mishfromva

thank you.  Yes, I thought they hit people exchanging US$ much harder than other currencies. So I thought I might save some money if I change US$ to Euros in Mia, then exchange EUROS once I'm in Cuba. Good idea? Bad idea?

Thank you.  I thought it odd to not have my credit be applied to a visa that will be charged to my stateroom account. Thank you for your reply.

Thank you.  Is it best to change my us$ to Euros or Canadian for better rates/fees? I thought I read that, but not sure of the accuracy.

I'll be cruising on Majesty of the Seas in a few weeks with two stops in Cuba.  We've book excursions thru RCCL, but are curious if I need to exchange money if we decide to buy anything?

Do they accept US$? or should/can I exchange $ at the Miami airport or do they have ATM's once we dock in Cuba?

Any suggestions are appreciated as clearly this is our first trip to Cuba.

I just returned from Asia cruise with a stop in Ko Samui.  I booked Mr. Samui Transportation as they had great reviews on trip advisor. :https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1182465-d4501077-Reviews-Mr_Samui_Transport_Private_tours-Mae_Nam_Ko_Samui_Surat_Thani_Province.html

He responded promptly to every message I sent them.  

Mr. Chicken (yes, that was his name) picked us up at the pier and we spent the next 8 hours with him.  Prices for 3 people was 3500Baht for 6 hours 400Baht for each hour over 6 hours.

He suggest the standard stops around the island, but we also wanted to go to Namuang Safari Park to ride the elephants, get pictures with the tigers and go to the waterfall (both highlights of our cruise).  This costs additional (approx 35US$ for elephant ride, picture with the tiger and transport to the falls).  If interested, do the park first thing as we did and you'll get there before the cruise ship tours (go straight to elephants first as there was a long line by the time we finished).  We saved tons of $ and time doing this tour on our own.  We saw ALL of the island.  We drove around the whole thing with many stops along the way for swimming as well as a delicious lunch (which was huge, delicious and about $4US), and some markets for shopping.  I highly recommend this tour company as well as doing it on your own.

I apologize if this has been discussed, but I searched the topic and couldn't find anything.

My son and I are taking a RCCL cruise on Majesty of the Seas in a few weeks to Cuba.  I booked all excursions through RCCL and I've filled out all required paper work including the two copies of the "Cuba Travel Certification".  It seems there is a $75 pp "tourist card" that needs to be purchased at the pier and the amount will be "charged to your Onboard account".

Recently, I redeemed additional points on my RCCL Visa card and now have $100 stateroom credit. I was told that my stateroom credit can not be redeemed for the "tourist card"/travel visa that's required.

I just got off a 2 week Princess sailing in which a visa was needed for Vietnam and the fee was charged to my room and shipboard credit was applied.  Not sure if I received accurate info from RCCL.  The reason I'm asking is that, if it's not redeemable I may purchase a drink package before sailing or dining option as I don't drink or plan to spend the money at the spa or bingo.

Why is this? Does anyone know the rules of this?  Thank you!

Wow!  Thank you for your correction! I’ve been bamboozled!  Looked like a legitimate page! Thank you for the clarity.

 Curious if I’m better off obtaining a visa at the embassy (I’m 10 miles from DC) or just paying the $56 from Princess?  Thank you again for correcting my mistake.

I’m a United States citizen and I’m cruising on the Sapphire Princess out of Shanghai January 5, 2019. It includes a stop in Vietnam.

This was released from the Vietnam Embassy and was approved by the Prime Minister. It indicates a change in visa fees for cruise ship passengers to $5.  I’m wondering why Princess still lists the fee as $56!? Anyone have insight.  Or know when Princess will adopt the new fees? Or is it just a fleecing?

Here is the article:

https://vietnamvisaembassy.org/vietnam-visa-fee-cruise-passengers-back-us5-per-pax/

Does anyone know where the Princess Cruise Ship Terminal is in relation to downtown Shanghai? Approx. what is the distance?

What is the best way for three people to get from our hotel near People's Square to the Princess Sapphire on Jan 5th, 2019?

Thank you!

Thank you for the information!

I'm booked on the Sapphire Princess starting from Shanghai 1/5/19 and ending in Singapore on 1/19/19.

I'm curious what terminal will be used on 1/11/19 in Hong Kong. Not sure the terminals change from cruise to cruise or if it's a constant with this ship and cruise line.

Trying to plan an excursion. How far by taxi are the other terminal options (like Kai Tak) if I mess up the meeting point?

Thanks in advance! -Michelle

Thank you all. I posted too quickly and even confused myself. You are correct. Required for Vietnam not Thailand.

Sorry to bother you all! Carry on

I'm a US citizen and booked on a cruise from Shanghai to Singapore. We have a one day stop in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

I see on the Princess website that they will supply US citizens with a visa to Thailand for the one day stop. I was quoted $56pp. However, I checked both the Royal Thai Embassy in DC's website (http://thaiembdc.org/visas/) well as the American Embassy in Thailand (https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/thai-visas-americans/) of which both say a visa is NOT needed. I called Princess and she checked with the "powers that be" who said that one IS needed and verified the cost is $56pp (in my case x 4 persons)

Who is right? Does anyone know the details of this? Am I missing something? Why would one say it's required and one say it's not?

Thank you for any insight!

amazing videos! Thank you fo posting and I can't wait to visit in Jan 2019 (yes, I've been planning...and saving for ages!)

Well let me know if you find out before I do, okay? And I'll do the same! :D

I sure will. Perhaps there will be more on this topic after the March and April (2018) sailing?

sorry late in responding. I believe that the Vietnam one is done on the ship. But I will need to look into that as well. Thanks for the reminder. See ya on the ship!

We just booked this cruise also! Very excited!!! 144 hours is 6 days, we will be arriving hopefully the same day, so I believe we don't need to worry about the Chinese visa. We do need to get the Vietnam one though, I think.

I guess I'm confused as I leave Shanghai on the cruise but then reenter China via the cruise ship stopping in Hong Kong!? I thought once I left China on the 144 hour rule...I couldn't reenter?

You might fall under the 144 hour rule, see the thread

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2393963&highlight=china+visa

Thank you. Lucky I live outside of DC and will plan to go in person for the visa.

]No visas required for Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.

Visas for Vietnam are typically arranged for you by your ship. (please call Princess to make sure.)

No visas required for visit to Hong Kong but since you are traveling to Shanghai...you and your daughter will need Chinese visas. Note: Chinese visas are expensive...and for us, it was difficult because we decided to drive to the nearest Chinese Consulate located 3 hours away in San Francisco, and applied for it in person.

Wonderful itinerary!...have a wonderful cruise and have fun planning for your ports.:)

no chance. They are very strict and go by the passport/birth certificate submitted when checking in. They have a manifest with everyones birthday. But believe me, she will be fine.

I know my cruise is WAY far out, but as soon as I started looking up info on visas, I thought I might be over my head.

We are US citizens. My 26 year old daughter and I are planning on the Jan 5, 2019 Sapphire Princess cruise. It sails from Shanghai to Singapore (Stopping in Nagasaki, Busan, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok and Ko Samui).

I would like to fly over to Shanghai no more than 2 days prior to our ship leaving from Singapore for some sightseeing. I will be making my own airfare and hotel reservations.

My question is: Will I need a visa for this? Will I need a visa for any other stop?:confused: