Old St. Petersburg a sight to see in all its splendor
Cruise lines like you to think there are two ways to visit this city full of imperial palaces, museums, canals and onion-domed cathedrals: either book some of the ship's excursions or go through the trouble and expense of arranging your own tourist visa. There's a lesser-known third way, too: Hire an independent tour company. Alla Tour, Red October, DenRus -- they all have English-speaking guides happy to pick you up at the dock, right next to the tour buses full of your fellow cruise passengers.