2 hours ago, Floridastorm said:

Probably the Quantum of the Seas, Betty. The Visa Free Transit is for 6 days (144 hours). Would that be cumulative or 6 days upon arrival Shanghai and another 6 days upon disembarkation in Shanghai? How do they start and end counting for the original Visa? Is it how many days you are physically on land in China? Or do they consider days aboard the ship? Any hassles with the Shanghai Immigration Officials?

Yes I would think it would recount for each visit.  I wonder, however, what happens if your 2nd visit is within that first 144 hr period.  Hmmm

Check out the information on https://www.travelchinaguide.com/tour/visa/free-transit-144-hours.htm

It counts from 00:00 of the day following passengers' arrival. That is to say, the allowed time to stay is actually longer than 144 hours.

Eg: If one arrives at 6:00 am on July 1, the layover time counts from 00:00 of July 2 and the passenger should hold a ticket with the scheduled departure time before 23:59 of July 7. In this case, the allowed stay period is 162 hours in maximum.

10 minutes ago, Floridastorm said:

Please enlighten me, if you will. I am flying from Bangkok nonstop to Shanghai and departing via a cruise ship. Upon returning to Shanghai on that cruise ship I am flying Shanghai to Bangkok non stop. Where am I going wrong?

Okay that is much clearer.  Which ship are you on?  The example you gave above for the Westerdam doesn't qualify as the first stop is China. 

20 minutes ago, Floridastorm said:

Since I would be flying round trip from Bangkok/Shanghai/Bangkok that would qualify as a non stop flight without landing in any other Chinese city.

No this does NOT qualify.  It is not A-B-C with A & C being DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

We are sailing out of Shanghai in March and will be using the 144 hr Transit Without VIsa (TWOV).  We fly in from Canada and our first port of call is Japan so we qualify.

Is Shanghai your only China stops?  At the beginning and end of your cruise?  How many days?  I wonder if you can use the TWOV for both entries?

3 hours ago, cruiserinsg said:

You can get it from any MRT Stations.

 

I've attached the links for your info.

https://www.smrt.com.sg/

 

http://journey.smrt.com.sg/journey/mrt_network_map/

 

I don't think that is 100% true.  We went to the station closest to the pier (Marina South Pier) and they don't sell them.  We then walked all the way over to the Bayfront stop which was a nice walk through the gardens.  However we got there at 11am and we had to wait a bit for them to open.

You can also get your $10 deposit back at SMRT at the Changi airport after using it to get there.  🙂 

2 minutes ago, Pedro Diego said:

How do you pre-register for that 144 Transit without Visa?

Thank you,

Pedro Diego

I answered you above 

3 minutes ago, BenLynn said:

How do you pre-register for the 144 hr TWOV?

Thank you.

Ben

Well there was a website I found to do it but then someone else tried just recently and it was gone.  I just tried again right now and still not able to get in.

This site can’t be reached

crj.police.sh.cn’s server IP address could not be found.

Take the MRT to the Botanical Gardens.  Very pretty.  You can also do a lot on your own.  Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown, Little India, etc.

We got a 2 day MRT pass and it was good to take to the airport when we were ready to leave and there is a booth there to refund the balance and the card.

We fly Air Canada (And Cathay Pacific) to Hong Kong from Toronto all the time and I would never do a one hour layover.  Take your time and go with the 4 hr layover.  The HK airport is wonderful with lots of things to see and do.  (But not as amazing at Changi airport in Singapore).

I am going to comment since I was the one who started this thread.

Hubby is Chinese born in Hong Kong but has been a Canadian citizen for about 44 years.  He was nervous at first but he has been watching the news lately and there is a lot more being said by the Chinese than Western media.  Yes there are a lot of Canadians (and US citizens too) being arrested or held but in each case it was because they were doing something illegal.   Yes China never honors dual citizenship but he only has Canadian citizen though when we registered for the TWOV it put his place of Birth (HK) under China versus Other like me.

He is no longer concerned that we will have a problem.  Someone posted that a couple they met on their cruise said it took them 4 hrs to get through the process.  I am hoping it will be faster for us as we have pre-registered and can go to a kiosk for the first step before the regular immigration line.  We'll see.  Who knows.  It might be the busiest time for arrivals.  (Saturday at 4pm).  It is what it is.  Last Saturday here in Cozumel the immigration line was 3 hrs long.  At least hubby reads the language and he's fluent in Cantonese and knows some Mandarin & Shanghainese.  We aren't going anywhere except the hotel so we will stay calm and go with the flow.

5 minutes ago, kjenaz said:

Based on feedback from my airline, we decided to get the 10 year Visa.  We did meet one other couple on the ship who did the 144 hour and they said it took them 4 hours at the PVG Airport.  I just didn't want to risk it.  We had a VERY GOOD price for the airfare $504 round trip from PHX to PVG so we expect that we will be doing it again soon.

I wonder if that couple who used the 144 hr TWOV pre-registered ahead of time.  If they did then they bypass that line and can get the paperwork from a kiosk before moving to the regular immigration line.  We are pre-registered for a visit to Shanghai in March to catch our cruise.

Txflood 33:  I didn't realize this was a re-issue either.  I think it is heightened because of all the crap happening right now with the Hauwei CFO arrest.  I am Canadian and my husband is Canadian too but born in Hong Kong when it was under British rule.  We know China does not honor dual citizenships but since he doesn't have a Chinese or HK passport, we are hoping it will be okay.  We are boarding a cruise in Shanghai in March and using the TWOV (Transit without a visa).  This is our only stop in China.

I just posted elsewhere that we booked during the Black Friday Sale and got some "free" perks.  Right now the price of the cruise is so much lower that these are not really "free".  Should have waited and bought last minute.  We sale March 3rd.

34 minutes ago, Loreto said:

Hi Betty,

Lucky you to get the gratuities (hotel service charge) covered for your cruise!  I got that for my Alaska Oosterdam cruise this coming July. I have all my excursions selected, so I know just what to book when I get on board.   

Karen

We booked during the Black Friday sale and got pre-paid gratuities, $150 OBC plus a $25 beverage card for both my husband & I.

Just checked with my online agency and the cruise we booked is now about $400/pp cheaper.  😞  It would still have been cheaper even after paying for our "free" perks.  I guess we should have waited until the last minute.  We sail March 3rd.

11 hours ago, Loreto said:

If there is an excursion I really want, I book ahead and pay for it.  In 27 HAL cruises all over the world, only once did I not get an excursion I wanted: Kodiak Highlights and Russian Tea.  I think it was because transportation is limited in some small Alaska ports.  I was initially upset, but found another tour that was great!  To say that a lot ( if not most)  excursions are full  by the time you get to the ship is not true. There have been cruises where I have had a huge amount of OBC, so  I  book excursions the minute I get on board.  OBC  also can quickly be eaten up by the Hotel Service Charge.

Karen

 

What is hotel service charge?  If you meant gratuities then that would work except ours are a perk. 

I asked this before and was told the same thing.  I had heard that a lot (if not most) shore excursions are full by the time you get on the ship so it is best to buy the ones you really want.  So I did.  Now we have $150 OBC to use some other way.  Maybe another shore excursion, or a cabana or one night in a specialty restaurant.

1 hour ago, bennybear said:

They have detained more than 200 Canadians.  

Detained where?  What i your source?

My husband has been watching/reading news from both sides and the Chinese are telling so much more than the North American side.  He has not said anything about these 200.  Just the 3 with the last one being a school teacher who seems to have been working in China illegally.

15 minutes ago, diesel1973 said:

HAve been to China twice,once in 2016 and Sept.2018 First trip was great and second was amazing.  First was 10 day land tour(4  city's) second was 14day land tour(6 city's) including 4 day Yangtze River cruise. UNtil there is a ban issued I would not worry. BOth trips were hassle free and the Chinese people are the most kind and helpful people. TRavel anywhere lately has its problems. I would strongly suggest that you do not miss this intriguing country. OUr next stop is Thailand.   

ALso have been to Russia recently with no problems! HAppy Travels

We've been to China a few times and always had a visa.  This time (and only because our cruise starts there) we are going to Shanghai using the 144 hr transit without a visa (TWOV). 

My husband was born in Hong Kong before it went back to China, but when registering for the TWOV, the Chinese government site considers him born in China. 

Maybe he'll get in and I won't.  Lol

4 hours ago, Roo said:

As of today or a few days ago, China has changed the rules/form for a Visa for their country.  I am wondering if this is only happening for Canadians?!  Please let me know if you are just now applying (as recently as a week ago, it was the 'old' form?!) and which country you are in.

 

The form is now more cumbersome and they now want fingerprints.  Also, we have to present ourselves at the official centre (thankfully we live in Toronto, one of the only 5 centres in Canada they have just announced).  What do people do in small centres?

 

Thanks for your feedback.

 

Nancy

 

 

Changes were effective November 27th.

Storylady:  This couple did not understand that they would be visiting more than one port in China and therefore required a visa.  It was totally their own fault.

As for us; we are sailing on the Westerdam leaving from Shanghai and then going on to Japan, S. Korea, Taiwan, Manila and then disembarking in Hong Kong.  A transit without visa is totally acceptable and has been done by other people also sailing from Shanghai.

Ottawa traveller :  Yes it says that we will be photographed and finger printed when using the 144 hr TWOV.

It is not easy for us to get the 10 yr visa as we are living in Mexico and only pass through Toronto to catch our flights to Asia. 

Yes.  Check out my post about husband being concerned.  It's on the Asia forum.

We sail out of Shanghai on March 3rd and he is nervous about us using the 144 hr transit without visa.  We fly direct non-stop from Toronto to Shanghai on March 1st arriving the 2nd.  We board on the 3rd and stay overnight sailing on March 4th.

I'm not as concerned as we are only passing through and not getting a 10 year visa which now requires fingerprints as of Nov 27th.  Plus the 2 Canadians that are being detained are businessmen and not tourists.

Which sailing are you doing?  Where in Canada do you reside?

10 hours ago, SRF said:

Also, if one visa sufficed for the entire time, you could not get one, as you are going Hong Kong to China to Hong Kong.

 

If you get two, you are going Hong Kong to China to Japan on one.  Then Japan to China to Hong Kong on the second one.

My understanding is that SRF has got it correct.

2 hours ago, travelbunny60 said:

Our travel agent just sent this notice:  We have received notification from the Chinese Embassy that all Canadians traveling to China in 2019 will now be required to get finger printed at the time of application.  Our supplier, China Star Holiday will no longer be allowed to apply for Visas on your behalf as of Jan 1, 2019.  You will be required to set up an appointment with a China Visa Service Centre to be finger printed and submit your application in person. Further information and instruction on this process to come later on.

We are going on a Yangtze River Cruise.

I think I may still be okay because we are not getting a regular visa to China.  We are using the 144 hour transit without visa (TWOV).  We have pre-registered on the Chinese government website.  It says we will need to do a photo and fingerprint at that time and show documentation for travel to a 3rd country before the 144 hrs is up.

I'll keep an eye on it anyway and if we get there and can't get into China we'll hop a plane to the cruise's next port.

5 minutes ago, travelbunny60 said:

Could't agree more.  Just received notification we needed to be finger printed before December 18th for our cruise in April.  Attempting to get out of trip, this can't end well.

What??????   Who sent you the notification?

Part of the entry process is fingerprint and photo.  Why do you need to do it ahead of time?