Need a Visa for 7 hour port visit in Margarita Island, Venezuela????

We will be taking the CDF Horizon in January of 2016 for the 7-night cruise out of St. Maarten. We were wondering if it was necessary to obtain a Visa for the short 7 hour port visit to Margarita Island in Venezuela? Any advice regarding US Citizens exiting and reboarding the ship in Venezuela for this short port visit would be most helpful. Thanks.

The short answer is probably no one here knows with any certainty. Just in March, 2015, Venezuela changed its visa requirements and procedures for US citizens - and not to make it easier.

I checked a visa service (CIBT, with special processing for Regent, Oceania, and other cruise lines) and they won't touch a request a Venezuela visa because the consulate requires a personal appearance.

Here are some links about the recent change:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article13591547.html

http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Venezuela-Unveils-New-Visa-Requirements-for-US-20150307-0006.html

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2015/03/16/despite-tensions-and-confusion-us-travelers-to-venezuela-begin-applying-for/

There appears to be so much confusion that perhaps your cruise line is the best resource. Sometimes there are special exceptions made for brief cruise stops, sometimes not. Anyone who cites an experience with Venezuela visas prior to March 2015 is not relevant now.

Good luck.

We were in Isla Margarita in 06 (Princess cruise). It was a gem on our itinerary. I hope you find it to be the same. It is impossible to know what the political situation has done to this wonderful island.

When we were there:

The people we encountered:

were friendly and wonderful,

didn't like the govt,

had a decent standard of living.

One of the main tourist products was Caribbean pearls.

The beaches were to die for.

Note: Princess told the passengers that there was nothing to do, even encouraged staying on the ship. A load of Bull. We got off and were, in short order, on a new Mercedes tour van with a driver and an English speaking guide.

We would like to visit again. :)