Our first time on Silversea, chosen for the luxury small ship and port-intensive itinerary in the Baltic. Most guests were from the USA, the rest mainly from Canada, Australia and the UK, typically couples in their 50s, 60s and 70s.

The highlight was St Petersburg where we stayed for two nights just a few hundred metres from the Hermitage. Numerous group (and private) excursions are available, though their scheduling determines how you can combine them. Silversea’s morning excursions get to the palaces/museums just as they open, so avoiding the worst of the crowds. Larger cruise ships dock well out of the city in an industrial area, each disgorging perhaps a dozen or more groups per tour.

A great advantage is that a Russian visa is not needed if you stay on board overnight. Even so, you have to allow 15 minutes to get through the surly passport control when both leaving and boarding the ship, especially the first day ashore, so separate morning and afternoon excursions make for a hectic day. Read more