Jump to content

India, visa question


simonpjd
 Share

Recommended Posts

My wife an I first visited Cochin in 2007, on the World Cruise, to me a wasted port of call, the following year we called at Cochin again, this time I rang Cunard asking if we stayed on ship would we still need a visa? No delay in the reply “YES”, I Suppose it was a stupid question, we called in Mumbai later on, and we still needed a visa for that port of call.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wrote to Customer Service, and they replied by email, but we have since had a general notification by snail mail that I assume everyone has received.

 

Thanks for this. No, we didn't receive anything in the post regarding the visa.

 

Sandra Smudger, thanks..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

In case people are still anxious about this we have had it confirmed by Cunard that if you want to stay on the QM2 when it visits Cochin on the 2018 World Cruise, you do not need a visa of any description. If anyone would like a copy of the email then mail me on nareymartin@gmail.com

We've been to Cochin before and to India - which we love - many times. Cochin is unexceptional and we feel no need to see it again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In case people are still anxious about this we have had it confirmed by Cunard that if you want to stay on the QM2 when it visits Cochin on the 2018 World Cruise, you do not need a visa of any description. If anyone would like a copy of the email then mail me on nareymartin@gmail.com

We've been to Cochin before and to India - which we love - many times. Cochin is unexceptional and we feel no need to see it again.

 

Many thanks for posting this message. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

momzcruzing.....WOW, thanks! That's great news. I've been checking with various sources, on this issue, and get a variety of answers. ( Which is N O T reassuring ). I'll be on QM2 in 2 weeks for 14 days, NY > Southampton > NY and plan to get their

'answers' for the situation.

The BEST thing SANTA could bring me, this year..... is the news from CUNARD that India is being skipped.

 

 

Sorry that you won’t be getting your wishes.

 

Cochin is a fixed stop that QM2 has to call at. I know because I am disembarking and flying home from Kochi Int Airport. We will be getting an eVisa as we will have plenty of time to queue at immigration.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Many thanks for posting this message. :)

Thank you for posting that information. Im sure that if substantiated, that will bring a huge sigh of relief from many who see this as an imposition made to unsuspecting participants on this particular cruise. :D:cool:

We have visited other parts of India in the past and it was always the same, rip off prices for visas.

As an Australian friend said to me this morning, "It was the Brits that taught the Indians Red Tape", but this is abusing the privilege.:(

 

I also called CIBT this morning in an effort to clarify the need for a visa, " if as passengers we have no intention whatsoever of putting a foot on Indian soil," already deciding that we will not be leaving the ship whilst in Cochin.

I was informed that it was compulsory to obtain a visa at an exaggerated cost which did include their admin fees. Bumping the cost up to around the £500 mark for two people.

WHAT!!!!!!!:mad::mad:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

BobnJac I inquired to one of the posters, here...... who had said they had IN WRITING from Cunard that passengers staying on board do N O T need a visa. He/they very kindly forwarded to me, that e-mail. And I am happy to share ~~~ whatever I can ~~~~~if you want to PM to me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Hi all . Our first time with Cunard we are joining QM2 in April so the Indian visa question applies to us! Has anyone had definitive answer. ?

I have just spoken to CIBT who tell me only Cunard can ‘authorise’ staying onboard without a visa. Appreciate any answers fellow cruisers may have . ManyThanks

 

Platinum plus NCL

Frequent P&O

Royal Caribbean

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In addition to at least two other people who have contributed to this thread, I have also received a written reply from Cunard confirming that I only need an Indian visa if I want to go ashore. I have a UK passport and will be embarking tomorrow 10 January. I am annoyed with CIBT as they told me it was compulsory to obtain the Indian visa and would be denied boarding the ship at the start of the cruise. I'll try to let you know how I get on tomorrow!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We are booked from Singapore -5th April to Southampton and are concerned about the visa situation. It would be good if Cunard could post on this subject and put our minds at rest about the 'staying on board situation'. Do we need a visa or don't we?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

FTnumbers,

welcome to CC.

There's Lots of excellent info and tips + ideas on here. This visa issue has been Kicked Around for months, and Y E S why isn't it ****Simple with clear and plain info from CUNARD ?****

We all wish we knew.

Look forward to seeing you on board.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

FTnumbers,

Am currently onboard and many people, including myself, do not have Indian visas as we will be staying on the ship at Cochin. If you still require confirmation directly from Cunard, then why not email them ? They will confirm you don't need the visa in writing which will give you peace of mind.

I originally had the same query as you, and wish the Visa specialists CIBT had been more open and factual, instead of advising that I would not be allowed on the ship without the visa, this was blatantly untrue, and a ploy to create more business for themselves.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

FTnumbers,

Am currently onboard and many people, including myself, do not have Indian visas as we will be staying on the ship at Cochin. If you still require confirmation directly from Cunard, then why not email them ? They will confirm you don't need the visa in writing which will give you peace of mind.

I originally had the same query as you, and wish the Visa specialists CIBT had been more open and factual, instead of advising that I would not be allowed on the ship without the visa, this was blatantly untrue, and a ploy to create more business for themselves.

 

Wow.... Re the need to have an Indian visa - or not: I am so confused by this. Does this mean that Princess Cruises (whom I love) are unaware (hard to believe) - or have we, indeed, been given wrong information by them? This visa has become such a hassle, trying to do it on-line, I'd gladly give up Cochin & stay on the ship - just to get rid of the problem. Yet, we've been told we have to have it to get o the ship...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Kathleen, my post and others on this thread relate to the Indian Visa on QM2 2018 World Voyage, so cannot comment on your situation regarding the Indian visa with Princess.

Yes, of course, I understand. But it's interesting, as both Cunard & Princess are owned by Carnival, I believe. Wishing you a great time on your cruise.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

Yesterday, we booked a sector on QM2 including a call at Cochin in India.

 

I am surprised to be advised by Cunard that they do not recommend an Indian e-visa despite this latest news.

 

http://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/news-headlines/india-waives-biometric-capture-for-arriving-cruise-tourists.html

 

Very odd.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Kathleen, my post and others on this thread relate to the Indian Visa on QM2 2018 World Voyage, so cannot comment on your situation regarding the Indian visa with Princess.

 

Hi! We finally got our e-Visas - only took attempts over 7 days & the help of computer programmer son to sort out our photos! SO I am now an expert on what to do - except the photos - and know from personal experience what can go wrong & how to hopefully avoid it. DO not choose the pay later option, which I found out when my initial payment thru PayPal failed! LoL! But we are good to go!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We visited Cochin on Christmas Day on Celebrity Constellation and it was amazing. We did the full 12month visa ourselves online....used a website to convert the photos taken on our digital camera at home to the correct size. Paid over the counter when we presented all the documentation at the office in Cardiff. I am mappy to help if needed. On a side note it was an incredible day - we booked a mini bus with a firm called Just Taxi Holidays and the 7 of us had a tour on a private houseboat on the backwaters of Kerala for £35 each, followed by a tour of Fort Cochin. Highly recommend.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi! We finally got our e-Visas - only took attempts over 7 days & the help of computer programmer son to sort out our photos! SO I am now an expert on what to do - except the photos - and know from personal experience what can go wrong & how to hopefully avoid it. DO not choose the pay later option, which I found out when my initial payment thru PayPal failed! LoL! But we are good to go!

 

I will second this advice after just receiving my e-visa following a week of back and forth emails to the so called 'helpline' as my original payment failed and I could not get back into the system to attempt another payment. Finally gave up and started all over again and completed the entire process in one sitting then immediately received acknowledgement that my application had been successfully received and within 48 hours received the e-Visa by email... What a contrast to the Sri Lanka process - applied at the same time as the original Indian application but received that ETA within minutes!!!

 

Anne...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

To be clear. The QM2 is at Cochin the day after tomorrow. Passengers can go ashore with E visas and without the delays about which Cunard speculated last year. And those of us who don’t want to visit Cochin (again in our case) and are happy to stay onboard do NOT need a visa of any description.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...