Jacko68

So I emailed the Indian High Commission about visas and they advised that all cruise passengers need a multiple entry visa, I queried about the e-visa as reading we would be eligible for this but they still came back saying we needed a multiple entry visa, even though we are only entering India once.

Have looked into the e-visa and it seems that the whole process once in port is very long winded - taking fingerprints etc so wondering if this is the reason a full visa advised. They short time we are there think it would be a risk using an e-visa as having to get to the airport for flight home can’t really afford to be delayed getting of the ship.

Also marella have since added the advise about needing a visa during the booking process for this cruise now.

Would have been helpful if it had been there from the start. Seriously thinking about changing this cruise now as the cost and hassle of getting the visas just doesn’t seem worth it for the few hours we will actually be in India.

Hi all, Thanks for replies. Yes will will be sailing into Cochin (6am) and flying out of Cochin ( 4pm). Will definitely looking more into it closer to the time.

We know we are definitely going to need a visa, it was more a case of finding out for sure if Marella is giving the correct information saying we are covered by the ships visa for the few hours we will be there. All their other itinaries that are calling at Indian ports clearly state you will need a visa, it’s just The Secrets of Asia that doesn’t mention it, hence why we were thinking if they did have some arrangement just for travelling from the ship to the airport.

Think we will email the indian High Commission as suggested, thanks.

I did a dummy booking for the the Manchester flight with the extra day/night in India and isn’t advising about the visa either. Have looked at the other itinaries calling at the other ports in India and they are quite clear that a visa is required, hence the confusion. Maybe it’s just Kerala ? Who knows, but it really wouldn’t hurt marella to put a note actually mentioning that it is covered by the ship if it definitely is, as I too was under the impression that Indian visa was a must and your own responsibility. I’m hoping that if it does turn out we need one we are able to get an e-visa as I believe these are a lot cheaper than a standard tourist visa but again it’s unclear if these can be used on a cruise.

Hi, yes it was their official Facebook page, I spoke to them through private message, and queried about the Indian visa, they assured me we would be covered by the ships visa after taking my reference number. I did ask for clarification a few times and explained I was worried we may have problems at the airport and they assured me again we were covered by the ships visa.

We get into port at 6am and fly out at 4pm so only there for a few hours, so sort of begrudge having to pay. Maybe this is the reason they are covering it because of the short time we will be there. I also read about the visas in the brochure so making me unsure what is the correct information.

Still a long way off so hopefully will have definite answers by the time we go.

We have booked the secrets of Asia flying from Birmingham. We didn’t think about Indian Visa until after booking, it didn’t come up advising about it during booking process although vietnam and combodia did. We did go back to travel agent to ask, they were unsure if we needed it but said they would try to find out. They did get back to us to say they thought we needed it, in the meantime we had asked ont the Marella Cruise Facebook page who came back and said we didn’t need it and we would be covered by the ships group visa. So we have had conflicting answers and hoping we don’t need one just for a few hours on the day we will be travelling home.

If anyone else has any info/advice that would be great thanks.