Visas Needed

Hi,Please can anyone help? I am sailing on MSC Splendida-31st March 2018 and require visas for some of the countries we will visit.

The problem is I am reading conflicting advice as to whether one is needed in some counties.I would be most grateful if anyone could help me out regarding these countries.-Oman,Sri Lanka,Thailand,United Arab Emirates and finally Vietnam. Thank-you! :cool:

Assuming that you are a British Citizen.....the only visa you will need is for Sri Lanka

http://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/visainfo/center.jsp;jsessionid=PgJCZ4VY9FLhWP8f0nwv6BTgVp5ksyl4nJjNTMh2GMNz3WWFJ1lV!1305662910?locale=en_US

This is an ETA and is done online

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

This is the UK government travel advice site, which provides current visa information

Many thanks,glad that I do not have lots of visa's to buy! The cruise will be here before we know it.:cool: Duchessmaggie

Don't forget China, DM!

http://www.visaforchina.org/LON_EN/

I used this service for my China visa......found them very efficient

I wonder if MSC will organise visas onboard. Celebrity did that for us when visiting Vietnam and added the cost to our onboard account.

I wonder if MSC will organise visas onboard. Celebrity did that for us when visiting Vietnam and added the cost to our onboard account.

Vietnam has recently waived the visa requirement for UK citizens

I know you’re in Ireland so this may be different for yourself

I love MSC, but somehow I don’t see them sorting out visas.........their organisational skills are, well..........unreliable ;p

Vietnam has recently waived the visa requirement for UK citizens

 

I know you’re in Ireland so this may be different for yourself

 

I love MSC, but somehow I don’t see them sorting out visas.........their organisational skills are, well..........unreliable ;p

I'm inclined to agree, Darcy. What I can't figure is why/how MSC cannot let it customers know what visas will be required for the cruise before sailing, yet, at embarkation, can refuse to allow you to board without said documentation.

Oman and U.A.E issue visas as you go through the port building, you also have to put any bags you are carrying into the country through scanners.

I'm inclined to agree, Darcy. What I can't figure is why/how MSC cannot let it customers know what visas will be required for the cruise before sailing, yet, at embarkation, can refuse to allow you to board without said documentation.

I know, crazy isn’t it? :confused:

I’m booked on a Grand Voyage in 2019 , and found out about a significant itinerary change - as in 2 completely different countries - here on CC !!!

......that trip is going to entail visas, and luckily I have been able to figure things out for myself. Others, perhaps who have travelled less, may not be so fortunate.

The ship service is great, but MSC really need to up their game in terms of shoreside customer service :rolleyes:

I know, crazy isn’t it? :confused:

 

I’m booked on a Grand Voyage in 2019 , and found out about a significant itinerary change - as in 2 completely different countries - here on CC !!!

 

......that trip is going to entail visas, and luckily I have been able to figure things out for myself. Others, perhaps who have travelled less, may not be so fortunate.

I've been following that roll-call thread, Darcy. The major, significant, itinerary change is the disembarkation port - it's Japan instead of China! Just as well it's too far out for anyone to have flights arranged.

I would have booked the 2019 cruise rather than the 2018 one if I'd known they were going to go to Japan. However, as I managed to get almost 35% off due to a casino discount voucher, I'm not complaining. :D

I'll just have to start doing some homework on what visas we're going to need.:rolleyes:

https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/

This might be helpful :)

Finally got an email notification of the itinerary change from China to Japan!

.....offered €300 OBC, so perhaps MSC have realised they dropped the ball on this one :rolleyes:

https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/

 

This might be helpful :)

 

Finally got an email notification of the itinerary change from China to Japan!

 

.....offered €300 OBC, so perhaps MSC have realised they dropped the ball on this one :rolleyes:

Thanks, Darcy - I've been putting it on the long finger as we have a Christmas cruise booked and I tend to only deal with one cruise at a time. :rolleyes:

Glad to hear you're being offered something - €300 OBC, in cruise company terms, is generous! (You or I may have a different view ;))

WILL Msc provide VISA on board for Thailand and Vietnam? No any info from MSC, total not care about passengers.Customer service 0 !!! Excursion staff not speak english,spend 50 eur to call by satelite to ship .

All normal ship companies do this visas on board, (vietnam for 6 eur,) and now i need go to embassy and make Vietnam visa for 150 eur! And yes i not have Vietnam embassy in my country. I will try find any info about visas on board..i really sad.

I'm not sure where you come from but I was able to obtain some information from the English Office of MSC.Things keep changing as regards visa's ,which is very confusing. Also I found that both MSC and the travel agent do not want the responsibility of visa's.Most of my information I have gained from other travellers-scroll back on this thread.Good-luck!

My understanding of visas is that they are the travellers responsibility only and I also have seen that although TAs help you get them they disclaim all responsibility regarding errors. The best thing is to go to each country's website and work out the requirements yourself. MSC not doing it us nothing new Viking did not do it in 2016 either.

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Hi, Thank-you for clarifying situation.Is there anyone flying from London to Dubai ,prior to our cruise? Also is anyone staying at the Seaview hotel in Dubai? Would love to hear from you.

I am sailing on Nov 22, 2018 with Pullmantur from Athens to Dubai ... if I need them, where do I get the visas?