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Sharks repeatedly attack yacht off Australian coast, forcing sailors to abandon damaged vessel

Nine-metre inflatable catamaran was part of round-the-world expedition, article bookmarked.

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Three people were rescued off the northeastern coast of Australia after multiple shark attacks inflicted damage to their catamaran.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) said on Wednesday that both the hulls of the vessel, located in the Coral Sea near Cairns , were damaged after several shark attacks.

Satellite images and a video available on the Amsa website showed a substantial portion of the yacht ’s stern being ripped apart.

“The vessel departed from Vanuatu and was bound for Cairns (Australia) when contact was established,” Amsa said in a statement.

The yacht was located about 835km (519 miles) southeast of Cairns in the Coral Sea when rescue teams responded to the emergency at about 1.30am on Wednesday.

The nine-metre inflatable catamaran called Tion was reportedly a Russian-registered vessel. The Russian Geographic Society confirmed the catamaran was part of a round-the-world expedition, according to ABC News.

Amsa said in the statement that they sought help from a Panama-flagged vehicle carrier called Dugong Ace and tasked Cairns-based Challenger Rescue Aircraft to the scene, which effectively carried out the rescue operation.

The three passengers – comprising two Russians identified as Evgeny Kovalevsky and Stanislav Beryozkin, and French citizen Vincent Thomas Garate Etienne – are scheduled to reach Brisbane on Thursday.

The spokesperson for the Russian Geographic Society said their expedition commemorated two significant milestones: the 250th anniversary of the birth of explorer Adam Johann von Kruzenstern and the bicentennial celebration of the discovery of Antarctica by Russian explorers.

It commenced its journey from St Petersburg on 1 July 2021, with the objective of setting a record for the longest cruising distance covered on a frame-inflatable sailing trimaran, according to local reports.

However, the sailors were rescued from the trimaran, named Russian Ocean Way, off the coast of Chile in March. The Tion-Russian Ocean Way is the second vessel of the expedition, and it was launched in April.

It was also punctured by sharks in Tahiti in June.

Joseph Zeller, an Amsa responder, was quoted as saying by ABC News that “the sailors were very lucky because they had an emergency distress beacon... which enabled us to tell the most appropriate and fastest response to rescue them”.

“They were very well prepared, they were calm, but of course, they were elated to be rescued.”

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Here are the superyachts seized from Russian oligarchs

As part of an international pressure campaign on Russia, authorities from around the world have seized more than a half-dozen superyachts belonging to billionaire oligarchs allied with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The yacht seizures since the Feb. 24 invasion are "just the beginning," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in March, as an international task force worked to identify further assets that can be seized or frozen.

“The Justice Department will be relentless in our efforts to hold accountable those who facilitate the death and destruction we are witnessing in Ukraine,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said of the ongoing efforts in May.

Here are the superyachts government officials have seized since Russia invaded Ukraine last month.

The Justice Department announced May 5 that the Fijian government had seized billionaire oligarch Suleiman Kerimov 's 348-foot yacht Amadea. The vessel, which is valued at more than $300 million , arrived in Fiji last month. Kerimov, who's worth an estimated $14 billion and has ties to the Russian government, was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department over alleged money laundering in 2018.

Special features on the sprawling yacht include a helipad, infinity pool, a jacuzzi and multiple bars, according to a report in Boat International . It can accommodate 16 overnight guests in addition to 36 crew members, the report said.

In April, Spanish law-enforcement officials seized a 255-foot yacht called the Tango, which Justice Department says is owned by oligarch Viktor Vekselberg. Vekselberg is an aluminum magnate who the Treasury Department says has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Tango is worth an estimated $90 million, prosecutors said , and Vekselberg allegedly purchased it through shell companies. The 11-year-old yacht has seven staterooms and reportedly includes amenities such as a pool, gym and beauty salon .

Authorities in Italy seized a 215-foot superyacht called the Lady M this month. It's owned by Alexei Mordashov, Russia's richest businessman, and it’s estimated to be worth $27 million . The vessel, which requires a crew of 14, has six guest cabins , a pool and a gym.

But it pales in comparison to another of Mordashov's yachts, the $500 million Nord . The 464-foot vessel, which has two helipads and a waterfall and can accommodate 36 guests, was anchored this month in the Seychelles, where the U.S. and European Union sanctions don’t apply.

Italian officials also seized the 132-foot superyacht Lena, owned by the energy magnate Gennady Timchenko. Estimated to be worth $8 million, it has five cabins and can accommodate 10 guests.

SY A — short for Sailing Yacht A — is one of the world's largest superyachts. Valued at over $440 million, the 469-foot vessel, owned by the fertilizer magnate Andrey Melnichenko, has eight decks, multiple elevators, an underwater observation area and the world's tallest masts . It was seized in the Italian port of Trieste.

Authorities in Spain seized Sergei Chemezov's Valerie, a 279-foot superyacht that had been moored in Barcelona. Chemezov , a former KGB officer, heads the state conglomerate Rostec. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez touted the seizure on La Sexta television. “We are talking about a yacht that we estimate is worth $140 million,” Sanchez said.

Officials in France announced this month that they had seized the 289-foot Amore Vero, which was undergoing repairs in a shipyard near Marseille. When they arrived, authorities said, they found the crew preparing for an urgent departure, even though the repair work was scheduled to last through April. The $120 million boat, which has seven cabins , is linked to Igor Sechin, described by the U.S. Treasury Department as a close ally of Putin's.

Dareh Gregorian is a politics reporter for NBC News.

Targeting super yachts owned by Russian oligarchs could hit a nerve in Moscow

Poor transparency around ownership of assets can cause challenges, experts say.

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With sanctions levied and financial assets seized, Russian oligarchs have been scrambling to get their super yachts out of Western ports in search of safer harbours. 

One yacht, said to belong to Russian President Vladimir Putin himself, abruptly left port in Hamburg, Germany, just weeks before the Russian invasion of Ukraine prompted wide-reaching sanctions. Others were not so quick to leave European ports. 

Authorities in La Ciotat, on France's Mediterranean coast, seized a yacht they say is linked to sanctioned Russian oligarch Igor Sechin, the CEO of state oil company Rosneft. He was Russia's deputy prime minister from 2008 to 2012.

• Canada slaps sanctions on Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich
• Analysis With Russia pressing on and Ukraine digging in, how will Putin's war actually end?

Industry watchers say oligarchs everywhere are trying to keep their yachts from being taken.

​​"There's a few yachts that we are watching at the moment in the Atlantic," said Sam Tucker, head of super yachts at the firm VesselsValue, which tracks and estimates the value of these giant luxury yachts. 

"I'm expecting some of them to start doing U-turns in the middle of the ocean," he told CBC Radio's Day 6 .

Western countries have imposed a punishing package of sanctions and export control restrictions on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine. Russia's biggest banks were hit, as was the country's central bank. Major state-owned companies and some of the country's wealthiest individuals have seen overseas assets frozen.

The investment bank JP Morgan Chase believes Russia's economy will shrink 35 per cent in the second quarter of 2022 and seven per cent for the entire year.

White House spokesperson Jen Psaki says the suite of sanctions is meant to make every aspect of life difficult on Putin and the oligarchs who protect him.

"What we're talking about here is seizing their assets, seizing their yachts and making it harder for them to send their children to go to colleges and universities in the West," Psaki said in a briefing this week. "These are significant steps that will impact the people who are closely around President Putin."

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Putin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Putin</a>´s Yacht "The Gracefull" inbound Kaliningrad from Hamburg in anticipation of future sanctions due to the conflict in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukraine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ukraine</a>. <a href="https://t.co/qdhAUhCH1m">pic.twitter.com/qdhAUhCH1m</a> &mdash; @GDarkconrad

Symbolic target

The yachts themselves are worth hundreds of millions of dollars, but experts in Russian sanctions say this isn't just about the dollar value.

"They don't have much value compared to the total net worth of an oligarch," said Bill Browder, a long-time advocate for stiff sanctions against Russian oligarchs, in an email to CBC Radio. 

But they are "a highly symbolic attack on something coveted by the oligarchs."

These ultra-luxurious ships became a status symbol for the oligarchs as they amassed fortunes in the 1990s and early 2000s.

"There is a bit of oneupmanship," Tucker told Day 6 . He says the biggest and most expensive ships are cloaked in secrecy. They have extreme privacy and security features, including bulletproof glass, and some require crew to sign non-disclosure agreements.

But Tucker says the biggest security and privacy feature of all is the opaque ownership structure of the yachts. He says precious little information about who actually owns these ships is available.

"[Only] basic information is disclosed — for example, the registered owner — which is often a shell company or a 'special interest vehicle' registered in Monaco, Malta, [or the] Cayman Islands," he said.

Untying those knots is a notorious problem, but one usually confined to taxation issues.

"One thing that I think may come out of this whole situation is the increased call for transparency and transparent ownership," said Tucker.

Yachts on the move

So far, only four super yachts have been seized, including a 213-foot yacht owned by Alexei Mordashov in Imperia, Italy.

While authorities sift through the byzantine paper trail of ownership, other oligarchs have scrambled their crews to get the yachts to somewhere safe.

"One of the things I've been trying to figure out is, where do they go [next]?" asked Alex Finley, a former CIA officer living in Barcelona, in an interview with  As It Happens host Gillian Findlay .

This week, Finley tweeted photos tracking a ship said to be owned by Roman Abramovich, the Russian billionaire who owns the Chelsea Football Club.

• Anxious Russians flee by the hundreds each day into neighbouring Finland

"A lot of these yachts that we've been looking at are heading towards the Maldives or the Seychelles. A few are in Montenegro, but they look like they're probably going to be on the move," Finley said in the interview .

Here you can see the sterns of both Aurora and Valerie, and in the other pic, the empty slip where Solaris used to be (which is the size of the empty hole in my heart). 7/ <a href="https://t.co/Luvj5vyWXp">pic.twitter.com/Luvj5vyWXp</a> &mdash; @alexzfinley

Neither the Maldives nor the Seychelles signed onto the sanctions, so the ships are probably safe from seizure there. Another major hub is Dubai.

"I think we're going to see Dubai as a big hotspot for these yachts," said Tucker. "It has hot weather all year round and … Russians can fly to Dubai without going through the EU airspace."

Tucker agrees that targeting the yachts is a symbolic move.

"It's really sending the message that they aren't untouchable. We've closed the skies on both sides of the Atlantic so their private jets can't operate, and now we're going after their super yachts," he said.

"I'd be feeling quite vulnerable if I was an oligarch right now."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Senior Business Reporter

Peter Armstrong is a senior business reporter for CBC News. A former host of On the Money and World Report on CBC Radio, he was previously a foreign correspondent and parliamentary reporter for CBC. Subscribe to Peter's newsletter here: cbc.ca/mindyourbusiness Twitter: @armstrongcbc

Interview with Sam Tucker produced by Rachel Levy-Mclaughlin

A Russian oligarch's $325M superyacht has been seized in Fiji

The Associated Press

The superyacht Amadea is docked at the Queens Wharf in Lautoka, Fiji, on April 15. The vessel, which U.S. authorities say is owned by a Russian oligarch previously sanctioned for alleged money laundering, has been seized by law enforcement in Fiji, the U.S. Justice Department announced Thursday. Leon Lord/Fiji Sun via AP, File hide caption

The superyacht Amadea is docked at the Queens Wharf in Lautoka, Fiji, on April 15. The vessel, which U.S. authorities say is owned by a Russian oligarch previously sanctioned for alleged money laundering, has been seized by law enforcement in Fiji, the U.S. Justice Department announced Thursday.

WASHINGTON — A superyacht that American authorities say is owned by a Russian oligarch previously sanctioned for alleged money laundering has been seized by law enforcement in Fiji, the U.S. Justice Department announced Thursday.

A judge in Fiji earlier in the week permitted U.S. authorities to seize the yacht Amadea — worth $325 million — but also put his order temporarily on hold while defense lawyers mounted a challenge.

Ukraine invasion — explained

Germany seizes the world's largest yacht (at least according to volume).

The Justice Department said authorities in Fiji, acting at the request of the United States, have now served a search warrant freezing the yacht, which had earlier been prevented from leaving the South Pacific nation.

American officials say the 348-foot vessel belongs to Suleiman Kerimov , an economist and former Russian politician who was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2018 and has faced further censure from Canada, Europe, Britain and other nations after Russia invaded Ukraine.

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U.s. hits russian oligarchs and officials with sanctions over election interference.

Kerimov made a fortune investing in Russian gold producer Polyus, with Forbes magazine putting his net worth at $14.5 billion.

Defense lawyers had claimed the yacht actually belonged to another Russian oligarch.

In an application in support of the search warrant, an FBI agent wrote that there was probable cause to believe that Kerimov had owned the Amadea since 2021. The vessel, which is flagged in the Cayman Islands, had turned off its automated information system on Feb. 24, the day Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

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A russian oligarch's $90 million yacht is seized as part of u.s. sanctions.

The Justice Department said the seizure was coordinated by its KleptoCapture task force , which was created in March to seize assets belonging to sanctioned Russian oligarchs. In April, the Justice Department seized a 254-foot yacht in Spain owned by an oligarch, Viktor Vekselberg, with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a statement, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the latest seizure "should make clear that there is no hiding place for the assets of individuals who violate U.S. laws. And there is no hiding place for the assets of criminals who enable the Russian regime."

The Justice Department said the yacht is now in Lautoka, Fiji.

Photos show the luxury mega yachts that belong to Russian oligarchs — some of whom have hidden their ships as the UK ramps up sanctions.

• Sanctions targeting Russian oligarchs threaten their luxury assets — including their mega yachts.
• Many countries have implemented sanctions targeting Putin and Russian oligarchs following Russia's attack on Ukraine.
• Insider compiled a photo list of some of the luxury vessels.

Russian billionaires' assets — including their megayachts — are in danger of being seized as countries continue to impose sanctions on Russian oligarchs in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden announced that the US will make a substantial effort to seize Russian oligarchs' assets.

"We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts, your luxury apartments, your private jets," Biden said in his State of The Union address on March 1. "We are coming for your ill-begotten gains."

Since the US is not in "armed conflict" with Russia it may be legally tricky to seize assets like yachts, Insider reported . 

"The threshold for seizing assets under sanctions is that the US has to be in armed conflict with the owner of the assets," Brian O'Toole, an economic sanctions expert, tweeted last Friday. "The idea of turning Russian corruption into Ukrainian assistance is lovely but this idea is illegal, period."

It can also be difficult to find out who the owners of these yachts are.

Offshore companies typically own the luxury vessels, but enough "public speculation" pointing to a Russian oligarch as an owner is likely "sufficient for a seizure," Insider reported . 

Many of the oligarchs moved their yachts to places where they can't be seized, such as the Maldives, which does not have an extradition treaty with the US.

Insider has compiled a list of photos with mega yachts linked to Russian oligarchs.

Galactica Super Nova

Amid sanctions and seizures targeting Russian billionaires, Galactica Super Nova — said to be linked to the CEO of Russian oil firm Lukoil — is no longer detectable via ship tracker site MarineTraffic , The Daily Beast reported Thursday. 

The superyacht — whose owner is named Vagit Alekperov — had just been in Montenegro last week, Insider reported .

Alekperov is not currently the target of any sanctions. 

The yacht is almost 230 feet long and can hold up to 12 guests and 16 crew members, according to the ship maker Heesen Yachts .

The ship also has a helicopter pad that can turn into an outdoor movie theatre, also according to the ship maker.

The Amore Vero

France seized Amore Vero, a 281-foot megayacht linked to oligarch and politician Igor Sechin, on March 3.

The yacht, Amore Vero, is estimated to have a value of $120 million . It has a swimming pool that doubles as a helicopter pad and a private deck for its owner, according to Oceana , the ship maker.

Per The Wall Street Journal , officials believe that Amore Vero is "owned by a company whose majority shareholder was Mr. Sechin," though the outlet does not provide the name of the company.

Sechin is the CEO of Rosneft, Russia's oil giant, and a former deputy prime minister. A known Putin ally , he was sanctioned by both the EU and the US before France seized his yacht last week .

Sechin was one of seven oligarchs sanctioned by the UK on Thursday. 

People in Russia have referred to Sechin as "Darth Vader" and "the scariest man on Earth," according to The Guardian .

Alisher Usmanov has been sanctioned by the EU, the US, the UK, and Switzerland. His boat remains in Germany, but the country says it hasn't seized it.

Usmanov's Dilbar is "is the largest motor yacht in the world by gross tonnage," according to Lürssen , the German ship's maker.

It's 512-foot long and weighs 15,917 tons. The ship has been docked in Germany for months undergoing a "refitting," but last week Forbes reported that it was unable to leave the dock.

Germany, however, has denied that it formally seized Dilbar.

Forbes said that "the German federal customs agency is the 'responsible enforcement authority' and would have to issue an export waiver for the yacht to leave, and that 'no yacht leaves port that is not allowed to do so.'" 

Still, multiple outlets reported that Usmanov has fired the crew on the Dilbar.

The Uzbekistan-born oligarch is a supporter of Putin. 

"I am proud that I know Putin, and the fact that everybody does not like him is not Putin's problem," Usmanov told Forbes  in a 2010 interview. 

Suleyman Kerimov was sanctioned by the US, and his son, Said Kerimov, owns ICE. The superyacht is worth is an estimated $170 million.

The Kerimov family owns the majority of Polyus Gold, Russia's biggest gold producer .

ICE was dubbed "Superyacht of the Year" in 2006 at the World Super Yacht Awards, according to Boat International . It is approximately 300 feet and has its own resident helicopter, according to Club Yacht .

Quantum Blue

Sergey Galitsky's ship, Quantum Blue, has an estimated value of $250 million and is last known to be docked in Monaco.

Galitsky is the founder of one of Russia's largest supermarket chains, Magnit.

His name is not currently on the list of sanctioned Russian oligarchs,

Though he also is not the target of any current sanctions, Vladimir Potanin's superyacht, Nirvana, is one of at least four ships docked in the Maldives .

Potanin is the Former First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and was a longtime trustee for the Guggenheim museum before stepping down on March 2, according to The New York Times . 

Nirvana is not Potanin's only superyacht, he also owns another named Barbara, according to Fortune .

Alexander Abramov's Titan, Alexei Mordashovis' Nord, and Oleg Deripaska's Clio are also located in the Maldives.

At 533 feet long, Roman Abramovich's Eclipse was the largest yacht on the globe until 2013 when the 590-foot Azzam overthrew it. 

Abramovich, once Russia's richest man , is the departing owner of Chelsea FC soccer club. He was sanctioned by the UK on Thursday along with six other oligarchs, Insider reported .

The luxury boat has a host of amenities, including two helicopter pads, a missile detection system, and a swimming pool more than 50 feet long. It also has space for up to 36 guests and 70 crew members, according to Yacht Harbour .

Insider previously reported that it is currently docked in the Caribbean .

Another yacht named Solaris is linked to Abramovich. The vessel, worth approximately $600 million, left Spain Tuesday after having been under repair since late 2021, Insider reported.

Solaris is 460 feet and can host a total of 36 guests, according to SuperYachtFan .

Tango, owned by the US-sanctioned Viktor Vekselberg, is currently located in Palma, Spain.

Tango can host up to 14 people and is 254 feet long, won the 2012 World Superyacht Awards, and has an estimated worth of $120 million, according to SuperYachtFan .

Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born businessman who owns Renova, a Russian conglomerate, according to The Guardian .

He was one of nearly two dozen Russian oligarchs and officials that the US sanctioned on Friday.

The US Treasury Department claims that he has close ties with Putin, and has announced that assets such as his $90 million jet and his superyacht Tango have been frozen, Insider reported .

Graceful, a yacht reported to belong to Russian President Vladimir Putin, left Germany just before his invasion of Ukraine, Insider reported in early February.

—Manu Gómez (@GDarkconrad) February 9, 2022

Graceful is 270 feet long and has a saloon, gym, spa, library, and an indoor pool nearly 50 feet long that doubles as a dance floor.

Scheherazade

A mystery yacht remains untouched as the owner remains a mystery.

The owner of the 459-foot Scheherazade is suspected to be a Russian billionaire, though the owner was never publically identified, The New York Times reported .

Many people believe it belongs to Vladimir Putin, nicknaming the vessel "Putin's Yacht."

SuperYachtFan estimates the ship's value sits at $700 million.

Stella Maris

Stella Maris is linked to oil and gas tycoon Rashid Sardarov. It was last seen in Nice, France, according to The Washington Post .

The luxury vessel is priced at $75 million, is 237 feet long, and can hold up to 14 guests, per SuperYachtFan .

Sardarov is not being sanctioned. 

Sailing Yacht A

Sailing Yacht A is believed to belong to Andrey Melnichenko. The boat was seized by Spanish officials Saturday, Reuters reported .

The ship is more than 465 feet long and can hold up to 20 guests, according to SuperYachtFan . The website says that Sailing Yacht A also features an underwater observation area and has a value of more than $500 million.

Melnichenko is an EU-sanctioned Russian billionaire who works in coal and fertilizers, according to Forbes . The magazine also reported that he owns a second yacht, Motor Yacht A, which is similar to a submarine. 

Oligarch Gennady Timchenko's superyacht "Lena" was seized in the port of Sanremo, Italy on March 5, Reuters reported.

Timchenko is the owner of a private investment group, Volga Group and a shareholder of Bank Rossiya. The oligarch has been sanctioned by the EU, which describes him as a "long-time acquaintance of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin."

Timchenko was also sanctioned by the UK on February 22. 

The superyacht is valued at around 50 million euros ($54 million), Reuters reported. It has fold-down terraces, as well as an "owner's suite" which opens out onto the sea with "gull-wing doors," according to its manufacturer, Sanlorenzo.

Italian authorities also seized a $71 million super-yacht belonging to one of the wealthiest men in Russia , Alexei Mordashov. 

The 215-ft "Lady M" superyacht was seized in the Port of Imperia, northern Italy, a source confirmed to Reuters.

The yacht can accommodate up to six guests on and also has accommodation for four crew members, per the Superyacht Times .

The oligarch, who is the chairman of steel mining company, Severstal, has also been sanctioned by the EU, which says Mordashov is "benefiting from his links with Russian decision-makers." Mordashov has insisted he has "absolutely nothing to do" with Russia's attack on Ukraine. 

The Oligarch moved $1.3 billion worth of shares in travel company, TUI, to an offshore tax haven on the day he was hit by sanctions, Insider's Huileng Tan previously reported. 

He was also added to the UK government's sanctions list on March 15.

Some superyachts belonging to Russian billionaires are currently seeking refuge in the Maldives, including a yacht owned by billionaire Oleg Deripaska, Reuters reported.

The billionaire, who is also the founder of one of Russia's largest industrial groups, Basic Element, was added to the UK's sanctions list on March 10.

Also built by Lürssen, the superyacht - which is around 238 feet long - can accommodate 18 guests in nine cabins, per Superyacht Fan.

The superyacht Valerie - worth $140 million - was seized in Barcelona on Monday, Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, said on La Sexta television, per Reuters.  

Sanchez did not confirm the owner of the yacht, but two sources confirmed to Reuters that it belonged to Sergei Chemezov, who is said to be a close ally of Putin.

The oligarch, who was previously a KGB spy with Putin in the former Soviet Union, recently said that Russia would emerge victorious from Western sanctions, Reuters previously reported . 

Chemezov, who is the CEO of Russian defense conglomerate Rostec was added to the US sanctions list on March 3. 

His yacht is 279 feet long and can accommodate 17 guests in eight suites, per Superyacht Fan.

Crescent, most likely owned by Igor Sechin but also rumored to belong to Putin, was the third yacht Spain seized as the West ramps up sanctions, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

The superyacht is 443-feet long and costs an estimated $600 million, according to  SuperyachtFan, which also says the vessel hosts a retractable helicopter hangar and a large pool with a glass bottom.

Lady Anastasia

Lady Anastasia is owned by Russian oligarch Alexander Mikheyev but was seized by Spain on Tuesday, according to Reuters . 

The boat is almost 160 feet long and can hold up to 10 guests, according to Yacht Harbour .

Mikheyev, who was sanctioned by the EU, is the head of a helicopters division under Rostec, New York Mag reported .

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cruise ship & Ferry To St Petersburg find out how to get to russia's northern capital by sea & visa free

Planning a trip by cruise ship or ferry to St Petersburg, Russia? If so, learn more on your Baltic Cruise with our best insights and recommendations.

In the last few years, travelling by cruise ship or ferry to St Petersburg has become one of the most popular ways to get to Russia. Currently, more than 600,000 passengers come to visit St. Petersburg on a cruise ship because it is fun, easy, and relaxing. And, it can be a romantic idea for a weekend getaway or a great short break destination in summer .

By sea, you can enjoy a wonderful scenery across the Baltic Sea and the Scandinavian coastlines while drinking, eating, and relaxing on the ship, and most importantly, you will be able to enter Russia without a Visa by taking advantage of a little loophole.

Many first-time visitors from the USA and Canada choose to cruise on a big ship liner, while others, mostly Europeans such Germans , prefer to come on a ferry cruise. Naturally, between ferries and cruise liners, there are some differences when it comes to cost, comfort, and onboard service but there are also some tiny travel restrictions on arrival that may limit your visit to the cultural capital of Russia.

Cruise ships tend to be more expensive than Ferries for obvious reasons, but nowadays both are easy ways to travel to Russia thanks to the new law that allows cruise ship passengers to visit the city of St Petersburg without Russian visa for up 72 hours if they meet certain requirements (more on that later).

This magical visit Russia visa free loophole is available only by cruise. It is operated exclusively via the St Peter line ferry onboard Princess Anastasia as well as via several international major cruise liners (see list at the end of the page).

We , Anastasia and I (Davide) , have been travelling by ferry to St Petersburg on several occasions, and we still remember that time when we were chilling out on the deck and looking at the beautiful Baltic Sea and blue Gulf of Finland while passing through the coastlines of Finland and Estonia on the way to Russia . It was amazing! ☺

HOW TO TRAVEL BY FERRY TO ST PETERSBURG

Now let's get into the content of ferry to St Petersburg and see what cruise ship or ferry you should keep an eye on to get here. To get started just click on the links below or scroll down the page. Happy reading!

Quick Links:

Getting to St Petersburg by Sea

Should I go by Ferry or by Ship Cruise?

About St. Peter Line Ferry

Where to Buy Tickets

Good to Know

The Two Passenger Terminals

From the Sea Port to Downtown

Tips and Recommendations

List of Major Cruise Ships

GETTING TO ST PETERSBURG BY SEA

Saint Petersburg , sitting at the eastern end of the Baltic Sea, has been a major port city and an attractive destination for sea travellers since its foundation by Peter the Great . So getting to Russia's Imperial Capital by sea won't be difficult, but just a long pleasant trip.

Today, if you would like to travel by sea you have two options : you can take one of the major international ship cruise lines such as Princess , Norwegian , Royal Caribbean , Holland America , Carnival , Cunard Line , Celebrity , MSC , and so forth. Or you can take the popular St. Peter Line Ferry , the only operator offering both a ferry cruise and a cargo ship directly to Saint Petersburg, Russia .

Alternatively, if you are looking for other options that are not going direct to St. Petersburg, then you could also take a ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki and from Stockholm to Tallinn, including from/to Riga with Tallink & Silja Lines or Viking Cruises . Both are two established European shipping companies offering access to the entire Baltic Sea region with the most modern fleet. From there, you can continue your trip to St Petersburg by bus , by train , or by car .

If you are on a tight budget then you could also try your luck with freight travel . We know that there is a direct ferry to St. Petersburg, Russia from countries such as Germany, Poland, Spain, UK, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, and Sweden operated by Finnlines Cargo-Passengers Ships , but we're not sure if they still board passengers, so before you go check the company for yourself.

The most popular routes by ferry or cruise ship from Northern Europe are Helsinki to St. Petersburg, Stockholm to Helsinki and St. Petersburg, or Tallinn to St. Petersburg or Stockholm, and reverse. Instead, all the international ship cruise lines have a route to St. Petersburg, but they include several stops in some European capital cities, and even worldwide, if you board from the USA, China, or Australia for instance.

Speaking of travel time, if you travel by ferry to St Petersburg from the Baltic States it may take from 14hrs to 38hrs , depending on the route chosen. Instead, if you're going with one of the international ship cruises it may take days or even weeks.

SHOULD I GO BY FERRY OR by CRUISE SHIP?

Going on a cruise ship is totally a different travel experience than going on a ferry to St Petersburg. Cruise ships are ships to entertain passengers, and a big cruise ship lasts for 1 or 2 weeks. Ferries, on the other hand, are used to only transport passengers (or cargo) from one point to another and they are cheaper.

If you travel on a big ship cruise , for example, with Princess , Carnival , or Costa cruises , you can make friends on board, relax with all the services provided (sauna, massage, gym, swimming pool, jacuzzi, etc), sleep comfortably, eat delicious food a' la carte, and enjoy the onboard entertainment (shows, night clubs, bars, casino, etc) together with great sea scenery.

On the contrary, if you go on a ferry to St Petersburg, for example, with St. Peter Line Ferry you can relax on the deck and have a meal or drink and enjoy your cruise by watching the Gulf of Finland but don't expect any luxury. The ship is vintage with fake gold handrails, dark maroon carpets, and basic sparse cabins. Based on our research we can tell you that nowadays most people prefer big ship cruises to ferries because they're all-inclusive, very comfortable, and give you the chance to truly unplug and see more cities along the way. However, you should know that between the two ships there is also another difference, which is notable and lies on the Visa loophole .

When you arrive in Saint Petersburg by an international ship cruise in order to go ashore you must book a group tour offered by the cruise company ( This option gives you less freedom of movement unless you book an alternative tour with an authorized local company ). Instead, if you arrive with St. Peter Line in order to leave the ship you must book the mandatory city bus tour along with other things ( This option gives you complete freedom to wander off in the city alone but you may feel disoriented without any guide ).

Personally speaking, for the greatest amount of freedom of movement, it is worth the effort to obtain a Russian Tourist Visa . Today the Visa process is not arduous or slower or costly as it used to be in the past but it is very easy to do it. With a visa, you can freely come and go from the ship as you please without being tied to any guided tour unless you want one, and you can visit other Russian cities.

Lastly, but no less important, the cruise ticket price varie s according to the cabin category and cruise package you choose, the season you are travelling, and the time or date you are planning to leave. Our advice is to plan your trip via ferry to St Petersburg early. And, most importantly, don't forget to book your sightseeing program in the city before you go as you will surely need and should have one regardless of how you come.

about ST. PETER LINE FERRY

If you're thinking to go via ferry to St Petersburg, remember that currently, the only ferry operator working this route is St. Peter Line . The ship sails from Stockholm, Helsinki, and Tallinn directly to St. Petersburg and reverse. Here is a short introduction to the company.

The St. Peter Line is a famous Russian based ferry operator that offers moderate high-class Baltic cruises on Princess Maria and Princess Anastasia ferries, as well as on a regular cargo ship. Today, the company is owned by Moby SPL Limited.

Cargo ship won't be of interest we think, so let's look in more details at the two most popular cruise ferries, Princess Maria and her sister Anastasia , the only options that will bring you directly to St Petersburg Visa-free if you decide to go with them of course. ☺

As far as we know, these ferries were named after daughters of the last Russian tsar, who were murdered by the Bolshevik secret police after the Red Revolution . They both offer a good level of service and entertainment onboard but not similar to those big cruise liners. However, cabins are basic by cruise standards but lavish compared to a ferry. Lucky for you the prices are more like ferries too.

To give you an indication of the prices, a one-way trip starts at €38/$43 in a shared cabin below the car deck, while a two-berth cabin on an upper deck starts at €165/$186 . Alternatively, a B-class private cabin for yourself, both ways, costs around €356/$400 (including the mandatory city bus tour).

Certainly, you could economize your journey by buying a special offer package, sharing a cabin with someone else, or booking a few months early. Just do your research and book in advance!

On the ship you can expect a few cruise-ship features, such as an entertainment lounge, casino, tax-free shop, cinema, sauna, and even a small swimming pool deep in the bowels of the ship.

Not too bad for being a mix of a ferry and cruise, is it? But there is more!

When taking St. Peter Line, you can also benefit from luggage delivery to your cabin, hotel or excursions packages, and you can even bring your pet onboard, at a price obviously. But the best part, the one we suppose why you might choose to go with them, is that if you buy their city bus tour at the same time as you book your ferry trip, you qualify for the 72 hours visa-free rule .

This mandatory city bus tour is actually no more than a shuttle bus that would take you to the city from the port and back to the port. It costs 25Euro per person and set you free up to 72 hours. However, keep in mind that you are not hiring a tour guide but you are buying a shuttle bus ticket only. So, if you need a local guide to tour the city you will need to book one separately.

That said, the difference between the two ships is their sea route.

If you sail with Princess Maria , you will cruise directly from Helsinki to St. Petersburg, and reverse (average time 15 hrs), while if you sail with Princess Anastasia , you will cruise from Stockholm to St. Petersburg or from Tallinn to St. Petersburg, and  reverse (average time 40 hrs).

WHERE TO BUY CRUISE TICKETS

If you're wondering where to buy the ticket for your ferry to St Petersburg you basically have two options: you can ask a travel agency or book online directly through the ferry or ship cruise company.

The best thing to do would be to find the website for the cruise company of your choice, and then see if they provide a ticket reservation service online. Alternatively, you can find a travel agency that represents the cruise company you have chosen and ask them to arrange the tickets for you. Nowadays there are many Baltic tours available and so many travel agencies you can contact, so choose well! 

Remember , by buying online, you can avoid the inflated prices of some tour operators or the travel agent service fees, and you won't need to call or go to the agency. So, online is really the way to go as you can get a better deal while booking comfortably from your home.

To find the best cruise deals you should start looking through some of the most popular cruise search engines such as Expedia , Kayak , CruiseDirect , CruiseCritic , CruiseWatch , to name just a few. However, keep in mind that these cruise websites are actually a cruise line’s own site - since technically, cruise booking websites aren’t allowed to undercut the prices that the cruise lines set.

Our best recommendation when buying your cruise tickets is to keep your schedule flexible. Play around with the dates of sailing to ensure you maximize your visa-free period. ☺

good to know

If you plan a trip by ship or ferry to St Petersburg you must know that to qualify for the Visa-free access you have to meet some requirements, which between the one and the other are slightly different.

So Read on carefully... If you arrive on an international cruise ship in Saint Petersburg, Russia you can go ashore on the condition that you stay no longer than 72 hours , you are accompanied by an authorized tour guide , and stay overnight in the ship . This means that from the moment you leave the ship in the morning (usually about 8 AM) until the moment you return to it (around 5 PM), you will have to follow the arranged schedule and you will not have the opportunity to visit the city or other cities on your own.

Please note that this regulation applies not only if you arrive in Saint Petersburg but also if you arrive from any of the following Russian ports: Anadyr, Arkhangelsk, Kaliningrad, Korsakov, Novorossiysk, Murmansk, Sevastopol, Sochi, Vladivostok, Vyborg, and Zarubino.

On the contrary, if you arrive with St. Peter Line Ferry you can go ashore on the condition that you stay no longer than 72 hours , you book accommodation by yourself ( Hotel , Hostels , or Flat ), and you buy a round-trip ticket with the same company.

In addition to that, you must also book a " City Bus Tour ", which has nothing to do with an organized excursion group but it has the pretense to do so . This way the ferry trip is classified as a cruise ship and you can benefit from this visa loophole.

For your information , the city bus tour through St. Peter Line is actually no more than a shuttle bus that would take you from the port to the city center of St.Petersburg to the St.Isaac’s Square and reverse. As soon as the driver drops you off you're free to go anywhere in the city without a tour guide, free to use public transportation, visit museums , palaces , monuments , theaters , Russian restaurants , shops , etc.

Speaking of the tours, we don't recommend package shore tours provided by the ship cruises because most of the time they offer only expensive standard city tours in large groups with zero flexibility. Instead, if you book a private tour with a local company you are sure to get a better introduction to the city, have fun and see more. Also, you enjoy much more freedom of movement and choice because you can choose what to see and what to do.

We do also recommend booking a private guided tour even if you take advantage of the Visa loophole offered by St Peter Line Ferry because, with only 72 hrs, which effectively is only 2 nights stay and 1 day and half of sightseeing, you will not have enough time to see all the city's main attractions , especially if you plan to tour the city by yourself.

With the help and knowledge of a local guide, you are sure to maximize your cruise to St Petersburg and make your short visit an unforgettable vacation. ☺

THE TWO PASSENGER TERMINALS

If you are wondering where your ship will dock when sailing to St Petersburg you should know that the city has two sea passenger terminals: one for sea passengers and one for river passengers.

If you will be travelling by cruise ship or ferry to St Petersburg , you will dock at the new Sea Passenger Port ( Marine Facade ), while if you will be travelling by ship via the Volga river, then you will dock at the old River Passengers Port ( Rechnoy Vokzal ).

Specifically, the new terminal of Marine Façade is the place where you will arrive when taking a ferry to St Petersburg with St. Peter Line or any other major ship cruise lines such as MSC, Norwegian Star, Queen Elizabeth, and so on (See the full list below).

Built-in 2011 and located in the Harbor of Vasilevsky Island the Sea Terminal Marine Facade comprises a modern building, with a total area of 18,500 square meters and landing-stages capable of taking four ships at once. Inside you will find comfortable and spacious arrival halls, ATM machines with a currency exchange function, cafes, a souvenir shop, post office, duty-free shop, information desk, VIP waiting area, and much more.

Today , the seaport handles more than 200,000 passengers each year and provides ferry connections with the cities of Tallinn, Helsinki, and Stockholm, and also sea trips, excursions, and cruises.

On the contrary, the old River Passenger Terminal Rechnoy Vokzal , welcomes all Russian river cruises travelling on the Volga River between Moscow and St. Petersburg or between Moscow and Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Saratov, or Volgograd, including cruises on the river going vessels along the Neva as well to the islands of Valaam and Kizhi (the most beautiful Russian islands located in the Ladoga lake).

FROM THE SEA PORT TO THE DOWNTOWN

If you're planning to go by ferry to St Petersburg, and you hold all the necessary documents  to go ashore ( your boarding card, city bus tour, and passport ), then keep reading the information below, while if you are a cruise passenger skip this paragraph, as you cannot leave the ship on your own.

Upon your arrival in Saint Petersburg, from the Sea Passenger Port Terminal ( Marine Facade ) into the city you can take the Bus № 158 or the Minibus ( Marshrutka ) which goes to metro station Primorskaya (Green line), two stops from the famous Nevsky Prospekt in the city center. When you get off the bus, walk past the many shops and street vendors to get to the metro station.

If you don't like taking the bus or the subway, then you can always arrange a taxi from the information desk at the seaport to go downtown, or much better, you can book a taxi with us before you come. ☺

The price should be less than €13 or $15 for a taxi, while 44Rubles (€0.50/$060) for the Marshrutka . The car trip from the port to the city is 40 Km and takes approximately 20 minutes.

However , if you travel by ferry to St Petersburg with St Peter Ferry Line, once you're outside look for the signs for the City Bus/Shuttle Bus with the Moby/St Peter logo, if you have booked a tour with them. There is a helpful attendant who will guide you to the right bus.

The bus is comfortable with space for luggage storage underneath. The journey into downtown St. Petersburg will take around 40 minutes. You will be dropped off at St Isaac’s Square near the beautiful St. Isaac Cathedral and the oldest Astoria Hotel.

Instead, if you arrive from the River Passenger Terminal ( Rechnoy Vokzal ) to the city you can easily walk to the nearest metro station Proletarskaya (Green line) - it takes about 10 minutes - and from there, take the metro , taxi , or bus to reach the central part of the city.

TIPS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Below we have summed up what we think is the most important information you need to know to travel by ferry to St Petersburg . Hope you find our tips and recommendations helpful for the planning of your trip to St Petersburg , Russia.

• Remember , if you want to take advantage of the visa-free access you have to options: you can book the guided tour offered by your international cruise ship, or you can book one of the guided tours offered by many other local authorized companies like us.
• Learn more about our St Petersburg shore excursions , or get in touch with us if you need more help or still have some questions about how to travel by ferry to St Petersburg. We can arrange individual, family, and group VISA-FREE customized shore excursions in St. Petersburg, and more. ☺
• For your information, the main cruise lines that visit St. Petersburg are Carnival Corporation & plc, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises.
• The best time to come by ferry to St. Petersburg is in the summer, though the sea navigation starts at the end of April until November.
• You should know that the port authority in St. Petersburg prohibits independent tour operators from entering the port for 90 minutes after a ship docks in St. Petersburg. Instead, guests who booked a tour via the cruise ship will not be delayed and will be given priority disembarkation.
• If you travel by ferry to St Petersburg with St. Peter Line Ferry we recommend buying Priority Exit, which costs 20Euro, and later to pick the line with the Europeans, if you want to get through the Russian immigration faster.
• Remember, to leave the sea terminal and return, you’ll have to make sure you carry your passport and cruise card, including the slip you will be issued by the Russian immigration. Keep that slip safe together with your passport until you depart.
• Give yourself plenty of time to get through immigration, especially if you’re meeting a tour group. Depending on the time of day, it can take up to 45 minutes to get through passport control.
• When going through immigration at the cruise terminal, you must show the mandatory tour pass or confirmation tour voucher along with a passport valid 6 months beyond intended stay. The tour pass is similar to the confirmation tour voucher but is provided by the international cruise ship, which offers direct assistance while on an excursion, insurance, priority disembarkation, and much more. Instead, the confirmation tour voucher is provided by a local authorized tour company like us, which takes care of your excursion in the city, disembarkation, transportation, and your safety.
• After you get through immigration, there’s a fairly large shopping area where you can buy Russian souvenirs , get coffee or a snack at the café, and exchange money.
• Keep in mind that your cruise boarding pass serves as your Visa during your stay in the imperial city. You will NOT get a visa in your passport, you'll simply carry around the boarding cruise pass with you at all times, along with your passport, and of course your Russian travel insurance .
• When you take a ferry to St Petersburg with St. Peter Line bear in mind that if you arrive from outside the Schengen area , you must have a multiple entry Schengen Visa to enter back to Finland after the cruise. See here for more info ! And, if you aren’t on top of your Schengen situation or even know what this refers to, check out also this helpful article .
• You should know that passengers arriving under the Visa-free regime must stay within the territory defined by the pre-paid excursion program. This means you can't visit other towns or cities in Russia! Also, if you arrive in St. Petersburg on a cruise but want to leave Russia by plane, train, or other modes of transportation, then you need to apply for a Russian Visa .
• Remember , in the event you're taking a ferry to St Petersburg from Stockholm, Helsinki or Tallinn with St. Peter Line you don't need to book a hotel if you leave on the same day as your arrival, but you must return in the same way as you came.
• If you miss your cruise ship or ferry to St Petersburg, then you will need a Visa to be able to leave Russia by some alternative means of transportation. Keep in mind that the Russian authorities can take up to 20 days to approve an exit visa, during which time you will have to deal with the costs.
•  We suggest returning to the ship 2 hours before your scheduled ship departure.
• If you go on a ferry to St Petersburg with St. Peter Line you'll need to present at the passport control your hotel confirmation, your return ferry-ticket, and the mandatory city bus tour along with your passport. In the event, you rent a flat (We don't recommend it) an invitation letter is also requested. You can get an invitation letter here!
• From 1st October 2019 , some cruise passengers visiting Saint Petersburg can do so with an e-Visa, available for some nationalities only, to be obtained before boarding the cruise. Alternatively, the current procedure of Visa-free remains in place.
• Remember , the Visa-free program is basically set up so that ferry or cruise passengers book tours and/or accommodation with them. But you should know that booking accommodation elsewhere is fine even if you read somewhere on the official cruise or ferry websites that is not. So don't be afraid to arranged tours with someone else. ☺
• Please note that to take the river cruises on the Volga river is compulsory to process the Russian Visa and obtain a letter of invitation, specifying the main cities in which you will be.
• You might find it interesting to know that in addition to St. Peter Line, it is also possible to go into the city of St. Petersburg or Vyborg without a Visa by traveling from Lappeenranta with the Finnish company Saimaa Travel and purchasing some of their guided tours.
• Finally, keep in mind that if your passport is lost or stolen while you are visiting St. Petersburg, you will not be allowed to return to your ship until you get a new passport through your country’s Embassy or Consulate, so be very careful not to lose your passport.

Happy ferry to St Petersburg, Russia! ☺

list of major cruise ships going to st petersburg

Below you can find a list of the main international cruise liners travelling to St. Petersburg, Russia.

AIDA Cruises (Germany) - Ships: AIDAcara, AIDAdiva, AIDAmar, AIDAprima, AIDAluna.

MSC Cruises (Italy-Switzerland) - Ships: MSC Meraviglia, MSC Poesia.

Costa Cruises (Italy) - Ships: Costa Magica, Costa Pacifica.

Norwegian Cruise Line (USA) - Ships: Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Spirit.

P&O Cruises (UK) - Ships: Arcadia, Aurora, Azura.

Olsen Cruise Lines (Norway) - Ships: Balmoral.

Royal Caribbean (Norway) - Ships: Brilliance of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Explorer ot the Seas.

Celebrity Cruises (Greece) - Ships: Celebrity Silhouette, Celebrity Reflection.

Cruise & Maritime Voyages (UK) - Ships: Columbus, Magellan, Vasco da Gama.

Marella Cruises – TUI UK (UK) - Ships: Marella Explorer, Mein Schiff 1 NEW, Mein Schiff 3, Mein Schiff 4.

Ocean Cruises (USA) - Ships: Marina.

Holland Amercia Line (USA) - Ships: Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam.

Cunard Line (USA) - Ships: Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth.

Princess Cuises (USA) - Ships: Regal Princess, Sapphire Princess, Pacific Princess.

Saga Cruises (UK) - Ships: Saga Sapphire.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises (USA) - Ships: Seven Seas Explorer.

Viking Ocean Cruises (Switzerland) - Ships: Viking Jupiter, Viking Sky, Viking Sun, Viking Sea.

Pullmantur (Spain) - Ships: Zenith.

Disney Cruise Line (USA) - Ships: Disney Magic.

Seabourn Cruise Line (USA) - Ships: Seabourn Ovation.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises (Germany) - Ships: Europa 2.

Please note that all these cruise ships listed above arrive at “ Marine Façade ”, the maritime passenger terminal of St. Petersburg located in the western part of Vasilievsky Island. For more information about the seaport please click here .

Hello! We are Davide & Anastasia the founders of st-petersburg-essentialguide.com . ☺

We would like to let you know that apart from writing unique content for our travel website we can also help with the arrangement of your Airport Transfer , Private City Tour , and Russian Visa Support , or anything else you may need during your stay or the planning of your trip to St Petersburg Russia . Just get in touch with us today for more info!

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Cruise to St. Petersburg, Russia

St. petersburg shore excursions, amazing experiences coming soon., sorry, there are no excursions for this port at this moment., things to do in st. petersburg.

Czars and Saviors

Front of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia

Located near the waterfront and housed in the former Romanov Winter Palace, the Hermitage Museum sits due north along Nevsky Prospekt from the Church of the Savior on Blood, St. Petersburg's other most iconic attraction.

Discover the Unusual

View of Saint Isaac's square in St. Petersburg, Russia

St. Petersburg's city center is overflowing with history — why not choose museums that offer something a little different? Visit the quirky Faberge Museum, dedicated to the work of Russian jeweler Carl Faberge. Or enjoy an interactive experience at the Museum of Emotions.

Imperial Excursion

Take a drive to some imperial palaces outside the city center. Under an hour away by car lies exquisite Peterhof, whose fountains alone are worth the price of admission. Cruise to St. Petersburg and go by train to the Baroque-style Catherine Palace — can you guess which Russian ruler often stayed here?

Local Cuisine

Russians flock to St. Petersburg because of its cosmopolitan vibe, but use your stop here to discover local cuisine. Head to the restaurant-rich Nevsky Prospect to sample borscht beet root soup (the cold version in summer), dumplings of meat ( plmeni ) and sour cherries ( vareniki ) or hearty beef stroganoff — yes, that's a Russian dish!

St. Petersburg's shopping options are as grand as its architecture. The luxurious Gostiny Dvor mall is an essential stop with your St. Petersburg cruise. If you're looking for a more down-to-earth experience, try your luck (and your Russian language skills) at Udelnaya Flea Market and bargain for one-of-a-kind antique samovars or imperial porcelain.

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