Goldconnection

A visa is not required to enter Singapore however, I have read an Arrival Card is required. Can anyone elaborate on this. Thanks much.

1 hour ago, Expat Cruise said:

Yes, about a 10-minute taxi ride depending upon traffic. Less than 1.5 miles away from the port. Walking would be about 25 minutes. 

Thank you. Is it a fairly nice hotel?

We are staying a few days in Manila pre cruise. We are considering staying at the City Gardens Suites. We think it is close to the cruise port. Can anyone confirm this. Thanks much.

Will follow this thread. We are spending Christmas in Singapore post cruise and are wondering the same thing.

The completion of the Singapore arrival card is required is require when traveling by air or sea.

I spoke directly with Visa Central this morning. In our case technically, we will only need to obtain visa once for each cruise. We can not use the visas from the first cruise because we will leave Vietnam and then reenter for the second cruise. All in all we will pay a total of $396 ($99 each) for Vietnam visas if we go through NCL. If we go through Visa Central the total is $260 ($65 each). I will check on the government site later today. 
 

This is beginning to get a little pricey as we also need visas for Cambodia and Indonesia. Which is a total $396 if we use NCL.

Grand total for all visas, if we use NCL: $792.00 😱
 

Please be mindful, Singapore requires the completion of an Arrival Card which is free of charge. Does anyone know if cruise passengers are required to complete? 

This is what I found @ VietnamImmigration.com. I have no intentions on using them. I was just doing some research until I hear from Vietnam e-Visa    hopefully on Monday or Tuesday…

If the cruise stops in different cities in Vietnam, does this count as many visits? Numerous cruises along the coast of Vietnam visit several ports. If you visit numerous cities in Vietnam, would this be considered a single entry or many entries? How may several visas be applied for if there are many entries?

In truth, if a cruise ship cruises from one Vietnamese port to another, only one visit is counted. The entrance port will be the first port of entry, while the departure port will be the last port of visit. You are not required to apply for a multiple-entry visa. In this instance, the single-entry E-visa will suffice.

1 hour ago, lfplenore said:

For $99, hopefully only once! Are you doing a B2B? If so, they may charge twice😓. If you find out, please post. Good luck!

 

Yes we are doing a B2B. I actually sent an email to Vietnam e-visa last night. If they charge twice that would be $99X4 😡. Will post the response I get.

That is exactly my case. The ship leaves the country and then returns. I also plan to reach out to see exactly how many time we will be charged for visas.

We are doing a back to back with at least 4 stops in Vietnam. I wonder how that will work. I have contacted my CC but he was clueless. Because of that I am planning to get my own visas for myself and hubby.

I am trying to find out about “loose leaf visas” as well. We are cruising with NCL later this year. Will follow this thread.

Any recommendations for a hotel In Manila near the cruise port. Also looking for recommendations for a hotel in Bangkok. We plan to spend a few days post cruise there. Thanks.

Any recommendations for a hotel In Manila near the cruise port. Also looking for recommendations for a hotel in Bangkok. We plan to spend a few days post cruise there. Thanks.

Do what makes you feel safe. Me personally, I always wear a mask and will continue to do so. After the spin bike instructor my husband had on our December recent b2b2b contracted Covid, and my husband and others we not immediately notified we will continue to do so. My husband and the others in the class which takes place in a closed room, found out when they went to a class and it was canceled and refunds was issued. That was the first leg of a b2b2b. The instructor never showed up for the second or third legs of the cruise and they did not offer spin class for the remainder of our vacation.

There in November and December. Felt very safe.

I always order the fettuccine with shrimp.

The Bliss

Loved sailing both.

Yes

On board the BLISS right now. Up this morning bright and early thinking we would get through custom and get back on the ship for the last leg of our b2b2b. We reported to the Maltings at 8:45 as instructed. It is now 12:25 and we just got word we are now being moved to the Manhattan to hurry up and wait. Still have to make it through customs. Ship has to zero out before embarkation can take place. 

Issue…guest dragging their feet getting off. 12:45 guest still on ship. Now they have move about 11 of us from the Manhattan us to the corridor of the terminal. No chairs. 
 

Just heard there are still two passengers on board. 😡

On 10/27/2022 at 11:23 PM, BirdTravels said:

 “a cheap room”

Regardless how much the cost of the cabin the poster spent their money and have every right to feel the way they feel. They never complained that the cabin was not the size of a suite. He never mentioned disappointment about not have a sofa or loveseat. I believe he mentioned a chair. When one spends one’s money I feel you have the right to voice your opinion on what you spend your money on no mater how much you spend. 

On 10/27/2022 at 11:23 PM, BirdTravels said:

 “a cheap room”

Regardless how much the cost of the cabin the poster spent their money and have every right to feel the way they feel. They never complained that the cabin was not the size of a suite. He never mentioned disappointment about not have a sofa or loveseat. I believe he mention a chair. When one spends one’s money I feel you have the right to voice your opinion on what you spend your money on no mater how much you spend. 

2 hours ago, zimme08 said:

Thanks for all the great info. 

 

I'm curious to know the weather as you are cruising.  We are doing the 5 day this Sunday and have seen temps at one of the ports, Ensenada, that are going down to the 30's in the evening.  Don't know if it's real chilly on the ship.

Thanks!

4 hours ago, www3traveler said:

Crew members are very literate in their own launguages.  English is one of the most difficult languages to learn.  There are groups of on ship employees that are not required to speak English, especially those that do do interact with passengers: laundry workers, Deck and Engine Personnel for two.  If an staff members deals with passengers, they have to speak English.  At one time there were English classes available for crew members.

To answer your question, I was 14 when I go my first real paycheck and NO I did not know about deductions for taxes, insurance, social Security, etc.

Thanks again to poster chengkp75 for once again setting the record straight by debunking this myth. 

8 hours ago, www3traveler said:

Crew members come from all over the world.  Some speak and understand English better than others.

 

Do you remember the 1st time you ever got a payroll slip?  Did you know what it said?  Codes for payroll deductions can be very confusing.  Most young people I know multiply the number of hours they have worked by whatever their pay rate is and think that what they will get-- it isn't.  Same thing with crew.  

 

For many direct deposit is new-- some countries still do not have it.  So crew gets paid and has to wire money home.

 

You said they could not read. My question stands…Are you saying they are illiterate? And you’d I understood my first payroll slip. Didn’t you?