warnemunde tours

Top Tours in Warnemunde, Germany

Warnemunde tours.

• Walking Tours
• Private Tours
• Ports of Call Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Scenic Railroads
• Cultural Tours
• Self-Guided Tours & Rentals
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Chinese (Traditional)
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Perfect Berlin Shore Trip from Warnemünde Port

2. Half-Day Rostock & Warnemünde Private Shore Excursion for Cruise Ship Passengers

3. Private Walking Tour of Berlin with Round-Trip Transportation from Warnemünde

4. Warnemünde Shore Excursion: Private Highlights Tour of Berlin with Minivan

5. Warnemünde Shore Excursion: Private Potsdam Tour

6. Warnemuende Shore Excursion: Private Sachsenhausen Memorial and Berlin Tour

7. Warnemuende Shore Excursion: Private Berlin Tour

8. Quiz and fall in love in Rostock Warnemünde

9. Berlin Shopping & History Shore Excursion from Warnemünde and Rostock Port

10. Private Warnemuende Shore Excursion: Third Reich Berlin

11. Join-in Shore Excursion to Rostock and Schwerin

12. Warnemünde Shore Excursion: Private Sachsenhausen and Berlin Tour

13. Private transfer between the port of Warnemünde/Rostock and Berlin

14. Private All-in-One Berlin Shore Excursion from Warnemünde Port

15. join-in shore excursion: rostock and warnemuende.

16. Private Shore Excursion: Rostock and Warnemuende by car

17. Private Transfer from Warnemunde Cruise Port to Berlin hotels

18. Private Shore Excursion: All-Highlights of Berlin (private round-trip transfer)

19. private shore excursion: rostock and warnemuende.

20. Semi-Private Berlin - Jewish Heritage Shore Excursion from Warnemünde & Rostock

21. Day Tour: Experience East Germany in Rostock

22. Berlin Private Shore Excursion from Warnemünde and Rostock Port

23. Join-in Shore Excursion: Berlin Highlights and Sachsenhausen

24. Warnemünde Shore Excursion: Private Berlin Jewish History Tour

25. Three audio tours in Berlin and other German cities

26. Transfer from Warnemunde Cruise Port to Brandenburg Airport (BER)

27. Private Shore Excursion: Cold War and East Berlin from Warnemünde

What travellers are saying.

• Perfect Berlin Shore Trip from Warnemünde Port
• Warnemuende Shore Excursion: Private Berlin Tour
• Warnemünde Shore Excursion: Private Highlights Tour of Berlin with Minivan
• Day Tour: Experience East Germany in Rostock
• Quiz and fall in love in Rostock Warnemünde
• Friends of Dave Tours
• SegTime - Segway Tours
• Fiete Fischkopp Stadtrundgang
• Ferien Tours
• Blaue Flotte

Visiting Warnemünde Germany by cruise ship? Here are 9 fun things to do in one day

I visited Warnemünde during my 7 night Northern European cruise aboard the MSC Poesia this summer. Prior to my trip, I’d never even heard of Warnemünde. But after my cruise, I’m sure I’ll never forget this charming little German town. Warnemünde was founded around 1200 and for centuries it was merely a small fishing village on the Baltic Sea. Today, it is one of busiest cruise ports in the world!

It’s super easy to make your way to the centre of Warnemünde from the cruise ship terminal. Just follow the signs for the ‘city centre’ as you leave the ship. The path will take you underneath the train tracks at the main station, and the town lies just on the other side. I would say it’s about a 10-minute walk.

I decided not to book any tours through the cruise line, but to rather explore the town on my own. Below I share nine fun things to do in Warnemünde in one day.

1. Walk along the sea promenade

Warnemünde has a beautiful, wide promenade that runs parallel to the Baltic Sea. It was built over 100 years ago and stretches for 2 km starting at the famous Warnemünde Lighthouse in the east and terminating into coastal forests in the west. The promenade is flanked by beach villas on the one side and white sand dunes on the other. No matter the weather, this is a great place to enjoy a walk.

2. Visit the Warnemünde Church

It’s difficult to miss the prominent neo-gothic church in the old town centre of Warnemünde. It dates back to 1866 when construction of the current brick building began. As impressive as the outside of the church is, the interior is more modest, but still fitted with interesting furnishings such as a carved altar and Renaissance pulpit. Be sure to check out the interior of the church as there is no entrance fee.

3. Enjoy the Warnemünde beach

The incredibly wide (up to 80 meters) sandy beach of Warnemünde is definitely one of the main attractions. Whether you want to swim in the cool Baltic Sea, or laze on a strandkorb or walk along the white sandy beach, the choice is up to you.

Fun fact : The strandkorb or german beach chair was invented here (Rostock) in 1882.

4. Search for the Dutchman windmill

The windmill was built in 1866 and up until 1991, corn was milled here. Since then, the windmill has been converted into a residential building, including a restaurant. As someone who lives in the Netherlands and has seen a large number of windmills, this one isn’t particularly special. But if you haven’t seen a lot, then this one is worth checking out. Just note that the windmill is currently being renovated (July 2019).

Insider tip : You can get the best view of the windmill from, you guessed it, Mühlenstraße.

5. Climb the Warnemünde Lighthouse

This is a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy. The lighthouse has a height of 37 meters and was built in 1897. Approximately 100 stairs take you to the top of the tower and at 31 meters, you can practically see the whole town. Entry is only €2. Note that you can only climb the tower from Easter to autumn.

6. Explore the area around the Alter Strom

The Alter Strom is the lively heart of Warnemünde, a canal filled with boats and surrounded by restaurants and shops. It’s a great place to take a stroll or do some people watching. So grab an ice cream or a fresh German pastry and just watch the boats go by…There is also a market where local fishermen sell freshly caught fish.

7. Check out the pretty houses on Alexandrinenstraße

With its quaint little houses and tall trees, this pretty street looks like it belongs on the canvas of some famous painter. Long ago, fishermen, sailors and pilots used to live in these houses.

8. Shop till you drop in the local shops

If you like shopping as much as I do, then the local shops in Warnemünde will not disappoint. You can expect to see a variety of products, from spices to homemade liquor and treats to art galleries and everything in between.

9. Walk along the west pier

Take a romantic stroll along the west pier that runs 500 meters into the Baltic Sea. Believe me, the view is great! The pier mainly serves as a breakwater to stop the currents of the Baltic Sea and to facilitate the approach of incoming ships. At the end of the pier is a green and white lighthouse.

Bonus: Warnemünde Sand World

Just as you exit the cruise ships (Pier 7), there is a temporary sand sculpture exhibition (Warnemünde Sand World) featuring artists from all across Europe. This is the best sand art that I’ve ever seen and it’s completely free to visit! From what I’ve read on the internet, there is a sand sculpture competition/exhibition every year. The exhibition runs until the end of October.

Although Warnemünde is fairly small, there are lots to see and you can do all these activities at a leisurely pace. If you crave more excitement or you simply want to see more, Rostock is only a 30-minute train ride away. Now technically, you can also travel to Berlin or Hamburg. But these cities are huge and hours away. I wouldn’t recommend visiting them on this port stop. Rather, stick around and explore all that Warnemünde has to offer.

I’m a travel fanatic, nature lover, geek, metalhead, and writer. My promise to you: transparency, depth, and passion. Keep it real and stay weird everybody!

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Founded in 1200 as a small fishing village, it now boasts the Nordic Ship Yards. Along with shipbuilding and repairs, tourism is the biggest industry. Cruise ship guests often fly into Berlin if they are boarding the cruise ship in Warnemunde. There are many transfers and shuttles available for guests going to or from Warnemunde and Berlin. There are many highlights that visitors, both on a cruise ship or on holiday, can enjoy our Warnemunde excursions such as the lighthouse that was built in 1897 and still is in use today.

Top 4 Warnemunde Berlin Excursions

• Berlin City Highlights ($164.99)
• Berlin Highlights & Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial ($229.99)
• Rostock & Warnemunde ($99.99)
• Hop On Hop Off Bus ($32.99)

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• Round-trip transportation from your Warnemunde/Rostock Cruise pier!
• Air-conditioned, fully licensed, and insured transportation!
• English-speaking professional guide at Berlin!
• Headsets are provided for groups of 20 guests or more!
• Exterior visits to Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Memorial to the Murdered Sinti, Checkpoint Charlie, Gendarmenmarkt, and Bebelplatz plus many more!
• Free time for lunch!

• Round-trip transportation from your Warnemunde Cruise pier!
• English-speaking certified shore excursion guide!
• Visit the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial!
• Entrance fee to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial!
• Sightseeing of Berlin's highlights!
• Photo stops in Berlin!

• Guided walking exploration of Warnemunde and Rostock!
• Roundtrip Public Transport tickets from Warnemunde to Rostock!
• English-speaking professional guide!
• See Rostock Town Hall, University, Town Wall and Gates and many more!
• Visit St. Marien Church and the astronomical clock!
• Entrance fee to St. Marien Church!
• Free time in Rostock!

• Round-trip route with on/off privileges in Berlin!
• Comfortable double-decker open-top city shore excursion buses!
• Climate-controlled buses with Wi-Fi and Wheelchair access!
• Easy to use system map of Berlin!
• 23 stops to choose from!
• Audio narration on the bus - available in 12 languages!

FRIENDS OF DAVE TOURS

Bring your appetite and walking shoes for a perfect day 

Rick steves recommended ‘top tour in warnemünde’, sorry completely sold out for  2024, on time & in comfort, awards & accolades, outstanding guides, friends of dave tours for the perfect day, we turn guests into instant friends while providing them with the perfect day on an unforgettable tour of warnemünde and mecklenburg, turn on your sound for the fod theme song and a sneak peak of what your day with us looks like.

Finding and booking day tours in Europe shouldn’t feel overwhelming, nor should you have to settle for some cookie-cutter, overly crowded, overly priced cattle call that leaves you feeling like your time was wasted. 

In a region rich in historical, cultural, and ancestral significance, you should have every opportunity to peek behind the curtain and be told the real story, by local guides and we couldn’t agree more. 

While you’re learning about the distinct legacy of the region, we want you to feel at ease on our handcrafted tours, and we want you to know what it’s like to travel in the company of good friends. 

We promise to make you laugh, ponder, and feel connected in a setting that no other tour company understands better than the Friends of Dave Tours team.  After all, we live here.

SIGN UP NOW

Don’t miss dave & christian’s baltic tips.

At Friends of Dave Tours we really do treat you like our visiting besties!

During the lead up to your cruise, we will send you occasional updates about what’s going on here in Warnemünde as well as our insider tips on the best ways to enjoy your Baltic cruise! 

When your tour is over, we will even send you a $100pp discount coupon to join Dave on an AmaWaterways river cruise adventure thru RiverCruiseKing.com

Why Friends of Dave Tours?

Our hard work and flair for storytelling have earned us a coveted spot on Rick Steves recommended tours of the Baltic, as well as the #1 spot for tours of Warnemünde's on TripAdvisor and Cruise Critic for over a decade.

Our hard work and flair for storytelling have earned us a coveted spot on Rick Steves recommended tours of the Baltic, as well as the #1 choice for tours of Warnemünde at  TripAdvisor, Cruise Critic & other sites for over a decade.

With a combined 50+ years of industry experience, Friends of Dave guides provide unmatchable industry experience, a rich tapestry of historical and cultural knowledge, and a unique flair for storytelling that has earned us a 99% satisfaction rating from past guests

Mega Mecklenburg with Friends of Dave Tours

Our 2024 tour agenda & details from booking to enjoying sold out already for 2024.

Step 1. Find your date and ship location using our Google calendar and locate whether you will be docked in Warnemünde or Rostock. Sign up for the tour that matches your docking location.​

Step 2. Be sure to register your email address for our Baltic Tips and Pre-Cruise planning tips!

Step 3. Show up ready for a great time!

OUR #1 MEGA MECKLENBURG TOUR

Our FULL DAY MEGA MECKLENBURG tour begins ship-side at Warnemünde Cruise Center* and is timed to your ship's port docking schedule. Whether your ship docks in Warnemünde or Rostock we will pick you up!

We begin with a stroll through charming Warnemünde for a look at this quaint seaside town's highlights and to get to know each other a bit. We'll share tidbits of its 800+ year history as well as some juicy medieval village gossip about Rostock as we explore side alleys and hidden courtyards on the way to the lighthouse. We'll also show you the Alte Strom promenades and the best places to enjoy a sunset drink at the end of the day. You'll be laughing and learning as we lay the groundwork for your perfect port day.

After a brief 'happy' restroom stop, you'll be whisked off by private luxury coach to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Wismar; the most intact original medieval Hanseatic city in the world. You'll learn about the ancient trade history of the Baltic and we'll bring all of your cruise ports together into context. You'll view incredible Gothic buildings from the 13th-16th Centuries and maybe even "walk the wheel" to build a bell tower or make a brick for the church. For lunch, you'll enjoy what some have described as one of the 'best meals of their entire cruise' at an over 570-year-old brewery (where you'll dine a la Carte from a pre-selected menu with multiple options) and have the chance to taste the famous Mum beer that made Wismar rich in Hansa times!

Lunch with 1 beverage incl. in your tour price

​ Once you've tasted the Mecklenburg kitchen, our luxury coach will whisk you along the old royal route through rolling farmland and pastoral villages and under the arched trees of our famous Ostdeutsche Allees to Schwerin Palace. In Schwerin, we will explore the gardens of the Palace for some great photo ops and stories of the castle's doom! ​ Note: Since your cruise is full of castle interiors much grander than this one (due to fire), we avoid the interior and go into the old town and Jewish quarter before granting you some free time to explore the quaint shops and cafes. You can elect to go inside on your own if you wish.

The ride back to the ship also has a "Happy Hour" surprise in store for you! ​

This FULL DAY tour includes 3 mini walking tours (Warnemünde, Wismar & Schwerin) , transport by private coach, a full lunch with 1 large beverage and tip for the servers (we dine a la Carte) and an afternoon beverage, as well as, the 19% German sales tax.

The Tour is 175€ per person ALL-INCLUSIVE WITH MEALS INCLUDING 19% GERMAN TAX + a 6% FareHarbour processing fee *Guests with a 2020 Gift Card are grandfathered to our 2020 rates! ​

Number 1 at Trip Advisor 12 Years Running Rick Steves' Top Pick 3 Cities in 1 Day 1 Tour Guide & 1 Tour Escort assistant per Group Individual Headsets Incredible Lunch in Historic Brewery Included Special treat on the return bus ride Luxury Bus w/ AC & WC All local taxes, insurances and fees Included  

GET DISCOUNTS FOR REFERRALS!!! ​ We ONLY accept 26 people and use a bus that sits 44 so you will have plenty of room and the majority of guests can have their own window and double seat. Our coach has AC and a WC on board, however we make multiple "Happy Stops" during the day.

We sell out quickly, so FIRST COME - FIRST SERVED.

WE ARE NEVER LATE !! SO CHECK YOUR DATE!

ADVISORY: While not overly strenuous, you MUST be able to walk for stretches of 30-45 minutes and keep up with the group. Sorry, due to the terrain and accessibility of our route we can not accept people who have mobility issues.

3 Steps to Working With You

– step 1 –, find your ship date and location.

​ Pop into our ship calendar and choose the date you will be arriving in port to verify if your ship will be in Warnemünde Cruise Center or Rostock Industrial Harbour.

– STEP 2 –

Choose and book your tour.

Sign up for the tour that matches your docking location.​ (95% of tours are from the Warnemünde Cruise Center and we adjust times to match your ship).

– STEP 3 –

Show up and have a great time.

Bring an appetite, a solid pair of walking shoes, and most importantly be prepared to have some fun 

Dave & Christian

We are the tour we sell .

Hi Friends,  

When the financial crisis hit in 2008, like many of us, I used it as an opportunity to take my life in a different direction. I dove headfirst back into travel and tourism and started my journey to not only becoming one of Germany's top tour guides but the top specialist for AmaWaterways river cruises. 

I founded Friends of Dave Tours Warnemünde because I wanted to provide guests with an English-speaking alternative that was wildly different than what the cruise lines were offering. I saw a gap in what I felt was a contingent of travelers who were hungry for authenticity, culture, storytelling, and most of all, fun! It didn’t take long to spread the word about my quirky, thoughtful, well-organized tours, and I soon found myself listed in Rick Steves' Cruising Northern Europe guide books and have dominated TripAdvisor and Cruise Critic as Warnemünde's Number 1 tour and tour company for the past 12 years.

I understand the overwhelm that goes with trying to sort through a seemingly endless supply of day tours, but our guides, unparalleled knowledge, and flair for treating our guests like long-lost friends are what ultimately sets us apart from the rest.

I have dedicated more than a decade of my life to bringing strangers and friends together, and if you’re still in doubt, the kind words of my amazing guests will tell you that if you don’t travel with Friends of Dave, you’re going to regret it, and we don’t do regret!

WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING

"PHENOMENAL FOD tour with CHRISTIAN! When we first began our FOD tour from the Warnemunde port in the morning, the weather was not cooperating (on the cold side) and we were still a bit jet lagged from arriving in a new time zone two days prior. But, all was not to be lost. Infact, we knew we had selected the right tour as soon as we met our wonderful tour guide Christian! And we were right!

Christian is smart, knowledgeable, funny and a charming guide who entertained and truly informed us for the length of the tour.

The towns we visited were historically interesting and it was wonderful to glimpse life in Germany outside of the bigger cities. In addition to hiring the talented Christian, Dave has done a lot of other things right to show he sincerely cares about his guests: very comfortable bus transportation, a delicious meal with generous portions and great local beers and wines.

Thank you sincerely to Christian for exceeding the expectations we had of our port stop in Warnemunde and thank you Dave for organizing a wonderful itinerary!"

LFLONE | DENVER, CO

THE 10 BEST Warnemunde Tours & Excursions

Tours in warnemunde.

• Walking Tours
• Private Tours
• Ports of Call Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Scenic Railroads
• Cultural Tours
• Self-Guided Tours & Rentals
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Chinese (Traditional)
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Perfect Berlin Shore Trip from Warnemünde Port

2. Half-Day Rostock & Warnemünde Private Shore Excursion for Cruise Ship Passengers

3. Private Walking Tour of Berlin with Round-Trip Transportation from Warnemünde

4. Warnemünde Shore Excursion: Private Highlights Tour of Berlin with Minivan

5. Warnemünde Shore Excursion: Private Potsdam Tour

6. Warnemuende Shore Excursion: Private Sachsenhausen Memorial and Berlin Tour

7. Warnemuende Shore Excursion: Private Berlin Tour

8. Day Tour: Experience East Germany in Rostock

9. Berlin Shopping & History Shore Excursion from Warnemünde and Rostock Port

10. Private Warnemuende Shore Excursion: Third Reich Berlin

11. Join-in Shore Excursion to Rostock and Schwerin

12. Warnemünde Shore Excursion: Private Sachsenhausen and Berlin Tour

13. Private transfer between the port of Warnemünde/Rostock and Berlin

14. Private All-in-One Berlin Shore Excursion from Warnemünde Port

15. join-in shore excursion: rostock and warnemuende.

16. Private Shore Excursion: Rostock and Warnemuende by car

17. Quiz and fall in love in Rostock Warnemünde

18. Private Transfer from Warnemunde Cruise Port to Berlin hotels

19. Private Shore Excursion: All-Highlights of Berlin (private round-trip transfer)

20. private shore excursion: rostock and warnemuende.

21. Semi-Private Berlin - Jewish Heritage Shore Excursion from Warnemünde & Rostock

22. Berlin Private Shore Excursion from Warnemünde and Rostock Port

23. Join-in Shore Excursion: Berlin Highlights and Sachsenhausen

24. Warnemünde Shore Excursion: Private Berlin Jewish History Tour

25. Three audio tours in Berlin and other German cities

26. Transfer from Warnemunde Cruise Port to Brandenburg Airport (BER)

27. Private Shore Excursion: Cold War and East Berlin from Warnemünde

What travellers are saying.

• Perfect Berlin Shore Trip from Warnemünde Port
• Warnemuende Shore Excursion: Private Berlin Tour
• Warnemünde Shore Excursion: Private Highlights Tour of Berlin with Minivan
• Day Tour: Experience East Germany in Rostock
• Quiz and fall in love in Rostock Warnemünde
• Friends of Dave Tours
• SegTime - Segway Tours
• Fiete Fischkopp Stadtrundgang
• Ferien Tours
• Blaue Flotte

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• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

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If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

• 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

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