yoredale

From 1st October cruise ship passengers arriving and departing on the same ship and booked on a tour can you use the 15 day visa exemption. Tour company takes care of the admin and there is no charge.

Can I have the email address of the Documentation Officer please.

Still trying to get confirmation the new rule applies for those arriving and leaving by ship.

Have just received an email today from Celebrity Guest services in UK confirming that Celebrity have confirmed with the Chinese High Commission that, as long as we present full UK passports, when we check in Celebrity Millenium in Tokyo on 16 October we will be able to complete a 144 hour visa exemption form which will allow us to travel onboard and visit Shanghai. The email states that this was introduced on 31st January 2016. It has taken us many phone calls and emails to get this confirmation, and only after insisting on speaking to someone above the level of customer service. I cannot say whether this waiver applies to those outside the UK, but it's worth pursuing with Celebrity.

Could you possibly send a copy of your email or let me have details of who sent it.

After several email exchanges they have suggested I contact the Chinese embassy.

Ann Barker,

Did Celebrity confirm the new regulations are acceptable to them?

It is important to note that the new 15 day exemption applies to those arriving by cruise ship.

The existing 144 hour rules apply to those arriving by air or starting a cruise in Shanghai.

It is unfortunate that cruise companies are still referring customers to visa providers who, as far as I can ascertain, are still stating that visas are required and accepting their applications ( and £200).

Just spent one hour trying to contact someone in P&O UK to get their view on the issue but all I managed was to be transferred several times from them to the company who provide a visa service CITB.

Does anyone have a name or suggested contact in P&O ?

Incidentally CITB charge in excess of £200 for their service.

Our ship's day tour costs £40 which is a lot less than the £150 visa cost.

However, we still need confirmation that cruise companies accept the new rules.

Yes that is what I referred to, but I don't know how to attach or paste it here.

Now expect a lecture or sarcastic comment from others !!

Quote from the website "need to enrol in a tour group". This is taken from the explanation and answer to question 2.

I am sure you will offer your apologies and refrain from lecturing.

This is new and allows cruise passengers in tour groups an exemption from visa requirement.

See official Shanghai Immigration website

sh-immigration.gov.cn