Cruise line charging a Visa to Timor Leste - even those not ashore/local?

Hi

We are visiting Timor Leste on our 14 day Indonesian Explorer with P&O Oz in 2 months. All passengers got an email today about the $30 dollar Visa charge being added to their accounts.

No problem for my party as we knew about this and are going ashore and very excited about it(it is the same price for us as it is for Aussies etc).

Now there are a few people on our cruise who do not plan to go ashore one or two people that are Timor nationals. It appears they are still being charged.

Surely there is some way around this? Or will the Visa thing be a blanket ship Visa (like with ships in Cuba).

My cruising amigos would appreciate some guidance. Thanks :)

have they called the cruise line to see if they are exempt ?

Well, the Timor nationals should definitely be exempt. But the people not planning to get off? Nope, they are still in Timor waters....

They charge a US $30 Visa fee, which is good for 30 days whether you arrive by air or sea. Regardless of whether you disembark the vessel, you are aboard a vessel that has completed an arrival clearance.

The only people who should be Visa exempt are Timor-Leste nationals and Portuguese traveling on a Portugal passport.

It is very rare that you will be exempted simply because you are not going ashore.

Ah that's what I thought.

Obviously I know countries do different things regarding Visas. Ie Russia not needing one unless you go ashore so thought I would check.

I am guessing they are planning on ringing but I thought I would ask here also.