equipment failure prevents the operator from running the excursion.
• A medical problem prevents you from safely participating in the excursion (we will verify with the excursion operator and the guest may send doctor's note). This applies to individuals only and not the remainder of the group.
  
• Cancellations/deposit refund requests that do not comply with the above may not be subject to refund.
• Refunds may be subject to a service charge fee as determined by the payment processor, please refer to Terms and Conditions for more information.