Aurora - March 2012 - Bangkok to Dubai

[karmachameleon]

Taking this cruise next year and it's our first cruise outside the Caribbean. Has anyone got any advice on whether it is safer to do the (expensive) P&O trips or the locally organised ones in the Ports?

Also - is it fairly easy to apply yourself for an Indian Visa as the P&O official application process is pretty expensive at over £100 each?

[cruiseluvva]

We did Hong Kong to Southampton last year and did most of the ports ourselves. We did take excursions at Sihanoukville, Dubai, Aqaba for Petra and Suez for Cairo mainly because they were things we wanted to see, and KL and Bangkok - at least my husband did those, I did something else - as they were too far to DIY Elsewhere we were happy to DIY and just mooch around the area.

 

Regarding Indian visas, we applied for our own and they cost approx £70 for the two. Absolutely no need to pay P&O for them.

 

Have a wonderful time.

[PAULNJILL]

Hi we are also booked on this part of the world cruise in 2013 and will be looking for tips and ideas for excursions there are a number of ports which I feel we will DIY , but also there are a few we would take official trips , good comments re the visas thank you

[lindylou@Grange]

We are also sailing on the Aurora next year from Sydney to Singapore. The ports sound amazing and I would also love any info from fellow cruisers and from any one doing the same cruise. Cant wait. Thanks.

[Dancing Dolly]

We are on Aurora Sydney to Southampton. Just arranged the Indian visa - photo must be 2" x 2" was knocked back having supplied regular passport photo. Too hard on line, kept closing down so our travel agent did it $Aud 170 plus $80 with safety assured and a week's turn around. Having had 25 cruises we have booked 5 full day excursions already with P & O. Some cities you would not go out alone when you see what can be achieved in a day on a coach and can be assured you will be delivered to the ship. We have seen/know of people left behind. They are expensive but some deals are booked out early. Dancing Dolly of Davidson.

[moodyblue9]

We are on Aurora Sydney to Southampton. Just arranged the Indian visa - photo must be 2" x 2" was knocked back having supplied regular passport photo. Too hard on line, kept closing down so our travel agent did it $Aud 170 plus $80 with safety assured and a week's turn around. Having had 25 cruises we have booked 5 full day excursions already with P & O. Some cities you would not go out alone when you see what can be achieved in a day on a coach and can be assured you will be delivered to the ship. We have seen/know of people left behind. They are expensive but some deals are booked out early. Dancing Dolly of Davidson.

 

 

Im interested in hearing how the Indian Visa is going,as they date it from date of approval ie say November 2011 {i think}irrespective of the date of arrival in India.

 

See you on cruise .

[Pobman]

Indian visa is a dead simple one, and they have nice tracking online as well. Only point to note are to remember to add the Indian reference you got from P&O, to use USA size passport photos 2"x2" and to include the trip schedule with the two data in India highlighted.

 

When you get the visa back it should have on it "Gap of 60 days relaxed", so you can leave and re-enter at the second port.

 

If you have to get one for a child as well then they wanted copy of birth certificate, and parents passport photo pages and the application should be signed by both parents.

 

If you are applying for two people then you are supposed to have copies of support documents for each person.

[moodyblue9]

Indian visa is a dead simple one, and they have nice tracking online as well. Only point to note are to remember to add the Indian reference you got from P&O, to use USA size passport photos 2"x2" and to include the trip schedule with the two data in India highlighted.

 

When you get the visa back it should have on it "Gap of 60 days relaxed", so you can leave and re-enter at the second port.

 

If you have to get one for a child as well then they wanted copy of birth certificate, and parents passport photo pages and the application should be signed by both parents.

 

If you are applying for two people then you are supposed to have copies of support documents for each person.

 

Thank you Pobman,catch up with you later no doubt!