Visa free St Petersburg

Russia & The Baltics Tours

Since May 2010, the Russian passenger ship M/S Princess Maria has opened a new era in travel between the European Union and Russia. For the first time in recent history, it’s now possible to travel to Russia from Helsinki by sea without the time-consuming process of applying for a visa. Just book the voyage you want, fly to the Finnish capital, present your passport and you’ll be welcomed aboard. The ship departs year-round on Monday, Thursday and Saturday evenings and takes about 12 hours to reach St Petersburg, one of the most beautiful cities in the world and home to the world’s biggest museum of fine art and cultural history, the Hermitage.

Our five-night package includes flights, a night in Helsinki at the Radisson Blu Plaza, a day at leisure to explore the harbour city, the return cruise and two nights at the 5-star Sokos Hotel Palace Bridge in St Petersburg.

PRICES & DATES

Price is based on 2 people sharing a room and includes return flights from London Heathrow to Helsinki, 1 night at the Radisson Blue Plaza (B), return cruise in a cat A cabin (B,D), 2 nights at the 5-star Sokos Hotel Palace Bridge Hotel in St Petersburg (B), transfers in St Petersburg.

Departures all year round 2012. Departures from Helsinki on Mon, Wed, Fri and Sun on even weeks and on Tue, Thu and Sat on uneven weeks.

ITINERARY

Day 1:

Fly to Helsinki and check in to Radisson Blu Plaza for 1 night.

Day 2:

Breakfast and day at leisure in Helsinki. There are a wide range of activities and excursions you can enjoy whilst visiting Helsinki. The shopping is excellent, there are some exclusive Finnish designers such as Marimekko, Pentik, Iittala and Arabia. The 'church in the rock' Tempelliaukio is a must as well as a stroll down the elegant Esplanade to the colourful Market Square from where you can see the golden minarets of the Orthodox Uspensky Cathedral, which gives Helsinki a distinct eastern flavour.

The perfect peace of the waterfront merges immediately with important buildings such as the pearly white Lutheran cathedral almost side by side to the golden cupolas of the Greek orthodox cathedral. Just a few meters away are the President's palace and the main Market Place.

Cruise departs for St Peterburg at 19:00. Check in to your cabin and enjoy dinner onboard while sailing towards St Petersburg.

Days 3-4:

Arrive to St Petersburg at 09:30 and transfer to Sokos Hotel Bridge for 2 nights. Rest of the days are free for excursions. We recommend a city sightseeing tour today to familiarise yourself with the city. Please contact us for prices.

Day 5:

Breakfast and another day at leisure in St Peterburg. Highlights include the Peter and Paul Fortress, built by Peter the Great in 1703 to mark the birth of the city; the halls and parklands of Catherine Palace, the resting place of Catherine the Great; and Peterhof Palace, begun in 1714 to rival Versailles.

Take a transfer back from your hotel to port and depart at 19:00. Dinner is served onboard.

Day 6:

Arrive to Helsinki at 08:30 and self transfer to the airport. Alternatively you can extend your stay in Helsinki.

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Hotel, Activity and Local Information

m/s Princess Maria

M/S Princess Maria takes more than 1,600 passengers, and has 606 cabins and five classes. Cruises of about 36 hours and Hotel Packages up to 72 hours to St. Petersburg, Russia, are available year-around. Departures from Helsinki are in the evenings on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. To all the passengers onboard the M/S Princess Maria, the ship offers a taste of the spirit of today's St. Petersburg. There are restaurants with a Russian menu, there are duty-free shops with Russian products and souvenirs - and there is the International Show by Russian artists at the ship's Night Club. The show program consists of Russian and International elements, covering classical and contemporary performances like ballet, dance, comedy, acrobatic, songs of the most popular musicals, and the latest world hits.

Radisson Blu Plaza, Helsinki

The Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel is housed in a premise of rich tradition where old and new architecture meet harmoniously. The foundation stone of the building was laid in 1917 and today various parts of it are protected by the Helsinki City Museum, including some beautiful painted glass windows. Located in the heart of Helsinki, the hotel is close to the central railway station, bus station, underground terminal and tram stops. Buses to the airport depart from a bus terminal just 200 metres from the hotel. The hotel is conveniently located next to the Grand Casino Helsinki, the Finnish National Theatre and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Free Broadband including wireless Internet access is available throughout the hotel. Guests have access to the sauna and the small fitness room.

Sokos Palace Bridge

Sokos Hotel Palace Bridge is an entirely new style spa hotel, offering luxury treatments in a wonderfully calm and serene setting. Enjoying an enviable location on Vasily island in the heart of historic St. Petersburg, the spa hotel is your chance to leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and to enjoy the delights of this truly unique wellness experience. Sokos Hotel Palace Bridge is an international-standard conference hotel, offering a convenient and comfortable blend of business and leisure.

Call our Reservations Team on 020 7838 5956 or click on the button right to send details of your enquiry online...

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