St. Petersburg with DenRus

Two days spent in St. Petersburg, Russia, coinciding with our 37th wedding anniversary on June 29, were the high point of a cruise my wife, Kathy, and I took aboard Royal Caribbean International’s Jewel of the Seas, departing Harwich, England, on June 23, 2011.

We’d read a letter about the tour company DenRus, Ltd. (Ligovsky Pr. 73 Office 608, St. Petersburg 191040, Russia; phone, from the USA, 1 561 459 5534 or, in Russia, +7 812 572 4511, fax 572 4507), in ITN (May ’10, pg. 26).

Online, we arranged a private tour in St. Petersburg with DenRus. Maria Markaryan responded to our many questions with clear answers, usually within 24 hours. She was a pleasure to work with.

We had no problem leaving the ship immediately after it was cleared by Russian authorities at 7:30 a.m. At Customs, we showed our passports, Immigration forms and tour tickets. We received a cruise visa (no charge) that allowed us to be in Russia with only a guide and driver.

We then met Helen Zaitseva (e-mail zaitseva.helen@gmail.com) and our driver, Vladimir. Helen is a contract guide with DenRus and a freelance guide who has her own company.

Fluent in English, Helen was superb. She has a vast knowledge of the people, architecture, arts, culture and historical events of St. Petersburg and Russia.

Our 7½-hour tour included a photo stop at St. Isaac’s Cathedral, a Metro ride, a guided tour of Peterhof and a visit to the Peter and Paul Cathedral, where Russian tsars are buried.

Helen scheduled us to arrive at Peterhof before the tour buses, in time to tour inside the palace and then witness the fountains being turned on at 11 a.m. The fountains are gravity fed and spectacular.

Our day tour ($456) was perfect.

We also had arranged for a guide and driver to meet us at 7:30 p.m. to take us to the restaurant Staraya Tamozhnya, or Old Customs House (Vasilevsky Island, Tamozhenny Side St., 1; phone +7 812 327 8980), based on Maria’s recommendation. This upscale restaurant in the city center was popular with locals. At $182, including wine, our anniversary dinner was divine.

The evening guide and driver for four hours cost $225.

Both tours were billed to our credit card by the Rahim Group, Inc., the American parent company of DenRus, thus we avoided any exchange or cross-border fees.

After dinner, we had the opportunity to walk about the Neva River with our guide during the Russian “White Night,” when the sun sets at about 11:00.

DenRus did an outstanding job.

JOHN NICHOLS