Wanderingsascent

Our cruise from Malta to Dubai has been cancelled by P and O because of the troubles in Hormuz.

We embarked the ship in Shanghai. All the crew and passengers who disembarked or did not want to get off the ship had to go to immigration before we were allowed on. (i.e. everybody). 

We found the tv and the programmes/films offered very good.

Thanks for the explanations. 

What exactly is a paid wait list and how does it work?

Cosol himself was murdered in July 2018. I was told the company is now run by has sister.

3 hours ago, dabear said:

That was my point. Staying around 14 hours in the airport hotels, while convenient, is costly. There are nice hotels about 2 miles from the airport for the same or better prices, but we would have to take a taxi around 4:30am, ASSUMING Taxis are then available. Anyone with experience with this issue?

We went through Changi airport in Jan, what a fabulous airport it is. Whichever hotel you choose just ask the concierge to order a taxi and confirm the price.

There is a transit hotel within the terminal, just Google it. Changi airport is fantastic. Have a good trip.

We stayed at the Ramada by Wyndam which our taxi driver said is used by pilots. It was 25 mins from airport and taxi fare was about S$20.

Just now, sippican said:

 

Was that because they had the exemption, or did it apply to anyone with a tourist visa?

I  believe they were travelling twov but because of the missed flight they didn't have forward travel. Thus they didn't qualify twov,  they carried on until Japan.

We were on Princess.

I bought one in tesco for £3.

Just a word of caution if you arrive by ship. Sapphire Princess was delayed arriving in Shanghai due to fog, this meant people missed their flight home. As a result they had no confirmed onward travel and thus were not allowed to disembark, they had to stay on the ship until the next port of call. All this meant huge delays for our embarkation, we spent six hours in the hangar waiting and some spent longer.

21 hours ago, chrisgoates said:

Huge thanks to Wanderingsascent for posting this. It's very reassuring.

I wonder if we can skip the first fingerprint machine, probably not worth the risk as from your description the queue is waiting for inspection, not first fingerprinting.

Did you see any signs of machines to get the immigration card printed out as I am the owner of a QR scan which I think holds access to my uploaded details. How are the officials on mistakes on the filled in immigration card? I only ask because in the old days of USA visa waiver cards at JFK airport immigration I often had trouble getting the information on the correct line and once got sent to the back of the queue for making a mistake.

 

Chris

 

There isn't a queue for the first machine, self service. If you make a mistake on the form  you have to go to the back of the queue! There is no sense of urgency with the officials, just one was on duty when we arrived.

We took the ship tranfer to Ho Chi Min and then toured on our own. In Bangkok we too a ship tour, it is a huge place.

The cruise terminal is miles away fom public transport or so it appeared to me. We used taxi from hotel to port and fast train and subway from airport to hotel.  Beware taxi drivers, we heard some terrible stories of overcharging and even putting people out in the middle of nowhere.

Just now, lovetoholiday said:

On the Sapphire for 24 days later in the year and wondering whether to splash out on the drinks package.  My friend only drinks Bacardi Superior White Rum, and doesn't want to pay for the package if she can't get it on board. We recently returned from a MSC Caribbean cruise and she couldn't get it on there even though they had a Rum Bar complete with Bacardi Posters and cushions, they would not pour a Bacardi and Coke - only cocktails containing it. Crazy!

Anyway if she is on board for 24 days and cannot get her favourite tipple she will not be a happy bunny.  So can someone please confirm if you can get a basic Bacardi and coke.

Thank you.

Our drink of choice. We paid $8 including 15% service. Jan 2019

We arrived on 5th Jan 2019 from the UK

At the departure airport we showed our cruise itinerary and hotel booking.

On arrival in Shanghai go to the fingerprint machine for aliens.

Follow the signs for  144 twov, you may need to ask. As we walked through we turned right after fingerprinting.

Fill in an immigration card, they were on the right as you walked to the immigration desk. (The yellow card given out on the plane is for aliens who have a visa.

Queue in line for officer to inspect documents. This can take just over an hour as in our case or over three hours in other cases. They take another fingerprint.

Have a wonderful cruise.

Thanks for the replies. Understood.

It just says priority on one of the embarkation tickets. Elite class?

On the embarkation ticket do both tickets say 'priority' or just the lead passenger?

They do show up on my cruise personaliser, thanks.

Thanks, usually my purchases show on my bank a.c.. straight away but maybe it will take a couple of days with Princess.

When you book a Princess tour before you sail when is the amount taken from your  card.? Is it straight away or when you board ship.

7 hours ago, Ellaleah said:

Are there tour guides at the dick or do they need to be reserved ahead of time?

We booked our 3 hr tour on arrival and paid $25 pp. It was for 8 people. We toured the Dutch and French side and considered it a good tour.

As you leave the port the beach is on the left, you could walk there. It is a long beach.