Visa China

[Mr. Click]

Maybe I missed it...but the OP is from Australia so all of this information about visas for US and Canadians and UK citizens won't help him. He needs to check with the Chinese embassy or consulate or his own equivalent to our state department for the correct information. Those who posted info for the US, thank you, it is a big help to me since we are going in March 2017....

[The_Big_M]

EDIT: I just realized you will be departing by air from Shanghai, while our cruise continues back to Japan as the next stop. Thus, I am not sure that your information applies to our particular cruise. Wishful thinking on my part. I chose not to post it on our roll call. Thanks for posting and I am glad it works out for you. - Emile

 

Yes, that scenario where Celebrity confirmed involves leaving China for a "third country", the US, which meets the Chinese announced definition.

[sandyss]

EDIT: I just realized you will be departing by air from Shanghai, while our cruise continues back to Japan as the next stop. Thus, I am not sure that your information applies to our particular cruise. Wishful thinking on my part. I chose not to post it on our roll call. Thanks for posting and I am glad it works out for you. - Emile

 

If your prior port before Shanghai is in Japan and then you return directly to Japan, then your cruise does not qualify for the 144 Hour Visa Free Transit. But if you port in South Korea or Taiwan directly before or after Shanghai, then you should qualify. Be sure to read the url that I posted.

[The_Big_M]

If your prior port before Shanghai is in Japan and then you return directly to Japan, then your cruise does not qualify for the 144 Hour Visa Free Transit. But if you port in South Korea or Taiwan directly before or after Shanghai, then you should qualify. Be sure to read the url that I posted.

 

Agreed. Unfortunately, we leave a Japanese port, go to Shanghai, then return to a Japanese port! So many different countries on our cruise, and it has to be that sequence.

[Canada17]

Agreed. Unfortunately, we leave a Japanese port, go to Shanghai, then return to a Japanese port! So many different countries on our cruise, and it has to be that sequence.

 

For the Millennium Cruise of Oct 16, Tokyo to HK, a Visa is required from what we have been told. We leave Nagasaki (Japan) then we stop in Shanghai. The next stop is Okinawa (ie back to Japan) which is not a third country to which we are travelling. That's why the 144hr visa exemption does not apply on the Tokyo-HK cruise.

[emileg]

For the Millennium Cruise of Oct 16, Tokyo to HK, a Visa is required from what we have been told. We leave Nagasaki (Japan) then we stop in Shanghai. The next stop is Okinawa (ie back to Japan) which is not a third country to which we are travelling. That's why the 144hr visa exemption does not apply on the Tokyo-HK cruise.

I know. :mad: :( Some people have said that they were able to remain on the ship if they didn't get the visa. That would be fine with us as we previously spent a week in Shanghai. It is a shame for those going to Shanghai for the first time. Hopefully, there will be some further clarification by the time of our cruise in April 2017. Maybe you could report back to this thread in October after your cruise and let us know the real scoop. Thanks.

[PROCRUISE]

Often the cruise line can get "blanket" visas that cover passengers taking excursions with the cruise line. For Russia, X did tell me that I needed to get my own visa if I planned to do anything other than the ship's tours. Don't know if this is the case for China but certainly worth checking with X.

 

Don't need a visa if you take a ship tour AND if you book a private tour. Only need a visa if you plan to leave the ship and move around on your own which is NOT recommended.

We booked with Red October for both days in St. Petersburg and had no need for a visa.

[The_Big_M]

Don't need a visa if you take a ship tour AND if you book a private tour. Only need a visa if you plan to leave the ship and move around on your own which is NOT recommended.

We booked with Red October for both days in St. Petersburg and had no need for a visa.

 

What you write is true for St. Petersburg, but doesn't apply directly to Shanghai. The visa arrangements are different.

[cerekdoc]

Hello everyone, once again!

 

So I reached out to my Celebrity Partner Advocate (CPA) with the visa question. The CPA's role is to work as an advocate for Celebrity groups. Since I have a group booking on this cruise, I thought my CPA may be a good person to ask.

 

Here is my email to Trent Smith, my Partner Advocate, Group department, Celebrity Cruises:

 

"Hello Trent,

 

I do have a customer service question. I have a group (# 2740835 ) on the 08APR17 Millenium sailing. There has been much chatter on Cruise Critic as to whether a China Visa is needed for our 16-hour port call in Shanghai.

 

It seems that China's new 144-hour in-transit rule has many confused as to whether or not a visa is needed. I called CEL and was directed to the FAQ area on your consumer site and I downloaded the spreadsheet from that area which state that a China visa is not needed for US and Canadian residents for Shanghai. However, is there a more definitive way to get an absolute answer pertaining to this issue?

 

Of course, if a needless visa is not required, I would hate to go through the expense and trouble to obtain them.

 

Thank you, Trent, for looking into this issue.

 

 

Regards,

 

Frank Rosner, A.C.C., D.D.S., M.S.B.A.

Vacation Specialist, "

 

Here is Trent's answer:

 

"Hi Frank,

 

A visa will not be required, https://www.travelchinaguide.com/emb...it-144hour.htm this link also has a lot of good information as to the new 144hr rule. I hope this helps. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance."

 

 

 

I will, personally, follow Trent's advice.

[sandyss]

Be sure to read the rules for the 144 hour visa free transit. Some travelers on some cruises qualify, while others do not.

 

The prior port stop must be in a country different than the next country that you visit, or fly to. In addition, you must stay in the Shanghai area, and leave from Shanghai.

 

Our cruise which ends in Shanghai fits the requirements for "most" of the passengers, but some do not qualify. For instance, people flying to Beijing after getting off the ship in Shanghai must get a visa, since they are not going to a third country. There is another cruise which does not qualify for any of the passengers, since the prior port is in Japan, and the following port after Shanghai is also in Japan.

 

You should read the new policy carefully to make sure that you qualify.

[emileg]

Be sure to read the rules for the 144 hour visa free transit. Some travelers on some cruises qualify, while others do not.

 

The prior port stop must be in a country different than the next country that you visit, or fly to. In addition, you must stay in the Shanghai area, and leave from Shanghai.

 

Our cruise which ends in Shanghai fits the requirements for "most" of the passengers, but some do not qualify. For instance, people flying to Beijing after getting off the ship in Shanghai must get a visa, since they are not going to a third country. There is another cruise which does not qualify for any of the passengers, since the prior port is in Japan, and the following port after Shanghai is also in Japan.

 

You should read the new policy carefully to make sure that you qualify.

Hi Sandy,

 

Frank's post above refers specifically to our cruise that begins in Hong Kong with stops in Taipei, Okinawa, Shanghai and then Nagasaki, ultimately ending in Yokohama. Trent, in his letter back to Frank, reported that our cruise qualifies for the visa exemption under the 144 hour rule.

 

Thanks for your clarification, as it follows the letter of the rule, while Trent's clarification follows the spirit of the rule. I think from this point on, unless there has been some other official determination, I will consider the question resolved for our situation. In any case, I'll let you know in Abu Dhabi. :) - Emile

[The_Big_M]

Be sure to read the rules for the 144 hour visa free transit. Some travelers on some cruises qualify, while others do not.

 

The prior port stop must be in a country different than the next country that you visit, or fly to. In addition, you must stay in the Shanghai area, and leave from Shanghai.

 

Our cruise which ends in Shanghai fits the requirements for "most" of the passengers, but some do not qualify. For instance, people flying to Beijing after getting off the ship in Shanghai must get a visa, since they are not going to a third country. There is another cruise which does not qualify for any of the passengers, since the prior port is in Japan, and the following port after Shanghai is also in Japan.

 

You should read the new policy carefully to make sure that you qualify.

 

Agreed, that is a more straightforward situation.

 

With our cruise, Shanghai is part of the itinerary with ports before and after so we are at the mercy of the cruise line. Unfortunately, the response above doesn't give anything to substantiate that returning to the same country is permitted. And just having a statement from one Celebrity staff member isn't going to hold sway if the official requirements are different, as they appear to be.

[sandyss]

Hi Sandy,

 

Frank's post above refers specifically to our cruise that begins in Hong Kong with stops in Taipei, Okinawa, Shanghai and then Nagasaki, ultimately ending in Yokohama. Trent, in his letter back to Frank, reported that our cruise qualifies for the visa exemption under the 144 hour rule.

 

Thanks for your clarification, as it follows the letter of the rule, while Trent's clarification follows the spirit of the rule. I think from this point on, unless there has been some other official determination, I will consider the question resolved for our situation. In any case, I'll let you know in Abu Dhabi. :) - Emile

 

Hi Emile. Which are the ports before and after Shanghai? If they are Okinawa and Nagasaki, the cruisers do not qualify for the 144 hour visa free transit, since both of those ports are in Japan. See you in Abu Dhabi.