Egypt Visa Requirements

[Fouremco]

36 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

Here, also, is the Info on Cruise Critic.

 

This information is intended for US citizens. Canadians should not rely on this CC webpage. From the articles intro:

 

Here are some countries that require a travel visa for U.S. citizens on cruises.

[*Miss G*]

2 hours ago, Fouremco said:

This information is intended for US citizens. Canadians should not rely on this CC webpage. From the articles intro:

 

Here are some countries that require a travel visa for U.S. citizens on cruises.

Oops, sorry!

 

On a related note, my sister is traveling to Canada tomorrow and got scammed for $99 USD for the eTA which is only $7 CAD if you use the official site. She was in a rush and wasn’t paying attention. I hate these scammer sites that prey on the public!  Probably not as much as she is right now. lol 

[Fouremco]

54 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

Oops, sorry!

 

On a related note, my sister is traveling to Canada tomorrow and got scammed for $99 USD for the eTA which is only $7 CAD if you use the official site. She was in a rush and wasn’t paying attention. I hate these scammer sites that prey on the public!  Probably not as much as she is right now. lol 

 

Yikes! Given the GOC's wide range of legislation to protect consumers, I'm surprised that it hasn't done something about these visa/eTA companies.

[*Miss G*]

33 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

 

Yikes! Given the GOC's wide range of legislation to protect consumers, I'm surprised that it hasn't done something about these visa/eTA companies.

 

That is exactly what I was thinking!

 

At least it wasn’t thousands of dollars like my parents fell victim to. 😢  Even though I warned them and warned them and warned them.  I hate criminals.

[CDNPolar]

18 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

Oops, sorry!

 

On a related note, my sister is traveling to Canada tomorrow and got scammed for $99 USD for the eTA which is only $7 CAD if you use the official site. She was in a rush and wasn’t paying attention. I hate these scammer sites that prey on the public!  Probably not as much as she is right now. lol 

These sites are everywhere for every country...  It can be difficult to find the legit sites, but I spend time looking for the country government sites, but even they can be elusive and have sites that seem to be what they are not.

 

In the end, as long as she actually got a valid entry document that is the main thing.  I would hate to hear that she arrived and was denied entry.

[*Miss G*]

3 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

These sites are everywhere for every country...  It can be difficult to find the legit sites, but I spend time looking for the country government sites, but even they can be elusive and have sites that seem to be what they are not.

 

In the end, as long as she actually got a valid entry document that is the main thing.  I would hate to hear that she arrived and was denied entry.

 

Yes, for sure we’ve all been caught on the wrong page one time or another.

 

My sister is in the air now.  Had a layover in Dublin so she’s been boarded twice. They won’t allow boarding if you don’t have the visa so she got lucky this time.  I think it’s always a good idea to talk about things like this because it’s a good reminder to pay close attention to everything online.  Sadly.

[Sailor Sam 407]

11 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

These sites are everywhere for every country...  It can be difficult to find the legit sites, but I spend time looking for the country government sites, but even they can be elusive and have sites that seem to be what they are not.

 

In the end, as long as she actually got a valid entry document that is the main thing.  I would hate to hear that she arrived and was denied entry.

I’ve always found the travel.gc.ca website to be an excellent resource. It will link you to all the proper websites.

[stairMaster]

Some good news: https://globalnews.ca/news/10772254/canada-egypt-online-visas-melanie-joly/.

Egypt will allow Canadians to apply for e-visas again -- no date set but hopefully soon.

 

I'm also hoping this means that for upcoming cruises we will be issued a cruise transit visa if we don't already have a physical Visa.

[CDNPolar]

On 9/24/2024 at 8:00 PM, stairMaster said:

Some good news: https://globalnews.ca/news/10772254/canada-egypt-online-visas-melanie-joly/.

Egypt will allow Canadians to apply for e-visas again -- no date set but hopefully soon.

 

I'm also hoping this means that for upcoming cruises we will be issued a cruise transit visa if we don't already have a physical Visa.

All I can say is WooHoo WooHoo WooHoo

 

February 2nd, we must renew our passports for 10 years, then send to Chinese Embassy for a 10 year China entry Visa, then to the Egyptian Embassy in Montreal for the Egypt Visa - all between February 2nd and the end of April so we can proceed with our booked travel.

 

If we can eliminate the Egypt Visa hassle that is in place now, that will significantly reduce the stress of our plans.

 

Let's all send some positive energy to the Egyptian government for this change back...

[Dismomx5]

Woohoo! With this, we might be able to visit our grandkids! Thanks for the heads up, and fingers crossed 🤞🏻, Tinkerbell's🧚🏻‍♀️pixie dust , and positive energy ✨ all engaged!

[bleacher04]

So just back from a HAL N. Statendam cruise that had port stops in Port Said and Alexandria.  We did a 2-day HAL overland excursion that spent the night in Cairo (we had shore excursion credits to burn).  Despite all of the hassles involved getting the visas, and all of the delays in Egypt, it was worth it all.

 

But... according to a HAL staffer, about halfway through the voyage, before we reached Egypt, the ship received a list of all of the countries whose citizens would be eligible for a 72-hour "quick trip" passport stamp, and on that list was... Canada!  So it appears that we did not need our visas after all.  Mind you, he did say that when the shore officials were examining all of the passports on arrival, there was some squabbling amongst them as to whether Canadians should get the stamp or not.  So better safe than sorry I guess.

 

I know I have complained on this thread that HAL should have known better and should have provided better and more consistent advice (etc. etc.), but after going through it all and visiting the country it is my opinion that the Egyptian authorities in Canada really had no idea what the rules were for cruise ship passengers, and really didn't care to make an effort to find out.

 

I will also say that the company HAL contracted to provide our tour (Akorn Destination Management) did an excellent job -- great guides, tight security, good hotel and food.  There were a lot of delays because we had to travel in an escorted multi-vehicle convoy all the time, but that's the way it is in Egypt I guess.  For those who are visiting on a cruise ship and don't want to do a cruise line excursion, friends who used Sun Pyramids also had a great time and were very complimentary about the company

[CDNPolar]

On 10/8/2024 at 2:43 PM, bleacher04 said:

 

 

I know I have complained on this thread that HAL should have known better and should have provided better and more consistent advice (etc. etc.), but after going through it all and visiting the country it is my opinion that the Egyptian authorities in Canada really had no idea what the rules were for cruise ship passengers, and really didn't care to make an effort to find out.

 

 

Here are some interesting facts about Visas and the requirements for both the Cruise Line and an Ontario based Travel Agent.
 

Cruise Line's Responsibility:

While many cruise lines, often provide general information regarding visa requirements for the countries visited during the cruise, it is not their legal responsibility to ensure that each passenger has the correct visas. They usually recommend that passengers check with the relevant consulates or embassies to confirm the specific entry requirements based on their nationality. The cruise line’s role is more about facilitating travel than ensuring compliance with visa laws, so passengers are typically reminded to verify the requirements on their own.

 

In the case of the more recent issues with Egypt and Canada, it is and has been clear that no one really knew the full story and requirement.  Again, in the scenario of the cruise line, it may be their responsibility to tell you that a Visa is potentially required, but it ends up being your responsibility to ensure you have the right one.

 

Travel Agent's Responsibility (Under TICO in Canada):

Under TICO (Travel Industry Council of Ontario) regulations, Canadian travel agents have a legal obligation to provide clear and accurate information to their clients about entry and visa requirements for their travel destinations. TICO specifically mandates that travel agents must:

• Inform clients of the need for visas or other travel documents required to enter the countries on their itinerary.
• Provide resources or directions on how to obtain these visas (e.g., directing clients to consulates or visa services).

 

However, the final responsibility for obtaining the correct visa rests with the traveler. Travel agents are not responsible for ensuring that clients have obtained the proper visas but must ensure clients are informed of the need for them.

 

In summary, while cruise lines may offer guidance, TICO regulations place the responsibility on travel agents to inform clients about visa requirements, though the actual process of obtaining the visa is the traveler’s responsibility.

 

I think that the same situation applies to TA's as Cruise Lines over the past number of months with Egypt and Canadian's entering Egypt.  It was and still is all very confusing.

 

Let's just hope that this goes away soon.

 

I guess overall what I am trying to say is that in the end, WE as the travelling public need to be very hyper aware of what is required in the event that we are given incorrect or incomplete information.

 

 

Edited October 10 by CDNPolar

[ship101]

We are currently on the Oosterdam, on October 10 at embarkation in Athens, HA collected all passports and informed us that Egyptian officers where on board.  On the 11, HA returned our passports with a « Short trip » visa stamped inside.  This morning when we went ashore in Alexandria for the day, we had to show the stamp to the Egyptian officer.  Voilà.