PDXgranny

Is there a bus that takes you to Honfleur from the port? We’re on Apex May 10. 

We did this cruise. We stayed in Shanghai an extra 2 nights after disembark and flew home to US (US citizens). Absolutely no problem getting 144 hr waiver. 

1 hour ago, Denverbri69 said:

I will not have a 'return ticket' until i get to the final destination. Of the 3 documents, all I will have is my US passport, ship's itinerary and a print out of my flight reservations. Will that be enough?

yes they accepted a print out of our flight reservation 

20 minutes ago, Christina2019 said:

• My 14 days cruise with Celebrity Millennium on November 23, 2019 will start from Yokohama then sail to Shimizu, Kobe, Kochi, Kagoshima (Japan) then Shanghai from 6am-8pm. After Shanghai it goes to Cheju ( South Korea), Taiwan and Hongkong.
• According to what I have read on this forum, I don’t need a China Visa for this stop. I have US passport
• Can anybody with past experience on this issue help to confirm so I don’t have to go apply for a China Visa just for this stop.
• Thank you.

If you are entering Shanghai from a different country (Japan) and departing Shanghai to a different country (So Korea) you will be fine without a China visa. You can get a visa waver. 

The ship should help you with that. The rule for qualifying for a waver (at this time) is that you enter from a different country than China and depart to a different country than China and country you depart to cannot be same country from which you arrived. And you stay in Shanghai no longer than 144 hours. 

55 minutes ago, Elmo007 said:

Eeek yikes, 

 

Can you elaborate, was it at the airport you

had issues? Is there anything you would recommend to have with you - I will have print outs of my paid in full itinerary, hotel reservations, confirmation from airline about the 144 hour visa rule, page from the consulates website (in Chinese) about the 144 hour ...anything else you would recommend? What specific difficulties did you encounter? I don’t have time to get a visa because I cant be without my passport between now and when I sail - so for me it’s a go / don’t go decision Not a get visa / don’t get visa decision! 

 Thank you! 

We just returned from Constellation Asia cruise. We and our friends, nor anyone else we were aware of using the 144hr visa waiver had any problem whatsoever. Other than it took 3 hours to go through immigration lines in Shanghai (they were processing 2 cruise ships).

While on the ship, we were given forms to fill out for Chinese immigration. We had to have that form, one copy per person of your hotel reservation in Shanghai and one copy per person of your flight reservations, and passport to present to Chinese immigration. They stamp your passport and you’re on your way.  I’m from the U.S.  

Hi,

 

since this is a confusing topic I thought I´d try to explain the visa exemption rules in simple terms.

Please note that this is no legal advice but rather the information I collected before travelling to Shanghai myself under the 144 hour visa exemption rule. Please doublecheck if you are citizen of a country to which the rule applies.

 

In simple terms the 144 hour visa exemption can be called the three country rule.

You need to travel from country A to country B (China) and leave to country C within the 144 hours.

 

Applied to cruises this translates as following:

The stop before China has to be another country than China. On many cruises that would be South Korea or Japan.

The country you are leaving to has to be a third country and can not be China or the country you arrived from. You need to leave on a direct flight or a flight with no stops within China. Hong Kong in this case is not considered China and would be OK.

 

Example:

Jeju, South Korea sailing to Shanghai, leave within 144 hours to the US or the UK = OK

 

The documents you need are copies of you cruise itinerary, hotel reservations and flight tickets as prove that you are leaving within the 144 hours.

 

Here is some further explanation of the procedure on the cruise. This is how it is done on Celebrity.

However, since this procedure fulfills the immigration requirements it should be of interest for passengers of other cruise lines as well.

 

Before the end of the cruise you will receive a blue transit immigration card. On Celebrity Millennium it came with the shown letter explaining which documents you need to present during immigration. The documents were already checked by Celebrity during embarkation.

 

 

 

 

Here´s also a link to a website giving understandable information:

https://www.traveltothemagic.net/visa-free-travel-shanghai-disney-resort/

 

Yes, it is not an official website. However, it puts into simple terms what can be found on official websites of Chinese immigration departments, Shanghai customs etc. like this one:

http://www.sh-immigration.gov.cn/listPageEn.aspx?lx=40&id=4414

 

BTW: we arrived in China/Shanghai two times - one time without visa, one time with a visa (because we had more stops in China).

Both times it took the same time to pass immigration, there were no shorter or longer lines.

Thank you so very much! I’ve been trying to find someone who sailed Celebrity and actually experienced this transaction. We’re from the US. Will be on Constellation in January. Cruise ends in Shanghai (prior port before Shanghai is Hong Kong). We plan to stay in Shanghai 2 nights then fly home (via Vancouver, Canada to change planes) to Portland Oregon. This seems to be in compliance with 144 day visa waiver policy. Does this sound ok to you? I’ve emailed Chinese consulate for a confirmation. Don’t know if they’ll respond.

For some reason Celebrity just can’t give me a straight answer! Thanks so much!!

There’s lots of information out there and very many useful websites. It doesn’t sound difficult. You would apply and receive the visa from a special line as you go through customs in Shanghai.

 

 

 

 

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I have searched many websites and the Chinese Embassy site regarding visas. I’m looking for someone (on a Celebrty cruise with similar itinerary) who may have gone through the application process in Shanghai for 144 hr visa and also confirmation that Hong Kong- Shanghai-United States entry and exit is valid for that type of visa. That info has not been entirely clear. I’d like to get their feedback regarding their experience with that type of visa.

Thanks for your response.

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Is it safe to assume you are from the US? I am learning your nationality plays into this. I'm asking so I can possibly use the site you recommended.

Yes - we are from US. Ship itinerary is Hong Kong to Shanghai & Shanghai to US

Is Shanghai your only stop in China? That would be the only way the 144 hour visa might work. Last year we stopped in Tinjian/Beijing for 3 days and then disembarked in Shanghai so a full visitors visa was required. Nothing is easy with China. We ended up using an agency because it was cheaper for us than going to the Chinese consulate in NYC twice. Between the visa fee and the agency fee our visas cost about $250 per person but are good for 10 years.

We used itseasy.com. Great service and zero hassles.

We sail to Shanghai from Hong Kong (which as you know, we don’t need a visa for Hong Kong because of such a short 2 day port). I understand there are quirky rules about where you can or cannot arrive from and depart to out of Shanghai. We have the application for a full visa but would sure like to avoid the hassle right now! Thanks so much!

Was wondering if anyone can tell me about their experience obtaining a 144 hour China transit visa at the port in Shanghai ( last port in itinerary). We plan to stay in Shanghai 2 nights after end of cruise and then fly home to US out of Shanghai. Is it an easy process and does it go quickly? TIA!!

Have sailed Solstice 4 times over last 18 months. A total of 42 days. We had aft facing cabins and balconies on deck 8 starboard. Never smelled smoke. I never even saw anyone smoke! We absolutely Solstice and the NZ cruise was amazing! So very beautiful - every minute of it!

Subscribing to this thread to possibly learn some info with the OP. My wife and I have wanted to see many parts of Asia and have loved Celebrity, so we just picked an itinerary that hit some places we had on the list to see. We start in Hong Kong and end in Shanghai so we can get a few pre and post days in 2 incredible cities. We will also get 3 days in Beijing...Tianjin actually...but we will travel and stay in Beijing for a private tour company. Will also get Taipei, Nagasaki, and some South Korea.

We’re sailing on Constellation in January and the last port is Shanghai. We’ve decided to stay 2 nights there after cruise ends. The we fly back to the US. Are you planning on applying for a full China visa or for the 144 China transit visa?

Thanks!

We did repo on Solstice last fall to Sydney. About a month before sailing thwy offered 2 for one drink pkgs. I grabbed them! 17 day cruise, lots of sea days - it was worth it! Keeping an eye on Reflection TA repo next Jan 20

sailed Solstoce three times last year. Going again next month. Are they now serving you in buffet or is it still self serve? Wondering because last fall on NZ cruise, we were served all 12 days due to previous norovirus outbreak during previous cruise. Thought maybe by now they changed their serving policy and stopped self serve.

Mast Grill was free on Solstice in July. But we were pretty underwhelmed by burgers. Fries were good. Will try them again when we sail Solstice to Sydney Oct 2.

I gotta say, the pool side Grill on HAL Rotterdam served fabulous burgers, fries & hot dogs! Everyone raved about them and lined up!

[

quote=Kiwi Kruzer;53968674]Heres a quick glance at some that are coming.please feel free to add any more..

with these , the regulars and the Worldies passing through we really are spoilt for choice.:D

Radiance of the Seas leaves Vancouver 8 Sep Arrives Sydney & Nov

Voyager of the Seas leaves Singapore 18 Ovt arrives Perth 28 Oct

Ovation of the Seas leaves Singapore 23 Nov arrives Sydney 7 Dec

Celebrity Solstice lraves Vancouver 22 Sep arrives Sydney 2 Oct

Noordam leaves Vancouver 24 Sep arrives Sydney 22 Oct

Maasdam leaces San Diego 27 Sept arrives Sydney 21 Oct

Norwegian Jewel leaves Vancouver 3 Oct arrives Sydney 12 Nov

Carnival Legend leaves Vancouver 13 Sep arrives Sydney10 Oct

Golden Princess here now till 22 March then Freo to Singapore

Solstice arrives Sydney Oct 20 - we'll be on it!

We're cruising Honolulu to Sydney and then 10 days later, Sydney to Aukland (circumnavigating NZ). We did Alaska on Solstice in July, so 3 cruises on her this year. We wouldn't do it if we didn't love this ship!

But we look forward to cruising with HAL again some day.

We did Panama Canal on HAL Rotterdam in January. 15 days. She's 20 yrs old and showing a bit of wear, but still a beautiful ship. We loved that there were only about 1300 passengers.

Did Alaska on Solstice in July. Much larger and newer. Beautiful.

The food in MDR, burger Grill, pizza all better on Rotterdam. We thought the cocktails were better too. Great Bloody Mary!

Food and layout in buffet on Solstice was much better!

We had aft facing balcony cabins on both. The Rotterdam balcony was covered. Solstice was not. But we enjoyed both.

Cabins were similar in size. But I think service was better on Rotterdam - stewards were more available and attentive.

Beds very comfy on both.

Crews on both ships very friendly!

Entertainment better on Rotterdam - loved BB King blues club!

Had very little problem last week on Solstice Alaska cruise. Not as fast as home, but it was acceptable. Hard to stay on during heavy usage times -

We just got off a Solstice Friday. Mast Grill was no charge. But burgers weren't very good. Meat was dry and buns kinda stale. Fries were great. Grill was closed a lot because of weather. We only went once and didn't go back after that. Burgers in buffet were better!

I was pleasantly surprised how good room service coffee was in morning.

Also, Al Bacio lattes were great! And on our Classic pkg.

cruising to Alaska on Solstice Friday.

Does Celebrity furnish complimentary slippers - we're not Aqua class. Just an aft balcony on deck 8.

Trying not to bring stuff we we won't need.

Holland supplies them to all class cabins.

Do come and join our roll call for 2 October Tahitian Treasures cruise.

I thought we were on it!

Thanks for the info!

Has anyone done transpacific on Solstice and did you buy unlimited internet? How was it - was it worth the $200+ ?