Visa-free cruise from Helsinki to St. Petersburg
Discover the city of czars
Prices from £889 per person
Selected departures in June and August
You can take a cruise from Helsinki without a personal visa, and discover the city of czars. The cruises leave Helsinki on 16 and 19 June, 15 and 18 August. You’ll avoid the hassle of getting a visa by taking part in the organised excursions, or explore the city independently by using the transfers from the ship.
As the excursions are very popular, we recommend that you book them in advance. There are two full days in St. Petersburg for visits and sightseeing.
This package also gives you two days in Helsinki to explore the “Capital of Cool” with its art nouveau buildings, several museums and designer shops.
Example of a cruise itinerary
Wed 16 June departure from Helsinki at 17.30
Thu 17 June arrival in St. Petersburg at 8.30
Fri 18 June departure from St. Petersburg at 18.00
Sat 19 June arrival in Helsinki at 8.00.
Excursions
St. Petersburg Tour
The City is built on more than 100 islands, and linked by 600 bridges. St. Petersburg offers stunning Russian baroque and neo-classical architecture with grand palaces and museums.The main sights include the Bronze Horseman, St. Isaac’s Square, the Palace Square, Peter and Paul Fortress, the battleship Aurora, Nevsky Prospekt, city’s most famous street.
Price per adult 28€, morning tour approx. 3 hours
Peter and Paul Fortress and St. Isaac’s Cathedral
The tall, gold spire of Peter and Paul Fortress is a city landmark, which was formerly a political prison is now the burial site of the Romanov family and several Russian czars. The fortress was originally built to protect Russian’s connection to the Baltic Sea, but was never attacked by enemies.
St. Petersburg’s largest church dazzles with an interior richly decorated with Russian, Italian and French marble, malachite and lapis lazuli. There are numerous mosaics, paintings and statues under the enormous gilt dome that required 100 kilograms of pure gold to complete. The cathedral’s building work took 40 years to finish (1818-1858).
Price per adult 49€, afternoon tour approx. 3.5 hours
Ballet Evening
The old tradition of the imperial theatre is brought to life with the famous Russian ballet in its original setting. Beautiful costumes and star dancers add to the atmosphere. To ensure tickets we recommend booking in advance. Performance to be announced later. Price per adult 54€, evening tour approx. 3.5 hours
Peterhof
Dozens of magnificent fountains, waterfalls, statues and gardens grace Peter the Great’s summer palace, which is situated by the Gulf of Finland, 30 kms west of St. Petersburg. Peterhof has been called “Versailles of North” for its grandeur and beauty. The restored interiors from the 18th and 19th century are amazing. The view from the Grand Palace overlooks the Lower Park and the Great Cascade.
Price per adult 59€, morning tour approx. 4.5 hours
The Hermitage
This huge museum includes almost 2.7 million artefacts housed in five buildings, one of which is the famous Winter Palace, the former residence of the Russian czars. The Hermitage is often compared to the British Museum and the Louvre both in its collections’ magnitude and in its importance. The vast collection contains art from the antique, Far East artefacts, period furniture, and West European works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Degas, Renoir and Matisse.
Price per adult 48€, afternoon tour approx. 3.5 hours
Shopping tour
A guided shopping tour will be arranged on the morning and in the afternoon on both days of the stay in St. Petersburg. The tour can be booked and paid onboard the ship only. One ticket per person is included in the cruise rate. Price per adult 15€, half day tour approx. 3.5 hours
The Ship
M/s Kristina Regina is a traditional passenger ship. The vessel, originally a steam ship, was built in Oskarshamn, Sweden, in 1960. Since then, the ship has been renovated several times from the engine room to the bridge to accommodate modern cruise customers. All works have been done respecting the genuine cruise atmosphere of the old ship. Kristina Regina offers passengers a panorama café, two restaurants, two bars, sauna, gym, and children’s playroom. The vessel sails under the Finnish flag with an all-Finnish crew.
» Click here to see the cabin descriptions
Package prices
16.6.2010 & 19.6.2010: from £889 /per person (when two persons sharing a cabin)
15.8.2010 & 18.8.2010: from £979 / per person (when two persons sharing a cabin)
What is included in the price?
- Return flights from London to Helsinki
- One night in Hotel Presidentti before and after the cruise
- The cruise to St. Petersburg with m/s Regina with a cabin, full board, Captain’s cocktail reception, onboard entertainment, port dues, and one city transfer ticket in St. Petersburg
- Packages are also available from Manchester. Please contact us for prices.
Visa-free disembarkation
You may visit St. Petersburg visa-free if you participate in the ship-organised excursions. For visa-free entrance you are asked to give the following details when you book your cruise:
- First name(s) and surname
- Date and place of birth
- Passport number
- Citizenship
If you don’t wish to join the excursions and prefer to explore St. Petersburg on your own, you should either use the ship’s city transfers or obtain an individual visa in your home country.
