Cruise Diva's CRUISE
DIARY
~ Copenhagen to Stockholm ~
"A Taste of the
Baltic"
Spend THREE Entire Days in
St. Petersburg
 |
|
Church
of the Spilled Blood |
Most cruise ships spend two days in this
fascinating port of call, but Silver Whisper is here for three. There's so much to see and do in the city
of Peter the Great that the third day is as priceless as the city's
treasures.
Silver Whisper celebrated her birthday
the day of arrival and recently was the site of another celebration--the 300th
anniversary of the founding of St. Petersburg. For the festivities,
Russia's President Putin hosted world leaders and other dignitaries on
board Silver Whisper. President Putin even stayed in one of Silver
Whisper's sumptuous Grand Suites.
On her bright sunny birthday, Silver
Whisper made her way up the Neva River, passing other cruise ships along
the way to her berth at English Embankment. Cruise Director, Ray
Solaire pointed out sights of interest as we made our way to the pier in
the central area of the city, only blocks from The Hermitage. After a
speedy clearance, passengers were anxious to go ashore to begin
exploring, either with ship's excursions or
on private tours. Russian visas are required for those who wish to
explore independently.
 |
|
Catherine's
Palace (Pushkin) |
Silversea passengers have numerous
shore excursions from which to choose... an introduction to the city,
tours of Peterhof Palace and fountains, Catherine's Palace, Imperial
residences, the numerous cathedrals, and even a home visit with a
Russian host and a ride on the famous Metro, which boasts stations
noted for their décor, including marble, bas-reliefs, and exquisite
mosaics. Two evening experiences included a private tour of the
Hermitage, which began after the official closing time and included a concert by the State Hermitage Orchestra, and
an evening of ballet, Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. For those wishing to venture outside
St. Petersburg, two trips to Moscow (a one-day or overnight excursion) proved to be popular options.
Activities on board Silver Whisper
continued for guests not on tours... fitness classes, enrichment
lectures, and games. Mandara Spa services were available and I took
advantage of free time by relaxing in the steam room and sauna and
booked a massage. Evening movies on the Large Screen were available and
the 4th of July entertainment included jazz and late-night snacks in the
Panorama Lounge and disco in The Bar.
 |
|
Souvenir
shopping
in one of St. Petersburg's open air markets |
Souvenir shopping opportunities abound in St.
Petersburg and vendors can be found not only pier side, but at every
tourist destination as well. Matryoshka or nesting dolls made of Linden
wood, lacquered papier mache boxes, and amber jewelry are found
everywhere. Quality and prices vary widely. I wanted a pin for my
collection and a young vendor showed me a "military" hat full
of pins. How much? Only $5.00, but that seemed like a lot until I
discovered it not only included all the pins, but the hat as
well!
While I have previously visited St.
Petersburg, the city has changed a bit. It appears brighter and cleaner
than in the past as a great deal of beautification work was done for the
300th anniversary celebrations. It didn't hurt that the weather was
gorgeous, with only one light afternoon shower a thunderstorm before
sailaway.
After an incredibly full three days and
two nights, we bid farewell to St. Petersburg and sailed through the
Neva River delta headed east to Tallinn, Estonia. Departure was delayed
somewhat because of a late arriving tour, but Captain Corsaro assures us
we won't be too far off schedule. For those guests who
didn't find just the right souvenir ashore, the Boutique featured
Faberge egg pendants and other Russian-made gifts. One of the delicate
Silver Whisper eggs commissioned from Faberge was on display in Cruise
Consultant Jennifer Butcher's office and also available for purchase.
Jennifer is also the on board representative for the Venetian Society,
Silversea Cruises' program that recognizes past guests and rewards them
with savings on future voyages.
In keeping with a Venetian theme, which
conveys Silversea Cruises' heritage, the Venetian Society Party was
followed by a gala formal dinner dance in the Restaurant and the second
elaborate production show in the Viennese Lounge. Before retiring for
the night, we gained back an hour of precious time. The White Nights are
truly amazing with sunsets at about 11:30pm and sunrises just a few
short hours later, affording a view of many container ships in the
Baltic. Quite a sight!
Next --> Tallinn, Estonia is a
well-kept secret
Back to a "Taste of the Baltic"
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