maxi cosi zelia travel system review

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Maxi-Cosi Zelia review

If you're looking for a reliable, lightweight travel system that won't cost the earth, then look no further than the Maxi-Cosi Zelia.

By Mumsnet HQ | Last updated Dec 4, 2023

Verdict in 10 seconds

Standout value, light in weight and folds to the smallest size of all on test. The Maxi-Cosi Zelia may well be the best travel system on the market for under £400.

Lightweight

Great value for money

2-in-1 pushchair – seat converts to a lie-flat bassinet

Easy one-handed, compact fold

Tricky to change seat position with heavier child

Wide frame not ideal for public transport and small shops

Straps can be fiddly

What are the key features?

Full reclining seat with a lie-flat position

Integrated bassinet

Seat adjusts to parent-facing or road-facing in just two clicks

Rain cover included

Five-point harness

Removable bumper bar

Sun canopy with a peek-a-boo window and visor

Height-adjustable handlebar

Lockable swivel wheels

Rear-wheel suspension

Car seat compatible

What are the specs?

Suitable from: Birth to 15kg

Pushchair orientation: Parent- and world-facing

Number of wheels: Four

Dimensions: H 98.5–103 x W 64.5 x L 101.5 cm

Dimensions (folded): H 65 x W 36 x L 75 cm

Weight: 9.6kg

RRP: £299 at time of review

Extras included: Rain cover, bumper bar, sun canopy, boot cover/apron

Compatible with the following car seats: Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix, Maxi-Cosi Pebble, Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus, Maxi-Cosi Rock and Maxi-Cosi Citi

What does the package include?

The Maxi-Cosi Zelia arrived in the smallest box of all on test with everything necessary for immediate assembly.

Included in the box is a rain cover and a boot cover/apron, which can be used when the seat is upright or laid flat in bassinet mode, as well as care and assembly instructions.

The stroller is compatible with a Maxi-Cosi car seat, which you’ll need to purchase separately along with car seat adaptors.

As Maxi-Cosi are so confident in their quality, the Zelia comes with a 24-month guarantee. To contact customer services, you'll find an email address and a landline phone number on their website.

How easy is the Maxi-Cosi Zelia to assemble?

Assembly was quick and easy for our tester, taking her just under 10 minutes after battling with the wheels – she found they needed a good push to be clicked into place, but once on they were very secure.

Every item is lightweight and all parts fit together well. The frame is already built so it is just a case of adding the wheels, clicking the seat directly onto the chassis (this was simple and there was no concern about doing this incorrectly) and then attaching the hood. Overall, our tester found assembly very straightforward.

If you get stuck, there are plenty of short, easy-to-watch online videos online to show you how to fold and fit the various parts.

How does it look?

While the Zelia is attractive, its design doesn't stand out from the crowd unlike the distinctive Stokke Xplory or brightly-patterned Bugaboo Fox that were also tested (although the Stokke did not make our final five).

Despite not being overly original in design, this pushchair is clearly good quality. The material itself feels strong and hard-wearing, and our tester felt that it looked more expensive than its very reasonable price point.

We tested the Zelia in nomad black, but it comes in five other colourways including red, blue, grey, sparkling blue and sparkling grey. The black colourway was flecked with specks of grey, which made it feel richer and also helped to hide any marks made during the testing process.

How comfortable is it?

A selling point for our tester was the roomy seat which was larger than others on test, such as the BabyStyle Oyster 3 . It also holds up to 15kg, which is a child's weight at approximately three-and-a-half years old.

She felt it easily fit her two-year-old with plenty of room for growing too. She particularly liked its upright positioning which made it more of a chair than a reclining pushchair seat and allowed her child to engage with the world around him.

With a couple of clicks, the seat can also be converted to a bassinet making it ideal for use with a newborn.

Our tester had no doubt that the Maxi-Cosi will grow with your family, unlike others on test, such as the Oyster 3, which felt slightly on the small side.

"I have a Maxi-Cosi Zelia and I love it. It's lightweight so I can pick up the chassis one-handed and it folds and unfolds really easily."

What's it like to use day-to-day?

The recline is really easy to change on the go and there are three positions to choose from – simply pinch together the clip to move the seat to a different angle.

While this can be done one-handed, our tester was concerned that, with the additional weight of a baby leaning into the seat, parents with older children might struggle to adjust it smoothly. She also noted that, as with all buggies that use a strap for recline adjustment, altering the seat position could sometimes be a little stiff and jerky.

The carrycot recline, however, is a really great feature and, as you'd expect, it lies completely flat for a newborn. It has high sides and the apron covers it well for extra security. Because it has been converted from main seat unit, you can also still strap the baby in if you prefer.

She also noted that the carrycot was overly roomy for a younger baby, so she used a thick blanket for extra padding and kept the belly bar on as well.

When it came to the apron, it felt very secure and was easy to fit, although it could be kicked off at the end by wrigglers so an extra popper by the feet would have be handy here.

Our tester was pleasantly surprised with the Zelia when she took it out and about. Due to price and how lightweight it is as a whole, she was expecting a harsh journey for her baby, but this wasn't the case at all.

The Zelia handles the everyday bumps (kerbs, uneven pavement etc) really well and is ideal for walking to the shops and around town.

The storage basket is possibly the biggest we tested and easily takes three to four shopping bags and a changing bag with extra room for a few impulse buys too.

But, while the large storage basket made this pushchair a good shopping companion, the wide frame did make some smaller shops a challenge.

Off-road, the buggy was a little bumpier than others on test, such as the Nuna Mixx 2019 , but there were no major jolts or complaints.

One element that bothered our tester and her six-foot partner though was the adjustment in the handles. She found the handles only raised in height by a couple of inches so the positioning for both adults wasn’t exactly where she would like it. A little more range in this area, like the Nuna, would make all the difference.

And what about the fold?

The Maxi-Cosi Zelia has a flip-style mechanism that makes it easy to fold and unfold, but you do need two hands.

Also keep in mind that it can only be folded with the seat facing forward and can't be folded with anything in the storage basket, which isn’t ideal if you need to fold your buggy on the bus or train.

It lays flat, so it can be stored upright and, if you remove the seat, it’s even slimmer to store. Our tester was really impressed with the size of this buggy once folded as it was so small and compact compared to some of its competitors, such as the Mamas & Papas Ocarro , yet it had the feel of a bigger travel system when fully assembled.

As a result, the Zelia slipped effortlessly into the boot of our tester’s car leaving plenty of space for extras. There is also a carry handle (although it looks more like a bar than a custom handle) for easier lifting.

"The carrycot converts into a seat, which saves space in the house and it means the carrycot doesn't become obsolete once the baby is sitting. The basket underneath is really big which is always a bonus. I love it!"

How safe is it?

The frame is lightweight, but it has a wide base making it feel surprisingly sturdy. The Zelia went on the school run and shopping trips as well as off-road weekend romps, and our tester ensured it was fully loaded to identify any topple concerns. There were none as the Zelia allows you to hang a nappy bag or shopping on the handle up to the weight of 2kg.

While the five-point harness is safe and secure, our tester did struggle with the fact that the shoulder and waist straps shared a clip, so her child’s arms had to be bent through the harness.

Her concern was that, with a tantruming toddler, it would be harder to get them in or out of the pushchair. She found it helped to fully loosen a strap, put the baby’s arm in, then tighten before doing the same with the other side.

Once fastened, the baby couldn't wriggle free, aided by the well-positioned belly bar.

The brake is positioned on the right side of the bar, but effectively locks both rear wheels. It clicks on and off easily and can even be managed with flip-flops or bare feet. Once applied, the brake holds really well.

What about the extras?

The sunshade is included as standard and is UV 50+-protected. Our tester found it very useful and a great size, covering the baby completely in a protective cocoon to safeguard them from the elements. The included apron will help to keep out any wind too.

The same was true with the rain cover, which was also included in the package. It was easy and quick to fit onto the pram, although it took a little more time when the seat was lying completely flat, and was also a good size – it covered the whole buggy whether the seat was upright or in carrycot mode.

While the bundle is short on extras overall, there’s plenty to choose from in the Maxi-Cosi range including a changing bag, parasol, footmuff and handlebar gloves.

How easy is it to clean?

The dark colour fabric of the model we tested was hardwearing and still looked brand-new after the testing period. Grey specks helped to hide any marks created during the day and the fabric was easy to scrub down with a damp cloth (and dried quickly) if there were any stains.

Our tester and her seven-month-old put it through rigorous spillage tests, including spilled milk and bits of dried baby food, and all wiped off easily.

Because the comfort cushion and cover are not removable, they need to be washed with water, soap and a sponge. Regardless of this, the buggy still looked great.

Final verdict?

While it may have a lower price tag than most of the travel systems we tested, the quality of the Maxi-Cosi Zelia is still hard to beat.

The two-in-one seat is a major selling point for any new parent and its lightweight frame means this pushchair is easy to handle while also standing up to the rigours of everyday family life.

Overall, the Zelia exceeded all expectations and is an ideal choice for any family whether you're on a tight budget or not.

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About mumsnet reviews.

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing – this includes recommendations from the Mumsnet Talk boards . We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.

For more information about what to look for when buying a travel system, check out our buyer's guide .

All prices correct at time of publication

• Travel Systems

Maxi-Cosi Zelia review

As featured in our list of the best travel systems!

At a glance:

This travel system features both a Maxi-Cosi Zelia stroller and a Cabriofix 0+ car seat. The Maxi-Cosi Zelia pushchair will give you and your baby the confidence to embrace the future and let you enjoy everything urban life has to offer. Zelia’s seat transforms into a bassinet so it is the perfect 2-in-1 pushchair for cool, relaxed city living. This 2-in-1 pushchair is perfect for you if you're looking for the best compact pushchair that will fit into a small apartment without compromising on baby’s comfort.

Would you recommend this to other mums?

Clare:  This product is a good value for money as you are not charged extra for the bassinet as you are with some other brands. It was relatively easy to collapse, once you knew what you were doing (which is the same with all pushchairs). For the price it was reasonable. This would be an ideal pushchair for grandparents or other carers who are not using it all the time. It would be better as a city pram as it was not as robust as others.

Rebecca:  I love the quality of the Zelia. It really is a beautiful material and quality. I like the design of the travel system. It seems very comfortable from birth with the infant supports, to pre-school age child and it still looks comfortable rather than 'basic' pushchairs that don't have a lot of support as they get bigger.

April:  My daughter found the pushchair really comfortable and it seems cosy. It looks sleek and stylish and the leather handles make it just as comfortable to push.

How did this product make your life easier?

Gill:  I really loved the Zelia Travel System. It was lovely to steer and push and easy to slot into place. I especially like that it is suitable for all ages. I like that I have the option to use it if I were to have another child with the Pebble Plus car seat. This is a bonus as it's so much easier to have it all as one rather than separate car seats and buggies.

Laura:  Having the ability to change between a pram seat and carrycot is ideal. It means that the pram is suitable for a baby from birth until much older, as is quite roomy. Being able to change between pram and carry cot whilst out and about is great for nap time. It provides a comfortable place for baby to sleep. There is a roomy basket underneath the pram which is ideal for shopping.

Sara:  The Maxi Cosi Zelia leaves me with mixed emotions. Although it is good in terms of some practical features like the way you can clip a Maxi-Cosi car seat straight onto the frame. You can also fold the pram as one and it is a fairly compact fold and lightweight. However, the design of the seat left a lot to be desired.

Would you choose this product to win?

Jennifer: Yes I would choose this product above all others on the market. It is a great price for the quality of it. Some strollers are very expensive. As a mum, you want great quality for a good price and for it to look good. This ticks all of those boxes.

Sarah:  I would choose this product is for the following reasons. It is in the price bracket that I would be willing to pay. It is a well-known trusted brand name. There are lots of attachments available including being able to attach the car seat. The usability of the product is great. You can easily push it and fold it away. There is also a big shopper underneath the pram.

Ruth:  If cost were a big factor then I would consider choosing it as it has a lot of good features. The seat quality and material are good. It has simple to master straps. The fold option is easy and a rain cover is included. Both bassinette and buggy seat come as one unit and it is easy to switch from one function to another. There is a well-sized basket. It is easy to use with the car seat attached. The lifetime warranty on the car seat is great.

What changes would you make to this product?

Rebecca:  l would make the pushchair more stiff and sturdy. This would reassure me that it can withstand the pressure put on it by daily use. I would increase the size of the wheels so that it could handle different terrain. If these elements were changed then it would be an extremely competitive pushchair especially for the price which I think makes it a bargain.

Fiona:  I would change the wheels. I would change the material, increase the size and make them thicker. The handle currently feels as if it is made of cheap material. I would also change the hood so that it is smoother to pull down and push back up, rather than it clicking slightly when it is used.

Julie: I would add different colours. Perhaps brighter colours such as pinks/purples/blues - rather than the 'basic' neutral colours Black/Sand. It would also be good if it came with a cup holder but I realise you can purchase these later. However, for the price, I would expect this to be included.

 [ Not sure if this is the right travel system for you? Take a look at our top picks here. ]{href='https://www.motherandbaby.com/shopping-and-reviews/shopping-ideas/best-travel-systems' target='_blank' rel='noopener'}

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Maxi Cosi Zelia Review

Quick Summary: The Maxi-Cosi Zelia is a cleverly designed performer of a pushchair. It's designed with city living in mind but in actual fact it can handle a variety of terrains and situations without any effort at all.

Whats good?

• Easy all-in-one fold
• Extra-large basket
• 2-in-1 carrycot and seat unit
• Really lightweight

Whats not so good?

• Very wide wheelbase catches on doors
• Small seat unit for toddlers

Table of contents

Introduction, bassinet and seat.

The Zelia is a brand new 2-in-1 compact urban stroller. It comes with everything you might need to complement family urban living in the box, including car seat adapters and raincover. We have tested it to the full to find out how it handles and what perks it brings to life in the suburbs with a little one.

It is clear that the Zelia is on a mission to provide parents with a fuss-free urban travel solution as soon as you open the box. The compact chassis is neatly packed with minimal assembly required. Pop the wheels and seat onto the chassis and away you roll!

The matt black chassis is one of the lightest full-sized pram and pushchair chassis we have lifted at just 6.2kg. The lighter the better for parents using their pushchair on public transport and lifting it in and out of the car boot on a regular basis but even though the Zelia might be light, the rear wheelbase is very wide and we did find that we were catching the wheels on door frames and shop aisles. We even found a few doors that we couldn't fit through so this is worth bearing in mind.

The handlebar is a continuous bar covered in leather-look material. It adjusts from 98 to 103cm using the palm button in the centre of the handlebar.

The four wheels are chunky and have a white rim around the edge, adding to the simple-yet-stylish overall look. The rear suspension is quite visible and does serve its purpose in giving a really smooth ride for baby and a smooth push for parents. There is the option to lock the front wheels into place if you plan to go over bumpy ground. You can do this by flicking the lever just above the wheels left and right.

The lever next to the right-hand wheel offers an easy-to-use braking system. The brake always felt rock steady and was easy to flick on and off multiple times whilst at zebra crossings and waiting at bus stops.

Large shopping baskets are a must if you're a city shopper or an urban explorer and the Zelia offers one of the largest shopping baskets you will ever see! We packed it full of parenting essentials and spares for every eventuality and never struggled to find space for all of the luggage we hauled around with us on days out and shopping trips. You can easily do a good shop and still have your hands free to lift baby out of the pushchair at the end of the day. The basket sides are deep, which means small items are less likely to wobble out whilst you stroll.

You can use the chassis as a travel system with a Maxi-Cosi car seat, with the adapters for this included in the box. It was great to have this option for quick trips when we didn't want to wake our light sleeper!

Versatility is the name of the game with the Zelia seat unit. It is a 2-in-1 design that morphs from bassinet to seat in just a few clicks.

For the first six months of babies' lives it is advisable that they lie flat to aid correct development. By unclipping the buckles and sliding the cord grip underneath the seat unit, you create a flat-bottomed and deep-sided bassinet that keeps baby sheltered and snug in those newborn months. An apron is included to keep baby covered and it easily attaches with simple poppers.

When baby is ready to sit up a bit and take in more of the world, the bassinet converts into a seat without the need to store away any unused or additional parts. Clip the buckle clips together to form the base shape of the seat unit and slide the cord grip to its tightest position.

The nature of this seat design makes for a comfortable carrycot but a seat unit that is a bit on the small side at just 40cm high and 31cm wide. If you have a taller toddler then you might notice that they outgrow the Zelia seat quite quickly due to the shorter back.

The seat fabrics themselves are hard-wearing but the back and the base of the seat are padded in a soft, cushioned material.

The seat has a five-point harness with a large, easy-to-use push-button release buckle. The shoulder straps are covered in soft spongy pads and we loved how these weren't too chunky, so didn't restrict baby in any way. The shoulder and waist straps are adjusted using a sliding grip clasp, which is great to make sure you get the perfect fit on any child.

The bumper bar is gate-opening to help get baby in and out easily without removing it completely. It doubles up as the carry handle when using in bassinet mode and lifting it on and off the frame.

The hood is made up of two main panels with a visor on the front edge too. The material is thick and of great quality and there is a peek-a-boo window, which is always handy when checking on your little one.

To recline the seat you will need two hands as you use the circular buttons on each side of the seat unit. We must admit that remembering to use two hands to adjust the recline caught us out a few times and having a one-handed recline system would be favourable for parents in a hurry or with other children to hold hands with and control. The recline positions, however, are great and whether the seat is in the forward or parent facing position your baby can lie flat, rest or sit upright.

Changing the direction of the seat unit is super-easy too. Just below the round recline buttons there are some grip buttons to press, which allow you to remove the seat and pop it back into place in the the direction you desire. The recline buttons and seat removal buttons are quite close together and we did push the wrong ones on a few occasions!

‘Great!' is the word to describe this fold. There is no need to remove the seat unit. Firstly, fold the seat unit in half using the lever on the back - you will need to slide the catch to the side at the same time as lifting the lever. Once your seat is folded, just pull the levers on each side of the the chassis upwards and flip the handlebar forwards. Once the pushchair is folded down in half, you can reach for the clearly visible grab handle on the chassis and you will feel a small movement when you pick the pushchair up… this completes the fold. The design is intended to save your back by removing the need to bend down when you fold. We did find we had to bend a little, but this pushchair is so light to lift that we really didn't notice.

To unfold, just release the auto lock and pull the chassis and seat unit back into place.

It is freestanding when folded and we loved having this option for the Zelia to be tucked away in a corner or behind a door when at home.

The Maxi-Cosi Zelia is a cleverly designed performer of a pushchair. It's designed with city living in mind but in actual fact it can handle a variety of terrains and situations without any effort at all.

It offers parent and baby everything they need from birth without the need to store and buy an additional bassinet. The bassinet converts to a seat unit quickly and easily when needed, with the Zelia also giving the option to be used as a travel system. It is worth bearing in mind that the seat unit is small so taller toddlers may find their heads touch the hood. The wide rear wheelbase will test your driving skills through doorways and in shops but overall the Zelia gave a pleasant, simple and workmanlike push, as well as being comfortable for baby at all times.

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Maxi-Cosi Zelia Max 5-in-1 Modular Travel System Review

• Product Review
• Travel System

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Travelling with a little one can be stressful, but the right   travel system   can make the experience much more enjoyable. If you’re looking for a travel system that can roll with the punches and eliminate issues before they happen the   Zelia Max 5-in-1 Modular Travel System   by   Maxi-Cosi   is definitely a contender.

Video Review

5 Modes of Use

• Stroller suitable for children up to 50 lbs 
• Stroller Weight: 21.5 lbs 
• Stroller Dimensions Unfolded: 37” L x 25.8” W x 45” H 
• Stroller Dimensions Folded: 17” L x 25.5” W x 34” H 
• Car seat expires 8 years from date of manufacture 
• Child Weight Minimum: 4 lbs (with infant insert) 
• Child Weight Maximum: 30 lbs or 32” in height 
• Car Seat Weight: 8.2 lbs 
• Car Seat Dimensions: 29” D x 16” W x 25.5” H 

Trusty Travel Companion 

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Maxi-Cosi Zelia Max 5-In-1 Modular Travel System, Nomad Grey › Customer reviews

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• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

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

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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.

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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

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