Visa Required Or Not

I shall be travelling to Shanghai in March on a cruise liner. The ship arrives at 7 am in the morning and leaves at 6 pm in the afternoon. I don't intend to go onshore as I am not interested in the place. In doing so I imagine that I would not be required to have a visa just for being on a vessel which is in the port of Shanghai. However, I read somewhere on the Web (can't remember where) that even if one stays on board the vessel he or she still needs a visa. I am aware of some visa free concession for people going through Shanghai on transit but this only applies to travel BY AIR at 2 designated airports. I would not assume this applies to travellers on a vessel. I don't want to go through the process of applying for a visa to "enter" a place which I don't intend to visit in the first place. Would appreciate advice from anyone who has had similar experience or are aware of what really needs to be done.

ans.
For sure you do not qualify for the transit rules. What happens if you stay on board is something you should check with the cruise company.


ans
Hi, J-P, Many thanks for responding. Just to keep the topic going for the interest of all. In fact I phoned up the cruise company and I was told I would not need a visa in this case. Not that I don't trust the company. I was not assured, given the lack of 'official' indications. By 'interest of all' I mean the thousand plus fellow passengers on that cruise who I understand must have gone to the hassle of applying for a visa (and paid a fee, of course) when in fact a visa might not have been required in the first place. What a waste of time and money that could be!

ans.
What kind of "official" indication are you looking for? Isn't the cruise company an "official" source? Maybe you should check with the Chinese consulate near you. For sure you won't get any official source here on TA.

ans

Well, if you planned on going ashore you definitely need a visa. But as you dont, here lies the grey area.

I'd ask for a response from the cruise company in writing, as when you get on board you surrender your passports, and you may find trouble at that point if they dont see a Chinese visa in it.

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