st petersburg russia princess cruise

Of all the ports on our Scandinavian Cruise, St. Petersburg was the one we were most intrigued, excited…and honestly, a bit anxious about! Princess Cruises plans their itineraries carefully, and allows for as much time in ports as possible, so we had many early morning arrivals, and departed well after dark on most days. St. Petersburg was no exception, and we actually spent the night in port, giving us two full days in Russia!

One of my favorite aspects of cruising is the opportunity to experience so many ports, specifically places that would be difficult to plan and visit on your own. It’s difficult to express the feeling we had being in this country…it truly was surreal in every way.

Granted we were only there a short time, but everything felt very serious…from the architecture to the people. But Russia certainly does a good ceiling and loves their gold! All the major palaces and museums we visited were hosed down in real gold leaf and mosaic tiles. The opulence was in stark contrast to the nearby rows of gray buildings with barred windows devoid of personality.

Pullover Sweater | Gingham Shirt | Favorite Mid-Rise Jeans | Sneakers | Crossbody Bag

Pullover Sweater | Gingham Shirt | Favorite Mid-Rise Jeans | Crossbody Bag

Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood is the most recognizable landmark in St. Petersburg, and easily the most ostentatious structure, both inside and out, I’ve ever seen!

Packable Parka | Hoop Earrings | Pullover Sweater | Gingham Shirt

St. Petersburg is known as “Venice of the North” because of its copious bridges and natural canals. I always jump at the chance to see cities from the vantage point of the water, and even though it was reeeallllly chilly, cruising the canals by boat showed us a softer side of the city.

Packable Parka | Hoop Earrings

Sugarplum Travel Tip: If you want to explore Russia on your own, you’ll need to secure a special Visa before your trip. We opted to stick together and booked a 2-day excursion through Princess, with an English-speaking Russian guide! They were long and busy days, but the biggest perk was having tickets (and front-of the-line entrance!) to the major sites, as well as, private viewing time in several of the largest palaces and museums!

The military was practicing for a big parade, and seeing 100s of their tanks and trucks rolling through the city was startling to say the least!

The art collection at the Hermitage Museum rivals that of the Louvre, and is home to over 3 million artworks, including paintings by DaVinci, Monet, Rembrandt, and Renoir. Just be prepared to cover your feet!

{What Not to Miss}
Hermitage Museum | Catherine Palace | Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood | St. Isaac’s Cathedral | Canal Cruise

{Our Takeaway}
I felt completely safe the entire time we were in Russia, but having a guided excursion gave me the peace-of-mind that we weren’t going anywhere, or doing anything, that would have been ‘frowned upon’ by their government.

Sugarplum Travel Tip: Clearing customs to enter the country, and return to the ship, is intensive and serious…so be prepared with passports and visa or excursion tickets!

St. Petersburg was definitely a Bucket List stop, and I’m so glad I was able to experience it with my Princess family! Russia was a bonding adventure for sure!

Our time in most of these stops was too brief to provide a full Trip Report, but I hope our photos inspire you, and the tips prove helpful if planning your own trips. To see more of our International Travel, click here…and for more Cruising specific trips, click here.

{See More of our Scandinavian Cruise}
Port of Call | Tallinn, Estonia
Sugarplum Style | What I Wore on a Scandinavian Cruise
My 10 Travel VIPs
Formal Night at Sea
Port of Call | Stockholm, Sweden

{Shop My Travel Style}

*I am a proud ambassador for Princess Cruises, but all thoughts, opinions & subway-stalking are my own. Thank you for supporting Hi Sugarplum sponsors!*