144 hour visa free transit at Shanghai

[Loving retired]

Hi, I am booked on the Majestic princess for a tour of Asia boarding at Singapore and disembarking at Shanghai.

I am a UK passport holder .

The last country visited prior to China is Japan.

The ship docks in the morning at Shanghai and i am booked on a Qatar flight to Doha at 23.50 the same day.

I believe I qualify for the 144 hour visa free transit as the ship docks at the Wusongkou cruise terminal and the flight out is from Shanghai Pudong Airport.

 

I have been advised to the let my carrier know of this so this information can be forwarded to the chinese authorities to ensure smooth transit at Shanghai.

QUESTION- is this correct and who/how do i do this

any help greatly appreciated

[Keith1010]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

I would post this on the Asia Ports of Call Board at:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=-1&f=70

 

Keith

[John Bull]

Yes, you're exiting Shanghai to a different country from the one you entered, you're well within the time limit and you have your onward ticket.

So you qualify.

 

BUT

And there's always a but :rolleyes:

 

For Celebrity passengers, that cruise line has been telling them that they must all have a standard Chinese tourist visa, and if they don't they'll be denied boarding. This includes folk who qualify for the 144hr dispensation, same as you.

Not a problem for their cruises which start in Shanghai, only for those which end in Shanghai.

I have no idea why Celebrity require pukka visas, I only know that they do.

 

I don't know Princess' policy, but you really do need to check with them.

Being legit is only half the problem - whether your cruise line considers the 144hr "visa" legit. is the other half of the problem, and I urge you to check with them

Whether the Chinese authorities will allow you to transit Shanghai won't be put to the test if Princess deny you boarding in Singapore.:eek:

 

Knowing how little some cruise line staff know about things like visas, I suggest

- if you get a negative reply, ask to speak to the rep's supervisor. And if that's negative too, keep going further up the food-chain until you get a positive or until you're confident that you're getting correct information.

- if you get a positive reply, note the rep's name & date/time of your call, & preferably get them to confirm by e-mail

 

JB :)