Yesterday morning, we initiated and completed the process of applying for the required e-visas, also known as Electronic Travel Authorities (ETAs), for New Zealand and Australia. Both countries require these documents, which we’ll print once we board the ship on October 27, in case printed copies are needed.
We won’t be visiting New Zealand during the 47-night cruise, but we will do so after we arrive and fly from Brisbane, Australia, following the completion of the 47-night cruise. However, on the last leg of the cruise, we’ll be entering Australia. The e-visa for Australia is mandatory and may have prevented a passenger from boarding the cruise without it.
To clarify, the 47 nights are three back-to-back cruises on the same ship, Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas. We will be required to check out of each leg and then check back in, which process will be made known to us once we are aboard. We have taken several back-to-back cruises, but since the pandemic, we haven’t experienced the process firsthand.
One of the more confusing aspects of preparing for a cruise, especially one as long as the 47-night sailing we’re about to embark on, is figuring out which visas, ETAs, or e-visas are required for each country along the way. Cruise lines do an excellent job of highlighting excursions, dining packages, entertainment, and, of course, the ever-tempting drink offers. But when it comes to the very serious matter of what paperwork passengers must have to even step foot off the ship, they provide surprisingly little guidance.
We’ve learned this the hard way over the years of cruising. At most, the cruise line may send a vague email a few weeks in advance, mentioning that “certain countries may require a visa or ETA.” Beyond that, they wash their hands of the matter. It’s left to the passengers to decipher government websites, apply through official or third-party services, and hope they’ve selected the correct visa type. It amazes me that a multibillion-dollar industry, which can plan the logistics of moving thousands of passengers, crew, and tons of food across the world’s oceans, can’t take the time to streamline this process for its guests.
The reality is that most passengers don’t think to check until it’s nearly too late. For people who don’t travel frequently outside of cruising, visas can be baffling. The terms themselves are confusing—what’s the difference between a visa, an ETA, and an e-visa? One country’s “visa” may be another’s “entry authorization.” Some are valid for years, while others are only valid for a few days. Some require embassy visits, while others can be obtained in minutes on a smartphone. And then there are tricky requirements, such as needing a printed approval rather than just a digital copy, which could leave a passenger stranded at the gangway.
We’ve always been cautious, knowing how important it is to have these details ironed out well in advance of boarding day. But even with our experience, it still requires hours of research. We often use government websites directly, double-checking against travel forums and news articles to ensure rules haven’t changed. For the average passenger, especially one who booked the cruise expecting everything to be “all-inclusive” and carefree, this is far too much to ask.
The irony is that cruise lines could easily fix this. They already collect every passenger’s passport information in advance. They know the exact itinerary, port by port. With a little effort, they could integrate a visa guide into the booking process, showing passengers exactly what’s required for each stop, with links to the correct application portals. Airlines manage to do this to some degree, warning passengers about visa requirements during check-in. Why can’t cruise lines?
Instead, the burden falls on each traveler. Those who are unprepared may find themselves confined to the ship, watching others disembark and explore. In the worst cases, passengers have been denied boarding at the very start of the trip for failing to have the proper paperwork. Imagine the disappointment of saving for a dream cruise for years, only to be turned away at the dock because no one clearly explained the rules.
As seasoned travelers, we’ve come to accept that visa research is part of the preparation, as essential as packing or buying travel insurance. But I can’t help but feel frustrated on behalf of the many passengers who get caught unaware. Cruising is marketed as the easiest way to see the world, your floating hotel that takes care of everything. And yet, in this one critical area, the lines fail to provide the support people need most.
If cruising is truly meant to be a stress-free experience, it’s time for the industry to step up. A simple checklist, tailored to each passenger’s nationality and itinerary, would prevent endless confusion. Until then, travelers must take it upon themselves to double and triple-check every destination’s requirements. It may not be glamorous, but it’s the only way to ensure that when the ship docks in a new country, you’ll actually get to step ashore.
Tomorrow, we’ll complete the ETA for Indonesia and finally be done with all of these needed for our upcoming back-to-back cruise.
Yesterday, Tom’s hearing aid charger arrived at our mailing service in Nevada, and it will be shipped via DHL International today. Due to lithium battery restrictions, the package must be wrapped in a specific manner; otherwise, it may be returned as undeliverable. This evening at 6:00 pm here in Spain (9:00 am in Nevada), I will call Maillink to ensure the package is wrapped correctly. We hope there are no issues at customs when it enters Spain in about a week.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, September 30, 2015:
