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Do Cruise Passengers Need Tourist/Transit Visas?
Cruise passengers visiting several countries on a voyage can face different visa requirements from each destination. Getting the right information and preparing accordingly can be the difference between enjoying those exotic ports of call, or being confined to ship's quarters.
So, do you need a visa for your upcoming cruise?
This is one of the most commonly asked travel questions, both on the Word Travels forum, and the Internet at large. Unfortunately, it is a question with a thousand possible answers, depending on:
What nationality are the passengers?
Which countries are they visiting?
Are they disembarking the cruise ship at the various ports of call?
Or simply transiting through?
All these considerations must be taken into account. What follows, here, is a rough guide to making sure that when planning your cruise vacation you stay informed and on top of the visa requirements for your trip. It is vital to remember that cruise companies ultimately will not accept responsibility for ensuring that your travel documentation is in order it is your responsibility to keep abreast of your own visa requirements.
Passport validity
Firstly, before the issue of visas is addressed, it is almost certain that you will need to be in possession of a valid passport in order to undertake your cruise. While historically it has been possible for some passengers (chiefly US or Canadian citizens) to undertake cruises with some other form of photo identity on them increasingly, it is becoming mandatory for all cruise line passengers to carry a passport. Possessing a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the date of your scheduled return is a fail-safe method of ensuring that you will always have legitimate, globally-accepted identification on you while you travel.
Planning far ahead
Moving on to visa matters, it is worth mentioning that it's probably a fortunate thing about most cruise trips, that they have to be booked long in advance. While the reason for this is of course due to limited space and availability, if you do have to do some leg-work in terms of organising visas, it is at least handy to be able to use this 'waiting period' to secure your travel documentation.
When booking your cruise, you will choose between a variety of itineraries offered by the cruise line company. This pre-determined itinerary will indicate exactly which countries you will visit on your cruise, and how long you will spend at each of the ports of call.
It is at this stage that you can begin to research the visa requirements for your trip. In fact, most reputable cruise companies will provide you with a letter detailing this information before finalising your booking just remember to tell them the nationality of the passport you will be travelling on.
Specific visa requirements for cruise passengers
And this is where the question of specific visa requirements becomes a little tricky... By way of example, let's say two friends one of whom holds a South African passport, the other an American passport have booked a Mediterranean cruise, that will take them to Greece, Italy and Spain. The American traveller will not require a visa for this cruise, as they are allowed to spend up to three months in Schengen member states without a visa. The South African traveller, on the other hand, will have to secure a multiple-entry Schengen visa for the cruise, issued by the country in which they are due to spend the longest period of time.
However, now let's say the same two friends want to take another cruise, to Brazil. This time around, the South African traveller wouldn't require a visa for a stay of up to 90 days in the country; while the American traveller would have to secure a Brazilian tourist visa before leaving home.
A third example would see the two friends book a cruise to Syria. The travellers do their research, and discover that they both require visas to enter Syria however, because the American friend has visited Israel in the past, and still has an Israeli tourist stamp in her passport, her visa application will be denied, while the South African's wouldn't.
Finally, it is also worth bearing in mind that some countries such as Turkey stipulate different visa rules for 'ordinary tourists' and cruise ship passengers. In the case of Turkey provided that tourists enter and leave on the same ship a 'blanket visa' will be issued to the cruise line, covering all passengers on board. In cases such as this, passengers will (ordinarily) not be allowed to spend the night off-ship, and may even be restricted to hanging around the port area.
Thus, with all the possible permutations involved, it is impossible to generate a definitive set of rules for visa requirements for cruise ship passengers. Rather, these requirements will vary according to the passenger's nationality and their itinerary.
Researching your visa requirements
The easiest way to conduct your research into the matter, of course once you've decided on your itinerary is simply to look up the countries you'll be visiting on the Word Travels website, and check the 'Visa and Passport' section of the respective country guides. There, you'll find accurate, up-to-date information informing you of your entry requirements.
It is also worthwhile contacting visa experts such as Globalvisas.com and Visahq.com for their advice.
Be wary of relying on so-called 'official websites', as often these can be out-of-date, or simply inaccurate.
Please remember that the process of applying for a visa which, more often than not, will be done at the embassy of the country you intend on visiting, in your country of origin can be lengthy. Ensure that you leave yourself plenty of time (at least two months) to get your documentation sorted out. It is also worth remembering that for the large majority of countries, you will be required to hold confirmation of your cruise booking i.e. be required to show proof of onward or return travel in order to be issued your visa.
So, do you need a visa for your upcoming cruise?
This is one of the most commonly asked travel questions, both on the Word Travels forum, and the Internet at large. Unfortunately, it is a question with a thousand possible answers, depending on:
What nationality are the passengers?
Which countries are they visiting?
Are they disembarking the cruise ship at the various ports of call?
Or simply transiting through?
All these considerations must be taken into account. What follows, here, is a rough guide to making sure that when planning your cruise vacation you stay informed and on top of the visa requirements for your trip. It is vital to remember that cruise companies ultimately will not accept responsibility for ensuring that your travel documentation is in order it is your responsibility to keep abreast of your own visa requirements.
Passport validity
Firstly, before the issue of visas is addressed, it is almost certain that you will need to be in possession of a valid passport in order to undertake your cruise. While historically it has been possible for some passengers (chiefly US or Canadian citizens) to undertake cruises with some other form of photo identity on them increasingly, it is becoming mandatory for all cruise line passengers to carry a passport. Possessing a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the date of your scheduled return is a fail-safe method of ensuring that you will always have legitimate, globally-accepted identification on you while you travel.
Planning far ahead
Moving on to visa matters, it is worth mentioning that it's probably a fortunate thing about most cruise trips, that they have to be booked long in advance. While the reason for this is of course due to limited space and availability, if you do have to do some leg-work in terms of organising visas, it is at least handy to be able to use this 'waiting period' to secure your travel documentation.
When booking your cruise, you will choose between a variety of itineraries offered by the cruise line company. This pre-determined itinerary will indicate exactly which countries you will visit on your cruise, and how long you will spend at each of the ports of call.
It is at this stage that you can begin to research the visa requirements for your trip. In fact, most reputable cruise companies will provide you with a letter detailing this information before finalising your booking just remember to tell them the nationality of the passport you will be travelling on.
Specific visa requirements for cruise passengers
And this is where the question of specific visa requirements becomes a little tricky... By way of example, let's say two friends one of whom holds a South African passport, the other an American passport have booked a Mediterranean cruise, that will take them to Greece, Italy and Spain. The American traveller will not require a visa for this cruise, as they are allowed to spend up to three months in Schengen member states without a visa. The South African traveller, on the other hand, will have to secure a multiple-entry Schengen visa for the cruise, issued by the country in which they are due to spend the longest period of time.
However, now let's say the same two friends want to take another cruise, to Brazil. This time around, the South African traveller wouldn't require a visa for a stay of up to 90 days in the country; while the American traveller would have to secure a Brazilian tourist visa before leaving home.
A third example would see the two friends book a cruise to Syria. The travellers do their research, and discover that they both require visas to enter Syria however, because the American friend has visited Israel in the past, and still has an Israeli tourist stamp in her passport, her visa application will be denied, while the South African's wouldn't.
Finally, it is also worth bearing in mind that some countries such as Turkey stipulate different visa rules for 'ordinary tourists' and cruise ship passengers. In the case of Turkey provided that tourists enter and leave on the same ship a 'blanket visa' will be issued to the cruise line, covering all passengers on board. In cases such as this, passengers will (ordinarily) not be allowed to spend the night off-ship, and may even be restricted to hanging around the port area.
Thus, with all the possible permutations involved, it is impossible to generate a definitive set of rules for visa requirements for cruise ship passengers. Rather, these requirements will vary according to the passenger's nationality and their itinerary.
Researching your visa requirements
The easiest way to conduct your research into the matter, of course once you've decided on your itinerary is simply to look up the countries you'll be visiting on the Word Travels website, and check the 'Visa and Passport' section of the respective country guides. There, you'll find accurate, up-to-date information informing you of your entry requirements.
It is also worthwhile contacting visa experts such as Globalvisas.com and Visahq.com for their advice.
Be wary of relying on so-called 'official websites', as often these can be out-of-date, or simply inaccurate.
Please remember that the process of applying for a visa which, more often than not, will be done at the embassy of the country you intend on visiting, in your country of origin can be lengthy. Ensure that you leave yourself plenty of time (at least two months) to get your documentation sorted out. It is also worth remembering that for the large majority of countries, you will be required to hold confirmation of your cruise booking i.e. be required to show proof of onward or return travel in order to be issued your visa.
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Comments
Am a jordanian citizen , i wanat to visit venice, rome with easyjet, so i have to lan in london gatwick airport, do i need a visa fro UK or just a shengen visa for italy ?
thank you
In terms of your situation, you WILL NOT need a transit visa for your time at Gatwick, PROVIDED THAT:
1. You are in possession of a valid Schengen visa for your time in Italy, plus all other necessary travel documentation
2. You are in possession of a confirmed airline ticket, demonstrating that you will leave the UK within 24 hours of your inbound flight
3. You are travelling on to a third country (in your case, Italy).
Hope this helps!
I'm a U.S. citizen taking a cruise which stops in Schengen countries, then one non-Schengen (Turkey), then on to more Schengen countries. Some information I've seen on the web says I have to have a multiple-entry Schengen visa because I'm visiting Turkey in between Schengen countries. Is that true?
Thanks!
Yes, you will need a multiple-entry visa if you leave the Schengen area before returning to it.
The country in which you are scheduled to spend the longest amount of time must issue this visa to you.
As far as Turkey is concerned, you should be able to obtain a visa on arrival for about $20.
Good luck, and enjoy your cruise!
David
I hold an Indian Passport with valid multi entry USA and UK visas
Do I need a Bahamian visa?
During this cruise we shall visit France,Spain,Italy and Tunisia.
I have an Israeli Passport.
Shall I have any problems with visas?
Thank you in advance
I am of Egyptian passport and going on a cruise in Europe that will stop in Turkey twise, first time for 20 hours and second time for 48 hours. Do We need a visa to arrive to turkey and or visa is only needed to quit the cruise and visit turkey or no visa needed in any case as long as we are only docking for 48 hours ?
Thanks in advance
It's best to double-check with your cruise company. Some 'blanket visas' will only cover you for time spent in port (Myanmar might be one of these); others will give you free reign to explore the cities at which you dock; while others will allow you on shore, with the express condition that your movements are the tour company's responsibility.
I understand your desire not to be beholden to the tour company's itinerary -- but unfortunately, this is just sometimes the risk of travelling on cruises. Contact your cruise company and tell them your concerns, and see what they have to say.
It seems that its a lot cheaper to get VOA than to get it before you leave home country,is this right,i thought the cost of the Jordian visa was expensive $75 for just 6hrs can you get transit visas?
All that information you quoted is exactly what they say on the Jordian Consult website but i thought i must be reading it wrong,so why does the cruise line want to charge $60aud pp,next question,egypt(safaga)the cruise line can provide a visa for $22aud which i presume would be a quick stay visa 72 hrs.as this is time we are in port which i thought were free the only problem with that is that we are extending our stay in egypt indendantly after disembarkment by 10 days,would we be better off not getting the quick stay visa and getting voa or getting one before we leave home
However, in the case of cruise passengers, what normally happens is that the cruise company organises (free) 'Quick-Stay visas' on behalf of their passengers -- allowing for just 72 hours in the country. These are usually organised while you're still on the boat.
So the way I see it, you have three options: 1) contact your cruise company, and find out whether they can organise you a 'normal' visa on arrival instead of a 'quick-stay' one; 2) contact your nearest Egyptian embassy, and double-check that you'll be able to obtain a visa on arrival at Safaga, instead of merely getting a quick-stay visa on the boat; or 3) organise your own tourist visa before leaving home (slightly more pre-trip hassle, but less in-trip stress).
Hope this helps!
All so what does it mean on the application visa form Page 3of 4 Major Family Members.
Thank you for you help Alec.
My husband is currently working on the Seabourn Quest and has bought me a cruise for my 30th birthday, Athens to Malaga 31 October to 8 November 2011.
How do I apply for a Schengen visa as a South African citizen currently working in Mumbai? I currently hold a 10 year USA tourist visa, 5 year USA Crew visa and a 1 year Indian business visa.
I will be flying from Mumbai to Dubai, Dubai to Athens then Malaga back to Dubai. As you can imagine my Schengen visa application is rather urgent and I am running out of time - how, where and what do I need?
Regards,
Kimmon
Cruise passengers may disembark from the ship without a tourist visa if they participate on tours organized by travel companies. Passengers not participating on tours and wishing to disembark will need to obtain a Russia tourist visa.
Cruise passengers cannot obtain a visa in Russia. Visas are issued in the country of residence before departure.
http://www.visitrussia.com/visas/visa_types.htm
* You will require a multiple-entry, short-stay Schengen Visa for your cruise.
* You must apply for this visa at the embassy of the country in which you will spend the longest period of time. If you will stay for the same number of days in each Schengen country, then apply at the embassy of your first port of call.
For your visa application, you will require:
* Completed Schengen visa application form (downloadable from consulate websites)
* Copy of your passport
* Copy of your itinerary as well as accommodation details
* Proof of your finances: tax receipt of foreign exchange purchased bearing applicants name; or copies of traveller's cheques.
* Travel insurance documents
* A letter from the cruise company, confirming your booking, will be useful as well
Good luck, and happy trails!
This does seem to be a bit of a problem...
Unfortunately, you will not be allowed to travel to the UAE without a visa -- whether you stay on the ship or not.
The only thing I can think of, is to request that the UAE authorities send your visa (once approved and issued) to the port at which you'll be arriving in the UAE, and you pick it up there. However, if this requires that you are without your passport until that point, obviously that's a huge problem in itself.
I suggest that you speak to your cruise company and find out what they think: I'm sure they've dealt with this kind of situation before, and will be in the best position to offer you advice.
I'd also like to kindly request that you let us know what they have to say -- this is, indeed, a very tricky situation, and we'd love to be able to advise future travellers who find themselves in your position on the best course of action.
Good luck!
My wife and I both have a valid work visa in USA. We are Indian citizens working in USA. We are planning for a cruise to Cayman Islands (UK Terriroty). When I checked VisaHQ.com website, it says we do not need visa for cruise (for 1 day stay).
Do you think, we still need to take UK visa for 1 day cruise visa?
Please advice,
Thank you
According to the Cayman Island's official website, "Cruise passengers entering the Cayman Islands are not required to have a Visa."
You will, however, have to present your valid US visa when exiting and re-entering the States.
I also called the Cayman Islands embassy, and they replied saying "No visa is required"
p. (345) 949-8052
e. imweb@gov.ky
w. http://www.immigration.gov.ky
Thank you,
Naresh
My partner holds a Thai Passport, lives in spain with a 10 year residence permit. We want to take a cruise that calls into morroco. does he need a nisa for this or are we blanket covered by the cruise line ?
Thanks
Paul
Will you be disembarking in Morocco? If so, then your partner will require a visa. The visa form they require can be found here.
No, we are not disembarking in Morocco. we are just stopping there for the day as a port of call, then we are disembarking in Tenerife. Will he be ok with this in not getting a visa?
Hi Paul, please double-check with the cruise company, but it seems as though as long as your partner doesn't disembark the ship in Morocco, they will not require a visa.
@ Emperor:
What is your friend's nationality? She might not require a US visa, but then she must apply through the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) in advance, in order to travel to US Virgin Islands under the Visa Waiver Program.
Bad news I'm afraid. Double-check with your cruise company, but it looks like -- even if she doesn't disembark the cruise ship -- your friend will require a US visa to transit through San Juan. As she is a national of Trinidad and Tobago, she doesn't qualify for the visa waiver program either. She'll have to obtain a US tourist visa.
Can I please request that if I am wrong about this (i.e. if your cruise company tells you emphatically your friend will not require a visa), that you let me know?