Jump to content

ESTA Application for Travel to the USA


Recommended Posts

I’m trying to apply for an ESTA so we can enter the USA. 

We will fly in to Seattle and stay two nights before a 7 night cruise to Alaska with HAL. 

Upon return to Seattle we will stay 3 nights before boarding Carnival Splendor for a 23 night cruise back to Sydney. 
 

The ESTA asks if we are just transiting through the USA. I said "no" but then it asks for a name, address, and phone number of someone In the USA. 🤷‍♂️

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, Sparky74 said:

I’m trying to apply for an ESTA so we can enter the USA. 

We will fly in to Seattle and stay two nights before a 7 night cruise to Alaska with HAL. 

Upon return to Seattle we will stay 3 nights before boarding Carnival Splendor for a 23 night cruise back to Sydney. 
 

The ESTA asks if we are just transiting through the USA. I said "no" but then it asks for a name, address, and phone number of someone In the USA. 🤷‍♂️

So do you just put the name and address etc of the hotel you are booked in to?

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, Sparky74 said:

I’m trying to apply for an ESTA so we can enter the USA. 

We will fly in to Seattle and stay two nights before a 7 night cruise to Alaska with HAL. 

Upon return to Seattle we will stay 3 nights before boarding Carnival Splendor for a 23 night cruise back to Sydney. 
 

The ESTA asks if we are just transiting through the USA. I said "no" but then it asks for a name, address, and phone number of someone In the USA. 🤷‍♂️

Above is correct. Pick your hotel, even if you don't book it yet. Use the contact details for where you are spending your first night in the US.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 minutes ago, Sparky74 said:

I’m trying to apply for an ESTA so we can enter the USA. 

We will fly in to Seattle and stay two nights before a 7 night cruise to Alaska with HAL. 

Upon return to Seattle we will stay 3 nights before boarding Carnival Splendor for a 23 night cruise back to Sydney. 
 

The ESTA asks if we are just transiting through the USA. I said "no" but then it asks for a name, address, and phone number of someone In the USA. 🤷‍♂️

We always put the name and address of the cruise line.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 hours ago, Aus Traveller said:

That is probably the best, if you know where you are going to stay. 🙂

I've had some funny experiences answering that question.  Once our flight to Japan was delayed and I didn't know where we would be staying, so I put the name of the company which arranged the accommodation.  Another time I didn't know where I was going to be staying because my friend who was meeting me had shifted.  The guard on the train from Canada to US put something down which caused amusement in the train station where I had to show it.  

 

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Now that I’ve actually booked pre-cruise and inter-cruise accommodation I'll finish my ESTA application. 
 

But OH MY GOODNESS! The hotel prices in Seattle seem astronomical! Maybe I’m just out of touch. Even googling "affordable Seattle hotel" was returning results of $700+ per night. It certainly shows how affordable cruising is. 
 

I ended up booking the Travelodge North of Downtown. Hopefully it doesn’t turn out to be a complete dive. 🤞

Link to comment
Share on other sites

31 minutes ago, Sparky74 said:

Now that I’ve actually booked pre-cruise and inter-cruise accommodation I'll finish my ESTA application. 
 

But OH MY GOODNESS! The hotel prices in Seattle seem astronomical! Maybe I’m just out of touch. Even googling "affordable Seattle hotel" was returning results of $700+ per night. It certainly shows how affordable cruising is. 
 

I ended up booking the Travelodge North of Downtown. Hopefully it doesn’t turn out to be a complete dive. 🤞

We stayed in a really nice hotel the first time, a few blocks up the hill from Pike Place markets. That was at a time when parts of the US were still struggling. I think we stayed in a Travelodge in 2018. Not sure if the same one, it was close to MoPop/Chihuly Gardens/Space Needle. It was dated & tired, but nowhere close to a dive. Back in 2018, I'm pretty sure the small group I was part of was booked in there because they couldn't get a deal from any of the new hotels.

Edited by arxcards
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Sparky74 said:

Now that I’ve actually booked pre-cruise and inter-cruise accommodation I'll finish my ESTA application. 
 

But OH MY GOODNESS! The hotel prices in Seattle seem astronomical! Maybe I’m just out of touch. Even googling "affordable Seattle hotel" was returning results of $700+ per night. It certainly shows how affordable cruising is. 
 

I ended up booking the Travelodge North of Downtown. Hopefully it doesn’t turn out to be a complete dive. 🤞

I have found I get better prices closer to the date (unless there is an event on).

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Sparky74 said:

Now that I’ve actually booked pre-cruise and inter-cruise accommodation I'll finish my ESTA application. 
 

But OH MY GOODNESS! The hotel prices in Seattle seem astronomical! Maybe I’m just out of touch. Even googling "affordable Seattle hotel" was returning results of $700+ per night. It certainly shows how affordable cruising is. 
 

I ended up booking the Travelodge North of Downtown. Hopefully it doesn’t turn out to be a complete dive. 🤞

I just checked, and this is a different hotel. It is well north of Downtown.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 10 months later...

I have just had my ESTA approved. Will be flying to LAX transiting to Vancouver Jun 2 for HAL cruise Jun 4.

There was mention of another document fee on entry to US - an I-94. I've not come across this before and I can't figure out from DHS FAQs, if it is required. Anyone experienced this before?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Form I-94 was a form required from "aliens" entering the US from land borders with that country. It should not affect you, arriving by air or sea.

 

From what I gather from Uncle Google it is no longer required (since January 2023).

 

Probably a Trump xenophobic brainfart, now surplus to US bureaucratic requirements.

 

Check with your travel agent, air/shipping line or nearest US consulate.

 

Don't mention the brainfart bit. 

  • Thanks 1
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • ANNOUNCEMENT: A Touch of Magic on an Avalon Rhine River Cruise
      • Hurricane Zone 2024
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...

If you are already a Cruise Critic member, please log in with your existing account information or your email address and password.