t4tintin

I'm not sure how it was for 8502...but for 8002, it was our entryway. We entered our room, and walked about 4 to 6 steps through our entryway/hall. It is sort of wasted space except I think there might have been a hook there to hang a jacket on. If you look at our picture above, you'll see that's where our suitcases were lined up before we unpacked them and moved them to one of the closets.

Yes it does seem to be wasted space, and if that piece of space was omitted, 8000/8500 would seem bigger than 8002/8502, wouldn't it?

I have stayed in both cabin 8000 (front of the ship) and 8502. Cabin 8502 wins hands down. The cabin is massive and we had 6 people in ours (3 adults, and 3 kids - 12, 10 & 7).

Thanks for the pics! I didn't know that Cabin 8502 was bigger than 8000/8500, since they look the same size on the deck plan (8000 even looks bigger). What is that long area sticking out near the door (-8502)?

Thanks so much for all these input! (Nice photos by the way!)

Has anyone recently sailed on ROS and stayed at one of their family oceanview staterooms? Any photos to share? I know that usually rooms in the same category have same floor plan, but not for the family oceanview staterooms, i.e. 8500/8000 is different from 8002/8502.

I'd like to know what your preference would be if you happen to have seen/stayed at both of these rooms with different floor plans. (Photos will be much appreciated! There's only one custom photo on RCI's website for all these rooms, which doesn't help.)

TIA!

The problem I see for the cruiseline is - If they allow your mother to board without a visa on the understanding that she will remain on board in that port, how can they be sure she really remains on board? The cruise company cannot just take someone's word that they will stay on board because they are responsible to the government of the country the ship is visiting. The only way I can see is to put a "stop" on her card so if she tries to disembark the machine won't accept her card. Then she cannot use the card that day on board. I can see that the cruise company might think it is simpler to refuse initial boarding to someone without a necessary visa.

 

I hope you get it sorted out and can enjoy a cruise with your mother. :)

I see what you mean. But if you need a visa to get onshore at New Caledonia and you don't have one, you won't be allowed to get onshore at the check point in the first place, and ultimately you'll have to stay onboard, there's no choice. So there shouldn't be the situation where you say you would stay onboard but actually secretly go onshore.

I have emailed the visa department of the French embassy again, asking if they could send me formal documents on the special requirement for the New Caledonia visa exclusively for cruise ship passengers, and here's what they responded:

Hello,

the border services know their jobs and are aware of the fact that cruise ships passengers are usually exempted from the visa requirement. You won't have to show any document to tell the border and customs services that. Therefore, we do not issue this kind of document. Regards,

Visa section

Consulat Général de France à Vancouver

So, it's again RCCL's call.

t4tintin,

 

You are Welcome - correct you can stay on board, so it would not be a problem if that is what you want to do.

 

VISA for New Caledonia are normal VISA (entry) and TWOV (TWOV being 1 hour transit). The "In Transit VISA" does not appear on any of New Caledonia and French Polynesia documentation or the P&O web site. The P&O web site states that you need to "Check your visa requirements with your relevant consulate, embassy or online visa service provider such as http://www.visalink.com.au or http://www.travcour.co.nz at least 75 days prior to your departure."

 

I have read a lot of post on this subject here a CC and other sites and in the end most recommend contacting the website that you have mentioned already for a definitive answer as they are really the only authority on the matter.

 

As stated I am no expert on this subject but before changing to another cruise line I would check to see if your mother needs the VISA or not.

 

Which ever way you go have a great cruise.

Thanks again.

I've already emailed the visa department of the French embassy, and they confirmed that what was said on the French embassy's website was up-to-date and accurate (- that you don't need a visa if staying onboard the whole time). So the problem is at RCCL. They seem to have their own rules regardless what the government says.

I am no expert on this subject and I guess it is very confusing i.e. terminology etc. I had the to read up on this once before and if my memory serves me.

 

A Chinese Passport holder requires a VISA for New Caledonia and French Polynesia. That is it.

 

A Transit Without Visa (TWOV) is only 1 hour long and it is for people flying through to another country and a TWOV also does not apply to citizens of People's Republic of China, they need to apply for a VISA.

 

You mention P&O has a "In transit VISA" but this (I am guessing) is only for holders of an Australian Passport. I guess P&O use this term as they know they do not have to do anything for Australian Passport Holders.

 

All travellers are responsible for their own VISA requirements - so RCI can do nothing to assist you in anyway except give you advice and they probably won't because it is a very complex subject and would I guess with your circumstances P&O (for example) would be exactly the same.

Thanks for the input.

But according to the french embassy's website, if you normally require visa for New Caledonia (such as, a Chinese passport holder), if you stay onboard the ship the whole time, you won't need a visa. There's no time limit mentioned (like the one hour you mentioned). If you read other past posts on this New Caledonia visa issue, all those cruisers are NON Australian passport holders, and P&O said they were covered by their "in-transit" visa.

This is a matter for your Travel Agent to pursue but, if you're like many of us and don't have one, then it's certainly VERY frustrating for you.

 

How about you post this question on the dedicated Royal Caribbean International thread. There must have been others who have had to address this problem in the past.

 

All the very best!

Thanks for the advice, I'll try to find that thread.

The cruise we booked for this November includes a few hour stop at Noumea, Caledonia, and my mother is a Chinese passport holder, and generally speaking she will need a visa for New Caledonia. But it's almost impossible to get one due to the lengthy and complicated application process. I searched and found these old posts regarding whether or not a visa is indeed needed for cruise ship passengers.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1085073

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=32734620&postcount=16

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=32734759&postcount=18

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=33107252&postcount=42

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=34860187&postcount=52

So, according to other cruisers, visa is NOT needed after all. What's more, it says on the French government's website:http://www.ambafrance-au.org/New-Caledonia-and-French-Polynesia If you require a visa to enter New Caledonia and French Polynesia, please note that if you remain aboard the vessel transiting through a French port arriving from one country and travelling to another country, you do not require visas if you remain on board the vessel during the port of call.

And I even emailed the visa department of the French consulate to confirm that.

However, after making numerous calls to RCCL, the responses I got was very frustrating. According to them, you won't be allowed to embark if you don't have the visa, regardless what the government says. And they don't have the 'in-transit' visa that covers everyone on the ship like P&O cruise line does.

I can't believe that Royal Caribbean makes it so difficult for their passengers and they would rather lose a sale. We'll have to cancel this cruise as there is no other choice.