Drifflad

P.S you do need to have proof of pre booked onward flights with you, they will need a copy

We disembarked in Shanghai on 09/04/17 having sailed from Okinawa as our last port of call after cruising from Singapore, then staying over night before flying back to England.After trying in vain to get a straight answer from Royal Caribbean or the Chinese embassy and doing my homework online we took as much information regarding the 144 hour visa exemption with us and NO visa. I expected a fight in Singapore as I had been told that we may not be allowed to board the ship. I have to say that R/C staff at the port knew all about it and there was no issue. They flagged us up as qualifying for the exemption and processed the paperwork before our arrival in Shanghai where we disembarked with no issues and went straight through immigration also with no issues. We met plenty on board who had been frightened into buy visas that they did not need. So whilst everyone's itinary will be different my understanding of the 144 visa is that if you arrive from one country, in our case our last port of call Okinawa then transit through Shanghai within 144 hours to a third country in our case England then you are fine. If you disembark in Shanghai then go somewhere else in China OR have an airport change in China OR return to the country you came in from then you will need a visa.i hope this is a help as I know that certainly trying to get an answer in the UK is extremely difficult

Many thanks for the reply,it's nice to hear first hand from someone who has recently been there.

I was pretty certain that as we were travelling into Shanghai from Okinawa (our last port of call) and travelling out of Shanghai pudong back to the UK that the 144 hour visa exemption would apply but I have had no help from either the travel agent or cruise company who either do not know about this rule or would rather sell us a visa we probably don't need.

Kind regards

Mike

We are flying from U.K. In January, boarding Millenium in Singapore, disembarking in Shanghai, our only stop in mainland China, but staying in a hotel for one night in Shanghai before flying back to U.K. Still not sure about visa ...

Hi Julie,

We are doing the same thing with Royal Caribbean in march.we stay over in Singapore for two nights then sail to Shanghai where we are staying overnight before flying back to the UK. I am reasonably confident that the visa exemption applies but would be grateful if you could let me know how you got on and if indeed you got a visa or used the 144 hour waiver.

Regards, mike