The most popular online travel guide to Russia, since 2001.
 

Way to Russia Community and Forum


If you have a question or want to help someone, please, go to
Way to Russia Forum on our Facebook page.
 
We also invite you to join our Facebook community, where you can meet other travelers and read interesting news on topics ranging from visa regulations to culture and music.
 

 

We are currently moving the old forum to Facebook, so what you see below functions as an archive.

If you have a question, please, post it on
Way to Russia Facebook Discussions Page


 

 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   ChatChat   Log inLog in 

Transport From Cruise Terminal to St Petersburg Center

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Way to Russia Talk Lounge Forum Index -> St. Petersburg
Author Message
burner
Just Starting


Joined: 15 Jan 2008
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:40 pm    Post subject: Transport From Cruise Terminal to St Petersburg Center Reply with quote

My cruise ship will arrive at Morskoy Torgovy Port 5, Mezhevoi Kanal Emb. If a taxi is not available, is there a bus route that will take me to City Center (Hermitage area)?
Back to top
Tantuss
Frequent Guest


Joined: 02 Sep 2006
Posts: 19

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 7:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You will arrive here:
http://maps.yandex.ru/map.xml?mapID=500&size=1&scale=11&mapX=3367943&mapY=8342924&act=5&slices=1&tool=zoom_in

There is bus and minibus nr. 22 driving which goes to Nevskii Prospect (the main street)..
For the bus go to a bus stop, for a minibus just signal the driver that you want to go with him.. And at Nevskii ask him to stop (probably he will stop anyway, because a lot of people want to get in or out).

You can also walk to the street Dvinskaya Ulitsa (one street south).
There you can take bus 10 and 67, which goes to Baltijskij vokzal (trainstation).
There is also the metro which you can take to the city center..

And the taxi.. Just wave to a car and it might stop..
Probably there will be a taxi stop, but ignore them and walk 200 meters away and wave for a car (mostly the lada's will stop).
I think during the day 100 rouble is the maximum you should pay to get to the city centre..
Back to top
burner
Just Starting


Joined: 15 Jan 2008
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tantus,

Your response was extremely helpful.
Thank you very much,

Bob
Back to top
burner
Just Starting


Joined: 15 Jan 2008
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:26 pm    Post subject: St Petersburg: bus from cruise terminal to city center Reply with quote

Tantus,
In your message, you said there is a bus and mini-bus No. 22. Is the bus stop located close to the port gate on Mezhevoi Kanal Street? Does the mini-bus travel on Mezhevoi Kanal Street?

Is Baltijskij vokzal (trainstation) a metro (underground) and a train station (above ground) or simply a metro station?

Bob
Back to top
Andrey-Vereshchagin
Frequent Guest


Joined: 18 Jan 2008
Posts: 61
Location: St.Petersburg, Russia

PostPosted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear Bob,
I am sorry to disappoint you a bit - but to reach the mentioned bus 22 you need to get out of the port territory - and it is about 2.5 miles from the pier to the entrance gate with hectic buses for personnel and no taxis (it is a guarded territory); to get back it is even worse - not being at a pre-arranged transport; a taxi from the city centre may reach the port only outside - and you need to pass the mentioned direction yourself; prices are well enough mentioned 100 roubles - at least 500.
Do you have visa to Russia? otherwise you can disembark only as a part of a group arranged by the main agent or one the independent companies (I cooperate with one of them - so I know it in details having worked in the port several dozen times).
Back to top
burner
Just Starting


Joined: 15 Jan 2008
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Andrey,
Yes, I have a visa. I assume the cruise line will provide shuttle transportation from the ship to the port gate. At least cruise lines typically provide such transportation at ports that have great distance and obstacles between the ship and the port gate. Regardless, do you know whether Bus 22 travels on Mezhevoi Kanal Street or Dvinskaya Ulitsa, which is one street south? Also, does the terminal building at the port gate contain a money exchange where I can exchange US Dollars for Roubles?
Thank you,
Bob
Back to top
Garfield
Frequent Guest


Joined: 12 Jan 2006
Posts: 14

PostPosted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cruise ships usually will not provide services, such as transfer to gate, unless you are on one of the ship's tours.
Back to top
Andrey-Vereshchagin
Frequent Guest


Joined: 18 Jan 2008
Posts: 61
Location: St.Petersburg, Russia

PostPosted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear Bob,
According to my experience - no special shuttles for those with visas - transportations are provided by companies to their respective clients. I have had an experience of mine when people at the pier with visas were looking for anybody to take them to the gate - in vein... Sometimes there can be an empty car of some manager but no guarantee.
Money exchange do not exist... To get to bus 22 stop - when you go out of the gate - you need to go strait about 5 minutes and when there will be a left turn - there will be a stop. Current price of a single ride is 14 rubles (60 US cents), city minivan service charge about 20 rubles.
Getting back: to enter the port territory you will have to deal with a border guard not speaking any language - who will write down all the details from your passport - and then no transport from the gate to your ship. If you catch a taxi from the centre - they can not enter the territory without a special pass which I need to arrange well in advance through border guards and port authorities for a car with which I am to serve my clients (indicating even passport details of a driver).
Words like "usually" do not work here - and, if they do, in the opposite direction.
Back to top
burner
Just Starting


Joined: 15 Jan 2008
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear Andrey,

I very much appreciate your willingness to educate me on the "challenges" of independently touring St Petersburg with my visa. I expecially appreciate your detailed directions to the Bus 22.

Am I correct in assuming that the Mini-Van uses the same stop as the Bus 22? Am I correct in assuming that the Port Authorities will permit me to walk the distance between the ship and the Port Gate? Am I correct in assuming that the bus and mini-van drivers and metro ticket masters will accept US Dollars, since I won't be able to exchange Dollars to Roubles until reaching a City Center Bank or ATM machine?
Thank you,
Bob
Back to top
Andrey-Vereshchagin
Frequent Guest


Joined: 18 Jan 2008
Posts: 61
Location: St.Petersburg, Russia

PostPosted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:10 am    Post subject: Money Reply with quote

You can walk all the distance - which is not very safe (it is terrtory of the cargo terminal) and may take more than half an hour; as for payments - they would accept only rubles. Mini-vans stop actually any place on request - but their destination is subject to specification. They are considered "commercial" - opposite to "social" #22 - and their numbers and routes are not stable. As far as I remember - no one of them reaches main street - Nevsky - while #22 definitely does stopping just a short stroll from the Hermitage.
Probably, they change money on board? I have met such services - through my clients as I can not step on board.
Back to top
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Way to Russia Talk Lounge Forum Index -> St. Petersburg All times are GMT + 3 Hours
Page 1 of 1