Passport Control.

[Jim Brady]

Just listening to a shipping correspondent on the radio the theme was regarding shipping on the Mersey.It was mentioned that we have passenger liners with say 3000 passengers arriving at the Pier Head from the States,before these passenger can disembark they have to pass through the UK Border agency people,I always thought they just went ashore with their passport and boarding pass.Imagine being at the back of the queue you would lose a couple of hours shore time.They cannot be processed on board they have to wait until the ship docks in Liverpool and the border Agency here process them.Does this happen at every port on a cruise.Over to you Brian.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Captain Kong]

Sometimes it does, Big queues, But they are very quick, other ports, the Border people board earlier than the ship docks. Some sail from one country to another and check passports before they arrive.
Ii don't know about Liverpool. Maybe they board at Point Lynus or Holyhead with the Pilots and start then.
Australia and the US are the most stringent controls, especially if you are leaving the ship.
At Pitcairns Island one New Zealand Policeman came on board and charged 10$ NZ, to stamp the passport.
In the Tahitian Islands of French Polynesia never ever seen a Border Person. Never seen them in Fiji,
In Auckland I never saw an immigration person.
Many times there is no check at all unless you are leaving the ship to stay ashore then that is when you have to pass their immigration controls.
When you join the ship your passport is taken off you and kept in the Pursers Office. So they keep the immigration informed if anyone misses the ship.
Very rarely see your passport at all during the cruise.
Cheers
Brian

[vic mcclymont]

Jim, Med cruises they don't seem to bother about passport control, when coming back onbord, have to go through strict security.
On an Alaskan cruise, USA Border Guards came onboard the ship.
regards
Vic

[Jim Brady]

Brian they do not board until the ship is alongside in Liverpool.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Captain Kong]

Didn't know that Jim, not sailed into Liverpool for over 30 years now. Sometimes the Rummagers used to board at Lynus in the old days.
Cheers
Brian

[happy daze john in oz]

As BRian tells it there is a different rule for just about every country. In Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam a visa is required even if you do not go ashore. They are added to your passport by the ship and you only get a shore pass for Vietnam others just go ashore. There is of course a charge for the visa. Most countries do not require much from cruise line passengers though the ship has to lodge details of all passengers including country of origin. Only time most have to show passport is when boarding the ship at the beginning of a cruise.

[Keith Tindell]

Slightly off thread, but I was getting some quotes for worldwide travel insurance on the Internet, and almost every one asked if you intended ski ing, the reason for that is obvious, but the other question was cruising, and if you did extra premium applied. I believe this is caused by the upsurge of charges made on cruise boats for any medical conditions, including the treatment required for noro virus. One of the Queens was refused entry to Jordon , I think, only last week. Last year a friend of mine slipped in his cabin and had to be taken to the ships doctor on a stretcher, cost of that £110 !!, so up goes the insurance, kt

[Doc Vernon]

Going back to the passport control I am not sure here but something in my little Brain tells me that in the older days of our times,Passengers could just go ashore when the Ship Docked in various places,i am of course talking of Cruise Ship passengers and not Immigrants from say the UK to South Africa
Cheers

[Captain Kong]

This year we were going to Indonesia, Java and Bali, during the World Cruise, I contacted the Indonesian Embassy in London, No Visa required, But our first port there was Bali, If Bali is the first port then a Visa is required, at $60 US each. If it had been the 2nd port no charge.

Re; Insurance, Three years ago I was taken off the cruise ship in Honolulu and hospitalised for three weeks plus hotel and and extra week for me when I came out of hospital they then flew us both back to Manchester, FIRST CLASS, all the way and a Chaufer waithing there to drive us home. all together it cost $88,000 around £65,000 no questions asked.
Next year not one penny added top the premium. So that experience cost me nothing.

That was with Royal Bank of Scotland Royaltise Gold Travel Insurance.
Nowt wrong with that.
Cheers
Brian.

[Keith Tindell]

I think i am right in saying the RBS gold account is being scrapped, but are offering platinum to replace it, kt