michaelbr

2 hours ago, Clonmelgal said:

I've worked with two agency's so far and neither o e has helped . I ended up paying more for one cruise than through the cruiseline itself. They chose my cabin and it wasn't what I wanted at all. 

From now one I'm booking  myself through the company.

That's my feeling too.

On 3/11/2024 at 12:57 AM, sambamama said:

Find a good TA and work with them. Their agency may have a deal that gets you a better deal. They know the lines, the routes, etc. They deal with any hassles with the cruise line. Mine  checks for price drops, and sees if the cruise line will upgrade my cabin. 

understood, thanks

On 3/11/2024 at 6:11 PM, lostsoulcruiser said:

Others have replied regarding T/As so I'll let that be.

When I want to see a solo cruise price on-line, I will start with the cruise line and change the # of guests to 1 (standard is 2) and you can watch the prices changes. 

Thanks so much for this tip, now I understand it.

Thanks so much for this tip, it took me a while to figure this one out, it's much appreciated.

Is there a central location where I can find the location that will be charged by each cruise line (like a website)? Or the only way is to call the cruise line before booking? The reason is I'm in Spain, the bank charge commission for purchase made out of EU, and if the curreny is not EUR, there's another fee plus conversion, so the bank charge could be significant if not careful.

1 hour ago, Honolulu Blue said:

I've mostly booked directly, though I have done the TA thing a few times.

You mean directly from cruise line? I don't see an option for single, or you just put in for 1 person, whatever price showed up is the one for single?

12 hours ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

 

They may know that there is a problem, but typically their first reaction is that it is a simple fix like offering to remain on the ship, or maybe they can apply for an electronic visa (not an option). 

e-visa is not an option is because in the dock, the cruise line staff does not have ways (access) to e-visa's database, that's why they require a B1/B2 (this visa is lenghy and expensive).

16 hours ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

 

Unfortunately, it would be a full stop denial. 

We have had to deny a bridal couple; members of a 'high roller' casino group - and the group organizer threaten that none of the group would sail; various nannies (and had to listen to the very angry US mom employer); newly introduced girlfriend/boyfriend who can't join the significant other's US family on the cruise; and other similar situations.

 

The Canadian Visa is similar to the US visa in that after you are approved you need to send in your passport and then the full page visa is attached to your passport.  We even had a passenger who received their approval letter days before the cruise, but since they didn't actually have the Canadian visa in their passport, they were denied.

 

What happens is a lot of these folks are travelling with Americans, and Americans never think about foreign friends/family needing a Canadian Visa, especially since they already received an American visa, but it is two different countries, with different requirements.  The visas are not interchangeable.

Just curious, I have a Spanish passport, can I get e-visa (not sending in my passport to get full page visa, and I had not travelled previously to countries such as Yemen, Iraq, Iran, etc.)?  

How do you book a single cruise? through an agency? cruise line website? or any other method?

I've seen only 1 website publishing single cruise (sorry, I'm not allowed to publish its name, there's only published price, no booking, not sure if the price is real), then I went to the cruise line website, but there's no single rate, how do you book single cruise with cruise line?

ps: there are other few sites which said has single cruise with low supplement, when you click on the link, it takes you to cruise lines' site.

13 hours ago, martincath said:

Depends on your citizenship what you actually need @michaelbr - but all cruises headed straight to Alaska from Vancouver see US CBP at the port for immigration purposes, so if you need a Visa and don't have it you will 100% not be allowed to board. As noted above already, if you're Spanish it's not actually a Visa you need, and the cost is minimal - but if you're a citizen of a country that does need a Visa to enter the USA just residing in Spain, you need to comply with the appropriate rules for your country of citizenship.

 

Even in the much rarer circumstances of a cruise which visits a second Canadian port after Vancouver, when prescreening would not happen, all pax details are sent to CBP by the ship before arriving at the first US port - if you're not allowed entry then the best case is your cruise card is flagged so security will not let you off the ship, but the worst case (assuming there's no issue of criminality that the US would want to actually arrest you!) is that you are forced to disembark and escorted to the nearest airport/border and made to leave the US right away at your own expense...

 

In short - you are 100% going to be processed by CBP for immigration purposes on any cruise to Alaska, regardless of where it begins, so get your paperwork in order!

 

 

thanks for this detailed explanation, will keep it in mind.

14 hours ago, VMax1700 said:

If you are a Spanish Citizen/Spanish Passport holder then you do not need a visa, but you need to apply online for ESTA (Visa Waiver)

https://es.usembassy.gov/es/esta-programa-de-exencion-de-visado/

 

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/esta

 

Make sure you apply through the official website.

thanks for this tip, will keep it in mind.

3 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

In another thread the OP is asking about the need for a US visa for an Alaska cruise from Vancouver, so maybe he is looking at Alaska ports.  EM

it was one of possibilities, but unfortunately didn't work out (couldn't find affortable single cruise).

13 hours ago, martincath said:

Let us know which port(s) @michaelbr and there's a much better chance of getting the right info quickly - there are sometimes oddities around port access for which local knowledge might be better than Googling!

thanks for this tip, will do when I have a specific cruise in mind.

14 hours ago, ldubs said:

OP, if you have a specific cruise in mind, naming the ports might get answers from those who have been there.  You are not likely to find anything from the cruise lines.  They would prefer you pay for their "city center on your own" tours.  

thanks for your reply, right now I have nothing planned, but just wondering where I can find those info in advance.

14 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

I’ve often used the site Whatsinport.com as a starting point for planning and finding out what’s available. Info is more complete for more frequently visited ports.

 

Cruise Cfitic also has sub-forums that cover most ports of call where people get questions answered about ports by knowledgeable cruisers (and a few locals). 

thanks for this tip

If I board an Alaska cruise from Vancouver, but do no desembark in Alaska, do I still need an US visa for this cruise (even if the ship dock at US soil but I do not desembark)? 

I'm new to cruising, couldn't find any useful information about public transportation over the net, (some time a port has different locations depending on its use: cargo, passenger, ferry, etc.), trying to get transportation info in advance (before boarding), tried cruise lines and couldn't find it there either.