If you arrive by a cruise ship and will stay in Sochi for about 8-10 hours there are only 3 options to see the city:

Option 1. No visa
If you don’t have a Russian visa the only way to get ashore is to buy an excursion ticket on board. The shoring company in Sochi works with the Russian Migration Authority and makes sure that all people with valid tickets can go ashore without visas, with an understanding that tourists can explore the city not on their own but only with a guide thus visiting the sites that are stated in the excursion ticket. An average city tour takes about 4 hours.

Option 2. No visa
You can be sure that the on-board agency will charge you from $40-70 over what the tour costs. If you don’t want to pay for a Russian visa and then extra money for a tour around Sochi (thus saving more than $200 per person) there is a way.
You need to contact me in advance and send a list of a group (with passport details) of at least 6 people who will go on a tour in Sochi. As a result – everybody takes the bus with a randomly chosen guide while you pay less and enjoy the luxury of a private tour with a professional local guide.

Option 3. Russian visa
You apply for a Russian visa in advance and when the ship is in the harbor you can roam around Sochi either with a guide or on your own.