Visas and Vaccinations

[zorrosuncle]

Greetings --

I use the Holland America Personal Cruise Consultant service to book my cruises. I notice on my November 2012 cruise to the Amazon, there is one country requiring vaccinations, and another requiring a visa.

Will HAL contact me further regarding this? Whose responsibility is it to get the Visa for (Brazil)? Will this be arranged by the cruise line, or should I go into New York City on my own and take care of this?

Likewise, how do I know what vaccine(s) are necessary for the stop in French Guiana? Will the cruise line contact me about this in a timely manner or is it my responsibility to find out on my own what is required (and to arrange for it)?

ZU

[RuthC]

The two times I have begun a cruise in Rio I had to obtain my visa myself. I don't know if it's different if you are entering the country on the ship.

Check the Brazil visa procedures on when you should get the visa. There was a rule that you had to get it no longer than 90 days before you were to enter the country. I don't know if that rule is still in effect. I think I recall reading that it is not, but can't be certain. Check.

[Sea42]

For something as important as visas call HAL and ask them, don't wait for them to contact you. Usually it is up to the traveler to get the required documents for the countries that are visited but this is an area where you want to get the information directly from HAL as to what they provide.
And contact a travel clinic for see what required vaccinations are needed for different countries. You can find one in most major cities or universities.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We also had to get our own Visas for Brazil.

As for the shots -- you are responsible to get them in a timely matter -- take a list of the countries that you will be visiting to your doctor and discuss what you will need.

Recommended shots are Hep A and B, Typhoid, Tetnus, Yellow Fever.

I think there is another one -- my mind is blank right now.

[Hlitner]

HA may, or may not, give you the appropriate advice regarding Visas and innoculations. But if you fail to have all the right paperwork (such as a Visa or Yellow Fever Certificate when required) you will be denied boarding. Bottom line is personal responsibility. It pays to go to the State Departments web site and check the specific requirements for each country. Then, if you have any questions or doubts give HA a call. About 3 years ago we took a long Princess Cruise where the cruise line gave the passengers the incorrect info on Brazilian Visas. Finally, less then 2 months prior to the cruise they had to send out "emergency" e-mails and notify everyone of the error (Princess originally told cruisers they would be covered under a group Visa). By the way, Brazil is a royal pain when it comes to Visas, but if that is one of your ports you do need to jump through all their hoops (and pay the big bucks) or you cannot even board your cruise.

Also keep in mind that if you need a Yellow Fever shot, it is not always easy to get this innoculation. It must usually be obtained from an authorized center (not your personal physician) and, in some cases, must be arranged well in advance by appointment.

Hank

[whogo]

Holland America takes no responsibility for your visas and vaccinations in the cruise contract.

Immigration, health and other laws, both in the United States and other countries, may require that you obtain a certain visa, hold a passport, be inoculated, obtain parental consent or otherwise obtain documentation prior to entering or returning to a country. It is your sole responsibility to take all steps as may be required to enable you to comply with these laws. The United States Department of State, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other governmental and tourist organizations regularly issue advisories and warnings to travelers. Provider strongly recommends that you obtain and consider such information when making travel decisions. Provider assumes no responsibility for gathering or providing said information to you. http://www.hollandamerica.com/legalAndPrivacy/Main.action

[bet410]

Check the Brazil visa procedures on when you should get the visa. There was a rule that you had to get it no longer than 90 days before you were to enter the country. I don't know if that rule is still in effect. I think I recall reading that it is not, but can't be certain. Check.

Fortunately this rule has changed. We just got our Brazil visas on Monday for our upcoming World Cruise. We were able to request - and got - 10-year visas. (Yay - that means that I don't have to get another one next year!) We still haven't gotten word from HAL on what we need to do before the cruise, and considering we're less than 90 days out, it means that if people wait for word, they will have to rush to get the visas they need.

We heard that Brazil (as well as India, which we also need) was a pain to get. We went through a Visa service (ABriggs), hand-delivered our passports to the company, and they walked the forms and passports to the Consulates. We had no problem getting the visas. However, we're fortunate to live near a city that has consulates so we were able to do everything without using the mail. :)

[bet410]

Likewise, how do I know what vaccine(s) are necessary for the stop in French Guiana? Will the cruise line contact me about this in a timely manner or is it my responsibility to find out on my own what is required (and to arrange for it)?

ZU

We took our itinerary to our doctor, who referred us to a travel clinic that was able to advise us as to exactly what we needed - and didn't need. We had already done research so knew basically what to expect. We haven't made the visit for the upcoming trip yet, but we already have YF, tetanus, and Hep A&B, gotten for a previous trip. We will probably ask for cipro and see if they recommend malaria pills - just in case.

Being near NYC, you will probably have access to locations that offer the necessary travel inoculations & medicines. Your doctor should be able to recommend a place.

[eh2zed]

It is your responsibility to get the necessary paperwork. You need to either get the official information yourself or ask your TA to help you.

[HamburgAvonLady]

These must be attained from an international travel clinic. If you live near a major medical school/university--- they are easy to obtain. You do need an appt. You will receive a international vac. booklet (ours is yellow) that should stay with your passport. If you are over 60 years of age and/or have major medical issues such as heart/diabetes --- you maybe exempt fron needing the shot but your family physician needs to complete that part on the vacc. booklet.

Brazilian visas: NYC - we used "it's Easy Visa Service" -- received our paperwork back in less than a week and we live at the opposite end of the state.

DO NOT rely on any cruiseline to give correct info about visas --- it's the passenger's responsibility to do this. We did a 46 day repo cruise with RCCL from Florida to South America around Cape Horn and back to Cal. There were about 60 passengers left on the dock in Pt. Canaveral who were not allowed to board as they did not have the Brazilian visas. This was discussed at great length on our Roll Call months before departure with all
kinds of incorrect info.

[whogo]

Will HAL contact me further regarding this? They might, they might not.
Whose responsibility is it to get the Visa for (Brazil)? Yours and yours alone. Do not trust HAL, a travel agent, or Cruise Critic.
Will this be arranged by the cruise line, or should I go into New York City on my own and take care of this? You can go in person or use a visa service. This link may help you with Brazil: http://novayork.itamaraty.gov.br/en-us/visas.xml

Likewise, how do I know what vaccine(s) are necessary for the stop in French Guiana? Here is the CDC link to info about French Guiana: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/french-guiana.htm
Will the cruise line contact me about this in a timely manner or is it my responsibility to find out on my own what is required (and to arrange for it)? They might or might not contact you. It is your responsibility. Do not trust HAL, a travel agent, or Cruise Critic.

The Brazil visa was a challenge with lots of fussy rules. A New York resident can only apply at the New York consulate, for instance. Different consulates have different rules. I found these New York instructions of note:

If you are an American citizen, you are required to obtain a visa on your passport prior to entering Brazil..

The passport presented at the Consulate with your visa application must be valid for at least another 6 months and must have at least one blank visa page available...

The visa fee must be paid with U.S. Post Office Money Order only...

No visa will be processed by any kind of mail including USPS, Federal Express, DHL, etc... [The Chicago consulate allowed mail applications.]

A visa shall be denied to any foreign citizen who, when submitting his/her application, behaves in an aggressive, insulting or disrespectful way...

Long-duration visas (valid for 5 or 10 years, for instance) are valid from the day they were issued. Short-duration visas (valid for 30 or 90 days, for example) are valid from the date of first entry into Brazil.


I applied in person at Brazil's Chicago consulate and saw a number of disappointed applicants that did not have their paperwork in order.

[Boytjie]

By the way, Brazil is a royal pain when it comes to Visas, but if that is one of your ports you do need to jump through all their hoops (and pay the big bucks) or you cannot even board your cruise.

And I believe some of that is in retaliation for the USA's visa requirements/procedures. ;)

[Howasaur]

In Canada we have to mail in our passports after going onsite to the Brazil Consolute in our area which was Vancouver BC fill out the online documents then we printed out the page and attached our Photo. Regarding Shots we were advised to go to a travel Clinic. Our doctor suggested Malaria, update my Tetunus shot since last one was 2001, also updated my Hep.B after having a blood test. We go Nov. 4th to get our Yellow fever shot We are cruising up the Amazon with Holland

PS it took 26 days in total to get our Brazilian Visas

[JayS]

On my 2 cruises to Brazil, the first thing checked was the VISA. The Amazon (November 2009) cruise the YF documents were checked. Then I was allowed to check in.

On the Carnival Splendor repo, 200 people were not allowed to board because of a lack of a Visa.

whogo post covers most of the info you need. You want to follow the Brazilian instructions to the letter. If you go to the consul by yourself be early, better to wait then see the window close on you.

Hint check on the price of the fare it may go down, and YOU will have to contact HAL for a reduction in your fare.

[MadManOfBethesda]

About 3 years ago we took a long Princess Cruise where the cruise line gave the passengers the incorrect info on Brazilian Visas...By the way, Brazil is a royal pain when it comes to Visas, but if that is one of your ports you do need to jump through all their hoops (and pay the big bucks) or you cannot even board your cruise.

We did a 46 day repo cruise with RCCL from Florida to South America around Cape Horn and back to Cal. There were about 60 passengers left on the dock in Pt. Canaveral who were not allowed to board as they did not have the Brazilian visas. This was discussed at great length on our Roll Call months before departure with all kinds of incorrect info.

Interesting. I was on a 30-day RCL cruise this past January/February from Los Angeles around Cape Horn and ending in Brazil and we, too, also had numerous passengers who did not know about the Brazilian visa issue. However, unlike the situations above, they were allowed to board the ship, but were informed that they would have to disembark in Uruguay, which was the last stop before we entered Brazilian waters. I suppose the difference was that Brazil was the very end of the trip for our cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Our doctor was able to give us most of our shots.

But when we had to get the yellow fever shot years ago (now expired and DH can no longer get one due to health reasons) -- we went to a clinic. We called them first as we thought that we might need an appointment. We were told to just stop by whenever it was convient for us.

And our medical shot booklet is also yellow.

[Globaliser]

And our medical shot booklet is also yellow.Isn't that the standard colour? All of mine have been yellow, all of my life.

[HamburgAvonLady]

Interesting. I was on a 30-day RCL cruise this past January/February from Los Angeles around Cape Horn and ending in Brazil and we, too, also had numerous passengers who did not know about the Brazilian visa issue. However, unlike the situations above, they were allowed to board the ship, but were informed that they would have to disembark in Uruguay, which was the last stop before we entered Brazilian waters. I suppose the difference was that Brazil was the very end of the trip for our cruise.

So do I understand these passengers flew back from Uruguay ??? Sure would not have liked that at all !!!

[MadManOfBethesda]

So do I understand these passengers flew back from Uruguay ??? Sure would not have liked that at all !!!

Yes, that is correct. (Although I suppose that some could have gone to Buenos Aires, Argentina, via ferry from Montevideo, Uruguay, and flown home from there.) But in any case, they had to depart the ship upon arrival in Uruguay.

[Hlitner]

And I believe some of that is in retaliation for the USA's visa requirements/procedures. ;)

Absolutely correct! When we went through the Brazilian Visa hassle at the DC consulate, we actually met with the Deputy Consul (he proved to be very helpful) who explained that the entire Brazilian Visa policy (for US citizens) was based on a retalitory policy. On that same trip we learned of a very nasty incident involving the Celebrity Infinity. It seems that on the cruise prior to ours the Brazilian authorities had come onboard in Rio and seized all the precious jewels in the onboard jewelry shop (we are talking 10s of thousands of dollars). The Brazilians claimed that the jewelry store had not properly itemized each and every stone on their declaration statement. As of the end of our cruise (several weeks later) the jewelry store had not been able to get their gems back and had no indication they would ever get them back (the store manager figured that lots of Brazilian officials had given gifts to their wives). We have been to lots of Brazilian cities, enjoyed our visits, but have no intention of returning to that country in the near future.

Hank

[Bippie]

And I believe some of that is in retaliation for the USA's visa requirements/procedures. ;)

Brazil is not alone. I just had to get a China tourist visa for a 3 day visit. Total cost is around $220 with the visa fee ($140), visa service fee (Perry), postage and photo. For non-US citizens the visa fee is $100 less.

You are lucky if you live near a consulate and you have time during the week to apply for and later pick up your visa. That can save some money.

Do start the application process early in case you encounter any trouble. However, you can't start TOO early for all visas - I believe China only accepts applications 60 days prior to travel. That can lead to problems on cruises since finaly payment might have been made before you confirm you can obtain a visa.

[Barkevko]

Brazil is not alone. I just had to get a China tourist visa for a 3 day visit. Total cost is around $220 with the visa fee ($140), visa service fee (Perry), postage and photo. For non-US citizens the visa fee is $100 less.

You are lucky if you live near a consulate and you have time during the week to apply for and later pick up your visa. That can save some money.

Do start the application process early in case you encounter any trouble. However, you can't start TOO early for all visas - I believe China only accepts applications 60 days prior to travel. That can lead to problems on cruises since finaly payment might have been made before you confirm you can obtain a visa.

China charges for Visas an amount equal to what the country in question charges for the Chinese citizens to get a Visa to that country. US citizens pay what the Chinese have to pay to visit the US. Aussies pay less because Australia charges less for visas for Chinese visitors.

[Typhoon1]

Influenza vaccine is most important, on any cruise.