transientoftheseas

Hi, How did your experience turn out? A couple of the travelers in my group will be in the same scenario- They have a multi-entry Schengen visa but no UK visa due to time constraints for their cruise in 10 days. Can they embark and just stay on board during the UK stop? (Schengen Visa, USA permanent resident/green card but Cambodian passport) We have a back up plan if they are not able to board- with our itinerary, the UK stop is the first so they may be able to embark on Day 1 but on Day 3 when it stops at the next Schengen country (sea day Day 2) Thank you!

Hello! I am currently researching information for my relatives who need visas for their European cruise. They are from a country who are not eligible for visas on arrival at UK or France like US citizens. Would any one know if MSC has a ground agent in the UK and Europe that handles visas for cruisers? My relatives cruised with MSC previously that had a Middle Eastern itinerary and MSC collaborated with a tour company in the UAE that handled visas (Sharaf Tours, if anyone is wondering). Less documents were needed and the cost was half than what it would be if applied individually at a consulate or embassy. I asked my travel agent and she doesn't know the answer. I asked MSC and they said to inquire with my travel agent. They will be on MSC Euribia in January and there's only one port stop in the UK. Would MSC have a special arrangement with the UK for those not eligible for visa on arrival since its only a 12 hr or so stop? I am also open to suggestions of companies that handles cruise visas for other cruiselines as well. Thanks so much!

Thank you for the great help! What information did the visa have on it that was emailed to you? Did the immigration officer have to scan a QR code of some sort?

I have the same issue. I think US citizens may not need the supplemental insurance? I applied for my family and the non-us citizens directed me to the medical insurance pages but the US citizens directed me to the $10.50 payment page immediately and started processing. What a bargain!

I have applied for the $22 Saudi Arabia transit visa per the instructions that MSC sent in an email with step by step directions on how to apply on the visa website. The World Europa stops stops in Damman and the directions state to choose simply "Damman" or "Jeddah". Damman was not an option in the pull down menu so I chose "Jeddah Islamic Seaport" or "Jeddah Yacht Club" since another MSC ship docks there (totally different city from Damman but I did not know which other port to choose) I had to do some googling myself since I was curious and it turns out the Damman cruise port is officially called King Abdullaziz seaport! (which was an option in the drop down menu!) Why MSC didn't list this actual port out in the directions- I don't know. I am applying for multiple applications for my family. Will this be an issue or would the location not matter just as long they get the transit visa into Saudi Arabia overall? I am not able to edit the past applications. Thank you

I booked 13 staterooms for my family and have been watching this thread for any indications of changed to the Damman stop for their Jan 22 sailing. Should I expect an email from MSC a week before the sail date or sooner? I am not sailing myself but I am planning their excursions so any information would be helpful. Does any know if a travel medical insurance is required to enter the UAE? They are flying from the USA to Abu Dhabi. Also, I applied for the MSC UAE cruise visas for the travelers that are not US citizens through Sharaf Tours. I sent in the documents and applications before Christmas but have not received any confirmation or responses. Is anyone else having this issue as well? Thank you.

Hello! I am fully rapt in reading comments about experiences aboard the World Europa. I have been watching youtube videos of new vlogs aboard this ship daily. I am not cruising myself but I have booked 13 cabins for my family and they are due to sail in a 3 weeks! They will be embarking in Abu Dhabi and flying here from the USA and Asia. Is a travel medical insurance required to enter the UAE for US Citizens? I understood it was required as a covid protocol but has this been dropped? If needed- what are the required minimum amounts of coverage? For my relatives from Asia we had used Sharaf Tours to process the cruise visas for the UAE. Sharaf Tours was the company included in the information PDF from MSC. I have sent all the applications and required documents via email but have not heard back. It has been over a week and no responses. I have not started check in for the cruise boarding passes yet but I would like to know now if a covid test is required to board the ship? Thank you for any information you can pass along!

Most travel agent companies have a group booking department. I had booked 13 cabins and all the information (booking id's, passenger information for each cabin) is compiled into an online database where I can easily access information. Also, all 13 reservations are in one primary login for the MSC website so I wont have to make 13 accounts for since they are mostly new to MSC cruisers. The company I used has a discount where if you purchase 8 cabins you get one free (free cruise credit to use in the future)