Brazilian Visa - Caution if Using Princess Air Out of Manaus

[capriccio]

We are on the Amazon cruise this winter that requires a Brazilian visa. Reading the South America board and some of the roll calls, it is evident that the complexity of applying for and receiving a visa differs from consulate to consulate. I spent almost 1 1/2 hours at the Washington, DC consulate this morning: half an hour waiting for my number to be called; then 15 minutes discussing the 'lack' of a round trip ticket (see last paragraph); 15 minutes on the phone with Princess Customer Service; another wait of 5 or 10 minutes; finally another 15 minutes submitting all the paperwork.

We won't even get our passports back for 3 weeks -- she said not to even bother checking if it is done earlier. She also couldn't confirm whether it would be a 5 year visa or a 1 month visa!!! I asked how the determination was made and she replied that a vice consul makes it. I told her we planned to return to Brazil in the next 5 years but I don't know if that makes a difference. I'll certainly be bummed out if we only receive a 1 month visa after all this time and money ($130 each)!

The complication was that we are on a Princess air charter out of Manaus to Miami at the end of the cruise and the consulate staff couldn't determine what day and time that was from the Cruise Summary (just said Princess Air to Miami) and the itinerary (ended with the ship's arrival in Manaus). I explained that the details of the charter flight might not be available until a month before departure. She insisted that Princess send them an email with date and time. Customer Service at Princess was perplexed and gave me the same line I had given the consulate ('it might be December before we have specifics') but put me on hold while taking to flight operations (hence the 15 minute wait). She came back and said she would send an 'Air Notification' email to the consulate (and advised me not to count on the times not changing between now and then!). Thank goodness for email and a Customer Service Rep who was willing to track down a response - the consulate received it within seconds and that was sufficient.

So, if you're on the Manaus to Miami Princess charter this winter, you may want to call customer service (or your TA) and ask for the 'Air Notification' before going to the Brazilian consulate or submitting your request via the mail.

[Rob & Beckys mom]

Please check to see if you need a yellow fever shot! Last October we were denied a visa until we had the certificate to prove we had been innoculated! Crazy time, but we managed. Seems the rules had changed as of 10/01/08 as some passengers onboard (Oceania) did not need this injection. Very expensive, I may add We had to send our passports out as well, very uncomfortable until they were back in our hands. But, all went well. Have a great cruise.

Jan

[capriccio]

We know that we do need a yellow fever shot since we're stopping at Devil's Island before arriving in Brazil (and Princess has been very good about sending out that message). The consulate didn't ask nor discuss it. That's next week's adventure!

[cdngrl]

my cruise ends in brazil and my passport is also wandering aimlessly through the brazilian consulate for the next 3 weeks. it is stressful and its hard to get excited about the trip until brazil says they'll let you in! many on our roll call have opted to disembark 3 days early to skip rio and the hassle. all this for a few hours! i don't think i'll return to brazil. too much (costly) paperwork.

[wowzo]

Luckily, you were able to get the visa requirements taken care of. There are very few stories about the Brazilian Visa that are a smooth experience.

Some people have to cancel - it did not arrive on time ! We were 1 day from cancelling - but then it arrived . This was last March. So nothing has changed.

You will enjoy the trip - it was so different and better than I expected.

Bring alot of sunscreen, bug spray, and hat. It'll be fun,

MaryAnn

[shellbeachjim]

I agree the Brazilian consulates seem to make up their rules on the fly, but they're just as tough on Brazilian nationals as they are on US citizens. The precise flight arrangements has been a requirement for quite a while. It was there in 2005 when we obtained visas in San Francisco. Most of the people in the waiting area were on their second attempt to obtain visas and most were tripped up on the requirement.

Here's what the San Francisco consulate has on it's website:

A copy of the round trip or multi-country ticket/itinerary (do not send the original) or a statement from a travel agency, addressed to the Brazilian Consulate, or an e-ticket confirmation. In all cases, the name of the passenger, the confirmed itinerary, airline/cruise company, flight number/vessel name and dates of arrival in and departure from Brazil must be clearly displayed.

http://www.brazilsf.org/visa_tourist_eng.htm

The above came from #4 on the website.

[llachance]

is your friend.

[Coral]

Just want to say good luck!

I was speaking with a friend last night on this same issue and we agreed that a visa service is the way to go on situations like this (my friend lives near a consulate and I live far away). I had to get a Russian Visa a few years ago and I have to say how painless it was for those of us who used a service (I used zvs.com) compared to those who spent hours in line. I paid quite a bit more for it but it was worth it knowing that they have standing appointments with the consulate and walk things through. They knew exactly when they could pick it up which those who did this on their own didn't know.

[DaisyRose]

This sounds like a lot of stress, aggravation, and expense for a short stop. Is visiting Brazil really worth all of this effort? I have never been to Brazil (or S. America for that matter) so I really don't know. What is there that makes this stop desireable? Perhaps Princess should consider skipping Brazil on some of it's S. America itineraries. I wonder if more people would be interested in booking trips to S. America if they didn't have to deal with the stress and expense of getting a Brazilian visa.

[chrysalis]

Originally Posted by DaisyRose

This sounds like a lot of stress, aggravation, and expense for a short stop. Is visiting Brazil really worth all of this effort? I have never been to Brazil (or S. America for that matter) so I really don't know. What is there that makes this stop desireable? Perhaps Princess should consider skipping Brazil on some of it's S. America itineraries. I wonder if more people would be interested in booking trips to S. America if they didn't have to deal with the stress and expense of getting a Brazilian visa.

The original poster is going on an Amazon cruise....hardly a short stop in Brazil. This cruise is a very popular intinerary. Also it needs to be remembered that the reason that US citizens require a visa to enter Brazil is because the US started to require that Brazials get a visa to enter the US. We have had to get a visa to Brazil and had no issues at all, and it was a short stop, and I agree, it was a large expense for a stop of a few hours, but since it is good for 5 years, it would be already taken care of if we choose to return in the near future.

[imsulin]

2016 Summer Olympics. August 5 - August 21, 2016. Rio de Janiero, Brazil. ("River of January" in Portuguese.) You KNOW that a lot of cruise ships will be there to provide housing for high-paying clients. Just as they will be in Vancouver, BC, for February 2010 Winter Olympics). Brazil (Brasil) is the only non-Spanish country in South America. It is Portuguese. And it requires a Visa. BIG CARNIVALE!! Christ the Redeemer...via chairlift. Don't get a visa, and miss Brazil. OR...get a visa and spend time in Brazil. "The Girl From Ipanema" - and her thousands of well-tanned and thonged bikini clad cousins will greet you on the beach! I'm just sayin'...........

[923libra]

I wish Princess was a little more "user friendly" when it comes to situations like these. Thousands of dollars are spent on these trips, at the very least Princess should provide links to the different consulates on their numerous itineraries if not routinely updated information about additional travel documents and innoculations that might be needed!

[capriccio]

Originally Posted by DaisyRose

This sounds like a lot of stress, aggravation, and expense for a short stop. Is visiting Brazil really worth all of this effort? I have never been to Brazil (or S. America for that matter) so I really don't know. What is there that makes this stop desireable? Perhaps Princess should consider skipping Brazil on some of it's S. America itineraries. I wonder if more people would be interested in booking trips to S. America if they didn't have to deal with the stress and expense of getting a Brazilian visa.

I certainly hope it is worth it! The Amazon has been on my 'bucket list' since I studied South American history in college. I'm really hoping that we receive a 5 year visa because we will go to Brazil again. My husband - who travels throughout Europe on business - has never been further south than Cartegena, Colombia. I was in Rio for 3 days in high school (a very long time ago) en route to a summer as an exchange student in Chile and have convinced him that Rio should be a vacation (either land based or at the beginning/end of a cruise) sometime in the next 5 years.

[piper28]

FWIW, we got the details on the charter flight schedule around 70 days ahead of sailing. At that point the travel summary section in the cruise personalizer seems to have all the info that the consulate requires.

It's amazing just how much variance there is from consulate to consulate on the process. I seem to be lucky that we get to deal with the Chicago one. Their website advertises 3-4 days processing time, and they let you mail everything back and forth without dealing with a visa service.

Just did the paperwork earlier this evening, and plan on mailing out our applications on Wednesday.

[sirwired]

FWIW, the reason Brazil has given for all this hassle is that this is merely a mirror for what the U.S. makes Brazilian citizens go through when they want to go to, or even just through, the U.S.

SirWired

[WeBeGone]

Can you imagine the mess with visa's when the Olympics roll around ?!?

[Pia1913]

Originally Posted by DaisyRose

This sounds like a lot of stress, aggravation, and expense for a short stop. Is visiting Brazil really worth all of this effort? I have never been to Brazil (or S. America for that matter) so I really don't know. What is there that makes this stop desireable? Perhaps Princess should consider skipping Brazil on some of it's S. America itineraries. I wonder if more people would be interested in booking trips to S. America if they didn't have to deal with the stress and expense of getting a Brazilian visa.

Tell me you're kidding.

[wowzo]

I would hate to think Princess or any other cruiseine would eliminate ports because the visas are too much trouble for people.

I want to decide if I want to go somethere and if the visa is required then I'll comply.

Eliminating China, India, Brazil, Australia, Russia just because something is required - it not thinking like a traveller, it's thinking like a...,(you fill in the blank). It would not be a very good voyage to chug along avoiding a major world country - Because it's too much trouble !!

If you don't want to put out the effort and money, stay within your cocoon. The rest of are out there having a great time and making wonderful memories.

MaryAnn

[DaisyRose]

Well, I said that I had never been to Brazil or S. America, so I did not know why Brazil was special. On another thread, I posted the opinion that I think large charges for visas are wrong, including the fee the US charges Brazilian citizens to come to the US. If they want to require a visa so they can "check out" those who will be coming to their country, I can understand that, but I still think $130 fees, plus lots of hassles, and personal appearances, are discouraging.

I am not "in a cocoon." I am heading to China and Japan in February, and I will get the China visa that is required because I really want to go there. But I simply do not know what is so special about Brazil, and was asking that question. I know for a fact that visa requirements and expenses do discourage some people from visiting a particular country.

Let's face it, although cruising in general is a bargain, the bottom line is still very expensive. When you add in pre-cruise hotels, airfare, transfers, gratuities, shore excursions, and other onboard spending, it gets very expensive. Visas for two people, plus the fees given to agencies or time time and expense of appearing in person, can easily add $400 on to the cost of a cruise. I just happen to think that is a lot of extra money to have to spend, especially if it is just a one day stop. I am from a hard working family and retired early to care for my grandchildren, and quite honestly, every dollar counts.

[fcorey]

Originally Posted by DaisyRose

Well, I said that I had never been to Brazil or S. America, so I did not know why Brazil was special. On another thread, I posted the opinion that I think large charges for visas are wrong, including the fee the US charges Brazilian citizens to come to the US. If they want to require a visa so they can "check out" those who will be coming to their country, I can understand that, but I still think $130 fees, plus lots of hassles, and personal appearances, are discouraging.

I am not "in a cocoon." I am heading to China and Japan in February, and I will get the China visa that is required because I really want to go there. But I simply do not know what is so special about Brazil, and was asking that question. I know for a fact that visa requirements and expenses do discourage some people from visiting a particular country.

Let's face it, although cruising in general is a bargain, the bottom line is still very expensive. When you add in pre-cruise hotels, airfare, transfers, gratuities, shore excursions, and other onboard spending, it gets very expensive. Visas for two people, plus the fees given to agencies or time time and expense of appearing in person, can easily add $400 on to the cost of a cruise. I just happen to think that is a lot of extra money to have to spend, especially if it is just a one day stop. I am from a hard working family and retired early to care for my grandchildren, and quite honestly, every dollar counts.

You need to understand that the whole visa issue is reciprocal. The US makes it difficult for Brazilians to come here, so they make US citizens go through the same hoops to go there. I currently have a 5 year business visa for Brazil, and visas for China, and Russia. All of them have costs, I think my China visa was $175 which is more than Brazil was, and Russia was even more. I spent 3 months working in Brazil last year and extended trips to China and Japan.

China is interesting, Hong Kong is great if you don't speak Chinese as there is allot in English, other cities not so much. Tokyo is amazing and I think everyone should see that city. I feel the same way about Brazil. We had a chance to go to Iguazu falls on the border with Argentina. It makes Niagara falls look like a puddle. They have great beaches and beach resorts, and then there is the Amazon and rain forests. The Amazon is the largest river in the world by volume. There is allot to see and do, more so than you may realize. Its the 5th largest country in the world behind Russia, China, Canada and U.S., they are just about the same size as the U.S in area but half our population, which I never realized until I traveled there.

I can tell you that my colleagues from UK have easier time getting visas than I do, or in some cases dont need one where I would. Personally I had a very easy time getting a visa for Brazil. I went to the consulate in Boston on a Thursday, and was able to pick up my passport with the visa the following Tuesday.

Brazil is an interesting country and in general the people are warm and friendly. Bureaucratic red tape does not reflect the spirit of the people there. I've spent time in many cities there, some are much better than others. Southern Brazil, Porto Alegre was great, Campinas is also very nice as well as Manaus. Sao Paulo is somewhat overwhelming and is the largest city I have ever been to. Rio is beautiful but there is also a fair amount of crime like Sao Paulo.

While there are challenges at times , travel is something that I love. I think its worth the hassle to see other parts of the world in person. If anyone has questions about Brazil I'd be happy to help.