Do I need a visa on a cruise?

Do I need a visa on a cruise? *What happens when you go on an international cruise? Do you need a passport and a visa, or you simply get on the boat?* Going On A Cruise Is Not For Everyone Floating around on a boat may not be adventurous enough for some, but the common misconception about cruises is that you get to stay on the ship only. The fact that you get off on several ports somehow slips everyoneÕs mind, which is why that should be clarified more often. However, that raises an important question. What happens when you go on an international cruise? Do you need a passport and a visa, or you simply get on the boat? You may be surprised that many ports require you to have a visa, even if you do not plan on getting off the ship. That may not make much sense to you, but even when you get in a port, you still are in a foreign country, and immigration laws still apply, which is why you should do your homework thoroughly before embarking on a ship. At the same time, there are times when you do not need a visa when you go on a cruise. Here Are A Few Examples: Cruise passengers who transit mainland China for no more than 24 hours do not need a visa as long as they confirm their trip with a third country. People who arrive and depart by sea or air (in transit) in Shanghai, Tianjin, and Beijing have a 144-hour visa exemption. Travelers who arrive in Shanghai on a cruise are allowed to remain in China for no more than 15 days as long as they depart on the same cruise ship. However, the rule applies only to groups (min. 2 people), and the travel agencies that arrange the trips must provide details about the groups. The information is inspected by the authorities 24 hours before the cruise ship arrives. How to get your visa easier? Lucky for you, we live in a day and age when electronic visas are more and more accessible, and they are valid not only at airports and borders but at seaports as well. The perfect example I can give you is India. An Indian evisa is accepted at 5 ports: Cochin, Goa, Mangalore, Mumbai, and Chennai. Other seaports require a consular visa for which you need to visit the Indian embassy in your country. As for what it takes to obtain such a document, it could not be easier. The first thing you need is a valid passport. If you do not have one, that is easily fixable. You can even get passport photos online if you like. You are also required to have a scan of your passportÕs information page and a means of payment. The latter can be a credit or a debit card, and if you have a Paypal account, you can use that too. You are required to fill in an application, and in the given example, the visa will arrive via email in PDF format in as little as 18 hours. Remember to list at least one copy before you embark, although a couple more would be better. The visa is electronically linked to your passport, but you still need to show the document to the immigration office. Other Countries India is just an example, but many other countries issue electronic visas. However, before looking into where to get your visa, check to see if you need one. The rules are not the same for all nationalities and all destinations. That is why thorough research before you go is advised. Try to go through this process a couple of weeks before your trip, just to be safe.