"Rosalie B." wrote in message
news:9b9l459m1avq0p123agoi0b5e06s0p5m93@4ax.com...
>>
> This is what the Alla web page said:
>>*
>>*# Disembarkation in St.-Petersburg is very easy and fast process and the
>>way how it will go in your particular case depends very much on your
>>knowledge and understanding the rules:
>>*
>>*a) All passengers onboard are equal and each passenger has the right to
>>disembark the ship at the time which will make it possible to meet the
>>guide/representative of the tour operator and start the tour on time
>>indicated in the tour ticket.
>>*
>>*b) There is no difference for the Russian immigration office/officers
>>between the passengers based on the tour operator they have booked their
>>tour with. The only duty of the Russian authorities is to check the
>>documents of the passengers (passports, tour tickets or visas) but not to
>>sort the passengers due to any characteristic.
>>*
>>*c) The main document for each passenger to disembark the ship is the tour
>>ticket. Tour ticket is unique document for each Russian tour operator and
>>might have different look and design. But tour tickets of all tour
>>operators should contain the following information: name of the passenger,
>>citizenship, name of the ship, valid date of use, tour program of the day
>>and starting time of the tour.
>>*
>>*# Cruise line administration might try to create different obstacles on
>>the way off the ship for the passengers booked tours independently. There
>>could be different ways of providing passengers with false information
>>regarding disembarkation in St Petersburg, but the most common way is the
>>informative letter brought into the cabins in few days prior arrival to St
>>Petersburg. The information might be of the following sort:
>>*
>>*a) tourists booked tours independently are asked to gather at a certain
>>place for disembarkation together where they will be waiting for the
>>"special invitation" for disembarkation which might be after 9:30am.
>>Please, don't follow such instructions. For correct actions please read
>>carefully ##1, 2, 3.
>>*
>>*b) Tourists can be given round-shaped stickers (just like the tourists
>>who booked the cruise sponsored tours) with a number which will be far
>>away from 1 to 10 and which later will indicate the order of
>>disembarkation of the groups. Stickers with first numbers will be given to
>>the passengers booked cruise sponsored tours and the last numbers of
>>stickers will be given to those attending private tours. After clearance
>>of the ship passengers are invited to disembarkation in accordance to
>>their stickers' numbers. Thus, tourists who have booked private tours will
>>be invited to go ashore after all cruise line sponsored groups have left
>>the ship. It might be after 9:30am. Please, don't wait for the special
>>invitation. When disembarking the ship you won't need any stickers. For
>>correct actions please read carefully ##1, 2, 3 and pay attention to what
>>you will be really asked for at #4.
>>*
>>*c) cruise information might announce of the "new rules" for
>>disembarkation set up by the Russian immigration authorities due to which
>>disembarkation for private groups is allowed only after a certain time.
>>For your correct actions please read carefully ##1, 2, 3.
>
> Actually HAL specifically said that NO ONE could get off the ship if
> they did not have either a Visa or were on a HAL tour. They didn't
> even admit to the possibility that an independent tour was possible.
Celebrity pulled the same stuff on us in St. Petersburg. The cruise
director was the one who tried to stop us from getting off in a timely
manner. We ended up showing the letter that Red October sent us that stated
that the ship would likely play similar games to try to ruin our plans.
Magically after we showed the cruise director the letter... we were allowed
to disembark almost immediately.
I know the ship is trying to protect it's own shore excursion profits... but
I'm wondering if there is any legal issue with what they're doing? Is that
restraint of trade? They are obviously lying. Wonder if that's something
that the Florida Attorney General can help with, like they did with the fuel
charges? Or is what they're doing completely legal? Are you allowed to lie
to people? Diana, any thoughts?
--Tom
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