Frequently Asked Questions

MaxiBaltTours is aware that the most precious asset you have is TIME and we want to ensure that you get the most out of your stay in St. Petersburg. There is so much to see and do that only a private or small group tour will give you a chance to experience St. Petersburg fully. We specialize in tailormade private tours as they give you, our Guest, the best value for your money. Large groups and crowds bring inconveniences and hindrances. Much time is lost just with the logistics of the groups. We prefer and know how to avoid this and give you the MaxiValue that we are so proud of.

For your convenience we have worked out an easy and clear payment process. After you have chosen a tour and indicated the number of people in your party, the total amount due will be shown. Tour prices are nominated in euro and then exchanged into US dollars and Russian rubles for your convenience. Please Sign-in and save your tour. We request only 10% down payment and this has to be done by credit card or via PayPal. According to Russian law your credit card will be charged in rubles with the official exchange rate of the day.

After that you will be able to generate a tour ticket on our site along with your itinerary - information that you will have to present to the Russian Passport Control after arrival to St. Petersburg (see Disembarkation Briefing).

The outstanding total due can be to paid in two ways.

• Credit card prior to your tour
• Cash before your tour. This option will save you an additional 5% OFF the outstanding amount.

We understand that your plans can be interrupted and changed. We will refund you all of your down payment minus a small administrative fee if we receive your cancellation notification not later than one day prior to the start of your cruise. Please note that we cannot refund any payments after that date.

*Incentive! Remember: If you meet new friends on your cruise who would like to join you on your private tour with MaxiBaltTours, just Contact us and we will be very happy to accommodate them and give you a 5% reduction on the outstanding total!

We will gladly accept:

We are always happy to see families coming to St. Petersburg. If your group includes children please let us know how many of them and their ages. We will let you know if reductions apply.

This is simply not true and in fact has nothing to do with the Russian Authorities and Passport Control. There are no reasons for the Passport Control Officers to stop you from getting off the ship if you are first in line and carry your tour-ticket, itinerary and passport with you. The announcements made on-board are the way the cruise-companies try to protect their business. You can read more about this in Disembarkation Briefing.

We I do understand your concern about returning to your ship in time. MaxiBaltTours has more than 10 years of experience in shore excursions with more than 25 000 happy travellers. And we NEVER had an issue of anybody being late. We plan all our itineraries very carefully to make sure you are back at your ship at least 1 hour before it leaves.

The 21st century is the era of IT technologies, and only the most effective companies survive! We have one of the most progressive websites on the Russian Market, with the opportunity to choose and BOOK ONLINE - just use our "FIND YOUR SHORE TOUR NOW" search engine, which allows us to have very low overhead costs. Furthermore, in the 20 years that we operate in St. Petersburg, we have developed excellent contacts with museums and transport companies. We continue to negotiate very strong contracts that give us an edge over our competitors and ensure that you receive the best price at the Maximum of service.

The cruiselines handle crowds of up to 2000 people and their excursions run a tight schedule. MaxiBaltTours does not have to herd you off the ship before the crack of dawn. You will see everything, and more. You can enjoy the personal touch that will give you a much more understanding feel of the city, its history and its people.

The law allowing people to visit Russia without a visa for three days was specially created by the Russian Government for the cruise-tours, so being a cruise passenger and having a tour booked with us means there is absolutely nothing to be worried about. We will issue your tour ticket, which is a substitute for the Russian Visa. At the Passport Control control you will receive a SHORE PASS VALID FOR CRUISE PASSENGERS IN THE CITY. It is extremely unlikely that you will be stopped by a police-officer in the city and your personal guide will always be with you to look after you.

The Russian law clearly states that for your visa-free stay in St. Petersburg you are required to follow the itinerary that you agreed and booked with MaxiBaltTours and that you have to be accompanied by your personal guide. MaxiBaltTours is recognized and licensed by the Russian Authorities. By issuing a tour ticket to you, we take full responsibility for your stay in St. Petersburg and guarantee that you will be back on the ship on time. If you really want to travel on your own in Russia, you must arrange your personal and official visa. MaxiBaltTours can assist you with this.

Following the traditions of Russian hospitality, we will never allow you starve! Time for lunch is settled in every itinerary while making a private tour, which means that there is no rush and that we have taken this very important aspect into consideration. However, the included meal can often turn out to be a disappointment, as we do not know your preferences. Our tour guide will always have a list of places to suggest, and in all of them you will be able to pay by credit card. Occasionally meals are included in our exclusive offers and some All-inclusive group tours.

There will be many options for you to choose from, but theaters in St. Petersburg do not usually announce their program and prices till one month before the actual performance. We are ready to discuss your wishes and will keep you fully updated on all the possible options during the time of your visit. You can read more about the evening program HERE.

The itineraries you find on our website are what we believe to be, the best tours giving you the best value for your time. However, we understand that our passengers would possibly prefer to concentrate on something else. We are welcoming any special wishes, so just use Contact us  form and let us know your own ideas and we will help you design your own tour, as long as it is feasible: Sometimes guide books give outdated information, so it may not be possible to do certain things.

We are happy to give 10% discount for a private tour, if the number of people in your party is more than 10. A 5% discount is also offered to every Guest, who has recommended our company to their friends who then booked a private tour with us.