inasisi

I am planning to take the Norwegian Gem on Mar 28th 2009 from NYC. I am in the US on a H1 visa. Would I need a visa to get out of the port in Bahamas? When I called up Norwegian Customer Service, they asked me to get in touch with Bahamas Consulate. At the Bahamas consulate they said that Indian citizens without a US Green Card need a visa but did not make any differentiation for arrivals by cruise. The consulate official didn't give me the impression that he was very knowledgeable.

Two years ago when I cruised to Mexico, it was the same story. Mexican consulate said that I needed a visa but when I landed there on a cruise, there was absolutely no Mexican immigration official to check any thing and I could get in without a visa.

Has any one been on a cruise to Bahamas? If so were there any Bahamas Immigration official checking your passport at the port of entry?

P.S - I had posted this on "Ask a cruise question" forum, but I think that this might be a better forum for this question.

I am planning to take the Norwegian Gem on Mar 28th 2009 from NYC. I am in the US on a H1 visa. Would I need a visa to get out of the port in Bahamas? When I called up Norwegian Customer Service, they asked me to get in touch with Bahamas Consulate. At the Bahamas consulate they said that all Indian citizens need a visa but did not make any differentiation for arrivals by cruise. The consulate official didn't give me the impression that he was very knowledgeable.

Two years ago when I cruised to Mexico, it was the same story. Mexican consulate said that I needed a visa but when I landed there on a cruise, there was absolutely no Mexican immigration official to check any thing and I could get in without a visa.

Has any one been on a cruise to Bahamas? If so were there any Bahamas Immigration official checking your passport at the port of entry?