I also have looked into independent tours and am very impressed with Alla-Tour. I want to put together at least one day, possibly 2 days with other NCL passengers who are somewhat limited on activity level. My mother is 83, has been having chemo and is not as spry as she used to be. We want to see the major highlights in St. Petersburg but at a pace which will not be too difficult. So, I am looking for others who are elderly who would be interested in tours on a slower pace. We are definintely going to do a ballet on the evening of the first night. The other 2 days are still open.

Anyone interested, please reply.

You can contact some independent tour-conpanies, as DenRus, Red October, Alla-Tours, Shorex.RU, TJ Travel, Anastasia. There are plenty of them offering shore excursions. You MUST be sure they are tour operators, not AGENTS. Anyway you will have to get visa.

As for the wheel-chair, St. Petersburg is not very wheel-chair friendly. So, you HAVE TO ask the companies you liked, which tour are possible to arrange, having the wheel-chair. F.e. there are almost no problem with Hermitage, but Yusupov palace is not very wheel-chair-friendly. So does Peterhof and Pushkin. Of cource, it is possible to visit them, but that would be quite complicated.

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The thing is using local guides doesn't allow you to get blanket visa. But of course every reliable tour-operator, like DenRus, RedOctober, Shorex.RU, etc will be able to provide the special wheelchair-bus for your mother.