Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka, Russia

NCL Jewel 21-Day Transpacific Cruise Tokyo to Seattle

May 14, 2018 (Monday) -- Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka, Russia

Time in Port: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm (Initially)

This was the port that we had most questions about. We have been to St. Petersburg and we have been to Sakhalin, but not here. None of us have been to Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka on the far eastern coast of Russia. The main question that most of us had was "Do we need a visa to get in port without joining the cruise ship excursions?" It seems like that they have a different set of rules for each port in Russia and even that can change without notice, we were told. There were many speculations regarding the visa situation online and it was difficult to decide who we should listen to.

We did not want to miss this unusual port as many people said they would. We did the Sakhalin tour with Princess when they required that everyone join their excursion if wanting to go ashore in 2015 and I would be willing to do the same with NCL if this is the last straw. There are not that many  opportunities in life that one can step foot on this part of Russia even though some said there is really not much to see. Spending the day on board the ship is not my idea of time well-spent in cruising the world. 

It wasn't easy to find a private tour company in this part of Russia. After much researching done by TC, he decided on this outfit that fits both our budget and needs. We will have a private tour for the 15 of us on a City Tour+Paratunka for that day with Kamchatintour (Email: tour.info@kamchatintour.ru, website: www.kamchatintour.ru.) This was originally a full-day tour that starts at 8:00am in the morning until 5:00pm including taking a one and a half hour drive each way to Paratunka for the hot springs. The cost was under $100 per person. They will provide the travel vouchers that act like a visa for immigration purposes. Without travel vouchers visitors can only stay inside the city limit. So, all set for our day in Petropavlovsk. I have read that there are great opportunities to see bears on the drive to Paratunka. What an exciting adventure it will be!

Several days before our arrival at Petropavlovsk, the tour company notified us that they have heard about the possible delays of us getting on shore due to the immigration/passports issue on board and they asked if we wanted to set another meeting time instead of 8:00. None of the cost will change except for the entrance fees to the hot springs, museum, and lunch if time do not allow us to complete any of those planned activities. We figured that since we are paying for the whole day anyway, we just pushed the meeting time to 10:00 and give up our time going to the hot springs if needed. What took place that day kind of surprised us but fortunately, our tour went as planned, except without the trip to the hot springs. The tour company refunded the entrance fees for the hot springs at the end of the day ($10 per person) which we gave back as tips for the guide.

The three volcanoes quite visible on this map.

Waking up to this view of the city.

Our ship anchored off the shore.

"The Russians are coming!"

SC took this picture early in the morning as the Russian immigration officers boarding the Jewel.

When I opened our cabin door before breakfast that morning, a couple of officers were checking out the ship map next to the elevator. A really strange feeling indeed.

We had breakfast at O'Sheehan's again.

The instruction that we had from NCL that morning was to wait for the announcements. They had already collected our passports for the entry stamps after the immigration officers get on board. Passport distribution would be at the mid elevator bank on each deck in the order as published, from the top deck down. Everyone can get off the ship with the stamped passports with no visas needed. 

After collecting our passports we were suppose to go to the photo gallery on deck 7 to get our tender tickets and get off the ship when the tender ticket number was called. Latitude Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus, etc. do not need tender tickets since we have priority disembarkation. 

After breakfast, we went back to our cabin and waited for the announcements. We were in a good spot since our cabin is just right next to the elevator bank. I kept checking but nothing was happening except a couple of crew members sitting behind the temporary table and chatting their way. Finally, at 10:00, they started calling for passport pick-up on deck 11. About half an hour later, it was our turn on deck 10, which I got really quick to get in line and received our passports in 10 minutes time after signing a paper verifying the number of passports I have received. BTW, one person in each cabin can get all the passports for people in the same cabin. Mind you that I was the eighth person in line, and that line grew quickly very fast, all the way around the port side hallway. 

I think they did this just so people will get their passports and tender tickets at different time without everyone making a mad dash to the tenders at the same moment. Reasonable, I suppose. The problem was the whole process took a long time, so our morning was wasted. Some in our group were on deck 9, so there was another long wait. I did feel sorry for the people on deck 4 and 5, which was at the end of the distribution schedule. 

As we waited on deck 7 for everyone to get their passports (those who got the passports already had enough tender tickets for everyone by then and they were calling numbers way past ours) we learned that some passports were missing and the crew were searching everywhere for them making our wait even long. We finally decided that those of us who already have the passports should go ahead and go ashore so the guide will know what was going on as the others continued to wait for the missing passports.

The line for the tender was not too bad with the Russian officers checking the stamped passports against each person exiting the gangway face to face. 

Finally, on the tender.

We found our tour guide with the sign and she was waiting patiently at the pier. She told us to go visit the souvenir 'shops' inside the warehouse by the pier as we continued to wait for the rest of the group.

We found out that the souvenir 'shops' at the pier had better prices than the other stores that we visited later on.

Then we waited on the huge bus that was for the 15 of us until 12:15 when everyone in our group finally came ashore and began our tour for the day. We definitely had to give up our trip to the hot springs for just the city tour now.

Getting out of the pier.

The Peter and Paul Statue was the first thing we saw closest to the pier.

Then the Zavoiko Monument around the corner.

This is a pretty area around a lake, walking distance from the pier.

Our bus did not stop at any of those monuments but continued driving to our first stop, lunch.

Because of the harsh weather, most buildings are beaten up.

Petropavlovsk is a military town and it is only recently that it is turning commercialized and touristy.

This could be the Monument Tank T-34. Not sure though.

We stopped at a hotel for lunch. Lunch was included in our tour.

Hotel Avacha

Checking-in our coats at the restaurant. "You must do this." Said the guide.

No tips required. 

We had an elegantly decorated private room for this lunch even though the restaurant was quite empty at this late hour.

Ready for lunch!

A salad

fresh bread

Russian borsch, hot and delicious!

Fried chicken and mashed potatoes

tea and crepe for dessert

Everything was deliciously prepared.

Entrance of the restaurant, I believe it's called the Coliseum. 

Another group picture before leaving the restaurant.

Volcanic Museum

Off to our first attraction of the day, the Volcano Museum. I was really surprised at how small this building is. It sounded like this is the main attraction in the city but it was very quiet. I suppose because it is so far away from port, up on the hill and not easy to get to. Other than our group, we bumped into our friends group and then one small group of visitors inside the museum. BTW, our friends group did not leave the pier until after 1:30, because some of their people were on deck 4 and 5. Their tour did not include lunch either so they had to get some snacks at the coffee shop here at the museum.

huge sink hole in front of the museum

Volcano Museum. Don't judge it by the appearance though.

Waiting for the museum guide.

Everything was interesting and very well-presented inside the museum.

Small and compact.

Our museum docent with passable English.

Picture of the volcano area in the summer. Pretty.

Drum of the natives

These are the newer apartments.

We were told that they do have rush hour traffic with most households owning two to three cars in this city.

St. Alexander Orthodox Church or Trinity Cathedral

Our next stop was to the newly constructed St. Alexander Orthodox Church up on the hill. This is about 4 or 5 kilometers from the center of town. One can see this Cathedral even down at the port area when looking up. This should be a must-see when visiting Petropavlovsk. I am sure there are public transportation that you can take up here, but I have no idea how. You have the gorgeous view of the whole city under your feet and the volcanic mountains at a far distance away. 

The grounds of the Cathedral.

Brand new church that replaced the old church that was destroyed by a fire set off by thieves.

Be prepared to offer a donation as the priest comes around with the box.

Everything was absolutely beautiful!

It is still undergoing construction.

You can stand there and admire these paintings for hours.

The volcanic mountains in the background.

After the Cathedral visit, we were driving around town and then taken to two vantage points on the mountains in the other side of town where we could see the harbor and port. Unfortunately, I do not know the name of these sites. It seemed to be popular stops for visitors on tour groups. We could see the harbor and the cruise ship way high up there from the forest still covered with snow.

NCL Jewel

A gentleman hauled these bear statues up behind his truck so tourists can take pictures with them for $2.00. We fell for it! Our guide said when the bears come out of their hibernation, they would come down to the city also. Unfortunately, we did not see any real ones on this tour.

A City of Monuments

Our last stop was a "city walking tour" starting at the Lenin Square near the port. This part of the tour is all walkable from the pier and close enough that no transportation is needed. Our bus dropped us off at the parking lot near the Kamchatka Theater then we walked along the main street back to the bus that was picking us up at the other end. We saw quite a few monuments along the way and stopped at a couple of souvenir shops before getting back on the bus. 

Kamchatka Theater Drama and Comedy Center

Kamchatka Government Building

The Lenin Monument

I think this is called the Gallery of Honorary Citizens of Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka. Just right by the highway.

This is a monument to remember the battle of 1854 between Russia and France.

Our tour guide and the Monument of St. Nicholas.

St. Alexander Nevsky Church. The original church was destroyed in 1937 during Stalin Great Purge. The new temple was rebuilt in 2007.

Front of the temple.

In the park across from the temple sits the Monument to the Soldiers of the Soviet Army Liberators of the Kuril Islands in 1945 from the Japanese force.

Listened as we walked.

Inside one of the souvenir shops.

It was so crowded and stuffy inside that we would rather wait outside the store.

A little after 5:00, we were taken back to the tender pier for our ride back to the ship. Last glimpse of the Lenin Statue before leaving town.

This port is nothing like St. Petersburg for sure, and it is very different from our visit to Sakhalin in 2015. I must say that I have no regrets visiting here.

When we reached the gangway, the Russian officials checked our passports face to face again and collected all the passports for our exit stamps before leaving Russia.

Dinner at Tsar's
By the time we freshen up a little it was dinner time at Tsar's.

Grilled Chicken Salad

Shrimp Louis

Veal Scallopini Oscar

Broiled Cape Hake

Apple and Pear Crisp

                           

As we were sailing out, I noticed these interesting pieces of rock nearby. Looked like a mother seal and a baby seal.

Beautiful sunset in Kamchatka.

We have been turning our clocks one hour forward every night since leaving Japan. 

We will have four sea days before we reached Seward.

"Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours."                                                                       I Chronicles 29:11