Cruising with RCCL Voyager of the Seas - New Caledonia Visa Problem

[t4tintin]

The cruise we booked for this November includes a few hour stop at Noumea, Caledonia, and my mother is a Chinese passport holder, and generally speaking she will need a visa for New Caledonia. But it's almost impossible to get one due to the lengthy and complicated application process. I searched and found these old posts regarding whether or not a visa is indeed needed for cruise ship passengers.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1085073

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showp...0&postcount=16

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showp...9&postcount=18

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showp...2&postcount=42

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showp...7&postcount=52

 

So, according to other cruisers, visa is NOT needed after all. What's more, it says on the French government's website:http://www.ambafrance-au.org/New-Cal...ench-Polynesia

If you require a visa to enter New Caledonia and French Polynesia, please note that if you remain aboard the vessel transiting through a French port arriving from one country and travelling to another country, you do not require visas if you remain on board the vessel during the port of call.

 

And I even emailed the visa department of the French consulate to confirm that.

 

However, after making numerous calls to RCCL, the responses I got was very frustrating. According to them, you won't be allowed to embark if you don't have the visa, regardless what the government says. And they don't have the 'in-transit' visa that covers everyone on the ship like P&O cruise line does either.

 

Emails to RCCL never got responded. What kind of poor customer service!

 

I can't believe that Royal Caribbean makes it so difficult for their passengers and they would rather lose a sale. We'll have to cancel this cruise as there is no other choice.

[HokiePoq]

You have a pretty complicated question.

I don't know how we'd ever gotten through the Indian visa process without the help of folks on our roll call. You can try there but your question involves someone of Chinese citizenship which is likely not known there either.

As to embarking, RCCL allowed many people without Indian visas to embark. They did have to stay onboard while we were at the four Indian ports. New Caledonia may not allow this, I do not know. I have heard that Brazil will not allow anyone to even be on the ship without a visa.

People who relied on RCCL advice used their recommended visa service. We knew to go to the direct outsourced service without the intermediary. Someone on roll call had the third party lose their passport.

I would contact the Chinese embassy and see if they can help you.

[t4tintin]

You have a pretty complicated question.

I don't know how we'd ever gotten through the Indian visa process without the help of folks on our roll call. You can try there but your question involves someone of Chinese citizenship which is likely not known there either.

As to embarking, RCCL allowed many people without Indian visas to embark. They did have to stay onboard while we were at the four Indian ports. New Caledonia may not allow this, I do not know. I have heard that Brazil will not allow anyone to even be on the ship without a visa.

People who relied on RCCL advice used their recommended visa service. We knew to go to the direct outsourced service without the intermediary. Someone on roll call had the third party lose their passport.

I would contact the Chinese embassy and see if they can help you.

 

Thanks for the input!

The RCCL international desk did say that according to their guideline, they wouldn't let people without proper visas to embark. But according to your experience, this is not true. The inconsistency is what causes problems. If I know for sure they won't let anyone embark without visa (even though one is NOT actually required), there won't be any dilemma and I'll just go ahead to cancel the cruise. I'm still waiting to hear from their headquarter for the confirmation. It's been a few days since I sent emails. No response.

 

I don't think the Chinese embassy can help as this is a New Caledonia visa issued by the French government. And I already got confirmation from the French consulate that the visa is NOT needed in this cruise ship situation, as long as the passenger stays onboard.

 

Now it's all about RCCL. If they say yes, we can go on with this trip. If they say no, we'll have to cancel the cruise.

[t4tintin]

Any NON- US/Canada/European/Australian/New Zealand citizen who has successfully embarked the Royal Caribbean ship without a New Caledonia visa? Please share your experience, thanks!