Visa, a PITA...

[StarFlyr]

I just finished a cruise where we had to get a visa for Brazil. Lots of time spent on that one including about $250 a visa.

 

Now we're looking at the cruise to St. Petersburg and it looks like "Brazil" again. I realize countries should be allowed to manage their own affairs and if they want tourists to get a visa, that's the end of the story.

 

However, for my money, I think this practice is BS for cruise type shore stops. I'm thinking of "blowing" off the trip because of the Russian visa requirement. If they want cruisers to have a visa, they should offer the option upon arrive. Stamp my passport, collect $50 or whatever and be done with it.

 

While I realize Cunard had customers from all over the world, they should at least list the visa requirement for any voyage for UK, US and CN residents in their cruise booklet. That way, I can tell at a glance whether I want to go through the hassle or not.

[miz66]

Hi it's a sad fact that it's easy money for countries to use the visa thing, I'm a UK citizen and have to pay for a US esta to which has never been looked at the immigration guys at red hook told us 18 months ago they were not in use yet and I was in NY again on the 13th Jan again esta never got looked at. It's not a new thing visas have been going years in various countries and if you want to go there you have to pay.

[William Dean]

Hi it's a sad fact that it's easy money for countries to use the visa thing, I'm a UK citizen and have to pay for a US esta to which has never been looked at the immigration guys at red hook told us 18 months ago they were not in use yet and I was in NY again on the 13th Jan again esta never got looked at. It's not a new thing visas have been going years in various countries and if you want to go there you have to pay.

 

 

I think Brazil charge more for US citizens as payback for the ridiculous US requirements.

 

Makes sense to me.

 

WD

[miz66]

I think Brazil charge more for US citizens as payback for the rediculous US requirements.

 

Makes sense to me.

 

WD

 

I've had to have visas for Sri-lanka, cambodia, australia and a number of other destinations, if you wanna go there you have to pay, around 5 years ago US citizens could go to the carribean with no passport! we have to have a passport to go anywhere making money out of tourists is big now and any country that does not jump on the bandwagon is daft as it's money for nothing!!!

[silvaner]

You only need a visa in St. Petersburg is you are doing independant tours. A visa for Russia is not required if you are on a cruise and only take tours offered by the ship. You cannot go ashore and wonder around unescorted.

 

The last time I was there, the ship docked in the middle of a container terminal and you would not have wanted to wonder around even if you could have. Smaller ships, such as the Seaborn ones docked almost downtown, but I doubt that the larger Cunard ones can.