Information on Helsinki being skipped this week

[The_Big_M]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2042688

A very interesting thread, but not really related to this incident, which is about Schengen visas & nothing really to do with Russia.

 

This thread is also about a passenger being forced off before the port before because they don't have a visa for Russia, with a suggestion about staying on without getting off at SPB.

 

The risks of that should be apparent from the linked thread, and indicative of why the cruise line would not want to take that risk.

[hallasm]

This thread is also about a passenger being forced off before the port before because they don't have a visa for Russia, with a suggestion about staying on without getting off at SPB.

Not correct - you do not need a Russian visa in order to visit SPB on a cruise!

"Cruise ship passengers can currently visit St Petersburg on visa-waiver scheme provided the stop in the port of call doesn't exceed 72 hours and tourists stay overnight on board the cruise ship. Cruise passengers may disembark from the ship without a tourist visa if they participate on tours organized by cruise companies or licensed tour operators.

[John Bull]

This thread is also about a passenger being forced off before the port before because they don't have a visa for Russia, with a suggestion about staying on without getting off at SPB.

 

The risks of that should be apparent from the linked thread, and indicative of why the cruise line would not want to take that risk.

 

I think you're getting your wires crossed, big man. ;)

The passengers were removed in Tallinn, a Schengen country, because their single-entry Schengen visa wouldn't be good to visit Helsinki, Stockholm or any other Schengen country if they went, with the ship, via SPB. For that they'd need a multi-visit Schengen visa in order to visit any other Schengen country. If the ship had visited the UK in the middle of the cruise rather than SPB, the situation would have been the same, since the UK isn't a Schengen country either.

Russian visas don't come into it.

 

As hallasm's post, no Russian visa is needed to stay on the ship at SPB.

Like many other cruisers we booked an independent visa-free tour for SPB, we weren't asked if we had a visa or tour ticket when we joined the ship.

Probably some cruisers booked SPB tours with the ship while on-board (bear in mind these tours are "visa-free", & not "group visas", so no advance notice is required) and they will have boarded without visas or tour tickets.

Having no Russian visa or tour ticket doesn't mean being thrown off the ship - it means not being allowed to leave the ship in SPB.

 

Complicated, innit ;)

 

JB :)

[The_Big_M]

I think you're getting your wires crossed, big man. ;)

 

Could well be. :o

[John Bull]

I think you're getting your wires crossed, big man. ;)

 

JB :)

 

Could well be. :o

 

Owning-up is the sign of a true gentleman :)

I should know, it's something I have to do frequently :D

 

JB :)

[Travelanni]

This has been a most interesting subject and a lot has been learned about a very interesting and complicated issue.

However, many people must have looked at this thread to find 'Information on why Helsinki was skipped this week'

IT WAS THE WEATHER

When we came to leave SPB at 23:00 on Tuesday the Captain and the Pilot agreed that navigating the long, narrow channel out of the port in the very high cross-wind was not safe. The wind did not abate until Wednesday morning and the next opportunity for us to leave was around 11:00 by which time it was too late for a call in Helsinki. It was still very windy, too windy to be out on deck, and remained so until late afternoon. We sailed straight to Stockholm, arriving there at the scheduled time.

This information came from conversations with a navigating officer (not one of the hospitality staff) and the chief security officer. The fact that someone was put off the ship in Tallin was never mentioned although leaving behind someone who missed the ship through their own fault was common knowledge.

Anni

 

Edited May 19, 2014 by Travelanni
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