bishop84

20 hours ago, gramwold said:

I have thought for a while now that the cruise on discovery 2 through the Red Sea  would be cancelled. we are booked on the 18 night discovery repo cruise Barbados to Turkey  on the 18th of April and i see that it has been removed from Tui web page for sale. It leads me to think that it may be being held back for people who may want to transfer to it from the Suez Canal cruise.  i will watch the Discovery 2 ship to see if it will sail all the way around Southern Africa without any passengers.

It's still appears to be available as part of a 25 night cruise from 11 April, which is last 7-night Barbados roundtrip combined with the repositioning cruise.

Virgin and Silversea have now pulled their repositioning cruises via the Red Sea and the ships will sail around Africa without guests instead. 

It looks like Marella has 3 options:

1. Sail the cruise as scheduled and hope nothing happens. 

2. Debark guests, and possibly non-essential crew, at India or Muscat and

    a. sail empty via the Red Sea and picking up the schedule in Limassol or Palma.

    b. sail empty via Africa and pick up the schedule in Palma.

3. Divert the cruise around Africa with guests and possibly selling segments i.e. to Kenya/Seychelles, South Africa etc. and pick up the schedule in Palma. 

6 hours ago, Sweetpea-1959 said:

All sounds great fun!! Looking forward to india and all the chaos! Spoke to one of our bank tellers, whose family visit India a lot, she said don't eat anything and don't touch things without washing your hands after, apparently our stomaches are a bit delicate for dealing with some of the bacteria.

 

Anyone know what injections we need?

5 hours ago, Tizzy-Jo said:

Contact your GP practice. They will tell you what vaccinations you need. 

Also the NHS website has health information including required vaccinations: India - Fit for Travel

6 hours ago, Sweetpea-1959 said:

If your on Marella Discovery 2, sounds like your on our cruise. Given a previous posting from Izzywizz on how her Fred Olson cruise went ahead with barbed wire and mercenaries, see photos in her post above; I'm not sure our cruise will be cancelled.... 

I believe that post is concerning anti-piracy measures such as razor wire and armed security. The current threat is mainly attack from ashore using missiles, rockets etc. This is why cruise and cargo operators have pulled their ships from that area and are diverting ships around southern Africa rather than the previously scheduled Red Sea and Suez Canal transits. AFAIK Marella appears to be the only cruise company still scheduling their ship via the Red Sea and still having the cruises on sale.

This is a link to the official application page: Official ESTA Application Website, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (dhs.gov) or Google/Bing/etc. official ESTA website.

1 hour ago, rubyclaret said:

Hi

Just recently returned from 2 weeks on Explorer 2. 

Whilst we enjoyed most aspects of the ship ( the Showcast in the theatre  were amazing by the way ) we thought our Balcony Cabin, the Bathroom in particular were looking a little tired.

Does anyone know if any refurbishment is planned this year, we fancy doing another Winter Cruise in 2025 and would love it to be with Marella Explorer 2.

Thank You.

 

 

There doesn't appear to be an out of service period planned for the Explorer 2 on the current schedule dated up to October 2025. 

2 hours ago, Sweetpea-1959 said:

Who did you go to for your indian visas?

Like a lot of countries requiring a visa there are a lot of commercial websites that offer to do your visa at an extra cost.

I googled the question and this came back as the official Indian Government website for e-visa applications: e-Visa (indianvisaonline.gov.in) 

Maybe they are going to change the itinerary like they did on the cruise outbound? They replaced Aqaba with Sharm el Sheikh due to the political situation and war in Israel.

On 11/5/2023 at 7:22 PM, lionstc said:

Sorry to bore everyone but I can find no info on the Marella site . Do I need to fill in any forms to enter Barbados and do I need an ESTA to go to Puerto Rico and the US virgin isles? The cruise begins 8th Feb thanks for all replies 

Here's a link to the Barbados government website for the entry form: 

Barbados - Online Customs & Immigration Portal (travelform.gov.bb)

For the US, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, you will need a current ESTA. You can apply or update, email address and address in USA only, your ESTA at the official US government website:   Official ESTA Application Website, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (dhs.gov)  FYI there are a LOT of 3rd party websites that offer help for large fees so make sure you use the official website!

FYI If you have been to Cuba in the last few years you can't get an ESTA and will have to get a tourist visa. There will probably be an US Immigration Inspection when you get to Puerto Rico.

The C5 form is the customs and immigration form required to enter Jamaica. Since September this form is now digital and must be done prior to entering Jamaica. The official website is : Electronic C5 | Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) (enterjamaica.com)

Maybe the article is confused as Marella Voyager was previously called Mein Schiff 2 prior to changing to Mein Schiff Herz. The current Mein Schiff 2 is only 4 years old so it would be unlikely that TUI Cruises would want to transfer it already. TBH I think that if TUI were considering another ship for Marella it would more likely be a surplus ship from their partners in TUI Cruises i.e. Royal Caribbean International rather than one of the newer Mein Schiff ships.

Currently there aren't any cruises listed between 16 Oct 24 and 6 Nov 24 so that may indicate a refurbishment is planned.

AFAIK if you want to travel to the USA as long as you didn't visit Cuba after 12 January 2021 then you can get an ESTA. If you visited Cuba after the 12 January 2021 then you will need a B2 Tourist Visa.

Information from the official USA Customs an Border Protection webpage:

"The U.S. Department of State designated Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST) on January 12, 2021.With limited exceptions, a traveler who is found to have visited Cuba on or after this date is not eligible for travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) using an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and must apply for a visa to travel to the United States. Additionally, a traveler who at the time of application for an ESTA holds dual nationality with both a VWP country and Cuba is not eligible for travel under the VWP using an ESTA and must apply for a visa to travel to the United States.

If an ESTA has already been approved and it is later determined that the traveler has been present in Cuba or holds dual nationality with both a VWP country and Cuba, the ESTA will be revoked. Ineligibility for an ESTA is not a bar to travel to the United States. Individuals who are not eligible to travel under the VWP may apply for a visa at any U.S. embassy or consulate."

Link to the webpage Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act Frequently Asked Questions | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov)

The UK Government Travel advice website also refers to the January 12 2021 date. Entry requirements - USA travel advice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Looking at their webpage it appears the Canadian Electronic Travel Authorization is only for those arriving or transiting via airports.

The webpage is at: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/eligibility.html

Direct link: Electronic travel authorization (eTA): Who can apply - Canada.ca

23 hours ago, reviewfan said:

Hi, does anyone know which terminal Marella are stopping at here? And if it's possible to get public transport into Miami from there? We're looking at the trolley train but it's unclear to us where we'll actually dock. Thanks 

All the calls so far have used Terminal E.

Just a polite reminder that an ESTA is valid for 2 years not just the one entry i.e. if you are going on a US holiday or through the US before it several times before it expires. Just remember to to update the details online for your next trip 🙂 .

I know a lot of people know this already but I just helped some friends who didn't and were about to buy new ones!

14 minutes ago, Coalman said:

Hiya!  I am looking at Cruisemapper and they give the dock as 'NYC...... Bayonne NJ'.  https://www.cruisemapper.com/ships/Marella-Discovery-712?tab=itinerary#itinerary

HOWEVER!!!  Looking at Manhattan Cruise terminal website I find that Discovery is scheduled to be there as well on 28/29th June! 🙂 https://nycruise.com/manhattan-terminal/schedule-mct/

Cruise companies generally say their ships are calling at New York and don't differentiate between the 3 terminals in New York Harbour. Therefore sites like Cruisemapper etc. just group the calls similarly which can cause confusion! 

I would use  would go with the NY Cruise website, as that is the website of the city government organisation responsible for the Manhattan and Brooklyn Cruise Terminals in New York or Cruise Info (cruiseliberty.com) for Cape Liberty/Bayonne Terminal in New Jersey.

FYI Tourists are getting caught out with the revised duty free allowances and having goods confiscated and/or fines. Although the spirits allowance has gone up the tobacco allowance hasn't. From the HMRC website: 

Full details at: Bringing goods into the UK for personal use: Arriving in Great Britain - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

1 hour ago, NoEspanaThisYear said:

Thanks for the prompt response @Leomins and @Scotstravellers that is encouraging to see those links however the person who mentioned this to me this morning has sent me the link to the July schedule on the Cruise Mapper website for Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal.

 

Based on our three reports the score so far is Manhattan 2 Cape Liberty 1

 

https://www.cruisemapper.com/ports/new-york-port-98?tab=schedule&month=2023-07#schedule

The Marella Discovery isn't on the schedule on the official Cape Liberty website,  Cruise Info (cruiseliberty.com). However it is on the official NYCruise.com website with all calls listed as being at the Manhattan Terminal except the 20/21 Sept call which is scheduled at the Brooklyn Terminal.

On 3/31/2023 at 7:30 PM, Jim The Scot said:

We,ve booked 9/11 Museum&Memorial excursion

 

Pity we didnt,t have an idea where we,ll be docked.Be handy if it is close enough for a short taxi run in as we fancied just jumping on the City hop on hop off tour bus

As per the NYCruise website all the calls are currently scheduled to be at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal except the 20-21 Sept call which is scheduled at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. NYCruise website: NYCruise | One Port. Endless Possibilities.

8 hours ago, Rebel Rouser said:

Topical.

🙂

The last I saw was that the calls would be at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal with the exception of the 20-21Sept Call which would be going to the Brooklyn Terminal but they were trying to have this moved to Manhattan. The Manhattan Cruise Terminal is on 12th Avenue and 50th Street West. Very near the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

14 minutes ago, tring said:

 

It is quite a confusing issue.  The US State department and also the US Embassy in Paris, (for instance) are of the same opinion as you - that the important date is 12th Jan 2021.  However it seems the UK based US embassy is of the opinion it applies to anyone who travelled to Cuba since a certain date in 2011!

 

Our agents say they are having great problems with it at present.  Whilst the situation will hopefully be clarified before our September trip, the agents book a lot of P&O cruises and Ventura heads to a few ports in the US and the Caribbean in March and the wait for visa appts is 90 days at present.  I assume the stance of the US Embassy in London is probably preventing people affected applying for an ESTA, or affecting the decision of airlines/cruise lines from accepting ESTAs from affected people as being suitable for US entry.  The agents sent us an email about a month ago saying they had received notification by the US State dept that the effective date is in 2021, but seems they have not convinced their UK based embassy of that!

 

Certainly as things stand anyone visiting Cuba now and subsequently wanting to go to the US will need full visas, unless the whole rule is changed.  I understand Trump put travel to Cuba on the potential terrorist list just before he left office, so possibly the current administration could change it, but not sure if they will bother.

 

 

Sounds very confusing if different embassies have differing interpretations of the rules! 

I applied for and got an ESTA last year despite having previously declared I had visited Cuba in 2017 when I applied for a US work visa application. 

19 hours ago, tring said:

 

We are potentially going to have problems with US entry later this year.  There seems to be confusion as to whether it is only if you have visited since a date in 2021, or a date in 2011.  We last went to Cuba in 2018, so are just hoping this is sorted before our planned visit to the US in September.  If we cannot use an ESTA, we have to go personally to a US Embassy or consulate to get a full visa. That means a trip to London to visit the embassy, though apparently there is a consulate in Belfast, which we are thinking may be the easier option for us.

 

Our cruise agent is trying to get the situation clarified.

 

You should be OK as your visit to Cuba was prior to 12 January 2021 when Cuba was designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism by the US Government. The ban on visa free travel to the USA was if you visited Cuba after that date.

FYI If you or your agent have tried to contact the embassy for information then they won't reply if they deem that the information you require has been published somewhere on their website!

Boots do them in several branches but the nearest branches that do to Porthcawl are Cardiff or Swansea. I Googled ' PCR Tests south wales' and it came up with several firms. If your driving the one at Express Test would be easiest as driving into the city centre where Boots is can be difficult and parking expensive! The only ones nearer Porthcawl seem to be NHS only which, unfortunately, cannot be used for travel.