coolbuddy100 Posted December 6, 2011 #1 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Hi Folks...i am new to forum and first time cruiser...i am Indian citizen living in US...wanted to check if I need Bahamas visa to cruise....i came across this website. http://www.tourismtoday.com/home/no-visas-for-cruise-passengers/ Is Tourismtoday "official" website for bahamas tourism? If yes, then we dont need visa.. Any Indian recently went to Bahamas cruise also please share your experience about Bahamas visa... Thanks in advance.. Please reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6rugrats Posted December 6, 2011 #2 Share Posted December 6, 2011 (edited) You don't say if you are a permanent resident of the US or not (have a green card). That is important information. Don't rely on that webpage, nor should you rely on visa advice from a chat board. As a citizen of India living in the US without a green card, it appears you may require a visa to visit the Bahamas. Sometimes exceptions are made for cruise ship passengers, but the information on your link does not specifically name for which countries this exemption is made. Start your search for information here: http://bahamas.visahq.com/requirements/India/resident-United_States/ More info here: http://www.un.int/bahamas/tourist%20visa%20info.htm Edited December 6, 2011 by 6rugrats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coolbuddy100 Posted December 6, 2011 Author #3 Share Posted December 6, 2011 I am not a permanent resident, so I know I need a visa if I want to visit Bahamas....but main question is if I need visa for Cruise only.....so if anyone has knowledge or someone was in the same situation, please share the information... thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach1213 Posted December 6, 2011 #4 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Delta Airlines has a pretty helpful site where you can type in your citizenship and destination, and it tells you what you need. I wouldn't trust it 100%, but it's a good place to start...and it says you would need one. http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/international_travel_information/visa_passport_information/index.jsp I would call up the Bahamas Embassy in Washington DC to check for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coolbuddy100 Posted December 6, 2011 Author #5 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Thanks a lot..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxoocruiser Posted December 12, 2011 #6 Share Posted December 12, 2011 (edited) Deleted Edited December 12, 2011 by xxoocruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindseyohcheer Posted February 6, 2014 #7 Share Posted February 6, 2014 So what happened? My Chinese friend went on Carnival to the Bahamas and did not need a visa. It's a closed loop tour that goes back to New York. I am going to the Bahamas on NCL so just want to make sure they do not deny me boarding. For those wondering why we don't just call NCL, a travel agent or the consulate, it's because all three are of no use. I called and they give the unclear information so i have been asking people who went on the cruise. i am on a student visa in the US Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gags9999 Posted March 12, 2015 #8 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Hi lindseyohcheer. I am in the same conundrum regarding Visa. Can you please share your experience? Did you eventually get a visa and was anybody even checking these visas? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindseyohcheer Posted March 12, 2015 #9 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Yes, I got it but DON'T get the visa. On my way back into the US, the immigration official told me I don't need it and the Bahamian consulate just says you do because they want your money. Frankly, the visa office at the consulate was very unprofessional. He actually asked me out on a date so I am not surprised that they would be tricking tourists into getting visas for cruises Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gags9999 Posted March 12, 2015 #10 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Thanks lindesyohcheer. I have also read some anecdotes regarding not getting a visa but just want to be sure in case we are denied boarding. We are Indian nationals and technically we need a Visa even on a cruise. I would have obtained a visa to be on the safer side but since there is no Bahamas Consulates here in India, we have to get a Commonwealth visa from UK High Commission which takes a lot of time and costs about $600 for 3 of us. Can you share your nationality? Did anybody examine the Visa during checkin? Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindseyohcheer Posted March 12, 2015 #11 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Philippines Nope, no one checked at check in. I even asked them if they needed to see it and they said no they don't Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVilleGal Posted March 12, 2015 #12 Share Posted March 12, 2015 I would not depend on advice given in this matter on cruise critic. If The Bahamas say you need a Visa and you do not get one....you run the expensive risk of being denied boarding and you will not recover your money paid for your cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindseyohcheer Posted March 12, 2015 #13 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Yes, I got it but DON'T get the visa. On my way back into the US, the immigration official told me I don't need it and the Bahamian consulate just says you do because they want your money. Frankly, the visa office at the consulate was very unprofessional. He actually asked me out on a date so I am not surprised that they would be tricking tourists into getting visas for cruises I am editing my reply. Yes, I got it but I WONT get the visa again. On my way back into the US, the immigration official told me I don't need it and the Bahamian consulate just says you do because they want your money. Frankly, the visa office at the consulate was very unprofessional. He actually asked me out on a date so I am not surprised that they would be tricking tourists into getting visas for cruise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVilleGal Posted March 12, 2015 #14 Share Posted March 12, 2015 https://bahamas.visahq.com/requirements/India/resident-United_States/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gags9999 Posted March 12, 2015 #15 Share Posted March 12, 2015 (edited) Thanks a lot Lindseyohcheer and JVilleGal. Edited March 12, 2015 by gags9999 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVilleGal Posted March 12, 2015 #16 Share Posted March 12, 2015 According to the Official Gov website for the Bahamas as an Indian Citizen you need a Visa and a valid passport with a minimum of 6 months remaining "After" departing. Don't risk being denied boarding and you need to research the rest of your itinerary on Official websites for each Port/Governent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Illyria Posted March 12, 2015 #17 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Instead of looking at visa agency sites - you're better off going straight to the Bahamian gov't website because their "official policy" will ultimately determine if the cruise line chooses to deny you boarding for lack of proper documentation. From this page, click on "Visa Requirements for Foreign Visitors" link and you get a list of all countries, and you can see that under visa requirement for India, it says "YES". So what happened? My Chinese friend went on Carnival to the Bahamas and did not need a visa. According to the document that I linked, Chinese nationals do not require a visa to enter the Bahamas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sydneyguy Posted March 18, 2015 #18 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Get the visa or be prepared to be denied boarding. False economy if you miss the cruise. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVilleGal Posted March 19, 2015 #19 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Anyone notice the OP posted this back in 2011 [emoji15][emoji15][emoji15] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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