akSail7

Sorry for my delayed response.

When I went 2 years ago passports were not required by tour operators, but Vietnam is a little tricky and constantly changing. I would search it on google. I do know when we went there was constant changing of port visa fees and such, it fluxuated daily.

The port is considerable far from the city and didn't have public transportation when I went.

I would recommend to do A LOT Of research, narrowing down your results to the last month because it changes constantly.

I also recommend you have seperate email for local contacts there when you travel overseas. Anything needing prepay I paid on PayPal.

Keep money split up in different pockets in case there is any occassion you need to say "that's all I have" you will still have back up. Again, this did not occur, but I always try to have contingency plans.

I can say in all my travels (30+ countries) the only place I got my credit card stolen and was taken advantage of was Mexico (one washing my windows, one filling the tank, one talking to me so I failed to notice they did not reset the pump to start at Zero, realized later there was no way that car could hold that many gallons of gas . . . . lesson learned, being down cash I used my credit card ONCE at another gas station and the next time I attempted to use it a week later it had been maxed out. The scanner employee (you don't do it yourself there) had copied my card. Easy to determine since it was the only place I used it. Thankfully, I always carry a separate back up, and with our credit card I didn't have to pay the fraudulent charges. But unfortunately there was no justice for it even when I knew exactly when, where and who did it. Even sadder, the gas stations are run by the government in Mexico . . . .

Hello. We sail on Voyager of the seas with a stop off in Nha Trang. We booked via AVIOS as a travel agent. We also have seen much conflicting information and today we contacted RCI and AVIOS separately. Both told us that we are required to use Visa Central company to arrange a visa as we have a private tour planned. We were told that we would only have visa's arranged, by the ship, if we had a shore excursion arranged by them. However previously, when calling RCI, we were told something different. This is completely frustrating as we have been told by employee at RCI that we don't need to worry and the ship will sort out the visa, yet today told something different. We have also seen the web page on RCI web site where it states visa would be arranged automatically. Other CC posts have raised concerns of costs reaching $100 for visas, like they making up prices as they go along.

I hope some other UK cruisers have had better experience. Im hoping RCI follow Celebrity with regards to charges. We just wish it was more clear.

Just returned from an RCI cruise with a stop in Phu My Vietnam. Also, had many conflicting reports. However, in my online cruise documents (not the generic links but your contract) it specifically had by country Visa requirements with cost. For our cruise it was $6 per person.

Look under your Booking Dashboard, Cruise Documentation, Guest Vacation Documents, View Document, and ours was on page 6

I have answered your question on our Rollcall where you posted wanting recent information.

Hopefully it was helpful to you.

Yes, thank you.

Our contact in Vietnam just reported a problem at Ha Long Bay, with port officials shaking down the operators waiting outside the port (running them off with physical threat, if they don't pay the port fees even if they are not coming in the port and making passengers get special permission papers) :mad: (making them pay the difference) and I see here from BruceMuzz, that at least 3 times late in January Ha Long Bay port was doing their own thing . . . so be aware, those going to port of Ha Long Bay it seems to be corrupt and makes up its own rules daily.

We are watching and hoping this doesn't happen in Phu My. So far nothing off course to report there.:o

You will be able to get your visa on the ship - see my post above - it will just be a question of documentation and cost.

 

I am amazed at the concern shown here about this issue as I have travel to Vietnam by ship three times and with all nationalities and there was never an issue other than the cost of the visa varied between cruise lines who either charged the fee imposed by the vietnamese Government or added a "hefty" charge to make more money from cruisers.

 

Enjoy your trip - take a couple of passport photos in case they are need and go with the flow

Thank you for your response. But the question was posed to get current specific information about this port. Since the law changed and changed back in January there have been MANY conflicting reports from various ports regarding costs and proceedures. Some are having EACH passenger apply and pay expedite fee processing each separately at the port costing a lot more money and a lot more time.

Having current accurate information about this specific port will help us be prepared for the cost and the time, reducing our stress.

So our question is still open to anyone that has docked at the port of Phu My in the last couple of weeks. What is the current process, cost and time for visa and leaving port?

Thank you

Hi guys we are sailing on Mariner of the Seas on 11th of February from Singapore I know you can obtain a visa for Vietnam on board for Australian and U.S.A passport holders I was wondering if this was so for British Passport holders.Would appreciate any input on this matter.Thanks Janet.

Please let us know how it went at Phu My for entry, we sail the 7th.

Thank you

Hi Chris Buck

 

Thanks for sharing your experience on board the Mariner of the Seas in regard to Phu My.

 

Just wondering if it is compulsory to pay for the Vietnam visa even if we do not want to go down. DH does not like long coach rides of over 2 hours each way. However if I am able to change his mind, are there multiple shuttles that go back and forth during the day and there is no set time to return apart from the last coach arranged by Royal Caribbean?

 

We are Australians.

 

Thanks.

 

koolgal

Hey Koolgal, when are you going? We are going March 7 on Mariner. If you are too, you should join our Port of Call site (everyone there is on this cruise)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1960579&page=8

If you are I hope to see you there.

PS if you haven't gone yet, Phu My is an INDUSTRIAL port. You will see NOTHING if you don't travel from the ship. Vung Tau is closer (only 45 min).

Maps, info, etc are at our port of call site.

So good to hear from someone who has been on the mariner info is very few and far between. Thanks for info on hcmc. I hope you will be posting a review as anxious to find out about food bars staff entertainment etc as we are on her for 8 days on 7th march 2014. We have 2 days Singapore first and 3 days shanghai after. So looking forward but little worried as so little info available. Thanks for any help or info you can give:)

Join our Port of Call site for this sailing . . . I haven't seen you on it yet. Did you register for meet and mingle? A group of us on the Port of Call site are meeting at the Sky bar after muster. Hope to see you at the Port of call site:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1960579&page=8

Do you need to have a photo for the cruise line group visa? Do the cruise lines just use the pic they take when you board?:confused:

I have sent emails to Vietnam Consulate, Tourism Bureau and our upcoming cruise provider RCI. I will post here any response.

That report is not quite true.

We have been in touch with the Pursers on both of those vessels.

They have been paying the same newly increased visa fees that we have been paying - and getting the same number of complaints from passengers.

 

Our Agent in Da Nang has just informed us today that the old lower price - and the old group visa - may be (or not) re-instated when we call there in a few days.

What Vessel are you with?

I showed this news article to Vietnamese Immigration Officials at Ha Long Bay this morning.

They were unfortunately unaware of the news and still charged each passenger US$80 plus a $10 express processing fee for individual entry visas. Group visas were not available. For those passengers who already had a vietnamese visa in their passports, there was a $1 fee for a landing card to go ashore.

Maybe next week..................

 

Meanwhile, a tourist visa for Vietnamese citizens to visit the USA is still US$160, plus a 30 day processing time.

Monday, it was reported the Holland America Volendam (ship registered Netherlands), arriving at 6 am Tan Cang-Cai Mep Port in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau was extended the historical 'reinstated' $5 rate. Followed by another ship, the Windstar Star Pride of Panama (ship registered Bahamas), at the same location was also extended this rate.

Maybe it is a port by port thing right now?

Maybe it is by ship registry right now?

If you have a current Vietnam visa fee response, please include port and ship name so we may all see any trends.

Thanks

http://www.vietnambreakingnews.com/2015/01/visa-fee-for-cruise-passengers-back-to-us5-per-pax/

although I will be keeping my eye on it. this was latest news posted 19hours ago.

Or a visa service which may be easier and worth a slight fee (though that's the individual's decision)

Zach, I am expected to be in Xiamen 1 day in March and think I would like to go to:

Riyuegu (Ancient Sun Moon Valley) Aquatic Park - No.1888 Fulian Road, Haicang District, Xiamen 361027, China (Dongfuzhen - Yingxia Line)

(Hot Springs (Wēnquán )

http://www.riyuegu.com/en/package_01.html

I saw that you travel here frequently, and that you might be able to comment on if you have or have heard of experiences here.

Also, I am having trouble arranging transport there. I prefer public transport or shuttles versus taxis. I found some reference to a shuttle to here, but unsure where to get it, or how to get to that point from the port.

I attempted to email them but did not get a response.

Expecting to be there Friday March 13, 2014 from 1000-1800 (10-6pm) arriving on RCL Mariner of the Seas.

Any assistance is appreciated.

Thank you

I would get the China Visa and my personal view is to get a multi entry visa.

 

A multi entry one is not required but on our visit to just Shanghai earlier this year the ships visa company got us one just in case we needed to go to another port for any reason including health.

 

Keith

I have seen some posts that you may not be able to board the ship without one. Also, as far as I can see, single entry and multiple entry cost the same so I would just get the most expansive one, may save trouble in the future.

Why not just contact Chinese officials instead of getting third hand info that might or might not be accurate? It's one thing to get cabin advice or excrusion tips on here but when it comes to visas and official stuff like that I would go directly to the official source.

I wish it were that easy. I also think a reason you can't find very good information or assistance from travel providers on this front is the difficuty communicating with Chinese officials. In the US the application must be submitted and picked up in PERSON at a consulate (mine is two states away) so you have to either go yourself or find someone you trust with your travel documents, that is dependable to get it accomplished timely. I have written the consulate and NEVER received an answer, and currently some links on their page are not even legible (is all in computer code).

Hence why I am searching for information myself. VERY hard to find answers or advice regarding this.

I've found some non-authoritative sources that indicate you might not, but probably will. Welcome to the ever changing world of visa requirements.. . .

As a cruise passenger right now, you will need a visa. As a cruise passenger sometime in the future? Maybe not. Keep checking.

 

I've also read that China visas will soon be valid for ten years instead of the current one year. . . . .

Good to know, I will keep an eye out for any change.

Thank you so much for your info. Did you book this directly with him before your cruise..and did you only pay at the end of your tour and what currency did you use ? There are only two of us so I assume it will be priced higher or perhaps a smaller vehicle.

It appears we will be on the same cruise. I am trying to organize something for me and my son from Phu My. Things we are considering are mostly the ooh, and aah free looking around at archetecture and temples, with some cultural performance (a water puppet show) thrown in there, as one of us is 10 years old. If you are interested in combining with us let me know. Otherwise, I have seen tours for around $82 per person to go to the main sites.