What type of visa for China?

[Billy and Charlie's Mum]

Our roll call members are in a bit of a quandry.

 

We have been told conflicting stories on what type of visa we will require to enter China. Last time we were there we got a multi entry visa. Now there is the opinion that we will only need a single entry visa, even though we will be going to three different ports. These ports, however, are the final three, with Beijing being the last.

 

Has anyone been to china recently on the Diamond or other cruise ship and if so what type of visa did everyone get?

[Sutho]

I went in February on Arcadia and had stops in Shanghai and Xingang for Beijing. I purchased a single entry visa as it was the minimun visa required. I am aware for some lengthy trips they suggest a multiple entry visa as the validity is longer from when you apply opposed to a single entry visa.

 

The other thing that confuses passengers is that if you stop for Beijing. The port you stop at is Xingang but the name of the cruise terminal is called Tianjin, which in turn many passengers confuse with the inland city of Tianjin which is half way between Xingang and Beijing and even now Princess is confused and states the port you stop at for Beijing is Tianjin despite the fact cruise ships cant get anywhere near that city.

[Aus Traveller]

We went to China on a cruise in 1989 and the port was Tianjin Xingang. I think Xingang means "new port" in Chinese.

 

As to the type of visa, I would check with the Chinese embassy on whether a multiple entry visa is required. I think it would be safer to have this type of visa, rather than having a problem at your second port of call if you only have a single-entry visa.

[happyaussies]

Went on Cherry blossom in 2011 and we stopped in 2 ports Shanghai & Tainjin but only had a single entry visa. So I assume still the same!

[Johhno]

Our roll call members are in a bit of a quandry.

 

We have been told conflicting stories on what type of visa we will require to enter China. Last time we were there we got a multi entry visa. Now there is the opinion that we will only need a single entry visa' date=' even though we will be going to three different ports. These ports, however, are the final three, with Beijing being the last.

 

Has anyone been to china recently on the Diamond or other cruise ship and if so what type of visa did everyone get?[/quote']

 

Hi Eileen,

On our recent October cruise on the Diamond (Beijing-Bangkok)we too were unsure as to what Visa we need (conflicting reports). We applied to the Chinese Consulate General for a Multi Visa (3) playing it safe but this was amended by the Consular Officer to a double entry (2). Permit shown in passport as ENTRIES 2.

 

Interesting fact is that we met with other Aussies on board and they only applied for a single entry Visa and no problems at all.

This still seems to be a very grey area.

 

Hope this is of some help.

Cheers

Russ.

[Billy and Charlie's Mum]

Hi Russ.....merry Christmas to you and Sandy.

 

I must say it is very poor of Princess to not clarify the situation regarding the visas. We shall see if they are true to their word and send out the email clarifying it as promised.

[anjo]

Hello everyone. We did the 42 night cruise on Sun Princess to China Sept 2011. The quandry regarding Chinese Visas was raging then!! I tried Princess in Australia and Chinese Embassy in N.Z and couldn't get a straight answer from anyone!! Went for a Single Entry and had no problems!! I think it only matters if you are going to Hong Kong and while there, you visit one of the islands such as Macau, and you need a Chinese Visa for that as well. Regards Anjo.

[Pushka]

I rang Princess about visas for our eastern Mediterranean trip next year. We are visiting Egypt and Israel we hope. They said they will not give Australians advice on visas as we are not american or canadian. They say we have to contact the embassies ourselves and organise them. Unfortunately living in Adelaide we have to use a specialist courier to get our passports to the Egyptian embassy and will cost us around $300 from memory. And I'll be even more peeved if our money is wasted if this port gets cancelled last minute.

 

If it were me I'd get a multi entry visa so I could stop worrying. Quite likely you are getting conflicting information on your roll call as there are people of different nationalities responding and for whom different rules apply.