Visa required to board ship even if not visiting foreign port?

[ciniminis]

Hello again DIS! So glad to be back browsing this forum as I just booked our second Disney cruise)) This time around, I will be bringing my parents too - my son's very excited to show grand parents around all the fun things on the ship!

My question is though, since my parents are not US citizens (they are visiting from Taiwan), some of the Caribbean ports would require visa for them to enter - now the only reason I was able to convince them to go is that cruises are the most relaxing way to travel, and they don't necessarily want to go off ship at every port stop. Is it okay to not have visa for one of the ports on the itinerary, as long as we stay on the ship that day?

I just don't want it to be a problem for them at check-in. Does anyone have experience with this situation? Thanks for your help!

 

[scgustafson]

Hello again DIS! So glad to be back browsing this forum as I just booked our second Disney cruise)) This time around, I will be bringing my parents too - my son's very excited to show grand parents around all the fun things on the ship!

My question is though, since my parents are not US citizens (they are visiting from Taiwan), some of the Caribbean ports would require visa for them to enter - now the only reason I was able to convince them to go is that cruises are the most relaxing way to travel, and they don't necessarily want to go off ship at every port stop. Is it okay to not have visa for one of the ports on the itinerary, as long as we stay on the ship that day?

I just don't want it to be a problem for them at check-in. Does anyone have experience with this situation? Thanks for your help!

I would definitely call DCL directly on this.

 

[wanderlust7]

We went with my aunt, who is a Taiwan citizen. She got a visa for the Bahamas, which was kind of a hassle and expensive. From my research, you can be refused boarding if you don't have the proper visas, even if you don't get off the ship at that particular port. After all, they don't check your passport at each port, only when you first board. When the customs agent at Miami was looking at my aunt's passport, we paid close attention to if he even looked at the Bahamas visa. He seemed only concerned with her reentry into the US. But I would not want to chance not being able to get on the ship!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hello again DIS! So glad to be back browsing this forum as I just booked our second Disney cruise)) This time around, I will be bringing my parents too - my son's very excited to show grand parents around all the fun things on the ship!

My question is though, since my parents are not US citizens (they are visiting from Taiwan), some of the Caribbean ports would require visa for them to enter - now the only reason I was able to convince them to go is that cruises are the most relaxing way to travel, and they don't necessarily want to go off ship at every port stop. Is it okay to not have visa for one of the ports on the itinerary, as long as we stay on the ship that day?

I just don't want it to be a problem for them at check-in. Does anyone have experience with this situation? Thanks for your help!

As noted, if you don't have the proper documentation to get off the ship in port (regardless if you intend to or not), you can be denied boarding. Once the ship docks you are considered "in the country" even if you don't get off.

They need whatever visas are required, or they will not be taking the cruise.

 

[kiford]

As PrincessShmoo points out, you are in the country as soon as you enter their waters whether or not you get off the ship. You need the proper paperwork for every port, even if you stay on the ship. Check out what is required before boarding as boarding can be denied if all of the paperwork is not in order.