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At Hornblower, we value our crew members as much as our guests. Whether working on deck or in the office, we share the same commitment that inspires us to create unforgettable memories every day for our guests and for each other. Committed to creating amazing experiences? You might be just who we’re looking for!

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Coney Island

Brooklyn's beachside attraction holds the Cyclone roller coaster, the Wonder Wheel, the New York Aquarium, the original Nathan’s Famous and a boardwalk.

Queens Night Market

This expansive open-air night market celebrates the rich cultural diversity of NYC.

Historic Richmond Town

Watch history come alive at this living history village.

Yankee Stadium

Home to baseball's 27-time champs, the new Yankee Stadium was built in 2009 across the street from its former location.

American Museum of Natural History

This Upper West Side museum explores human cultures, the natural world and the universe beyond.

• United States
• San Francisco Bay Area

San Francisco

• Financial District / Embarcadero

Hornblower Cruises & Events

• Great for scenic views
• Good for special occasions

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• Dining style Casual Elegant
• Price $50 and over
• Cuisines Californian
• Hours of operation Daily 8:00 am–6:00 pm
• Phone number (415) 788-8866 ext. 7
• Website http://www.hornblower.com/
• Payment options AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
• Dress code Smart Casual
• Catering Hornblower is a full-service, in-house catering company. All meals are prepared freshly on board. We offer a variety of dining cruises.
• Private party facilities Our eight uniquely different luxury yachts can accommodate group sizes of 2 - 2,200. With 30 years of experience, we have the knowledge and creative ability to continually make memorable events. Aboard our yachts, guests not only enjoy the gourmet food, but get to feast their eyes on the many views.
• Private party contact Taffeta Burr-Lewis: (415) 438-8300
• Location Hornblower Landing at Pier 3, San Francisco, CA 94111
• Neighborhood Financial District / Embarcadero
• Cross street Washington and Embarcadero
• Parking details Limited on site public parking at Hornblower Landing is available for $10. Nearby metered parking and public parking garages and lots are also available. <br /><br />*Hornblower Cruises and Events is not responsible for the metered parking lots. <br />*Please allow adequate time for parking and traffic. Boats are not held for late passengers.
• Public transit Historic Street Car: F Line (Will drop you off on Washington St., Half block away). <br />Bus: #12, #1, and #41. <br />BART & MUNI: Embarcadero Station (8 Minute Walk to/from Hornblower Landing at Pier 3).<br />Ferries: Tiburon & Vallejo, Sausalito, Larkspur, Alameda/Oakland, Harbor Bay Island (drop you off at the Ferry Building, one block away)
• Entertainment Dinner Dance- Live Band for Listening or dancing Brunch- Soloist or duo for listening
• Additional Banquet, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Private Room, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Seasonal Fruit Display

Farmer's market garden salad, chicken chipotle pasta salad, asiago caesar salad.

garlic croutons

Couscous Salad

artichoke hearts, tomatoes, lemon vinaigrette

Imported & Domestic Cheese Platter

gourmet crackers, assorted bread

Scrambled Eggs

sautéed peppers and onions

French Toast & Waffles Valencia

whipped cream, fresh seasonal berries maple syrup

Roasted Red Potatoes

Smoked bacon and country sausage, smoked salmon.

cream cheese, mini bagels, red onion, capers

Chefs Freshly Baked Vegetarian Quiche

Entrée selections, oven roasted ham.

with mustard

Chef Carved Turkey Breast

with cranberry sauce

Grilled Basa

tropical fruit salsa

Home Style Macaroni & Cheese

Mixed bean chile, freshly baked bread, muffins, and pastries, bread pudding.

with caramel sauce

Assorted Cakes, Pies, Cookies and Seasonal Favorites

may contain nuts

What 47 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews.

• 3.6 Service

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How is Hornblower Cruises & Events restaurant rated?

Hornblower Cruises & Events is rated 3.6 stars by 47 OpenTable diners.

Hornblower Landing at Pier 3, San Francisco, CA 94111

• Public transit Historic Street Car: F Line (Will drop you off on Washington St., Half block away). Bus: #12, #1, and #41. BART & MUNI: Embarcadero Station (8 Minute Walk to/from Hornblower Landing at Pier 3).Ferries: Tiburon & Vallejo, Sausalito, Larkspur, Alameda/Oakland, Harbor Bay Island (drop you off at the Ferry Building, one block away)
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Sightseeing and Dining Cruises

City cruises.

City Cruises (formerly known as Hornblower Cruises & Events) offers water experiences beyond compare. Choose from a variety of cruises including: dinner cruises, brunch cruises, lunch cruises, cocktail cruises, sightseeing cruises, and holiday cruises. All of the vessels are conveniently docked at The Wharf, giving you the perfect launch point to explore the nation’s capital from the water.

Odyssey Savor delicious entrees and desserts as this glass-enclosed vessel drifts by the sights—accompanied by a relaxing atmosphere and live music.

Spirit of Washington Cruises A unique mix of dining, entertainment, and views, Spirit of Washington offers offers lunch, dinner, and holiday cruises, plus a variety of themed cruises.

Elite Private Yachts Host your own event or plan an unforgettable jaunt on the Potomac by chartering one of our two private yachts. Our sleek vessels are the perfect backdrop for weddings and other special occasions.

Water Taxi   Come to The Wharf’s Transit Pier to catch a ride on the Water Taxi to Georgetown in DC, Old Town Alexandria in Virginia, or National Harbor in Maryland—and enjoy the scenic views of the nation’s capital from the Potomac. Sightseeing Cruises See the famous monuments of Washington, DC from an entirely new perspective on this narrated sightseeing cruise. You’ll travel along the Potomac River while taking in breathtaking views of the Washington monuments and famous landmarks.

Sightseeing cruises depart from Transit Pier (970 Wharf St SW). Dining cruises (all others) depart from Pier 4 ( 580 Water St SW ).

Learn about Getting to The Wharf , including metro and parking directions.

Get Your Fill at The Wharf

Fresh seafood is a given on the waterfront. But The Wharf offers more, including a wide selection of distinctive choices for food, drinks, and entertainment while you eat. Watch the chefs prepare your meal. Listen to music. Or just people-watch while you savor the flavors of The Wharf.

Do It All on the Waterfront

Whether you like to be on the Potomac or prefer the sparkling views from land, The Wharf offers ample things to do and ways to enjoy the water. Dine in one of our fabulous restaurants. Browse our shops. Or join us during one of our festivals. Take a look at our upcoming events to plan your next visit.

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• https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit/attractions/hornblower-niagara-cruises/

Niagara City Cruises

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Discover the story of Niagara Parks and all of the must-see Canadian experiences found along its 56-kilometre parkway with our digital visitor guide!

An Unforgettable Experience

Plan your visit with ease and convenience! Take advantage of timed ticketing options to make the most of your time in Niagara Falls.

On board, keep dry from the mist with a complimentary recyclable poncho and discover the incredible story of the falls with audio commentary.

Save up to 55% on Niagara's most popular attractions

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All prices are in Canadian Dollars and do not include applicable tax (13% HST).

5920 Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6X8

AWAY YOU GO!

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City Experiences By Hornblower

• See all photos

Chicago Buffet Lunch Cruise on Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan and Chicago River Architecture Cruise by Speedboat

Chicago Buffet Dinner Cruise on Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan 30-Minute Speedboat Ride

Chicago Seadog Fireworks Cruise

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

City Experiences By Hornblower - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Hornblower San Diego Cruises

Hornblower Cruises was founded in California over 40 years ago, and in that time they’ve grown into a major tour company that operates quality sightseeing cruises in cities all over the United States. In San Diego, they offer a wide range of tours catering to a variety of interests, tastes, and budgets. They are perhaps best known for three primary San Diego tours: the One-Hour Harbor Cruise & Sea Lion Adventure, the Best of the Bay Ninety-Minute Harbor Tour, and the Whale & Dolphin Watching Adventure. However, beyond these three popular cruises, they also do sunset cruises, dining cruises, private events, attractions packages, and more.

Save on your visit to the Hornblower San Diego Cruises! Hornblower San Diego Cruises is included on the Go San Diego Pass . Save an additional 5% on the Go City Pass with Coupon Code: GO5CMANTIS The discount stacks on top the current sale prices! Promo expires on April 30th.

One-Hour Harbor Cruise & Sea Lion Adventure

The One-Hour Harbor Cruise & Sea Lion Adventure tour is a convenient, affordable way to experience the sights and sounds of beautiful San Diego from the water. This tour typically runs twice a day (three times a day in the summer). Along the way, you’ll listen to an informative narration as you cruise past such San Diego attractions as Point Loma , Cabrillo National Monument, and some 20 other notable spots. Of course, you’ll also need to be keeping an eye out for sea lions, sea birds, and a whole bunch of other charming marine animals. Tickets run approximately $30 for adults and $15 for children between the ages of 4 and 12. Children 3 years old and younger may ride for free.

Best of the Bay Ninety-Minute Harbor Tour

The Best of the Bay Ninety-Minute Harbor Tour is a longer, more elaborate version of the north harbor tour described above. During this scenic cruise, you’ll cover a whopping 20 miles of scenery while enjoying remarkable views of over 50 famous San Diego landmarks, including the downtown skyline, Shelter Island, Seaport Village , and Coronado Island —just to name a few. And, since this is San Diego Bay, you never know just what kind of wildlife you might encounter, so you’ll want to have your phone and/or camera always at the ready! The Best of the Bay Tour departs twice a day, with tickets costing roughly $35 for adults, $18 for kids 4 through 12, and nothing for little ones who are 3 or under.

Hornblower Whale & Dolphin Watching Adventure

Hornblower Cruises offers unique varieties of the Whale & Dolphin Watching Adventure tour throughout the calendar year. During the summertime, the focus will be on catching a glimpse of the majestic blue whale, while the winter months will provide the best opportunity to view the distinctive gray whale. Regardless of the season, this three-and-a-half hour live-narrated tour will afford you the chance to see the many wonders of the open ocean, including sea creatures like fin whales, dolphins, sea lions, and more. The Whale & Dolphin Watching Adventure usually runs multiple times a day, but check their seasonal schedule for the most up-to-date information. Tickets are priced at $50 for adults, $25 for kids 4-12, and again, children 3 years old and younger ride for free. Last but not least, Hornblower Cruises policy mandates that if you’re unlucky enough to  not  see a whale during your cruise, you’ll receive a complimentary voucher to return for a second attempt on another whale-watch or harbor cruise .

Other Hornblower Tours and Services

In addition to its most popular tours detailed above, Hornblower Cruises organizes a number of other San Diego tours .

• If you are seeing other sights while in San Diego you can save some money if by getting a Go San Diego Pass . The Hornblower San Diego Cruises is included as are many other great San Diego Attractions .

The Sights & Sips Cocktail Cruise is a two-hour sunset cruise that runs weekend evenings. You’ll enjoy Hornblower’s signature cocktails, appetizers, and desserts as you bask in the sun setting over gorgeous San Diego Bay. A ticket is approximately $50 for adults, and $38 for kids 4-12.

• Though most known for their cruise tours, Hornblower also offers two different guided Segway tours. There’s a two-and-a-half hour outing that takes you through downtown San Diego and Balboa Park , and a one-and-a-half hour excursion that covers the Embarcadero and Gaslamp Quarter . Both tours cost about $50 regardless of your age.

• Hornblower Cruises also coordinate a variety of package deals that allow you to combine a harbor tour with admission to the world-famous San Diego Zoo and a one-day pass for the hop-on, hop-off Old Town Trolley . By purchasing this package deal, you’ll save nearly $25 compared to how much you’d spend if you bought each ticket separately.

City Cruises by Hornblower

City Cruises

Bring your family outing or event to life on the water with a picture-perfect backdrop and experience the iconic New York skyline from a whole new perspective. City Cruises delivers a wide range of experiences characterized by high-quality cuisine, onboard entertainment and skyline views.

Cruising year-round from both NY and NJ, guests can savor the moment and connect with each other while sailing past the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty and more!  City Cruises offers Premier, Signature and Private yacht dining experiences.

• Departs from Lincoln Harbor Marina in Weehawken, NJ
• 2-3 hour cruise on the Hudson and East Rivers
• Brunch, Lunch and Dinner cruises are available

For more information, visit website here.

Other Experiences by Hornblower:

Bateaux New York Premier Cruises

Step aboard the all-glass, European-inspired Bateaux New York for an upscale and unforgettable experience featuring creative cuisine, live band entertainment with an acoustic trio, a vocalist and grand piano, a refined atmosphere, personalized service and unobstructed views of the iconic city skyline. Click here for more information.

Signature Cruises

When looking for a fun and festive way to get out on the water, a Spirit signature cruise is your answer. Come aboard and experience breathtaking NYC skyline views, delicious buffet-style meal, attentive service, DJ entertainment, rooftop lounge and onboard games. Click here for more information.

Private Yachts

With sensational skyline views and completely customizable options, the Atlantica, Manhattan Elite and Lexington offer great ways to host a unique event aboard your own private yacht. Guests will enjoy an upscale experience. Click here for more information

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City Cruises by Hornblower

City Cruises by Hornblower’s popular public dining cruises are offered weekly all year long! Enjoy views of the Marina on a dinner cruise, sunset cocktail cruise (seasonal), Friday night blue cruise, holiday-themed cruise or champagne brunch cruise. Relax with a cocktail on the open-air top deck and soak up views of passing sailboats and perhaps a playful sea lion. Private charters for holiday parties, weddings, and other social events are available for up to 550 guests. City Cruises by Hornblower’s fleet of six ships is located in the heart of the Marina, at Fisherman’s Village, with ample parking.

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Purchasing Manager -- NYC Ferry

Job Posting for Purchasing Manager -- NYC Ferry at Hornblower Cruises and Events

City Experiences is seeking a PURCHASING MANAGER for our NYC Ferry operation in Brooklyn NY.

This person will be adaptable, dynamic, and embody City Experiences' RESPECT Service System.

About the Opportunity:

The successful candidate will have extensive experience in sourcing, purchasing, buying, procurement, and supply chain activities for the maritime or transportation industry. They will have superb interpersonal communication skills and be familiar with managing multiple vendors and suppliers. The Purchasing Manager will ensure cost-effective measures to keep proper inventory levels to service the ongoing and future projects for the company. Balancing cost, quality, and timely delivery is a must.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Identify and evaluate current products and methods of sourcing to ensure efficiencies and profitability
• Identify and evaluate common conventional sourcing practices within the trade and develop unconventional methods for the company to ensure a competitive advantage
• Interview and interact with prospective third party vendors to identify offered products and pricing
• Develop and maintain relationships with internal customers and strategic suppliers
• Experience with NYC Online Directory of Certified Businesses promoting increased utilization of Certified M/WBE vendors
• Maintain vendor and product files, price lists and correspondence related to their product lines
• Acquire quotes, pricing, product information, data sheets, sourcing and samples on both new and existing products
• Carry out necessary follow-up and expediting activities to ensure delivery as required
• Place orders based on Material Requirement Planning, reorder reports, customer orders, special orders, stock/export demand, etc.
• Recommend purchases based upon factors of quantity, price, quality, delivery requirements, and shipping points.
• Enter purchase orders into the accounting/operating system and submit to vendors accordingly
• Examine and approve all invoice variances for orders placed
• Prepare internal reports and other projects as necessary or required by supervisor
• Present professional level of customer service and appearance to all - internal and external
• Hold yourself and all crew accountable to the Environmental, Safety, Security and Quality Respect and systems of the organization and work to support the HSSQE team to implement such systems, plans and control of records and documentation
• Additional job duties as assigned

Salary range: $80,000 - $85,000 annually

Requirements & Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Must be knowledgeable in Word, PowerPoint, Google Docs, Excel, and other computer-based programs.
• Minimum of 2 years' experience with purchasing, sourcing, and operations
• Knowledge of purchasing and inventory procedures
• Strong negotiation skills

City Experiences' passion is to provide amazing experiences on land and water. Our 40-year success through organic growth and acquisitions has resulted in a portfolio of over 25 brands that welcome upwards of 30 million guests/riders annually. If you're an enthusiastic team player who thrives in an environment where communication, creativity, and cooperation are encouraged, this may just be the opportunity for you.

The RESPECT Service System embodies City Experiences' mission, vision, values and operating principles. By creating a company culture that puts RESPECT at its core, we believe it will drive us to achieve our goal of becoming a Global Experiences and Transportation Leader.

The Company is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment against any applicants or employees based upon their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, status as a protected veteran, or other characteristics prohibited by applicable law.

Additionally, we encourage all qualified applicants including those with past arrest or conviction records to apply. The Company participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations.

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Data Entry-Keyboarding Skill

• Materials Planning Assistant I Income Estimation: $43,231 - $60,113
• Material Coordinator II Income Estimation: $43,333 - $58,219

Expediting Skill

• Parts Coordinator II Income Estimation: $44,994 - $57,898
• Order Fulfillment Clerk II Income Estimation: $46,036 - $57,733

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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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