barnstable harbor sunset cruise

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The Bay Spirit and the Bay Breeze are the perfect settings for corporate outings and events, rehearsal and wedding parties, and much more. Select which vessel you would like to charter to learn more.

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F/V Starfish

The Starfish is a 42-foot fiberglass-hulled vessel located in Barnstable Harbor on the northside of Cape Cod. This season, it will be running a new trip dedicated to flounder and tautog fishing, providing anglers with exciting opportunities to reel in these prized catches.

As a US Coast Guard inspected vessel, the Starfish ensures safety and compliance with maritime regulations. It features a bar onboard, where guests can enjoy refreshments during their trip.

In addition to fishing trips, the Starfish offers customizable private beach/day cruises and private sunset cruises, allowing guests to tailor their experience and enjoy the beauty of Cape Cod Bays coastal waters.

Private Barnstable Harbor Day/Beach Cruise

Let us help you plan a memorable day on the waters of Cape Cod Bay. Enjoy your time aboard the Starfish, our 42’ vessel that is available for your private group of up to 20 people. We will work with you to create the perfect itinerary. Ideas include: the Cape Cod Canal, Provincetown Whale Watching, haul a few lobster pots, beautiful Sesuit Harbor for a lobster roll lunch, exploring Sandy Neck Beach and lighthouse. We will personalize the day to create an unforgettable experience for your group. As with all of our private charters, we will reach out to make any modifications to personalize your experience.

6 Hour: $2200

Private Barnstable Harbor Sunset Cruise

Enjoy a private 90 minute sunset cruise through beautiful Barnstable Harbor and take in the views of Sandy Neck’s unique cottages and 40’ lighthouse. Charter the entire 42’ Starfish for your group of up to 20. The Starfish comes equipped with a customizable bar and option for catering. As with all of our private charters, we will reach out to make any modifications to personalize your experience!

Sunset Cruise: $1000

F/V Starfish Cape Cod Bay Jumbo Flounder and Tautog Ultra Limited

Departs 6 AM and returns at 12 PM/ 1 PM and returns at 7 PM (April-September)

Fare: $140.00 Rod Rental: $5.00 Shimano Rod and Reel

Book your personalized charter.

This vessel is open for charter of all types ranging from getting to and from the islands for the day or even a one way ride, Whale Watching, Harbor Tours, customizable fishing charter and many more options. Due to so many variables for a charter, we only book customized charters over the phone. Please call the office at 508-790-0660.

Barnstable Harbor Ecotours

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Barnstable Harbor Ecotours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Barnstable Harbor ECOTOURS

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• Tag(s) : Barnstable , Barnstable Comedy Club , Bay Spirits Tours , Cape Cod , Cape Cod Charters , Cape Cod Resort , Coast Guard Heritage Museum , Craigville beach , Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruise , John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum , Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary , Mayflower beach , Sandy Neck Beach , Temperature

16 of the Best Things to Do in Barnstable

• Madison Sackie
• June 28, 2021

Let’s take a look at the best things to do in Barnstable! The months of July and August are peak seasons for Cape Cod, which means that it gets pretty crowded. During summertime, people enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, and water sports, all of which are great things to do in Barnstable!

The best time to visit Barnstable is May-June and September-October since you get pleasant summer temperatures (60-70 degrees) for outdoor activities but without the crowds. Barnstable is rich in history, beautiful beaches like the Mayflower, and attractions like the Hyannis Cruises and Coast Guard Museum.

Winter is a quieter time for the Cape, and water isn’t always pleasant to swim in. Indoor activities–like visiting museums and cozying up in restaurants–are preferred. Read on to find out more about activities and things to do in Barnstable .

16 of the Best Things to Do in Barnstable: Must Do’s in Barnstable

Things to do in Barnstable include visiting the many attractions like the Coast Guard Heritage Museum, which displays the Cape’s military history and navigational information.

You could also go for the whale watching cruises from mid-April to October that go through Stellwagen Bank, one of the best places to go whale watching.

1. Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises

The whale watching cruise runs from mid-April to October and sets off in Barnstable Harbor. Tours are provided to Stellwagen Bank, which is one of the top 10 places in the world to go whale watching. The boat has outside viewing decks where you can relax and comfortably watch these creatures, interior climate-controlled cabins, and a full-service galley.

Some tips from reviewers are to dress warm (or bring a jacket) and to arrive early so you can get one of the seats outside near the front of the boat or in the upper deck for a more spectacular view.

2. Coast Guard Heritage Museum

Located in the historic Customs house at the corner of Main Street and Millway in Barnstable Village, the place boasts remarkable preservation of the United States Coast Guard and its artifacts.

The museum has a low admission price and provides an audio tour that’s highly informative. According to reviews, this place is ideal for those who are into military history and nautical information.

3. Bay Spirit Tours

A beautiful way to take in the gorgeous Cape Cod beauty, these tours flow through Hyannis’s inner and outer harbor and tell you about the history of the lighthouses in the region.

Tours are 1 hour long at sunset or in the evening and are equipped with a full bar, so you can drink to your pleasure while you enjoy the sights.

The boat accommodates 49 but is also available for private charters.

4. John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum

The museum enlightens us about the president’s life and other successful Kennedys like Joseph P. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy.

The museum holds exhibits that are dedicated to civic commitment, civil rights, and politics. They are a representation of the connection between the Kennedys and their life on the Cape.

5. Barnstable Comedy Club

If you’re looking for laughs on your list of things to do in Barnstable, this is one of the most popular entertainment sites on Cape Cod.

The club is one of the oldest on the Cape and in America, and enthusiastic theatergoers attend it all the time.

According to reviewers, performances are stellar, and performers are very talented. There are tons of parking, an easy reservation system, and they accept cash and check (but not credit cards) for the tickets.

6. Sturgis Library

This place is ideal for book lovers. Equipped with classics and contemporary literature, they have everything you’re looking for. The reading room is very comfortable, and the staff is accommodating.

They even have the original copies of some ancient literature. The library is situated in a historic house, representing the ancient architecture of the Cape.

What are the Top Attractions to Visit in Barnstable?

Barnstable has numerous beaches like the Mayflower with its spacious beaches or the Craigville with smaller crowds in the off-season, free parking, and warm waters. Other attractions include freshwater ponds like Hathaway’s Ponds with its trails and a park with a section where your dogs can play around.

7. Mayflower Beach

Mayflower Beach, extending from Nobscussett Point in the east to the Chapin Beach shoulder in the west, has one of the most breathtaking shoreline views on the Cape.

A low tide leaves you with lots of space to walk on the sand or play some games with your kiddies.

The beach is well equipped with public bathrooms, picnic areas, and paid parking. Homes of all sizes–from seaside shanties to mansions–are available near the beach too!

8. Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary has trails that wind through marshes, woods, and pastures. The place gives access to Sandy Neck Beach waters.

You can grab a boat to spot the old Sandy Neck lighthouse . The Sanctuary is teeming with wildlife, farm animals, and rare birds native to the Cape.

9. Craigville Beach

This beach–located on Nantucket Sound–when visited in off-season, is less crowded and you don’t even need to pay for parking.

October is the perfect time to visit since the weather is still comfortable, and you can enjoy a swim in the temperate waters.

You can stroll along the surf line in any direction, and there is ample space to walk. You may even find a collection of sparkling, colorful seashells that your kids will love.

10. Sandy Neck Beach

With clean sands and free parking during the off-season, Sandy Neck Beach is perfect if you’re looking for budget-friendly activities.

The beach is excellent for soaking up the sun, watching the birds, and going for a hike.

Waves are gentle enough to swim, and one can easily pass the time watching the boats drift slowly along the shoreline.

11. Hathaway’s Ponds

With no parking fee, clean freshwater, a dog park section in the local park and numerous paths around the pond, there’s a lot to do here for you and your family! Spending your day at the pond is among one of the best things to do in Barnstable.

12. Englewood Beach

Because of the nearby shellfish farms, there are many beautiful shells on this beach’s seashores. Your kids will love collecting these little trinkets!

The clear, warm waters are ideal for swimming, and there is cheap public parking (0.75 cents per hour). Clean, white sands and friendly people occupy this gorgeous beach.

What are the Best Outdoor Activities in Barnstable?

Things to do in Barnstable outdoors include fishing charters like the Cape Cod Fishing Charter that’s best suited to your family. Activities also include boat cruises like the Hyannis Harbor or Barnstable Harbor Cruises that offer free commentary and teach you a lot about the history of the Cape and, particularly, Barnstable.

13. Cape Cod Family Fishing Charters

This company offers hourly fishing trips between the months of May-September.

These charters are ideal for families or large groups. They also provide sunset cruises, and you can have fun fishing in Cape Cod waters.

An experienced, licensed captain steers the boat. According to reviewers, fishing trips were very successful and informative. It’s one of the best things to do in Barnstable to get out on the water and into the excitement of fishing!

14. Hyannis Harbor

The bustling village of Hyannis, and it’s harbor can’t be missed when looking for things to do in Barnstable. The harbor is a beautiful spot to watch ships come and leave. It also offers the Hyannis Harbor cruises, which are 1-hour trips that run through the day. If you go on the first two morning trips, kids will ride free.

The trip will teach you about the history of Hyannis and landmarks like Great Island, the Kennedy Memorial, Squaw Island, and other such places.

15. Barnstable Harbor

You could spend your time exploring the waterfront in Barnstable or the gorgeous beaches in this area.

The Barnstable Harbor Ecotours also run through this place.

These 2-hour tours are very informative, with free commentary and the captain answering all your questions about the area’s history.

They flow through the marshes of Barnstable Harbor and Sandy Neck Barrier Beach. An ecotour is one of the best things to do in Barnstable if you are interested in the ecosystems and natural environment of the area.

16. Cape Cod Bay Charters

If you’re looking to get on the water while finding fun things to do in Barnstable, a fishing charter may be the way to go. Cape Cod Bay fishing charters are carried out in 4, 5, 6, and 8-hour sessions, and the type of fish caught include Bass, Bluefish, Tuna, or Shark.

The captain is well-informed on the best areas to fish, and their service is impeccable when cleaning and bagging your catch.

BONUS: Things to do in Barnstable with Kids

Barnstable has lots of fun activities for kids, including indoor water parks with water slides of different lengths to suit kids of all ages, whirlpools, and wave pools.

There are also experiences like the Pirate Adventures Hyannis, where kids get to dress up as pirates and carry out pirate activities like water cannon blasting and flag hoisting.

1. Cape Codder Resort

One of the splashiest of things to do in Barnstable, this indoor water park is equipped with two water slides, a wave pool that emulates 2-foot-high waves, waterfalls, and whirlpools that the family can enjoy.

There is also a sauna and an outdoor heated pool that the adults can relax while they leave the kids to play in the water.

2. Pirate Adventures Hyannis

Kids aged 3-10 who love a fun sea adventure will have a great time here! Kids are taken into Hyannis Harbor on the “Sea Gypsy”–their very own pirate boat.

They’ll have lots of fun activities on board–like flag hoisting, map reading, and even blasting water cannons!

They’ll get to dress up in pirate outfits and wear face paint to get the complete pirate experience!

Barnstable is one of the Cape’s towns that gives you the authentic Cape Cod experience. There’s no shortage of fun things to do in Barnstable, and it’s a great way to spend time on your Cape Cod vacation.

Whether you decide to go to the downtown area to experience the boutiques, restaurants, or museums–or choose to spend time on its beautiful beaches, there are plenty of things to do in Barnstable for everyone!

Enjoy your time with no shortage of things to do in Barnstable Harbor, consider attending a sports event or surveying the breathtaking shoreline or take your kids to the indoor water park where they can get the whole sea experience–but with all the safety.

We hope this guide helps you navigate your way through this quaint little town, and that you enjoy lots of the fun things to do in Barnstable! Happy Travels!

• Barnstable , Barnstable Comedy Club , Bay Spirits Tours , Cape Cod , Cape Cod Charters , Cape Cod Resort , Coast Guard Heritage Museum , Craigville beach , Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruise , John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum , Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary , Mayflower beach , Sandy Neck Beach , Temperature

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Cruise New England’s Waters at Sunset

Few experiences are more relaxing or romantic than a sunset cruise. When you’re sipping champagne with your significant other as the sun dips majestically into the ocean, any stress you might have felt earlier in the day just melts away. In New England, from Portland, Maine to Cape Cod to Newport, Rhode Island to Burlington, Vermont, the opportunities to take a sunset cruise are plentiful.

Here are a just few:

Not surprisingly, Cape Cod offers a number of sunset cruises from the moment you cross over the Sagamore or Bourne bridges. One of the best departs from scenic Hyannis Harbor and Lewis Bay on a 63-foot catamaran with Bay Spirit Tours , where you can purchase a cocktail of choice while cruising past the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port. There is also a wine tasting sunset cruise for oenophiles.

Barnstable Harbor Ecotours cruises through the Great Marsh and past Sandy Neck barrier beach, the Sandy Neck cottage colony and the Sandy Neck Lighthouse. The tour is narrated by an expert naturalist who will point out the numerous and varied wildlife. Even better, you’re encouraged to bring your own beverages and food.

Outer Cape Sailing in Wellfleet has a sunset sail that takes you up the coast to historic Blackfish Creek, site of the former South Wellfleet schooner harbor, and grounding location of pilot whales, then across the harbor to Great Island. You’ll sail into the gorgeous Herring River estuary (tide permitting) to watch the sunset over the diminutive sand dunes where Great Island connects to Chequessett Neck.

If you’re not quite making it to the Cape, you might want to head to Plymouth Harbor for a sunset cruise aboard the Pilgrim Belle , which is a true paddle wheeler like those that cruise the mighty Mississippi.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire is one of New England’s most beautiful seaside communities, and there is no better way to end the day than aboard the Heritage with Portsmouth Harbor Cruises . Immerse yourself in the spectacular sunset, and then be dazzled by the lights of the city as you cruise back to shore.

In Mystic, Connecticut, another stunningly beautiful seaport town, the sailing schooner Argia takes up to 49 passengers on sunset cruises. Operated by Sail Away Argia , this unique vessel is built of Honduran mahogany on white oak frames, with a mast of Douglas fir and a Cyprus bow. The rig resembles a 19th-century East Coast trading schooner, so you will feel like you’ve been transported back in time as you watch the sun disappear.

Experience a Newport, Rhode Island sunset with Sailing Excursions  aboard the Adirondack II , an 80-foot schooner that explores the historic waterfront and provides spectacular views of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay. You could also enjoy sunset on the Sloop Eleanor , a 48-foot sloop that accommodates 24 and offers a more intimate experience.

Of course, Portland, Maine offers plenty of opportunities to savor the sunset on the open water. Casco Bay Lines operates a cruise through Casco Bay, while Portland Discovery Land & Sea Tours has a sunset cruise that explores the inner city and the region’s iconic lighthouses.

One of the best ways to enjoy the stunning beauty of Lake Champlain is aboard the Spirit of   Ethan Allen III , which departs for sunset cruises out of Burlington, Vermont. This 363-passenger ship offers daily tours, including a dinner cruise, as it motors along the majestic 120-mile lake.

So, wherever you are in New England, you can always end your day in hypnotizing fashion, as you watch the sun slip into the ocean.

Photos: All photos by Jennifer Kain DeFoe with exception of Barnstable Harbor Ecotours.

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Barnstable Harbor is one of Cape Cod’s most beautiful and sensitive eco-systems. Surrounded by the towns of Barnstable, Sandwich, Yarmouth & Dennis, it is the Town of Barnstable's only north side harbor and its only direct access to Cape Cod Bay. It has a long history of commercial & recreational fishing, packet boat transportation, whaling (now whale watching), shellfish farming and marine recreation. Barnstable Harbor has been a major tourist destination along the historic Old King’s Highway/Route 6A for many years.

Friends of Barnstable Harbor is dedicated to the preservation and protection of this rare and wonderful asset. Our goal is to provide stewardship for the immediate and long-term welfare, upkeep and enhancement of a unique mid-cape resource.

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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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All-inclusive private tour: Moscow Highlights Overview tour and River Cruise

• All taxes, fees and handling charges
• Hotel pickup. Transport by private air-conditioned coach
• Private sightseeing tour. Sightseeing 2.5-hours cruise
• Professional private guide
• Guaranteed skip-the-line entrance
• Entry/Admission - Hotel Ukraine
• Food and drinks
• Hotel drop-off
• Entrance fees
• You will be picked up from your centrally located Moscow hotel. Your tour finishes at the pier near the hotel "Ukraine". Make your own way to your hotel/hostel. To take a taxi (own expense), please use pier reception or use international companies like Uber or Gett.
• Infants must sit on laps
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Infant rates apply provided they do not occupy a seat
• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• The duration of transfers are approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 7 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
• A moderate amount of walking is involved
• Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
• This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
• All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.
• You'll get picked up See departure details
• 1 Manezh Square Stop: 15 minutes See details
• 2 Aleksandrovskiy Sad Stop: 15 minutes See details
• 3 Red Square Stop: 15 minutes See details
• 4 Saint Basil's Cathedral Stop: 15 minutes See details
• 5 Moscow Kremlin Stop: 5 minutes See details
• 6 Prechistenskaya Embankment Stop: 5 minutes See details
• 7 Cathedral of Christ the Saviour Stop: 15 minutes See details
• 8 Our Lady of Smolensk Novodevichy Convent Stop: 30 minutes See details
• 9 Lomonosov Moscow State University (MGU) Stop: 10 minutes See details
• 10 Victory Park Stop: 15 minutes See details

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• P6945VRwilliamh 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Very clean hotel with friendly environment. Clean and friendly environment. Haley who checked us in was very friendly and answered all of our questions. Read more Written July 22, 2023
• teopingping 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Bad experience with U Visit Russia This tour operator canceled my booking without going through proper channel making my trip to Murmansk a bad experience. Refund is not done on time. Highly not recommended to use this tour operator. Help service is not helpful as well. Read more Written January 4, 2022
• Sputnikcat13 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Good Tour around Volgograd. I can highly recommend this company. My Guide was friendly, professional, punctual, and knowledgeable, The tour took in a wide range of sites connected to the Battle of Stalingrad. Explanations and stories were offered at each site and it's significance was explained in detail. Even if you didn't know about anything about the Battle of Stalingrad you would learn a lot in an interesting and fun way. Read more Written November 13, 2021
• Katrina S 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing impression!!! Thank you for all your efforts and deeds to provide us the key to a magnificent, wonderful and a high artistically show. Above any expectation, both musically and visually. The Bolshoi is a world well-known stage for the highest level of music, opera and ballet show and that is why we wanted to catch a glimpse of that legendary place. I lack words to describe the performance (we are well acquainted with the music and we know and even the story, however, the words were meaningless but, anyone can overcome that barrier since the music, and the performance supplied us with pleasure of the highest level). Read more Written August 15, 2021
• P121PSjenniferg 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Recommend Can I just thank you for organising this tour. All the arrangements worked out perfectly and our guide, Valeria (I hope I've got her name right) was terrific - full of interesting information, which she passed on in a most engaging way. Please pass on our thanks to her also Kind regards Read more Written July 5, 2021
• johnatang55 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Good excursion An amazing place in Moscow! 16-century buildings with a difficult story, a lot to see and to listen about. Guide Natalia was good. Metro ride is also an excursion. Moscow metro is like a museum. Read more Written July 4, 2021
• johnatang55 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Main attraction of Moscow Actually too much time to see only Kremlin for me. But we were with the kids, and it was a good way to explore everything at our own pace. Daria is a very experienced guide, knows a lot about Kremlin. Best of all was to skip the lines. Read more Written July 2, 2021
• johnatang55 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Russian Versailles This is the best part of Saint-Petersburg! With our great guide Victoria we had a really good time! The speed boat called "meteor" is much better than going to Peterhof by car - no traffic jam and going right from the city center. Good for kids. Read more Written July 2, 2021
• johnatang55 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Interesting Yusupov Palace is not as famous as Hermitage but we were shocked by how amazing it is. Victoria is a very knowledgeable nice guide. Highly recommend. Read more Written July 1, 2021
• john m 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Appalling service, and very costly. We booked for the Swan Lake ballet on 25 December 2019, with travel date on 24 May 2020, through U Visit Russia. . Due to the Covit19 pandemic we were unable to visit Russia nor attend the ballet. Two tickets were purchased for US$465.50. U Visit Russia was advised of not being able to attend and agreed to pay a full refund but there would be a delay due to the number of cancellations. After some time no refund was forthcoming and U Visit Russia was again contacted by email and we were advised that due to the volume of cancellations the refund would be credited to our credit card within 9 weeks. Nothing and again they were contacted by email but no response was ever received. No refund was ever received. Nothing!! The lesson is to beware of ever dealing with this company. Read more Written February 24, 2021
• WesternGardener 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Where are the refunds I booked a private tour for Kamchatka with UVisit Russia for several people (40). Each person paid a deposit (through PayPal) of US$15.30. On June 22, those that first cancelled received a refund. However, I've sent email after email to this company's rep requesting refunds for 18 persons. To date, September 4, 2020, those 18 individuals have not received refunds. Not happy. Read more Written September 4, 2020
• Dmitry F 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles U Visit Russia company way to go to see Russia Great people working for U visit Russia. I had pleasure to work with Maria Nerkrasova who arranged for our group of 14 Americans to visit Sergiev Posad (u must visit that monastery). She arranged for us tour guide Svetalna in Sergiev Posad - who provided us with excellent information. We visited Matroshka factory where we meet lady who's family been doing matreshka art for over 50 years, we had fabulous lunch with Russian traditional non alcoholic molt drink - kvass at Trapeznaya restaurant. We had awesome driver Ilya who drove our group from Moscow to Sergiev Posad and back with smile and confidence. Our group of 14 visitors from US can't say enough good things about U Visit Russia. Great company, great and caring people to work with like Maria, Anna, and their guides. If you decide to utilize U Visit Russia when you in Moscow ask them to secure Svetlana to be your tour guide, when you in St. Petersburg ask for Victoria to be your tour guide. When I come back to Russia again, i will use U Visit Russia company again 100%. Thanks, D Read more Written February 28, 2020
• Scott M 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fantastic Guide, Great Experience Today’s tour of the Kremlin, Dimond Fund and Armoury was absolutely fantastic. My guide Irina was incredibly knowledgeable full of fun facts, humour and a love of her nation it’s history and treasures. She even went out of her way to make sure that I knew the meaning behind a series of Icons in church’s and historical objects in the armoury. 100% recommend this tour. Even if it’s just to skip the 50 line to hope to get tickets at the Kremlins offices. Read more Written January 5, 2020
• 131natashal 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Do NOT purchase from this company!!!!!!! I bought a tour ticket for my daughter on her first visit to Moscow. We were asked to send over her passport information, and they even called us and demanded we send it right away (we were out and wi-fi connection was spotty). We sent it and everything seemed fine. On Thursday we got to the theatre and everyone that worked there told us the tickets were FAKE, they’d never seen anything like these, etc etc. I had to pay the tour fee (2000 rubles) AGAIN to buy ANOTHER TICKET there. Only after the tour had finished did they actually send us the PDF files that they had claimed to send earlier (which they did not). This also happened to TWO OTHER people on the same tour, they received their PDFs from Viator at the end of the tour. Save yourself 4000 rubles and the headache and just buy directly from the Bolshoi Theatre. DO NOT BUY FROM THIS COMPANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Read more Written November 28, 2019

All-inclusive private tour: Moscow Highlights Overview tour and River Cruise provided by U Visit Russia