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Princess Cruise Line Travel Agents

Find a princess cruise travel agent near you, the best travel agency for princess cruises.

Let our Princess Cruise Travel Agents book your next cruise vacation to a destination of your choosing. Have a fun and memorable cruise vacation aboard one of Princess Cruise Lines top cruise ships . When you retain one of our travel agents you'll have access to exclusive American Express Card member benefits and travel deals . This means that you will be able to take advantage of special amenities and low travel fares, potential travel upgrades, and travel insurance.

Not only will you enjoy value-added benefits and amenities, you'll also have a personalized travel service working for you before, during, and after your vacation.

From movies under the stars, to anytime dining, Princess Cruises offers the flexibility and innovations that will have you wanting to escape the everyday life for frequent voyages to breathtaking destinations on Princess Cruise Line ships.

Contact a Princess Cruises Travel Agent

Enjoy the most out of your vacation to a breathtaking destination onboard a Princess Cruise ship. For immediate travel assistance, you may also contact a travel agent directly by calling 1-800-683-0206. You may want to locate travel agents that are within your city of residence, but we assure you that our travel agents will be able to get you great rates and book a great vacation no matter their location.

Cruise Planners travel agent is merely a selling agent and makes no warranty expressed or implied. Each Cruise Planners is Independently Owned and Operated. Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, has a tremendous reputation for quality, service, and very competitive pricing for ALL of your travel needs. Cruise Planners travel advisors will help you discover exciting adventures around the world. To learn more about Cruise Planners and the executive team, click here.

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Princess Cruises Travel Agent Resources

Princess Cruises, a Carnival Corp. brand, is an upscale cruise line that focuses on relaxed cruise vacations and destination-rich itineraries. The line has 15 ships (16 as of 2024), ranging in size from 2,000 passengers to 3,660 (4,300 as of 2024). All ships are equipped with a high-tech system called OceanMedallion, which replaces key cards with token-sized discs that can be used to open doors, pay for drinks and retail purchases, and more.

Destinations Visited Princess Cruises sails all over the world with itineraries visiting ports in Asia, Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, Canada & New England, Hawaii, Mexico, Central America & the Panama Canal, Tahiti and the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand. The line also offers cruises that pass through the Antarctic and sails at least one World Cruise a year.

Princess Travel Agent Login

The Princess Cruises travel agent portal, or Princess OneSource, provides a comprehensive suite of tools and resources to help travel advisors learn about and sell Princess Cruises.

Among the tools travel advisors can find on Princess' OneSource are:

• Princess' Polar Online booking platform
• 24/7 library of marketing materials, including customizable flyers and digital ads, logos, photos and videos
• Princess Cruises travel agent training academy
• The most current travel advisor cruise rates
• Flight booking tool
• Weekly newsletter
• Detailed sales reports that help identify market opportunities, seasonal patterns and emerging sales trends
• Online chat support

Travel advisors can also take advantage of Princess' Partner Support system (via phone and email ), which provides support for things such as fare option and promotion combinability verification, status of refunds, commission inquiries, updating of bookings with new promotions, and assistance with OneSource, POLAR Online and new agency registrations questions.

Princess Cruises Travel Agent Education Program Travel advisors can learn more about Princess Cruises via the Princess Cruises training academy (called OneSource Academy), which can only be accessed via Princess Cruises' agent portal, OneSource.

As advisors move through the Princess Academy, they rank higher and earn more rewards.

As an example, advisors who complete five courses in the Princess Cruises travel agent training program are considered First Officers. Those who complete 11 courses are Staff Captains; 18 courses earns a Captain designation; and 25 courses earns advisors Commodore status.

Status also earns advisors Continuing Education credits with The Travel Institute and the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA), and CLIA credits toward an ACC or MCC.  For instance, reaching First Officer status earns advisors 2 CEUs with ACTA, while getting to Commodore status earns advisors 10 CEUs with the Travel Institute, 8 with ACTA, and 10 with CLIA.

Other perks that can be earned as advisors move through OneSource Academy include Princess Captain's Circle benefits (gold for First Officer, Ruby for Staff Captain, Platinum for Captain, Elite for Commodore); a Commodore Marketing Kit; priority placement in Princess' Travel Advisor Locator; and more.

Princess Cruises Travel Agent Rates & Fams Princess Cruises travel agent rates can be found on OneSource, but generally work like this: for every four deposited agency client bookings made within the last 365 days, the agency is eligible for one travel advisor bookings, up to a maximum of 50 travel advisor rate bookings within a 12 month period.

Princess also offers limited-time, special rate cruises on a seasonal basis, which agents can use for a balcony stateroom and pay only for taxes, fees and port expenses (as well as onboard expenditures and amenity bundle upgrades).

As for fams, Princess occasionally offers Seminar at Sea (discount rate/hosted) trips or hosts advisors on inaugurals. Both are invite-only. Interested advisors should contact their BDM to find out more. 

Princess Cruises Travel Agent Sales Reps In the Americas, Princess Cruises has 31 business development managers covering the United States and Canada, as well as five BDMs covering charters, incentives and national accounts.

Princess Cruises Travel Agent Marketing Assistance Travel advisors can find a plethora of marketing support on Princess' OneSource travel agent portal, including access to customizable flyers, social media tools, digital logos, photos and videos and more.

Princess also offers a "generous" coop program and the line's BDMs can set up individual agency training, as well as collaborate on marketing plans or offer design team assistance.

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A sold-out Cruise360, presented by CLIA, kicked off this week in Fort Lauderdale with more than 1,250 advisors in attendance. 

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Princess Cruises - The Ultimate Cruising Experience

Experience the ultimate in luxury cruising with Princess Cruises. Book with Culture Discovery Cruises, your trusted travel agent, for exclusive perks and expert knowledge.

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If you’re looking for a princess cruises travel agent that helps plan a luxurious cruising experience, look no further than CDV.

Princess Cruises is a name you need to know. With over 50 years of experience in the industry, Princess Cruises offers a unique blend of elegance, comfort, and adventure. In this article, we’ll explore what makes Princess Cruises different, and why you should book your next trip with Culture Discovery Cruises, your trusted Princess Cruises agent.

Princess Cruises 2024 and 2025

Looking to plan ahead for your next luxury cruise? Princess Cruises has already released its itineraries for 2024 and 2025, offering a wide range of destinations and experiences. As your Princess Cruises Travel Agent, CDV Cruises is ready whenever you are.   From the sun-soaked beaches of the Caribbean to the breathtaking scenery of Alaska, Princess Cruises’ itineraries offer something for every type of traveler. And with Culture Discovery Cruises as your Princess Cruises agent, you’ll get access to exclusive perks and incentives that you won’t find anywhere else.

Princess Cruises Frequently Asked Questions:

Princess Cruises is known for its exceptional service, luxurious amenities, and unique itineraries. The cruise line offers a wide range of activities and entertainment options, from Broadway-style shows and live music to cooking classes and spa treatments. Princess Cruises is also known for its focus on destination immersion, with itineraries that offer the opportunity to explore some of the most beautiful and exotic locations in the world.

No, Princess Cruises is not a party cruise line. While there is plenty of entertainment and activities on board, the atmosphere on Princess Cruises is generally more relaxed and refined than on some other cruise lines. Princess Cruises offers a range of activities and entertainment options that cater to all tastes and preferences, from wine tastings and cooking classes to fitness classes and art auctions.

No, Princess Cruises is not adults-only. While the cruise line does offer some adults-only areas and activities, such as the Sanctuary spa and pool area, Princess Cruises is suitable for passengers of all ages. The cruise line offers a range of activities and entertainment options that cater to families, including children’s clubs and family-friendly shows and activities.

The average age of Princess Cruise passengers varies depending on the itinerary and time of year. While the cruise line does attract an older demographic, particularly on longer itineraries, Princess Cruises also offers a range of activities and entertainment options that appeal to younger passengers. As a Princess Cruises Travel Agent, CDV has booked many cruises for people of all ages.  Whether you’re a young couple, a family with children, or a solo traveler, you’re sure to find something to enjoy on a Princess Cruises ship.

No, Princess Cruises is not part of Royal Caribbean . The cruise line is owned by Carnival Corporation, which also owns other popular cruise lines such as Carnival Cruise Line, Seabourn ,  and Holland America Line .

Yes, Princess Cruises is owned by Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest leisure travel company. 

Princess Cruises is generally considered a premium cruise line , and its prices will be higher than those of some other cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line . However, Princess Cruises offers a unique blend of elegance, comfort, and adventure that is worth the investment. And with Culture Discovery Cruises as your Princess Cruises agent, you’ll get access to exclusive perks and incentives that will make your trip even more special.

• Anytime Dining: Allows passengers to dine at their leisure with flexible seating options, and a variety of onboard restaurants to choose from.
• Traditional Dining: Offers fixed dining times and assigned seating, providing a consistent dining experience and the opportunity to build relationships with fellow passengers and waitstaff.
• Production Shows: Enjoy Broadway-style productions, live music, and performances by talented singers, dancers, and musicians.
• Enrichment Programs: Participate in various activities, such as cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, art auctions, and guest lectures on topics related to the destinations you’re visiting.
• Interior Staterooms: Affordable, cozy accommodations without a window or balcony, perfect for budget-conscious travelers.
• Balcony Staterooms and Suites: Spacious rooms with private balconies, offering stunning views and added amenities, such as priority embarkation and disembarkation, and complimentary room service.
• Smart Casual: The majority of evenings onboard have a smart casual dress code, with men wearing collared shirts and slacks, and women wearing dresses, skirts, or dressy pants.
• Formal Nights: Typically, one or two nights per cruise are designated as formal nights, with men wearing suits or tuxedos and women wearing cocktail dresses, gowns, or dressy pantsuits.
• Youth Centers: Princess Cruises offers age-appropriate activities and programs for children aged 3-17, divided into three age groups: 3-7, 8-12, and 13-17.
• Family-friendly Activities: In addition to the organized youth programs, families can enjoy activities like swimming, sports, movie nights, and game rooms together.

The Newest Princess Cruise Ship

Princess Cruises’ newest ship is the Enchanted Princess, which debuted in 2020. The Enchanted Princess is a stunning ship that offers a range of exciting features and amenities, including the Princess Live! a television studio, the SeaWalk glass-bottomed walkway, and the luxurious Sanctuary spa and pool area. With a focus on sustainability and innovation, the Enchanted Princess offers a premium cruising experience that is unmatched in the industry.

Summary of Princess Cruise Lines

Princess Cruise Lines offers a fleet of 18 ships that sail to some of the most beautiful destinations in the world. From the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean to the majestic scenery of Alaska, Princess Cruise Lines offers a range of itineraries that cater to all tastes and preferences. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing getaway or an action-packed adventure, Princess Cruise Lines has something for everyone.

Your Princess Cruises Travel Agent

Culture Discovery Cruises is your trusted Princess Cruise Line travel agent. We offer a range of exclusive perks and incentives for those who book their Princess Cruises cruise through us . From access to exclusive shore excursions to special onboard events, we’ll work with you to create the perfect luxury cruising experience.

Why Always Book with CDV:

Book cruises with CDV and you can get a credit of up to $10,000 for each cruise to use toward any CDV land vacation!  Click here for more info.

The special and exclusive CDV offers can almost always be combined all with current qualifying national promotions offered by the cruise line, as well as full credit toward cruise line status.

We believe in the concept of Luxury of experience.  This means that our guests are not just looking for bucket list places, but life-changing experiences.  Our passion is making that happen, and to do so, we need to think of each person we deal with as friends and family.  We are not just planning a trip or event or you, but rather a life experience you will talk about long into the future.

Our secret sauce is a mixture of people that truly care about you above the “product,” leading-edge technology, and our carefully cultivated relationships with vendors that have become dear friends.  For us, it is always personal.  Click here to learn more about us and why we are in no way a typical travel agency.

Culture Discovery Reviews:

CDV Culinary Tours We directly operate the highest-rated culinary, cooking, wine, and experiential small-group tours in Europe! And any cruise booking you do with us gives you credit toward our tours.

Get up to $10,000 credit or more when you book with cdv.

Book cruises with CDV and you can get credit of up to $10,000 for each cruise to use toward any CDV land vacation!

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How Can Agents Benefit from Princess Academy?

Written by: Michelle on July 20, 2018

Since first setting sail in 1965, Princess Cruises has been an innovator in cruising from. Over the decades, Princess Cruises has expanded its fleet of 17 world-class ships to include a variety of balcony rooms, incredible on-board shows, and spectacular restaurants led by famous chefs. They feature over 150 itineraries that take passengers all around the globe, from the clear blue waters of the Caribbean to bucket-list destinations like Alaska. Their dedication to customer service and innovative amenities has made Princess Cruises a leader in not only the cruising industry, but the entire travel industry.

How can our travel agents learn more about Princess Cruises? One of the best ways to expand your knowledge is to enroll in supplier courses, like Princess Academy . Princess Academy guides agents as they rise through the educational levels from First Officer to Commodore. As you increase your familiarity with the brand’s ships, itineraries, and additional offerings, you’ll also be working toward incredible benefits which are achieved after reaching the Commodore level!

Princess Academy strives to teach agents to sell cruises more effectively. Courses include how to break into the luxury travel market and how to bring back clients for repeat cruises. These strategies allow agents to increase their commissions and build a loyal base of clients who will continue to use them to book travel and to recommend their agent’s services to family, friends, and coworkers.

Agents receive specific information on the different ships within the Princess fleet and the itineraries that are offered for each of those ships. There is additional education offered for agents to become a Princess Alaska Expert. Many clients dream of seeing the wilderness of Alaska in person and cruising is one of the best opportunities to do so. With the variety of itineraries and shore excursions that highlight this gorgeous frontier, becoming a Princess Alaska Expert is an ideal way to find the best cruise for these in-demand and high-ticket cruises. This can help all agents, but especially those who specialize in cruising, by enabling then to accurately and expertly market to their clients.

Once an agent completes their Commodore level courses, they are eligible for exclusive marketing materials as part of the Commodore marketing kit. This includes logos, press releases, email tags, and other marketing support to use online and in printed communications to announce your achievement level with Princess Cruises and build your reputation as a travel agent.

Completing the Commodore level also earns an agent a free Graduation Cruise Course. This is the final step in the Princess Academy program and allows agents to experience Princess up close and in person.

As many agents know, a combination of firsthand experience and detailed knowledge provides the easiest and most sincere way to market and sell a travel product to clients.

If you are a KHM Travel Agent interested in learning more about Princess Cruises, join us at the 2019 Crystal Conference and Awards aboard the Ruby Princess!  This is a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in the Princess’s product, amenities and service, but to connect with your fellow KHM Travel Agents and our team. We hope to see you there!

Do you love cruising? By joining the KHM Travel Group you can learn all about the cruise industry and start your own travel business. For more information on becoming a travel agent, you can fill out the form on the right, or call us at 1-888-611-1220.

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Princess Cruises hosts key trade partners on board Royal Princess

Princess cruises recently hosted 42 agents and 28 key trade partners on its medallionclass ship, royal princess. karryon reports from onboard..

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Travel advisors from Australia joined Princess Cruises’ business development managers Jared Voss, Bonnie Turner and Emma Pequin for a three-day famil between Sydney and Brisbane on Royal Princess .

Coinciding with the advisor famil was Princess Cruises’ inaugural famil for travel trade marketers, hosted by Heather Pryde, National Accounts Manager and Julian De Carlo, Trade Marketing Associate.

Due to a Friday night storm that delayed the arrival of the ship into Sydney Harbour, sail away was delayed until after nightfall, and as the trade marketing famil enjoyed a hosted dinner in one of Royal Princess ’ three main dining rooms, we were treated to fireworks over the Sydney Opera House.

The second day’s sessions for the trade marketing famil commenced with a marketing briefing and training session, hosted by the Princess Cruises team. 

During the session, Princess Cruises’ Head of Marketing, Chloe Jones, gave a refresher on the brand positioning and core audiences, reminding attendees that Princess is “kid-friendly, just not kid forward”. 

Two of the largest demographics for a typical Princess passenger are families with “tweens and teens”, and multi-generational families. Jones went on to introduce two of the key customer personas: “Belinda”, an energetic adult, age 35-54, with older kids, and “Judith” (or “Judes” to her friends), an active senior aged 55+ with an active lifestyle.

Liza Williams, Head of Growth Intelligence Editorial and Product at The Growth Distillery, also presented key insights on what drives travellers’ decision-making and what they seek when travelling: escapism, shared experiences, well-being, and micro-moments. 

“It’s what connects us that drives decision,” she said.

To close the training session, Pryde and De Carlo highlighted Princess Cruises’ training and incentive programs. 

The benefits of becoming a ‘Commodore’, including a free graduation cruise and exclusive perks such as Elite status, were also highlighted – as well as the fact that these perks are open not only to advisors but also to anyone working for a travel company, including marketers. 

Pryde also emphasised that advisors receive commission for upgrade packages that clients purchase in advance of the cruise, even if they do it themselves through the Medallion app – another great incentive for marketers and advisors to encourage clients to upgrade to Princess Plus or Princess Premier, which are great packages in and of themselves.

A royal tour

Afterwards, guests set off on an optional ship tour, though some opted to spend the entirety of the afternoon exploring the ship independently (including a few who booked spa treatments). 

On the evening of day two, the two groups came together for farewell canapes in the Double Decker Bar (previously known as Club 6, located on deck six). 

Captain Andrea Spinardi, Staff Captain Kevin Grant and Hotel General Manager Andrea Magrin attended and spent time chatting with a few agents before taking a group photo. 

Whilst on board, Karryon was treated to an exclusive bridge tour, where Captain Spinardi shared his joy at having spent this season in Australia and his excitement at returning to sail back into Sydney Harbour later this year. 

Agents and trade guests were given plenty of free time to explore the ship at their leisure. 

The Good Spirits bar, Alfredo’s Pizzeria (one of the casual restaurants, included in the Princess Plus upgrade package) and the Lotus Spa proved popular, as did the pools and hot tubs on the rooftop decks. 

Many also took in the entertainment each night at the Princess Theatre on deck seven, as well as the various live music performances in the Piazza (spanning decks five through seven) and in each of the bars.

What guests said

Speaking to some of the trade marketers and agents on board, many revealed their long association with Princess Cruises and why it’s so popular amongst their clients.

“It has to be the outstanding service and attention to detail”, said Blake Newell from FCTG Independent. 

“The Medallion definitely adds a layer of service that is second to none.”

About half of the participants upgraded to the Princess Plus package to avail themselves of the Starlink Internet with the MedallionNet Wi-Fi, drinks package and casual dining venues. 

Many agents said that it was the fastest wi-fi and best value package they had experienced on board a cruise ship – and the OceanNow delivery technology, allowing guests to order drinks through the app to be delivered direct to them wherever they were on board, impressed everyone.

Lauryn Woodward from Cruiseco expressed appreciation to Princess Cruises for bringing trade marketers on board for a famil. 

“I loved the opportunity to experience and understand the Princess product from a consumer perspective and was so impressed by the value of Princess Plus & Premium,” she said.

“I’m so looking forward to utilising some of the insights from the trade marketing session in our next campaign.”

Having the chance to indulge in people-watching was another highlight for agents and trade marketers. 

Tania Myles from TravelManagers said, “It’s really nice to see people who love Princess come back on board and fully embrace everything that’s available”. 

“You can see that they are having the time of their lives,” she added.

Leearne Groves and Vicky Wood, also of TravelManagers, agreed that all of the guests on board appeared to be making the most of their journeys. 

“I love when I’m walking from one end of the ship to another and watching people connect. I look over and they’re colouring in, and they’re doing a puzzle, and there’s a group playing mahjongg in the library,” Groves said.

Princess Cruises has recently relaunched its OneSource Agent website for Australian and New Zealander travel agents, with enhanced navigation and new updates, including the all-new homepage where advisors can see current Princess Cruises campaigns with one-click access to associated marketing collateral, digital assets and fare tables. 

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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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