realnz doubtful sound wilderness cruise

• Life in Queenstown
• Queenstown's Vision
• Moving to Queenstown
• Queenstown innovation
• Hospitality Industry
• Technology Industry
• Film Industry
• Tourism Industry
• Business Support & Resources
• Innovation in Queenstown
• Educational Tours
• Language Schools | Study English
• Tertiary Education
• Queenstown Airport Travel Information
• Maps & Visitor Guide
• Autumn in Queenstown Winter in Queenstown Spring in Queenstown Summer in Queenstown Weather & Forecast
• Arrowtown, New Zealand Gibbston, New Zealand Glenorchy, New Zealand Kingston, New Zealand Fiordland, New Zealand Wanaka, New Zealand Central Otago, New Zealand
• Itineraries
• What to Pack
• Travel Tips
• Regenerative Travel
• Travel Packages & Combos
• Visitor Services Transport Services Wellness & Beauty Event Services Business & Professional Services
• Accessible Activities Accessible Accommodation Accessible Eateries
• Air Adventures Bungy, Swing & Zip Land Adventures Water Adventures Indoor Thrills
• Culture & Heritage
• Submit an Event
• Fishing & Hunting Mountaineering & Climbing Nature & Wildlife Skiing & Snowboarding Walking & Hiking Water Sports
• Scenic Cruises Scenic Flights Scenic Tours Scenic Attractions Movie Location Tours
• Skiing & Snowboarding
• Walking & Hiking
• Spa & Massage Yoga Hot Pools Gyms & Pilates Hair, Makeup & Beauty Physiotherapy
• Wineries & Breweries
• Backpackers & Hostels
• Bed & Breakfasts
• Holiday Parks & Camping Grounds
• Holiday Rentals
• Hotels & Resorts
• Lodges & Retreats
• Serviced Apartments
• Cafés & Bakeries
• Dessert & Ice Cream Shops
• Pubs, Bars & Clubs
• Restaurants
• Takeaways & Fast Food
• Wineries & Cellar Doors
• Brewery & Craft Beer Tours
• Queenstown Airport
• Travel Information
• Autumn in Queenstown
• Winter in Queenstown
• Spring in Queenstown
• Summer in Queenstown
• Weather & Forecast
• See & Do in Arrowtown
• Stay in Arrowtown
• Eat & Drink in Arrowtown
• Shopping in Arrowtown
• Gibbston, New Zealand
• Things to Do in Glenorchy
• Stay in Glenorchy
• Eat & Drink in Glenorchy
• Stay in Kingston
• See & Do in Kingston
• See & Do in Fiordland
• Wanaka, New Zealand
• Central Otago, New Zealand
• Information Centres
• Coach & Bus Services
• Rental Cars
• Taxis & Shuttles
• Limousines & Luxury Transport
• Campervans & Motorhomes
• Wellness & Beauty
• AV & Equipment Hire
• Event Management
• Team Building
• Bands & Entertainment
• Accountants & Law Firms
• Employment Agencies
• Creative Services
• Real Estate
• Print Services
• Local Services
• Accessible Activities
• Accessible Accommodation
• Accessible Eateries
• Air Adventures
• Bungy, Swing & Zip
• Land Adventures
• Jet Boating
• Indoor Thrills
• Fishing & Hunting
• Mountaineering & Climbing
• Nature & Wildlife
• Guided Walks & Hikes
• Hiking Equipment Hire
• Track Transport
• Short Walks in Queenstown
• Day Walks & Hikes in Queenstown
• Water Sports
• Scenic Cruises
• Airplane Flights
• Helicopter Flights
• Hot Air Ballooning
• Off Road Tours
• City & Region Tours
• Quad Biking & Buggy Tours
• Horse Riding
• Motorcycle Tours
• Scenic Attractions
• Movie Location Tours
• Spa & Massage
• Gyms & Pilates
• Hair, Makeup & Beauty
• Physiotherapy

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise

$329 - $379 NZD

Experience the spectacular, untouched beauty of Doubtful Sound on a guided day trip with RealNZ. Jump onboard one of our glass-roofed coaches from Queenstown, cruise across Lake Manapouri and then journey over Wilmot Pass into the heart of Fiordland National Park.

Discover ‘the sound of silence’ and explore the dramatic scenery on a three-hour cruise. Nature guides are on hand to share their knowledge and point out the local wildlife (dolphins, seals, penguins).

• Daily departures: all year
• 3 hour cruise of Doubtful Sound
• Nature guide onboard to provide insightful commentary
• Chance to spot local wildlife, including dolphins, fur seals & penguins
• Lunch options available to purchase at Manapouri Café

RealNZ Visitor Centre

88 Beach Street

Queenstown, 9300

• MinPrice: $329
• MaxPrice: $379
• Prices valid until 30 September 2024.
• Monday: 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
• Tuesday: 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
• Wednesday: 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
• Thursday: 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
• Friday: 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
• Saturday: 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
• Sunday: 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
• Months of Operation: Jan - Dec
• Group Capacity: 0

DEALS   ALL PACKAGES   DESTINATIONS Destinations Accommodation Activities Transport DESTINATIONS -->   ABOUT   BLOG   REVIEWS   +64 3 443 2111    

Home » Te Anau Activities » RealNZ Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise

RealNZ Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise

From nz$259 per adult.

Boat Cruise

  Boat Cruise

* All pricing is in New Zealand Dollars

* Children: 5-14 years, under 5 years are free

* Select item(s) above and submit with your other New Zealand accommodation, activity and transport needs. A travel consultant will contact you in less than 12 hours with availability and best available price. Upon your approval and payment you will then receive confirmation.

GET A QUOTE

Located deep in the heart of a World Heritage Area, Doubtful Sound is an overwhelming place. You can feel the power of nature here – the remoteness, the wildness and the peace. A Doubtful Sound wilderness cruise takes visitors deep into the majestic fiord.

Known for its wilderness and wildlife, Doubtful Sound is the second largest of the 14 fiords in Fiordland National Park and it is three times longer and 10 times larger than Milford Sound.

Today, Doubtful Sound remains an unspoilt wilderness of many moods; one minute clear, blue and sun-drenched, the next mysterious and mist-cloaked.

Activity Options

Doubtful sound wilderness cruise.

• When you discover Doubtful Sound you will be struck by its silence – a silence broken only by birdsong, or maybe the rushing of a distant waterfall
• Your Doubtful Sound adventure begins as you cruise the crystal clear waters of Lake Manapouri – a stunning lake renowned for its numerous islands and deserted beaches
• Travel underground by coach to see the Manapouri Underground Power Station
• Then it’s over Wilmot Pass, on one of New Zealand’s remotest and prettiest sub-alpine roads, stopping along the way to experience some of Fiordland’s most dense rainforest and to view Doubtful Sound glistening far below
• On reaching Deep Cove, you will board the Patea Explorer a spacious catamaran, for a three hour cruise that takes in the most dramatic scenery of Doubtful Sound
• Your nature guides provide an engaging commentary and point out highlights
• Keep a look out for wildlife as bottlenose dolphins frequently swim alongside our vessel, fur seals bask on the rocks around the fiord and rare penguins can at times be observed

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise departing Manapouri

• All year: 10.00 am
• October – April: 7.00 am

Coach-Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise-Coach departing Te Anau

• All year: 9.00 am
• Lunch options available, must be pre ordered: Deluxe Picnic Lunch and Picnic Lunch
• Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise departing Manapouri: 8 hours
• Coach-Cruise-Coach departing Te Anau: 9 hours 45 minutes

Other Information

• Check in 20 minutes prior to departure time
• Suitable for all ages
• What to bring: Non-slip shoes/boots, waterproof jacket, warm sweater/fleece jacket, sunscreen/sunglasses, insect repellent and camera.

Wilderness Cruises depart from RealNZ Visitor Centre, Manapouri, otherwise if taking the coach option, pick-ups are available from most in-town accommodation.

Book a Doubtful Sound Day Cruise

You can book a Doubtful Sound tour separately or as part of one of our  New Zealand holiday packages . We bundle  activities ,  accommodation , and  transportation  together for convenient, affordable New Zealand holidays.

These popular New Zealand holiday packages include the Real Journeys Doubtful Sound tour:

• 14 Day 100% Pure South Island Package
• 14 Day Lord of the Rings & Hobbit Holiday Package
• 21 Day New Zealand North to South Holiday Package
• 21 Day South Island Paradise Package

Contact New Zealand Travel Organiser today to plan your Doubtful Sound activities.

Quick Enquiry

Travel consultants.

Contact your personal New Zealand Travel specialist today...

Contact us: +64 3 443 2111 E: [email protected] Hours: Mon–Sat, 9am-5pm (NZDT)

New Zealand Travel Organiser Group

Click here to find out more about us...

CALL US Phone: +64 3 443 2111 EMAIL US [email protected] OUR LOCATION 37 Reece Crescent Wanaka 9305, New Zealand POSTAL ADDRESS PO Box 762, Wanaka 9343 New Zealand

© 2024 NZ Travel Organiser Ltd Website by Webstudio .

• Skip to content

Phone: 03 442 5877 or from overseas call: +64 3 442 5877

• Spring  /  1:18pm
• AUD CAD EUR GBP JPY NZD USD

Destinations

Experiences, help & info.

• 03 442 5877 within NZ
• +64 3 442 5877 from overseas
• Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise From Queenstown Real Journeys

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise - RealNZ Queenstown

Watch Video

• Reviews (10)
• Gift Voucher

Doubtful Sound Boat Cruise

• Ask a Question
• 2nd largest fiord in Fiordland National Park
• Cruise across Lake Manapouri
• Bus transfers across Wilmot Pass
• 3 hour wilderness cruise in Doubtful Sound

Description

Doubtful Sound is a mind blowing fiord located in a World Heritage area. The isolated fiordland of Doubtful shows nature in its rawest and most overwhelming form imaginable. Known for its rich abundance of flora and fauna it is the second largest fiord of the 14 within the Fiordland National Park, standing at three times the length of Milford Sound and ten times larger!

To access the isolated Fiordland your adventure begins with a boat cruise across Lake Manapouri, followed by a coach ride over the Wilmot Pass where you can absorb the breathtaking sight which stands in front of you before descending into Deep Water Cove and boarding the catamaran for your three hour cruise.

The cruise provides you with dramatic views of Doubtfuls awe-inspiring scenery along with detailed commentary from the friendly and knowledgeable skippers who will highlight key viewing points to ensure that you don't miss a thing. As well as the scenery you will be treated to sightings of fur seals basking on the rocks, bottlenose dolphins frolicking alongside the ship and even the rare Fiordland Crested Penguin.

Trip Includes

• 45 min boat cruise across Lake Manapouri (and return)
• 45 min coach trip over the Wilmot Pass (and return)
• 3 hour luxury boat cruise on Doubtful Sound
• Optional transport from Queenstown 
• 8 hrs from Manapouri
• 13 hrs from Queenstown
• from Manapouri: 7:30am & 10:30am in summer & 10:00am only in winter
• from Te Anau: 6:45am & 9:45am in summer & 9:15am in winter
• from Queenstown: 7:40am in summer & 6:55am in winter

Other Information

• You can self drive to Manapouri or get the coach from Queenstown (2.5hrs)
• Child rates apply (5-15yrs)
• Infant rates apply if transfers ex Queenstown or Te Anau are selected
• Dress warmly for the cruise boat & don't forget your camera
• Free tea & coffee are available on the cruise boat. We recommend bringing a packed lunch with you
• Doubtful Sound overnight cruises are available (Oct-May only). These are very popular and we recommend booking several months in advance
• Please note, from 15th August - 15th September 2024, the 'Patea Explorer' vessel will be undergoing scheduled maintenance. During this time a replacement vessel, the 'Milford Wanderer', will operate the 3-hour 'Inner Fiord Cruise' in Doubtful Sound

Normal Retail Prices

• adult NZD$379.00
• child (5-15yrs) NZD$189.00
• adult NZD$399.00
• child (5-15yrs) NZD$209.00
• infant (0-4yrs) NZD$10.00
• adult NZD$479.00
• child (5-15yrs) NZD$289.00
• infant (0-4yrs) NZD$50.00

Read Risk Disclosure Statement

All prices shown in NZD$.

Genuine Customer Reviews powered by

Service rating:

For doubtful sound nice but some services same price as everything.

Product rating:

On beautiful days should be amazing even if it was cloudy for me but still nice to see.

Reviewed 22-May-2024

This was a lovely way to see doubtful sound. We were picked up on time in TeAnau and everything went well. I enjoyed the 2 short stops on the drive to start the main boat trip. My only complaint is with a family who did not supervise their children on the boat - not the company's fault!

Reviewed 08-Apr-2024

We were well looked after by experienced staff and were well informed of all the pictorial surroundings. Staff were very courteous and obliging.

Top value for money spent.

Reviewed 09-Mar-2024

Friendly knowledgeable staff well run trip to beautiful scenery Seals and a trip on the Tasman a bonus on a great day. Comfortable travel on boats and bus. Altogether a great day out

Great trip loved everything boats and bus trip awesome views the whole way.

Reviewed 13-Apr-2023

Outbound service was wonderful, inbound was atrocious

This would have been 5 stars but the return leg after coming back to the boat and waiting for almost an hour without communication was chaotic.

Reviewed 04-Apr-2023

Staff friendly and courteous. Everything was done to schedule

It was a great experience

Reviewed 10-Feb-2023

Lady at counter was grumpy, boarding was delayed ( lined up and waiting for staff / crew to arrive for 15 mins) Bus trip and sailings were awesum $20/person picnic absolute rip off (take you own food) all bins choka with thrown away picnic parcels and the 10 minutes of silence ( no talking, no photos, no moving around) was 8 mins too ****** long The crew were great and the scenery is truly magical

Lady at counter was grumpy Picnic absolutel rip off Forced silence was too long (10 mins) Crew and scenery awesome

Reviewed 26-Jun-2021

Reply from Everything Travel Group

Thank you so much for your review, we really appreciate it. We have passed your feedback on to the operator. The Sound of Silence is actually one of the things customers enjoy most. Feel free to get in touch regarding any future holiday plans, we would be more than happy to assist you & offer you a repeat customer discount. All the best! :) Everything Travel Group

Posted 13-Oct-2021

Booked by phone as internet booking would not work ,took me right through to the end , even asked for Credit card details and then when I selected submit, nothing happened and it took me back to the first page, very frustrating as didn't know if it accepted by booking or not. No e-mail sent so phone 2 hrs later to find that my booking hadn't gone through. . Phone staff were excellent and tours booked in minutes. Thank you.

Awesome experience. Service was exceptional and tour guides fantastic.

Reviewed 10-Sep-2020

Thank you so much for your feedback. We really appreciate you taking the time to tell us about your great experience. We hope you had a great time in Milford Sound! All the best & stay safe!

Posted 21-Oct-2020

Simple and easy to follow processes, good follow through with communication

Stunning a hidden gem that is valued by those who use it, the staff where knowledgeable with great humour

Reviewed 09-Sep-2020

Thank you so much for your feedback. We really appreciate you taking the time to tell us about your great experience. We hope you had a great time in Queenstown and Doubtful Sound! All the best & stay safe!

Eve was just the bestest at getting us to and from Doubtful Sound. Once over there The day was a beauty and the scenery was magical

Great value for money. Thank you

Reviewed 25-Aug-2020

Thank you so much for your feedback. We really appreciate you taking the time to tell us about your great experience. We hope you had a great time in Doubtful Sound! All the best & stay safe!

Latest Questions about Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise - RealNZ (Queenstown)

Do you offer a Milford sound overnight trip and a doubtful sound day trip as a package? From an Aussie

0 comments - Post a Comment

Hi, I’d like to go on this tour from Queenstown on the 13th June. Does the tour also include drop off in Queenstown? Thank you!!

Yes, you will be dropped off back in Queenstown at the end of the day 

Comment by: Everything Travel Group on 11th Jun 24 at 16:35

1 comment - Post a Comment

Hi, we want to book the tour. There is no field for our 2 year old. Is she allowed to come? We would like to book the tour for Friday

Yes, an infant can go on the Doubtful Sound Day Cruise, you just need to add them to the additional comments section and provide us with their ages

Comment by: Everything Travel Group on 25th Jul 23 at 14:27

Hello, I was looking to book a doubtful sound cruise for this Thursday morning. The 7:00am slot appears available and could work for us, but does that have to a Queenstown departure? It wasn’t clear to me. We would be staying in Te Anau ideally and would prefer to start from there. Is the 7:00am option only for those in Queenstown?. If we needed to be in Queenstown we might be able to arrange that. But ideally there is a 7:00am option from Te Anau (or 10:00 but appears booked up)

I hope you're well. Thanks so much for your enquiry in regards to the Doubtful Sounds Wilderness Day Cruise. Unfortunately with the 7.00 am sailing we are unable to provide transport from Te Anau for this sailing, you would need to self-drive down to the check-in point in Manapouri.

Comment by: Karma on 21st Feb 23 at 14:36

Hi - myself and my 3 kids will be in Queenstown between Feb 19-26. We are looking to do this but I could not find how to add the coach ride to/from Queenstown? Thanks!

With the departure from Queenstown option, does that include hotel pick-up and drop-off? Thanks.

Thank you for your question about the Doubtful Sound wilderness day cruise. For the Queenstown departure, the coach offer pick ups from accessible locations which will be as close as possible to your hotel. 

Comment by: ETG on 5th Jun 21 at 15:45

Hi! Just want to ask how much is Doubtful Sound Day Cruise from Queenstown?

At the moment we have a special for $175 for the Doubtful Sound Cruise departing from Queenstown.

Comment by: Everything New Zealand on 15th Sep 20 at 19:00

If this deal include a coach pick up from Queenstown on Thursday 23rd? We don't have a car so would appreciate a pick and return drop off after the cruise.

Currently, this tour is not running coaches from Queenstown, the coaches will be operating again from the 29th of August. Tours are running from Manapouri only for the time being. 

Comment by: ETG on 22nd Jul 20 at 17:01

Le repas est-il compris dans le prix ?

My partner and I are looking to do this cruise on Monday. We want to depart from Te Anau. The link for this on the page is not working. I’m just wondering how we go about being picked up from Te Anau?

I notice you have specials right up the 11th October and Monday 12th is back to high price, is there any discount you can provide for 9 people on Tuesday the 13th of October.

Comment by: Ann Mcgreal on 13th Jul 20 at 15:40

This winter season the Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Tour only departs from Manapouri, only 40 minutes from Te Anau. I will contact you regarding your enquiry for the 13th of October.

Comment by: Everything New Zealand on 13th Jul 20 at 17:39

2 comments - Post a Comment

You may also like

Milford Sound Overnight Cruise - Mariner Milford Sound More info

Doubtful Sound Cruise & Te Anau Glowworms Combo Doubtful Sound More info

Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise - Fiordland Navigator Doubtful Sound More info

3 Day Real Fiordland - RealNZ Doubtful Sound More info

93% of new customers that used Everything New Zealand to provide advice and securely book their NZ activities have let us know they've had a good or excellent experience with us. Thank you .

• Read Reviews
• Most Popular
• Gift Vouchers
• Accommodation

North Island

• Bay of Islands
• Poor Knights Islands
• Tongariro National Park

South Island

• Abel Tasman
• Christchurch
• Doubtful Sound
• Fox Glacier
• Franz Josef
• Hanmer Springs
• Lake Tekapo
• Milford Sound
• Stewart Island
• Action Flights
• Adventure Activity Combos
• Bungy Jumping
• Canyon Swing
• Climbing & Caving
• Hang Gliding
• Mountain Biking
• Paragliding
• Quad Biking
• Ski & Snow
• Surfing & Sledging

Sightseeing

• Attractions
• Cycling Tours
• Family Friendly Activities
• Fiordland National Park
• Food & Wine Tasting Tours
• Glow Worm Tours
• Half Day Tours
• Hiking Tours & Guided Walks
• Historical Tours
• Lord of the Rings
• Night Activities
• Overnight & Multi Day Tours
• Segway Tours
• Sightseeing Combos
• TV & Movie Tours
• Wet Weather Activities
• Wildlife Tours
• Helicopter Flights
• Hot Air Ballooning
• Parasailing
• Scenic Plane Flights
• Horse Riding
• Maori Cultural Experiences
• Offroad & 4WD
• Target Shooting
• Trike Tours
• Dolphin Swim
• Scuba Diving & Snorkelling

Food & Wine

• Dining Experiences
• Massage & Day Spa
• Whale Watching
• Group Bookings
• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy

Who Are We?

• Operator Sign-up
• Australian Activities

Other Stuff

• Currency Converter
• Weather Forecast

• SOCIETY - RELIGION - THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION
• Hobbiton Tours. Waitomo Caves And Rotorua Options.
• Best Of Northland. 2, 3, 4 Days
• North Island Tours. 2-8 Days
• South Island Tours.. Explore Our Magnificent South Island.
• North And South Island Tours. Stewart Island Option
• Rail Tours - New Zealand
• Great Barrier Island. 4 Days
• Fabulous Fiordland Plus Queenstown. 7 Days - Features Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise.
• Freedom Tours. Flexible Packages Throughout New Zealand.
• Awesome Auckland. Tours, Stayover Packages And Day Tours
• Coromandel Peninsula. One - Three Day Tours
• Norfolk Island
• French Polynesia
• COOK ISLANDS - RAROTONGA RELAXER. NIUE - BALI
• Public Transport
• New Zealand Issues.
• Auckland Issues

Fabulous Fiordland including Milford and Doubtful Sound cruises. New Year special 05 January.

Fabulous fiordland   7 days/6 nights (extendable)  .

Semi Independent departures (minimum 2 passengers) commence Queenstown DAILY to April 25, 2025.

Features: 2 nights Queenstown, day tour to Milford Sound including cruise, 2 nights Te Anau, 1 overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound, 1 night Queenstown. Early bookings are essential as we do not hold an allotment on the cruise. Travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound, Manapouri, and back to Queenstown is by 'big bus' operated by RealNz who operate the cruises at Milford and Doubtful Sounds.

This tour connects from our MINI RAIL TOUR Auckland to Christchurch departing Auckland Mondays and Thursdays, and COOK CONNECTION coach tour Christchurch/Mt Cook/Queenstown which operates daily.

FABULOUS FIORDLAND AND WEST COAST  9 days/8 nights. New Year Special January 05-13. See itinerary at bottom of this page. This tour can operate any week commencing fridays for minimum of 4 passengers subject to availability of driver/guide and space on cruise and at hotels.

Itinerary 

Day 1.                                     ARRIVE QUEENSTOWN

 Arrive Queenstown and you will be transferred to your hotel. 

Day 2.                                     QUEENSTOWN                                                                    (B)  

Free day with many options available - extra expense.

We recommend the cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the historic steamer "Earnslaw" and a barbecue lunch or dinner at the Colonel's Homestead. Lunch 11am - 2.30pm OR 1pm - 4.30pm $199. . Dinner 5pm - 9pm OR  7pm - 11pm.  $199

Day 3.                                  QUEENSTOWN  - MILFORD SOUND - TE ANAU     (BL)

A day of fabulous scenery as we drive to Te Anau then visit the Mirror Lakes and continue through the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys and through the Homer tunnel to magnificent  Milford Sound. Enjoy a cruise to the head of the Sound under majestic Mitre Peak with picnic lunch included and see the Bowen Waterfall before returning to Te Anau for accommodation at Luxmore Hotel.  

Day 4.                                                    TE ANAU                                            (B)

Free day to relax and explore Te Anau. Take a cruise across the lake to the Te Ana-au caves - $129, scenic float plane flight, enjoy the Fiordland movie,  etc.  All activities are extra expense.

Day 5.                                               TE ANAU - DOUBTFUL SOUND       (BD)                               

Late morning we transfer to Manapouri and cruise across the bush clad Lake Manapouri to the West Arm. Drive across Wilmot Pass, and join our cruise ship  "Fiordland Navigator.  Sail mid afternoon. Doubtful Sound is much more extensive than Milford Sound. Explore the fiords and travel to the entrance with the Tasman Sea. See the seals and often dolphins and other wildlife are to be seen. Dinner included on board. Anchor overnight in a quiet bay. Optional evening exploring by kayak or ships tender to get up close and personal with the Fiords. 

Day 6.                                             DOUBTFUL SOUND - QUEENSTOWN   (B)  

Disembark after breakfast and we retrace our steps to Manapouri and return to Queenstown arriving mid afternoon. 

Day 7.                                       QUEENSTOWN DEPART         (B)

You will be transferred to the airport for departure.  

You are welcome to stayover in Queenstown and explore further if you wish.  

Tour cost per person.  

September 01 - October 31, 2024:   April 1-30 2025......... 2 per room/cabin   $2,390.   Single room/cabin  $3,630

November 01 - December 19 2024........ 2 per room/cabin $2,590. Single room/cabin  $3,990

December 20, 2024 - 31 March, 2025: 2 per room/cabin......    $2,690... Single room/cabin... $4,160

Tour cost includes:  

** Return transfers from Queenstown airport to your hotel.         

** 5 nights accommodation and breakfast at hotels. 3 nights in Queenstown, 2 nights in Te Anau

**  Full day tour to Milford Sound including cruise, and picnic lunch.   

** 1 night aboard  Fiordland Navigator including 1 dinner and  1 breakfast.

DEEP SOUTH AND STEWART ISLAND - Dunedin - Catlins - Invercargill - Stewart island options. See our DEEP SOUTH AND STEWART ISLAND TOUR commencing Queenstown and Invercargill every monday (Eastbound) and Dunedin every monday Westbound). Read  more

DISCOVER STEWART ISLAND

Travel on our FABULOUS FIORDLAND tour and on returning to Manapouri transfer to Invercargill via the scenic route via Tuatapere and Riverton for one night.  Owing to a great shortage of accommodation on Stewart Island it is often necessary to stay in Invercargill and take a day tour by ferry or air  

The ending is flexible. Stay longer on Stewart Island, fly back from Invercargill, or join our 3 day/2 night tour departing Queenstown wednesdays for 1 night at Franz Josef Glacier, 1 night at Hokitika, then on to Punakaiki finishing in Christchurch friday afternoon.

FABULOUS FIORDLAND AND WEST COAST  9 days/8 nights.

New year special. january 05-13, 2025.

Day 1.   Sunday. 05 January                                  ARRIVE QUEENSTOWN

 Arrive Queenstown and you will be transferred to the Millennium Hotel.

Day 2.   Monday. 06 January                                 QUEENSTOWN                                                                    (B)  

Enjoy a tour along the shores of Lake Wakatipu to the beautiful town of Glenorchy. See some of the scenes where Lord of the Rings was shot and enjoy the scenery. Return to Queenstown about 12.30pm. The afternoon is free.                                                                                     

This evening cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the historic steamer "Earnslaw" for a  barbecue dinner at the Colonel's Homestead. 

Day 3.  Tuesday 07 January.                              QUEENSTOWN  - MILFORD SOUND - TE ANAU     (BL)

Day 4.  Wednesday 08 January                                             TE ANAU - DOUBTFUL SOUND       (BD)                               

Day 5.     Thursday 09 January.                                        DOUBTFUL SOUND - QUEENSTOWN   (B)  

Disembark after breakfast and we retrace our steps to Manapouri and return to Queenstown arriving mid afternoon. Accommodation again at the Millennium Hotel.

Day 6.     Friday. 10 January.                              QUEENSTOWN - LAKE  MATHESON - FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER         (B)

Drive through the Kawarau Gorge and see the original bunjy site - try it if you dare! Continue to Wanaka for a short visit then through Makarora and over Haast Pass to the rainforest of the West Coast. Visit waterfalls and take a hike to the Blue Pools en route of you wish. Visit Shipwreck Creek and Knights Point coastal lookout and continue to Fox Glacier to visit Lake Matheson. You have time for a hike around the lake if you wish. Accommodation at Scenic Franz Josef Hotel.

Day 7. Saturday. 11 January.                             GLACIERS - OKARITO - HOKITIKA.  (B)

Enjoy a 2 hour boat cruise on Okarito Lagoon, main breeding ground of the White Heron. Also see Godwits and many other birds. Return to the wharf for a picnic lunch and meet a local guide to explain the local restoration efforts and take a guided walk through the Okarito Rainforest. The total tour is 4-4.5 hours. Continue to Treetops walkway and walk among the towering Kahikatea tree canopy. Late afternoon we cruise the scenic Lake Mahinapua waterways. Overnight in Hokitika at Beachfront Hotel. 

Day 8. Sunday. 12 January.                              HOKITIKA - TRANZ ALPINE TRAIN - CHRISTCHURCH

Explore the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks in the Paparoa National Park. Return to Greymouth to visit Shantytown to pan for gold and ride the steam train into the forest. Depart Greymouth 2.05pm aboard the award winning "Tranz Alpine" train scheduled to arrive Christchurch 7pm. You will be transferred to your hotel in the central city, or to the Novotel airport for early departures monday.

Day 9. Monday 13 January                              CHRISTCHURCH DEPART   (B) Transfer to the airport for departure if staying in the city or if staying at the Novotel at the airport its a 2 minute walk to check in counters.

Tour cost per person    2 per room $5,850. Single room/cabin $7,650

If you prefer to do a day cruise on Lake Manapouri and Doubtful Sound instead of overnight you can stay 2 nights at Te Anau on the 8th and 9th January and day cruise including lunch on the 9th. Cost reduces to $5,600 2 per room and $6,800 single room. 

Tour cost includes:

** Transfer from Queenstown airport to your hotel.         

** 7 nights accommodation and breakfast at hotels. 

** 1 night cruise on Doubtful Sound aboard Fiordland Navigator incuding dinner and breakfast.

** Sightseeing admissions to: Glenorchy tour, "Earnslaw" cruise and Walter Peak dinner, Okarito Lagoon 4 hour cruise, Treetops Walk, Lake Mahinapua cruise, Shantytown, "Tranz Alpine" fare.

** Services of driver/guide and exclusive People Mover or mini bus from Queenstown 10 January to Christchurch. Travel from Queenstown to and from your cruises may be by big bus operated by the cruise company.

Tour 310. FABULOUS FIORDLAND with 2 night cruise.

DOUBTFUL SOUND 2 NIGHT CRUISE - Double the pleasure with 2 nights on board and experience the full extent of Doubtful Sound! 

Commence Queenstown

2025: April 29, May 01, 06, 13, 15, 20, 22, 20, 22, 27.  

Day 1. Tuesday/Thursday. Arrive Queenstown for 2 nights.

Day 2. Wednesday/Friday. Free day in Queenstown.

Day 3. Thursday/Saturday.  Tour to Milford Sound for cruise and overnight Te Anau. 

Day 4. Friday/Sunday. Transfer to Manapouri for your 2 night Doubtful Sound cruise.

Day 5. Saturday/Monday. Cruising Doubtful Sound.

Day 6. Sunday/Tuesday  Return from cruise. Transfer to Queenstown  for 1 night

Day 7. Monday/Wednesday Transfer to the airport. 

Tour cost per person:  2 per room/cabin $2,390.  Single    $2,990

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other South Island Tours.. Explore Our Magnificent South Island.

Best of the West Coast, 6 days/5 nights plus 3 day short break mini "Tranz Alpine" Tours

Cities of the South

Preservation Inlet, Dusky Sound, Stewart Island extended cruises.

Top of the South Island. 6 Six days

Copyright © 2024 New Zealand Tours

Website crafted by bocapa

Helpful tips

Here's a few useful links to help with planning your trip to Aotearoa New Zealand.

• Best things to do in the North Island
• Best things to do in the South Island
• Other Islands
• Best ways to travel around
• Calculate travel times and distances

Looking for deals

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise

RealNZ | Doubtful Sound Pātea Day Cruise

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise ex Queenstown

88 Beach Street , Central Queenstown , New Zealand .

Relax on a glass-roofed coach from Queenstown, cruise beautiful Lake Manapouri, then spend 3 hours cruising spectacular Doubtful Sound and taking in the most stunning Fiordland scenery.

Pricing and Conditions

Delicious lunch options available for purchase from Manapouri Café.

Prices are valid until 30 September 2024, are per person based on a Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise departing Queenstown. Infants (0 – 4 years) carried free of charge. Manapouri Underground Power Station has been closed for several years by Meridian for maintenance - re-opening date unknown.

If cancelling or amending a retail booking, a refund will only be granted when RealNZ receives notification 24 hours prior to departure.

Travel by coach with us to Manapouri and discover the unspoilt and remote wilderness of Doubtful Sound. We will take you across beautiful Lake Manapouri, over Wilmot Pass and down into Deep Cove where you will spend three hours taking in the most dramatic scenery of Doubtful Sound. Our specialist nature guides are on hand to point out the highlights and wildlife sightings are common (dolphins, seals and penguins), tea & coffee available onboard, discover the 'Sound of Silence', lunch options available, suitable for all ages.

Opening times

Open in larger map

Language support

• Share on Facebook
• Share by email

Find similar things to do in the Queenstown region

Find a place to stay in the queenstown region.

The content on this page was created by Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise ex Queenstown

This website helps visitors connect with providers of great New Zealand tourism experiences. It is not intended to give any assurance that any particular provider meets certain quality standards or legal obligations. Please contact this business for more information. See also: newzealand.com terms of use (opens in new window) .

• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Recommended Posts

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

• 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• Hurricane Zone 2024
• Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com Summer 2024
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!
• How To: Follow Topics & Forums (Get Notifications)

Write An Amazing Review !

Click this photo by member XFrancophileX to share your review w/ photos too!

Parliament, Budapest

Features & News

LauraS · Started Friday at 09:08 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 10:09 PM

LauraS · Started Wednesday at 08:19 PM

LauraS · Started Wednesday at 07:42 PM

LauraS · Started Wednesday at 02:44 PM

Cruise Planning

Find a cruise, popular ports, member reviews.

© 1995— 2024 , The Independent Traveler, Inc.

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

Save 25% on Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruises: Wilderness25 . T&Cs apply .

Come to life

Stir up something new.  .

When you step out of the everyday and into the extraordinary, something changes inside.    You’re shaken awake with a fresh perspective, sparked with a burst of joy, and landed with a wave of realisation.   

Come with us, and explore the very real, and even more extraordinary nature Aotearoa New Zealand has to offer. Come with us, to life.  

Featured Experiences

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruises

Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Dining

Milford Sound Cruises

Te Anau Glowworm Caves

Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruises

Stewart Island Ferry Services

Queenstown Jet Boat

TSS Earnslaw Lake Cruises

Walter Peak Farm Tours

What's on special.

If you're looking for some great deals, then you've come to the right place. Browse our specials below.

Share Your Adventure

9 stunning milford sound tourist attractions for your instagram.

Milford Sound is a must-see spot renowned for its beauty. See the most popular tourist attractions to snap for your Instagram around the area.

4 Incredible glowworm facts you won’t know

Discover 4 incredible glowworm facts that will surprise you! Learn about the fascinating world of New Zealand Te Anau glowworms and their magical bioluminescence. Plan your trip to explore.

8 reasons why Milford Sound is a ‘Must Do’ in New Zealand

Milford is the epitome of clean and green - the jewel of Fiordland, here lush rainforests are abundant, with towering glacier-carved peaks, waterfalls everywhere, lakes galore and moody skies, what’s not to love?

Things to do in Milford Sound

Milford Sound is full of exciting outdoor activities. Discover the best things to do, from cruises and kayaking to scenic flights, wildlife spotting and more.

Things we are proud of:

• Remember me Not recommended on shared computers

Forgot your password?

Or sign in with one of these services

• Traveling with Celiac Disease

Welcome to Celiac.com!

You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum , share your story, and connect with others.

• Celiac.com Sponsor (A1): Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

River Cruise Moscow To St. Petersburg

By rajawali July 30, 2007 in Traveling with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

Hello dear Celiac suferrers,

My wife and I (I am a new celiac) plan to do a river cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg in Sept/Oct. I am very concerned about my situation and would like to learn from you who have been on a trip similar to this. This trip is organized by Viking River Cruises.

From reading the comments in this forum, I understand that I need to talk to the cruise line, to the people managing food on board the cruise ship, to the tour guide, etc. I was also thinking about bringing my own food (very cumbersome), rice, rice cooker, etc.

Any comments will be greatly appreciated.

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

My friend and her husband did that cruise in the opposite direction (St Pete to Moscow). They had a great time. I don't envy you trying to do it with celiac disease. She said most of the food was gluten based.... I hope that someone in the know listens to your concerns. I don't mean to sound negative but I would sure think about bringing along as much food as my suitcase will carry. Not only are you dealing with people who might not have knowledge about celiac disease but there is a huge language barrier unless you are fluent in Russian.... BUT like they say, where there is a will there is a way. I would count on myself to make sure I have the kinds of food I can eat. Hopefully, there will be markets along the way where you can get fresh fruits and veggies.

Just an add on to the above comment. I saw my friend today and she was showing me pics of the trip. It looked wonderful. They did travel on the Viking Cruise. She suggested that you get as much in writing (Russian) about your food restrictions as there were few people (I think she said NONE) on the boat who spoke English well enough to understand your situation. One of the stops on the trip was to a home of a Russian woman. She cooked a traditional meal. My friend showed me the pic of the table..... loaves and loaves of bread. She said that homemade bread (even on the boat) was a staple at every meal. I know that this is probably a downer but you will probably just have to figure out a way to be creative in your eating. My friend said that the meals on board were traditional Russian foods.... She said that there didn't seem to be any kind of meal substitutions offered to the guests on the boat. She suggested that you will probably want to get this taken care of before the trip. Again I know I sound like a "nay sayer" but best you prepare ahead for the trip rather than be taken by surprise. I would be anxious to find out how everything turned out. Like I said before the pics looked wonderful!!!!!

• 4 weeks later...

Dear Sparkles.

Thank you very much for the feedback. I will post my experiences after I get back from our trip in September.

Many readers suggested bringing such things as gluten free bars that you can get from Whole Foods, Trail Mixes, etc. Unfortunately, I found out that I am also sensitive to dried fruits. I tried dried appricots, dates (beautiful, large and delicious ones from California) and got into big D.

Recently I found out that I seem to develop lactose intolerance. Loved cheese and yogurt, but, can't have them anymore. I was diagnosed with Celiac in Nov 2005. Had no problem with lactose until recently.

I also found that I cannot tolerate certain nuts, such as smoked almonds. I understand many bars use nuts and dried fruits. I plan to try some of them shortly.

Is this unusual, or are there readers with the same problem ? This makes it difficult when flying long distance.

• 8 months later...

Dear fellow Celiac sufferers,

My wife and I did the Moscow - St. Petersburg river cruise with Viking River Cruises. We had a fabulous experience, not one accident. The cruise ship crew was fantastic looking after my diet.

Here is what I did:

1. I went into MENUDATA.com and get a free translation in Russian of the stuff I cannot have.

2. As soon as we got on board, I went to see the dining room's maitre d' and gave him a copy of the printed the translation.

3. He identified me as #5 (lactose intolerant) and #6 (gluten free) from his mater list. Told me to tell the wait staff of my numbers each time I came for a meal, and promised to make a special meal.

4. True to his word, I never had an accident. Even the box lunches that they prepared were gluten free. After a couple of days, they all knew me.

Naturally I tipped them generously for their detailed attention.

We brought a lot of Lara Bars, Jerky (only Oberto as it is MSG free), etc. Didn't touch them too much.

We flew Lufthanza and requested a special diet. They faithfully provided me with the fruit platter meals that I requested.

That was my pleasant experience, and the river cruise ? It was fantastic.

I hope this experience is helpful to those who wants to go to Russia.

That sounds excellent, I am glad you had a good time without getting sick! And it is also so much more enjoyable if you get good food, too.

• 5 years later...

So glad to read a positive report about a river boat cruise in Russia.  I do note that these posts are rather old.  Does anyone have updated information on the availability of gluten-free in Russia - specifically Moscow and St. Petersburg?  I've had one tour company tell me that gluten-free food may not be available, even in the big cities.  I'd appreciate any updated info.  BTW, I posted on Fodor's Russia forum over a month ago and have had no responses.  Sigh.....Thanks much.

I hope others respond. I too will be in St. Petersburg for two days as part of a port stop on a cruise ship this summer. I am hoping the ship might provide some food for me or I will have to dine on food I am bring from home. I have not even started to research yet. Your post might get me going!

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

• Celiac.com Sponsor (A17): Celiac.com Sponsor (A17): Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):

Recent Activity

Rating of 4 jars for this incubation round.

How to diagnose NCGS / false positive Celiac / extreme fatigue, night terrors

Help plz with results. celiac.

• Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

Member Statistics

• Total Members 124,436
• Most Online (within 30 mins) 7,748 September 18, 2023
• Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

Forum Statistics

• Total Topics 120.7k
• Total Posts 1m
• Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

Who's Online (See full list)

• Shirley curtis
• Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

Upcoming Events

• Sep 10 0 National Celiac Association: Virtual Support Group: Living Gluten Free Zoom Meeting Sep/24 September 10, 2024 11:00 PM
• Sep 17 0 NCA ROCK Virtual Meet-Up for High Schoolers (September 2024) September 17, 2024 11:30 PM
• Oct 08 0 National Celiac Association: Virtual Support Group: Living Gluten Free Zoom October Meeting October 08, 2024 11:00 PM
• Nov 13 0 National Celiac Association: Virtual Support Group: Living Gluten Free Zoom November Meeting November 13, 2024 12:00 AM
• Nov 20 0 NCA ROCK Virtual Meet-Up for High Schoolers (November 2024) November 20, 2024 12:30 AM

By trents · Posted 3 hours ago

By plumbago · Posted 3 hours ago

By SunshineFace · Posted 4 hours ago

By Layu · Posted 4 hours ago

• Existing user? Sign In

Forum Categories

• Coping with CD
• Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
• Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment
• Related Issues & Disorders
• Dermatitis Herpetiformis
• GF Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
• GF Recipes & Cooking Tips
• GF Restaurants
• Traveling with CD
• Sports and Fitness
• Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
• Parents, Friends and Loved Ones
• Meet Up Room
• Publications & Publicity
• Food Intolerance & Leaky Gut
• Super Sensitive People
• Forum Technical Help
• Register - Join Us
• Latest Articles

All Categories

• View All Categories
• Safe & Unsafe Foods
• Celiac Disease FAQ
• Celiac Disease Basics
• Product Reviews
• GF Foods & Beverages
• Latest Research

Related Disorders

• All Disorder Categories
• Ataxia, Neuropathy & Nerve-Brain
• Bacterial Overgrowth & Candida
• Cancer & Lymphoma
• Casein & Cows Milk Intolerance
• Cognitive Impairment
• Crohn's Disease
• Dyspepsia & Acid Reflux
• Fertility, Pregnancy & Miscarriage
• Fibromyalgia
• Growth Hormone Deficiency
• Heart Issues
• Infertility & Impotency
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Intestinal Permeability
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Kidney Disease
• Liver Disease
• Migraine Headaches
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Osteoporosis & Osteomalacia
• Refractory CD
• Schizophrenia & Mental Issues
• Skin Problems & Rashes
• Thyroid & Pancreatic
• Other Disorders
• Diagnosis & Treatment

Miscellaneous

• All Misc. Categories
• Additional Concerns
• Projects, Fundraising, Epidemiology
• Publicity, Church, Pregnancy & Beer
• Labeling Regulations
• Codex Wheat Starch
• Podcast Edition
• Tax Deductions

Journal of Gluten Sensitivity

• GF Grains & Flours
• Kids and CD
• Allergy vs. Intolerance
• Support Groups
• Doctor Listing

Popular Articles

• About Celiac Disease
• Blood Tests
• Forbidden List
• GF Diet 101
• Nutrient Deficiencies
• Safe Alcohols & Drinks
• Genetic Testing
• Got Glutened?
• Ongoing Symptoms
• All Recipes
• All Countries
• American & British
• Chinese & Asian
• Indian & Middle Eastern
• Mexican & Spanish
• South American
• Biscuits, Buns & Rolls
• Flour Mixes
• Snacks & Appetizers
• Soups & Sauces
• Journal of Gluten Sensitivity - All Issues
• Spring 2024 Issue
• Winter 2024 Issue
• Autumn 2023 Issue
• Summer 2023 Issue
• Spring 2023 Issue
• Winter 2023 Issue
• Autumn 2022 Issue
• Summer 2022 Issue
• Spring 2022 Issue
• Winter 2022 Issue
• Autumn 2021 Issue
• Summer 2021 Issue
• Spring 2021 Issue
• Winter 2021 Issue
• Autumn 2020 Issue
• Summer 2020 Issue
• Spring 2020 Issue
• Winter 2020 Issue
• Autumn 2019 Issue
• Summer 2019 Issue
• Spring 2019 Issue
• Winter 2019 Issue
• Autumn 2018 Issue
• Summer 2018 Issue
• Spring 2018 Issue
• Winter 2018 Issue
• Autumn 2017 Issue
• Summer 2017 Issue
• Spring 2017 Issue
• Winter 2017 Issue
• Autumn 2016 Issue
• Summer 2016 Issue
• Spring 2016 Issue
• Winter 2016 Issue
• Autumn 2015 Issue
• Summer 2015 Issue
• Spring 2015 Issue
• Winter 2015 Issue
• Autumn 2014 Issue
• Summer 2014 Issue
• Spring 2014 Issue
• Winter 2014 Issue
• Autumn 2013 Issue
• Summer 2013 Issue
• Spring 2013 Issue
• Winter 2013 Issue
• Autumn 2012 Issue
• Summer 2012 Issue
• Spring 2012 Issue
• Winter 2012 Issue
• Autumn 2011 Issue
• Summer 2011 Issue
• Spring 2011 Issue
• Winter 2011 Issue
• Autumn 2010 Issue
• Summer 2010 Issue
• Spring 2010 Issue
• Winter 2010 Issue
• Autumn 2009 Issue
• Summer 2009 Issue
• Spring 2009 Issue
• Winter 2009 Issue
• Autumn 2008 Issue
• Summer 2008 Issue
• Spring 2008 Issue
• Winter 2008 Issue
• Autumn 2007 Issue
• Summer 2007 Issue
• Spring 2007 Issue
• Winter 2007 Issue
• Autumn 2006 Issue
• Summer 2006 Issue
• Spring 2006 Issue
• Winter 2006 Issue
• Autumn 2005 Issue
• Summer 2005 Issue
• Spring 2005 Issue
• Winter 2005 Issue
• Autumn 2004 Issue
• Summer 2004 Issue
• Spring 2004 Issue
• Winter 2004 Issue
• Autumn 2003 Issue
• Summer 2003 Issue
• Spring 2003 Issue
• Winter 2003 Issue
• Autumn 2002 Issue
• Summer 2002 Issue
• Join eNewsletter
• Advertising
• Terms of Use
• External Resources
• All Activity
• My Activity Streams
• Who's Online 30 Mins
• Leaderboard
• Create New...