Late disembarkation for those not doing ship excursions in St Petersburg

[Kas55]

We have just received our cruise tickets for Celebrity Century, leaving from Amsterdam on August 25.

I just want you guys at Den Rus to know that it clearly states in the ticket book that those not going on cruise excursions, will not be disembarking before 9.30 am.  Please tell the Value Tour guides that this is the information we are being told, and that chances, are we will not be able to get to them before that time.

A friend of mine has just returned from a Princess cruise to St Petersburg, and she said that they have written a letter to the company about the way they were treated - put into another area until all ship excursion people had disembarked and told blatant lies about the immigration authorities not wanting to see them before the others. No one believed that, but they were physically restrained from joining the early disembarkers. She said that there were no such issues on the second day.

I feel it is high time that cruisers and anyone involved should take these bullies to task!

[admin]

No all cruise lines are treating their passengers this way. The best way to show the corporate offices how you feel is to avoid booking on cruise lines that have been using the fake letter referred to as an excuse to intimate their passengers.
Since they have been given able evidence that the claims by their shore contractor were false, now it is entirely the responsibility of the cruise line as to what policies they create. Princess and Celebrity are the worst but so is RCCI (Jewel of the Seas) and a number of others. Don't book with them if you want to have a pleasant excursion without threats and restraints.

They are doing it because they are losing sales to private shore excursion providers and they think they can force passengers into taking more expensive lower quality shore excursions if they make it a fearful and unpleasant experience for those who do prefer better more personal shore excursions or having their own visa. That thinking will likely backfire on them and they will lose sales and bookings far worse than the 20% who book independent tours.
If you do write to the cruise lines, tell them you are not booking with them unless they guarantee fair and truthful treatment. Let them know their competitors do not pull these stunts and are getting greater bookings as a result.
Good luck