Visa requirements for Med cruises

[navyrotorhead]

Anybody have info on the who/what/when/why/how requirements for obtaining a visa for some med cruises but not others. It SEEMS that any stop in Turkey triggers a "visas are required" notice. However, after checking the US State Dept website, IT says visas are NOT required for cruise ship passengers visiting Turkey for less than 72 hours? :confused:

[jveevers]

Anybody have info on the who/what/when/why/how requirements for obtaining a visa for some med cruises but not others. It SEEMS that any stop in Turkey triggers a "visas are required" notice. However, after checking the US State Dept website, IT says visas are NOT required for cruise ship passengers visiting Turkey for less than 72 hours? :confused:

 

 

Cruised to Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Israel... No Visas required at any of those. Israel, the officials come onboard for 2 days and hold your passport for the duration of your stay there.

[zelker]

We were just there. If the cruise begins or ends in Turkey, a Visa is required but if you're just there during the course of a cruise and spend the night on the ship, no Visa is required.

[cruisemom42]

Cruised to Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Israel... No Visas required at any of those. Israel, the officials come onboard for 2 days and hold your passport for the duration of your stay there.

 

That was not my experience on Westerdam in 2010. They checked everyone's passport in advance (for Israel). You had to line up at a certain time and meet with the passport inspection officers the day before reaching Israel. However, they didn't hold your passport; in fact, you were required to keep it with you together with an official document showing you were cleared.

 

Maybe it's a difference US to Australian? :confused:

[sjb317]

We were just there. If the cruise begins or ends in Turkey, a Visa is required but if you're just there during the course of a cruise and spend the night on the ship, no Visa is required.

 

 

That was our experience also. When we landed in Turkey the day of our cruise, we were able to get our visas at an airport desk. At that time I believe it was $20 per person.

 

Sherri:)

[Orator]

That was not my experience on Westerdam in 2010. They checked everyone's passport in advance (for Israel). You had to line up at a certain time and meet with the passport inspection officers the day before reaching Israel. However, they didn't hold your passport; in fact, you were required to keep it with you together with an official document showing you were cleared.

 

Maybe it's a difference US to Australian? :confused:

 

My experience was exacly the same on Constellation Holy Land in 2011.

Required a Turkish Visa since we stayed in Istanbul 3 nights prior to the cruise. Otherwise, no visa required for any port.

Edited May 24, 2012 by Orator

[Essiesmom]

In Turkey, they hand you a visitor card when you debark in Istanbul and you keep it until you reboard at the end of your visit. WE did not get one for our day visit in Kusadasi. EM

[zelker]

In Turkey, they hand you a visitor card when you debark in Istanbul and you keep it until you reboard at the end of your visit. WE did not get one for our day visit in Kusadasi. EM

 

Yes, that was our same scenario - the visitor card in Istanbul and nothing for Kusadasi. Very simple. :)

[drsel]

Cruised to Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Israel... No Visas required at any of those. Israel, the officials come onboard for 2 days and hold your passport for the duration of your stay there.

If we need a visa for Israel & don't have it, will the cruiseline allow us to board a cruise stopping at Eilat, Israel? Can we stay onboard the ship without an Israeli visa?

[Keith1010]

If you embark or disembark in Turkey you need an electronic visa. It is similar to if you visit Australia.

 

You obtain it on line.

 

https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/

 

It is very easy to do.

 

This change took place in 2014.

 

If you are just transiting through Turkey with stops and will end up disembarking somewhere else no issues.

 

Keith

[drsel]

Cruised to Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Israel... No Visas required at any of those. Israel, the officials come onboard for 2 days and hold your passport for the duration of your stay there.

Will the more liberal countries Malaysia & Indonesia let you in with an Israeli visa or stamp?

Also, if our passport needs a visa for Israel & we don't have it, will the cruiseline allow us to board a cruise stopping at Eilat, Israel? Can we stay onboard the ship without an Israeli visa?

[Wiltonian]

https://info.goisrael.com/en/do-i-need-a-visa-to-travel-to-israel

[bigbenboys]

Will the more liberal countries Malaysia & Indonesia let you in with an Israeli visa or stamp?

Also, if our passport needs a visa for Israel & we don't have it, will the cruiseline allow us to board a cruise stopping at Eilat, Israel? Can we stay onboard the ship without an Israeli visa?

 

Your asking a question that is hard to answer. We dont know what country your passport is issued. The laws or rules can change. When we cruised in Asia there were questions about China Visa's. Talk from Celebrity that we might not be let on the cruise without a Visa for China. In the end we did not need a Visa for China, but as we plan on going back to China we got the 10 year Visa. Celebrity is consistent on being inconsistent. I've never needed a Visa for eastern Med cruises that went to Turkey, Greece, Italy, Tunisia, Israel or Egypt.

[caribill]

Will the more liberal countries Malaysia & Indonesia let you in with an Israeli visa or stamp?

Also, if our passport needs a visa for Israel & we don't have it, will the cruiseline allow us to board a cruise stopping at Eilat, Israel? Can we stay onboard the ship without an Israeli visa?

 

When you get clearance to enter Israel, it is your choice to either have a visa stamp in your passport or to have an entry card instead that will have the stamp. So if you are concerned about having the passport stamped, you have an alternative.

[Miaminice]

Will the more liberal countries Malaysia & Indonesia let you in with an Israeli visa or stamp?

Also, if our passport needs a visa for Israel & we don't have it, will the cruiseline allow us to board a cruise stopping at Eilat, Israel? Can we stay onboard the ship without an Israeli visa?

 

1. unless you are a citizen of a country requiring a visa you will not need a visa. US, CDA, UK etc citizens do not require a visa.

2. As caribill aready mentioned you will receieve a landing card during an inspection on board a day or so prior to calling on an Israeli port. You will have to keep the card and your passport with you while on land. Unless requested your passport is not stamped. If you travel a lot it is safer not to have an Israeli stamp as you would be denied entry in some Arab/Muslim countries e.g. Egypt.

If you are interested in more information click on the link to our Holy Land cruise review http://www.travelandcruise.net/travellove_en/Our-Trips/Holy-Land-Cruise-01/holy-land-cruise-01.html

[drsel]

1. unless you are a citizen of a country requiring a visa you will not need a visa. US, CDA, UK etc citizens do not require a visa.

2. As caribill aready mentioned you will receieve a landing card during an inspection on board a day or so prior to calling on an Israeli port. You will have to keep the card and your passport with you while on land. Unless requested your passport is not stamped. If you travel a lot it is safer not to have an Israeli stamp as you would be denied entry in some Arab/Muslim countries e.g. Egypt.

If you are interested in more information click on the link to our Holy Land cruise review http://www.travelandcruise.net/travellove_en/Our-Trips/Holy-Land-Cruise-01/holy-land-cruise-01.html

Our passports require a visa for Israel, but we don't want to apply for it, cos it will prevent future visits to some Muslim countries.

Which are those?

[di T]

1. unless you are a citizen of a country requiring a visa you will not need a visa. US, CDA, UK etc citizens do not require a visa.

2. As caribill aready mentioned you will receieve a landing card during an inspection on board a day or so prior to calling on an Israeli port. You will have to keep the card and your passport with you while on land. Unless requested your passport is not stamped. If you travel a lot it is safer not to have an Israeli stamp as you would be denied entry in some Arab/Muslim countries e.g. Egypt.

If you are interested in more information click on the link to our Holy Land cruise review http://www.travelandcruise.net/travellove_en/Our-Trips/Holy-Land-Cruise-01/holy-land-cruise-01.html

This makes a lot of sense regarding passport being stamped in Israel, We cruise a lot and the last twice visiting Arab countries I have been singled out at the airport and left waiting with no explanation before being allowed through passport control. My passport as many stamps are on it. Thought it was to do with me being female because my husband has had no bother but his passport was renewed after our last holy land cruise. Interesting!!

[drsel]

Acc. to Wikipedia--

*Iran,[34]*Kuwait,[35]*Lebanon,[36]Libya,[37]*Saudi Arabia,[38]*Sudan,[39]*Syria[40]and Yemen[41]*do not allow entry to people with evidence of travel to Israel, or whose passports have either a used or an unused Israeli visa. As a consequence, many countries will allow for a second passport to be issued to citizens wishing to circumvent this restriction although the Israeli immigration services themselves have now mostly ceased to issue entry or exit stamps to foreign nationals.

[drsel]

Acc.to Lonely Planet forums--

Definitely will not allow entry*: Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Libya.

Most likely will not allow entry**: Kuwait, Algeria, Iraq

 

*The first 3 countries will comb your passport to search for any indirect eviidence of having visited Israel (for example, an entry stamp to Jordan without an accompanying exit stamp). The others may not be as thorough, but the chances are they'll spot 'incriminating evidence'.

 

**Travellers have reported entering these countries with both indirect and direct evidence. However, the chances are that you won't be allowed in.

 

All others don't care. These include the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Tunisia, Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt and Jordan

[Jade13]

Our passports require a visa for Israel, but we don't want to apply for it, cos it will prevent future visits to some Muslim countries.

Which are those?

 

 

 

They stamp a separate piece of paper so it is not in your passport.

 

 

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[drsel]

They stamp a separate piece of paper so it is not in your passport.

 

 

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But I will have the Israeli visa (required) on my passport, even if they stamp another paper

[caribill]

Acc. to Wikipedia--

*Iran,[34]*Kuwait,[35]*Lebanon,[36]Libya,[37]*Saudi Arabia,[38]*Sudan,[39]*Syria[40]and Yemen[41]*do not allow entry to people with evidence of travel to Israel, or whose passports have either a used or an unused Israeli visa.

 

Acc.to Lonely Planet forums--

Definitely will not allow entry*: Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Libya.

Most likely will not allow entry**: Kuwait, Algeria, Iraq

 

*The first 3 countries will comb your passport to search for any indirect eviidence of having visited Israel (for example, an entry stamp to Jordan without an accompanying exit stamp). The others may not be as thorough, but the chances are they'll spot 'incriminating evidence'.

 

 

No problem at all for me. I have no plans to ever visit any of the countries listed above,

[bigbenboys]

But I will have the Israeli visa (required) on my passport, even if they stamp another paper

Then you might want to get a 2nd passport.

 

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