gratiot cruise eastpointe 2023

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

• Advertising
• Put Your Buick On This Site
• Turbo Buick Regal Master Car List (ALL TR’s produced)
• Diecast Cars Checklist
• Buick Regal Car Clubs
• Movies With Turbo Buicks
• Buick Regal YouTubers
• 2024 Michigan Car Cruises & Shows
• Buick Parts Vendors
• Buick Girls/Cars
• Gbody LED Kits
• Regal Deals (Special Buys)

Eastpointe Gratiot Cruise 2023 Friday Kickoff

The annual Eastpointe Gratiot Cruise for 2023 is headed by a car show at the First State Bank on 9 Mile Road on the Thursday before Saturday’s main event.

Friday’s are reserved for the kickoff party, a pre-show car gathering, held at Cloverleaf Pizza (just North of Stephens [9 1/2 Mile] on Gratiot).

The parking lot on 6-16-23 was jammed with hot rods and muscle cars of all kinds, including some A & G body GM vehicles.

Looking forward to tomorrow’s yearly car cruise, which is happening right now as you read this! So get them classic autos out there, so we can photograph them as you drive by (and be sure to wave as you pass through!) See ya then!

Related posts

2024 Detroit Autorama

Fall Hines Drive Cruise Michigan October 2023

Packard Fall Open House Car Show Oct 2023

Armor Great Pumpkin Classic Car Show 2023

Holly MI Halloween Car Show 2023

Lakeside Mall Season Ender Car Show Oct 2023

Metro Cruisers Fall Final Show Oct 2023

Street Dreams VFW Post 3323 Car Show Sept 2023

• HOT Buick Women & Cars
• Buick Grand National LED Light Kits
• Privacy Policy
• ™ ® © Notice & Readership Disclaimers & Disclosures

Was this post beneficial? More Cool Info is Added Daily! DON'T Miss Out! Sign up to our FREE subscription service and receive an email whenever we post new articles. Just enter your email address below and click the Subscribe button. (NO spam sent - only new post alerts)

Email Address

”Subscribe”

Contact Us   |   Employee Resources

• Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle
• Farmington Press
• Fraser-Clinton Chronicle
• Grosse Pointe Times
• Macomb Chronicle
• Madison-Park News

Mount Clemens-Clinton-Harrison Journal

Rochester Post

Roseville-Eastpointe Eastsider

• Royal Oak Review
• Shelby-Utica News

Southfield Sun

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Sterling Heights Sentry

• Warren Weekly
• West Bloomfield Beacon
• Woodward Talk
• Advertise with us
• Animals & Pets
• Arts, Entertainment & Features
• Business & Development
• Charities & Service Clubs
• Environment
• Health & Fitness
• Latest News
• Local Government
• Local Parks
• Looking Back
• Patriotism & Military
• Police, Courts & Fire
• Roads & Construction
• The Friday Five
• Legal Notices
• Classifieds

Spectators enjoy the many classic vehicles at Eastpointe Cruisin’ Gratiot in 2022.

File photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Rev those engines: It’s time for Eastpointe Cruisin’ Gratiot

By: Maria Allard | Roseville-Eastpointe Eastsider | Published June 5, 2023

Cruisin’ Gratiot attracts volunteers, benefits charities

EASTPOINTE — Eastpointe Cruisin’ Gratiot is back for another ride.

The 24th annual event will celebrate classic car culture June 15-17 along Gratiot Avenue. All events will happen rain or shine.

Eastpointe Cruisin’ Gratiot board member Tim Csokas said the event “brings people together.”

“We’re trying to promote the city and promote the businesses that are here,” Csokas said. “Gratiot Avenue is one of those places where everyone cruises around a lot. It’s reliving that time. We have a nice, organized cruise. We’ve got a lot of devoted people that help with the cruise.”

“I do see a lot of the past cruisers that always come back. I’ve seen new people come and I’ve seen people from out of state,” Csokas said. “I believe there’s a lot of community spirit. It gives a sense of pride. You get the older generation. You got the younger generation. The car shows get crowded.”

Eastpointe Cruisin’ Gratiot will begin June 15 with a car show from 4 to 7 p.m. at the First State Bank, located at 16100 E. Nine Mile Road at Gratiot. First State Bank is sponsoring the show. Dash plaques will be awarded to the first 75 drivers, and prizes will be awarded at 7 p.m.

A second car show — complete with shiny chrome and fuzzy dice — will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. June 16 at Cloverleaf Restaurant, 24443 Gratiot Ave. The event is sponsored by Motor City Pawn Brokers. Dash plaques will be awarded to the first 75 drivers, and prizes will be awarded at 7 p.m.

June 17 is the official “cruise day” from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Anderson, Eckstein & Westrick is sponsoring a car show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Eastpointe High School parking lot, located at 15501 Couzens Ave., off Gratiot near Nine Mile Road.

Other events are planned at the high school. All are invited to the welcome ceremony at 11 a.m. There also will be the presentation of the colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” a prayer service and a blessing of the cruise.

Throughout the day, several businesses will have official Eastpointe Cruisin’ Gratiot merchandise, including hats and T-shirts, for sale.

At 1 p.m., a VIP parade with local city and school officials in convertibles will take a spin around Gratiot Avenue. This year, members of the Eastpointe Public Safety Department will be the grand marshal of the VIP parade.

“Whoever is available will be there,” Cruisin’ Gratiot Board Secretary Kathy DiCenzo said, adding that there will be a vintage police car present along with a new car.

Then start your engines: It’s time to cruise. The official cruise lane will open at 1:30 p.m. Classic car owners can cruise up and down Gratiot Avenue between Eight Mile and 10 Mile roads in the inside lane closest to the median.

Classic car cruisers need to register in advance and obtain a special cruise lane pass. A lane pass costs $15 if registered in advance and $20 on cruise day. Visit the Eastpointe Cruisin’ Gratiot website for details at www.cruisin-gratiot.com. The other lanes will be open for regular traffic. The cruise lane will officially close at 7 p.m. with assistance from the Eastpointe Public Safety Department.

Money raised from the annual cruises is distributed to five Eastpointe charities: St. Vincent de Paul Conference at St. Basil the Great Catholic Church, the Eastpointe Lions Club, the East Detroit Tiger Cats, Odd Fellows Eastwood Lodge No. 496 and Love Life Family Christian Center. In past years, the cruise committee also has donated to other charitable organizations, including the Kiwanis Clinton Township and the Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society in Eastpointe.

Organizers hope for a good turnout this year.

“I want the businesses and Eastpointe to benefit from it, and I’m hoping we can give the charities a lot of money. We’ve got our major sponsors who are wonderful,” DiCenzo said. “We have a lot of good things going on in this town. We want to showcase it.  I want the businesses and Eastpointe to benefit. To see all the old vehicles, it takes you right back in time.”

For more information, visit the Eastpointe Cruisin’ Gratiot website  at www.cruisin-gratiot.com .

You May Also Be Interested In

News      Sports

Eastpointe Cruisin’ Gratiot ready to roll…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Things to Do
• Marketplace

Things To Do

Eastpointe cruisin’ gratiot ready to roll starting thursday, organizers hope for pre-covid attendance.

After a hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic and a scaled back Cruisin’ Gratiot event in 2021, organizers hope this year’s 23rd annual event will see crowds back to pre-pandemic levels.

“The weather is supposed to be really nice – not too hot – and unlike last year it should be dry,” said Tim Csokas, one of the longtime event organizers. “Last year it was rainy and it was rough to get everything going.”

Cruise weekend kicks off on Thursday with a classic car show from 4-8 p.m. at First State Bank located at Nine Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue. Friday, the car show moves to Cloverleaf Bar & Restaurant on Gratiot between Stephens and 10 Mile roads and runs from 3-8 p.m.

Saturday is the premiere Cruisin’ Gratiot event beginning at 1 p.m.; the cruise that runs between Eight Mile and 10 Mile roads. The classic car show happens at 9 a.m. at Eastpointe High School in the parking lot off Couzens Avenue and participants will begin lining up for the cruise about an hour prior to its start. Csokas expects about 1,000 cars to participate in the cruise with some special automobiles that should thrill any classic car buff.

“We have one of the first class winners from Autorama who is going to be there,” said Csokas. “The event will have quite a bit more than last year. There will be more food vendors, more parking spots and we will have more sponsorships too.”

Csokas said what sets Eastpointe Cruisin’ Gratiot apart from other cruise events is the dedicated cruise lane for participants.

“The cruisers can drive without getting into any kind of congested traffic,” said Csokas.

There will be disc jockeys playing tunes at the high school parking lot all day Saturday and Csokas will be giving out gas gift cards and “I cruised Gratiot” stickers as well.

In its heyday, Eastpointe Cruisin’ Gratiot drew between 120,000 and 150,000 people, but last year in the shadow of COVID and with abundant rain clouds, the turnout was closer to 50,000. Csokas believes based on the weather forecast for Saturday, this year’s cruise will have a much better turnout than in 2021.

“I think we are having a big comeback this year,” said Csokas. “People put their heart and soul into this event to make it all worthwhile and after 23 years we are still doing it.”

More in Things To Do

SUBSCRIBER ONLY

Survey: more than 1 in 3 american travelers plan to go into debt for their summer vacations this year.

Airbnb rentals could be harder to come by in Hawaii. Here’s why and when that might happen

Fact or fiction? Addressing common claims about gardening

Quick Fix: Baked Pecan Crusted Halibut with Broccoli and Sweet Potatoes

Clinton Township Gratiot Cruise

The Clinton Township Gratiot Cruise is the biggest and best event on Gratiot Avenue. This summertime tradition is an opportunity to showcase our community to neighboring residents, and visitors from across the State and Midwest. The cruise has continually increased each year in attendance, classic cars, family activities, and business involvement year after year.

A FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY FROM THE GRATIOT AVENUE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2023

More than just a cruise, it's something for the whole family.

CORPORATE SPONSORS

CRUISE HEADQUARTERS

Parking lot of value city furniture/kohl's.

The North Gratiot Cruise is a one-day celebration of automobile history that attracts muscle cars, street rods, customs, collector cars, special interest vehicles and the people that love them. Expect to find your dream car, live music, great food vendors, parties and family fun. The Gratiot Avenue Chamber of Commerce has been presenting the North Gratiot Cruise for over a decade and in that time has granted $50,000 to community groups.

50400 Gratiot Ave, New Baltimore, MI 48051

Featured sponsors.

CLASSIC "RAT ROD" AT CRUISE  SITE

CLASSIC TOW TRUCK AT CRUISE  SITE

This year, we're expanding  our event.

FEATURING ONE-OF-A-KIND WORKS FROM 40+ HIGH QUALITY ARTISANS!

Note: all vendor spots have been filled for 2023..

DONNA WEATHERBY 313.510.8340 [email protected]

THIS YEAR WILL MARK THE 3RD ANNUAL CHESTERFIELD 5K.   Inspired by the success of 5Ks all over Macomb County, we've decided Chesterfield should get in on the fun! The morning of the North Gratiot Cruise, we will be holding the inaugural year of this event which celebrates fitness, physical health, body positivity and a sense of community.

Register today.

CASH PRIZES 1st Place Male: $500 1st Place Female: $500 2nd Place Male: $250 2nd Place Female: $250 3rd Place Male: $100 3rd Place Female: $100

Ustaf-certified course hanson's gift cards to winner in each age category t-shirt, medal, water and snacks free with registration adults: $30 students, kids, seniors: free, presenting sponsor.

Eastpointe to pay nearly $72,000 to 4 residents to settle lawsuit over ex-mayor's actions

The city of Eastpointe will pay four of its residents nearly $72,000 total to settle a federal lawsuit they filed when former Mayor Monique Owens suppressed them for criticizing her during City Council meetings two years ago.

Each resident will receive $17,910 as the City Council agreed to settle the lawsuit . Mary Hall-Rayford, Karen Beltz, Karen Mouradjian and Cindy Federle sued Owens and the city in U.S. District Court in November 2022.

Federal court records indicate there is a consent decree in which the city will remove from all future City Council meeting agendas — and not enforce — language requiring members of the public to direct their comments to the council as a body, not an individual member of the council or the public.

The consent decree also states that during public participation periods at City Council meetings, subject to reasonable time, place and manner restrictions, members of the public may direct and/or express comment, criticism or praise to and regarding public officials.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression , a Philadelphia-based nonprofit, represented the residents.

On Tuesday, City Council passed a resolution apologizing to the foursome for the events on March 22, 2022, and Sept. 6, 2022, and recognizing Sept. 6 as First Amendment Day in the city.

The individual dollar figure paid to each resident represents the year —1791 — of the First Amendment's ratification. More than $11,000 in attorney fees also will be covered by the defendants, for a total settlement of $83,000, according to the foundation.

"The First Amendment protects every American's right to criticize government officials," foundation attorney Conor Fitzpatrick stated in a news release. "With this settlement, Eastpointers can have confidence their voices will be heard and local governments can be left with no doubt there are serious consequences for violating the First Amendment."

Messages were left Thursday for the attorney representing Owens and the city in the lawsuit.

The situation dated to June 2022 and a dispute between Owens and City Councilman Harvey Curley at the Cruisin' Gratiot car show, of which Curley was the longtime chairman. Curley, a former city mayor, got upset that Owens spoke at the opening ceremonies.

Owens said Curley put his hands in front of her face and cursed at her, causing her to fear for her safety, according to a petition for a personal protection order she filed against him. She also filed a police report. Curley was never arrested or charged, according to the lawsuit. A Macomb County Circuit judge denied Owens' request for a personal protection order.

At the Sept. 6, 2022, City Council meeting , Hall-Rayford and Beltz tried to speak up for Curley during the public comment period, but Owens repeatedly interrupted and shouted them down, according to the lawsuit, claiming the discussion of the dispute would "revictimize" her.

It also stated that Mouradjian, who often spoke about animal rights, used her public comments to speak against Owens' behavior toward Hall-Rayford and Beltz. Shortly after that exchange, council members started to get up and leave the meeting, leaving Owens sitting by herself at the council table.

The lawsuit also states that in March 2022, Owens "forced" Federle "to alter her remarks to omit criticism of the Mayor and to criticize 'the council' or 'the body' instead."

During Tuesday's City Council meeting, which is on YouTube , Curley applauded the four residents, adding "it was a brave thing to do."

"If there's anybody out here that disagrees with me, they certainly have an opportunity to come forward. I invite you to come forward. You can yell at me as much as you want. You can swear at me as much as you want. But we just talked about the First Amendment, so don't be afraid to come up," Curley said, with Mayor Michael Klinefelt adding "please don't swear."

Federle said during the meeting's public comment: "I am very proud of what we did. The First Amendment is so important."

Hall-Rayford, also during public comment, said in part: "When things are difficult, we have to make up our minds to do what's right. Rather than do what's easy." She said all should be able to "just stand up and criticize or say whatever needs to be said, so that we can all enjoy our constitutional rights."

Klinefelt said "we did sign up for this, sitting up here. So any criticism, you know, that comes our way is something we should be prepared for."

Owens was the city's first Black mayor when she was elected in 2019. She also was the city's first Black City council person two years earlier.

She was a controversial mayor and lost a reelection bid in the August 2023 primary and did not advance to the November 2023 general election , in which Klinefelt was elected.

In November 2023, Owens was sentenced to six months' probation and 100 hours of community service after pleading no contest to a reduced charge related to misusing COVID-19 relief money for her personal business. She paid $10,000 in restitution to the county in September 2023, when she entered the plea to a lesser charge.

Contact Christina Hall: [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.

Support local journalism.  Subscribe  to the Free Press.

Submit a letter to the editor at  freep.com/letters .

FREEPHONE   9am - 7pm

Moscow vs St Petersburg – A Russian Rumble

Russian river cruises are a fantastic way to discover the rich history and culture of an iconic nation. Moscow and St Petersburg are arguably two of Russia’s most famous and popular destinations – but which one is better? Two of our writers will go head to head in an attempt to persuade you why their favourite Russian city should be yours too – with Mark in Moscow’s corner and Jim St Petersburg’s. Ding ding! Let battle commence!

Don’t get me wrong, I do think that St Petersburg is a nice city – but I also think that Moscow is a fantastic city and beyond doubt the best in Russia. The entire region is steeped in illustrious history, from Red Square in the heart of the metropolis, where impressive historic landmarks including the Lenin Mausoleum and St Basil’s Cathedral dominate the skyline, to the world-famous Kremlin. If its history and culture you’re after, St Petersburg simply does not compare.

Moscow also surpasses St Petersburg in terms of areas of natural beauty as well as tranquil parks and gardens. On a pleasant day, visitors can stroll through a number of the city’s wonderful green spaces, including the vast Gorkiy Park, the former imperial estate of Kolomenskoye and the ever-popular Park Sokolniki, filled with beautiful flora and a collection of charming attractions. Moving further off the beaten track is difficult in St Peterburg, whereas in Moscow, stunning outlying areas such as the Patriarshi pond area and the Japanese Garden in Botanichesky Sad offer the perfect place to spend a peaceful day.

When it comes to the shopping and dining experiences on offer, Moscow beats St Petersburg hands down. A wealth of authentic local food, delicious international cuisine and familiar fast food outlets are scattered across the city, offering tourists a plethora of culinary delights. Incredible mixes of gastronomic cultures are available in Moscow. Visitors will find everything from Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese dishes to Armenian and Azerbaijani cuisine.

Tourist’s hoping to pick up some local gifts will find a treasure trove of souvenirs across Moscow, at the range of opulent shopping malls and quaint marketplaces located all over the centre of the city.

In my humble (and correct) opinion – based on the facts in front of me – St Petersburg doesn’t hold a candle to the amazing sights and sounds of Moscow, Russia’s world-famous capital city.

St Petersburg

Sure, Moscow’s the capital; it’s great for squares, overly-expensive cups of coffee and the like. But you can never take Russia’s second city out of contention. Yes, it was built on a swamp, but Peter the Great clearly knew what he was doing. St. Petersburg is one of the most vital modern European cities, don’t let the devotees to the (admittedly, pretty) sights of Moscow fool you.

Perhaps it’s because St. Petersburg’s architect was Italian that it manages to so thoroughly stand out from the crowd of Russian cities. Maybe it’s the winding canals and the classical architecture. Regardless of the past, St. Petersburg is a city which manages to straddle the sweet spot between historical importance and modern style.

But who says Moscow rules the roost when it comes to the historical? There are enough sights in St. Petersburg to keep tourists occupied for days, if not weeks.

Leading the pack is the iconic Winter Palace, an eternally magnificent reminder that Russia is always a hotspot for architecture. Beautifully pristine even after all these years, it remains a contender for the finest photographic subject in Europe – a grand mass of imperial pillars and colourful décor.

And then, of course, there’s the State Hermitage Museum. If the Winter Palace had Moscow on the ropes, this is where St. Petersburg draws back and flings out an uppercut to finish it off.  The museum remains firmly rooted in prodigious hype, but that never stops it from living up to it. Everything from Egyptian mummies to Picasso masterpieces can be found in the endless varnished halls of the State Hermitage, and like the city itself, you’ll wish you had days more to explore it.

And to top it all off, you can visit it all during the legendary White Nights, where on long summer days the sun never seems to dip below the horizon. St Petersburg might be known as a second city, but Moscow has best be looking over its shoulder.

To book your Russian river cruise to Moscow, St Petersburg or both, call the number at the top of this page or click here for our latest deals.

Image Credits:

(1) Ed Yourdon – fotopedia.com

(2) Holgar Zscheyge – fotopedia.com

• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

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

Recommended Posts

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.

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

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

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• ANNOUNCEMENT: Set Sail Beyond the Ordinary with Oceania Cruises
• ANNOUNCEMENT: The Widest View in the Whole Wide World
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started 10 hours ago

LauraS · Started Tuesday at 09:24 PM

LauraS · Started Monday at 09:50 PM

LauraS · Started Monday at 05:37 PM

LauraS · Started Monday at 04:09 PM

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

Countdown to the 2024 Cruise

Plaque sponsor.

• Each of our registered cruisers receives a goodie bag with a numbered plaque containing the logos of our sponsors. Add your company’s logo to the annual keepsake. (Limited quantities available.)

SIGN SPONSOR

• A 48″ x 32″ corrugated sign with your business name will be placed on the Gratiot median during Cruise Week. Drivers will see your Name all week long!

BACK OF BAG SPONSOR

• A one-line ad on the back of the souvenir bag provided to registered cruisers. Bags will also be available for sale to the general public on Cruise Day. (Limited opportunities available.)

PLATINUM SPONSORSHIP

•  Sponsor of one (1) Classic Car Show held during Cruise Week; day based on availabililty.
• Trophies engraved with your company name and logo presented to Classic Car winners.
• Your business logo on our Commemorative Plaque.
• Signage and Sponsor Booth (10×10) at high visibility location on both Friday and Saturday, Cruise Day. Sponsor may utilize booth for product display, promotional giveaways, data collection, etc. NOTE: Sponsor will provide pop-up tent, table, chairs, etc.
• Business Name included on the Sponsor and Events Pages of the official Cruisin’ Gratiot website, www.cruisin-gratiot.com and hyperlink to your Company’s website.
• 48” x 32” corrugated sign on the Gratiot median during Cruise Week.
• Inclusion of your business logo on Official Cruisin’ Gratiot T-shirts.
• 10 Cruisin’ Gratiot T-shirts (specify sizes on form)
• Logo recognition on all Cruisin’ Gratiot print ads, including the Cruise Map/Schedule centerfold of C&G Newspaper’s Cruise Week Edition (distributed to over 100,000 customers!)
• Continuous recognition by Cruisin’ Gratiot entertainment at all events.

GOLD SPONSORSHIP

• Co-Sponsor of one (1) Classic Car Show held during Cruise Week; day based on availabililty.
• Signage and Sponsor Booth (10×10) at high visibility location on Saturday, Cruise Day. Sponsor may utilize booth for product display, promotional giveaways, data collection, etc. NOTE: Sponsor will provide pop-up tent, table, chairs, etc.

SILVER SPONSORSHIP

• 4 Cruisin’ Gratiot T-shirts (specify sizes on form)

BRONZE SPONSORSHIP

25th annual eastpointe cruisin’ gratiot.

Supporting our community is ‘MISSION IMPOSSIBLE’ without the aid of our dedicated and loyal Cruise Sponsors. Becoming an Eastpointe Cruisin’ Gratiot Sponsor is a great way to reach the community, support local charities, and reach over 200,000 potential customers within a 2-mile radius. Here are the various opportunities:

How to Become a Sponsor

Fill out the Sponsorship Commitment Form or print and fill out the PDF Commitment Form and mail along with your check or money order.

Payable to:  Cruisin’ Gratiot

Cruise Office, 17285 Stephens, Eastpointe, MI 48021 Attention: Diane Reece Seger

A committee member will follow up with you to obtain display ad copy, logo, and other information.

How to Register Your Car

To access the dedicated Cruise Lane, your car MUST be registered by purchasing either a:

$40 | Complete Cruise Package (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, or 4X shirt)

$15 | Pre-Cruise Lane Pass

$20 | Cruise Day Lane Pass

Download the car registration form (PDF format) to print and mail or fill it out online . You are free to cruise the other lanes as you wish.

Cruiser Welcome Bag Advertising

We are opening up advertising on the back of the souvenir-insulated Cruisin’ Gratiot Welcome Bag, which is given complimentary to all drivers who register for a Cruise Package.

This special advertising opportunity is available only to the first 25 people who sign up .

Fill out the form online or print and mail the PDF version .

$25 | One line

Cruisin’ Gratiot Charity Registration

To be an Eastpointe Cruisin’ Gratiot Charity, please fill out the form below and mail it in as directed. Cruisin’ Gratiot, a 501 (c) (3) entity, is responsible to the state of Michigan and must have this information. Currently, our charities staff one or more booths where Cruise merchandise is sold.

Please fill out the Online Form or print and mail the PDF Form to:

Kathy DiCenzo Wodecki at 17640 Collinson, Eastpointe MI 48021

For more details, call Kathy at (586) 772-5007

Volunteers: We Need You

Volunteers are needed for many positions, such as Poker Nights , Events , Steering Committee help , marketing and PR , parking , and more.

To volunteer, contact  Diane Reece at 586.498.9208 or  [email protected]

How to Become a Vendor

We welcome any food and concessions vendors to sell their goods on Cruise Day.

However, you must first obtain a City of Eastpointe application form by calling the Clerk’s Office at 586.445.3661 Ext. 2202 ; fax number is 586.445.5191 ; Or, via email: [email protected] .

Several mandatory forms must be filled out and a $55.00 Vendor Licensing Fee paid.

Additionally, please contact Sheila Ulinski at 586.202.3735 or  [email protected]

Online Forms

Sponsor Registration

Car Registration

Charity Registration Form

Welcome Bag Ad Form

Downloadable Forms

Sponsorship Form

Car Registration Form