Bahama cruise on tourist visa indian citizens

[yog]

Folks,

My parents are visiting us from India (coming on a tourist visa) and plan to board the ship for July 1st cruise to Bahamas. The travel agent nor Carnival gave me a specific answer.

1) Does one (an Indian national with a US multiple-entry valid visitor visa) need a Bahama's visa to take the cruise?

2) What documents are required when re-entering into the US? Can there some issues regarding visa here for such travelers?


Would greatly appreciated any feedback, advise, pointers, recommendations.

[Nimit Suri]

Hi, I am in the same situation. Can anyone please share their experience. My parents checked with local travel agencies in India and all said you don't need a visa.

Folks,

My parents are visiting us from India (coming on a tourist visa) and plan to board the ship for July 1st cruise to Bahamas. The travel agent nor Carnival gave me a specific answer.

1) Does one (an Indian national with a US multiple-entry valid visitor visa) need a Bahama's visa to take the cruise?

2) What documents are required when re-entering into the US? Can there some issues regarding visa here for such travelers?


Would greatly appreciated any feedback, advise, pointers, recommendations.

[inadmissible]

Your parents can sure take the cruise, but they aren't getting off the ship when it docks in the Bahamas!

https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/wcm/connect/bf838397-2677-410e-9987-87fa188e4966/Visa+Requirements+for+Visitors+Travelling+to+The+Bahamas1.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

You might want to reconsider working with such incompetent travel agents.

[immihelp]

Bahamas Visa is required.

[indyanguy]

Folks,

My parents are visiting us from India (coming on a tourist visa) and plan to board the ship for July 1st cruise to Bahamas. The travel agent nor Carnival gave me a specific answer.

1) Does one (an Indian national with a US multiple-entry valid visitor visa) need a Bahama's visa to take the cruise?

2) What documents are required when re-entering into the US? Can there some issues regarding visa here for such travelers?


Would greatly appreciated any feedback, advise, pointers, recommendations.

I am exactly in the same situation and we'll be taking a cruise by Carnival as well. I've been getting mixed responses when I search online or talk to the travel agents. Did your parents end up getting a visa? Please respond.

[inadmissible]

I am exactly in the same situation and we'll be taking a cruise by Carnival as well. I've been getting mixed responses when I search online or talk to the travel agents. Did your parents end up getting a visa? Please respond.

Don't listen to people like me online. Get it from the horses mouth https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/wcm/c...df?MOD=AJPERES

[indyanguy]

The bahamas website has an online chat and this is what the representative told me:

Bahamas Live Chat Agent 2:Okay. Since they will be on a cruise and in The Bahamas for less than 24 hours they will only need a valid passport for entry.

The mystery continues...

Don't listen to people like me online. Get it from the horses mouth https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/wcm/c...df?MOD=AJPERES

[immihelp]

Government web site clearly says it is required. That means, it is required.

If someone says it is not required, I am not sure from where they get it.

I think you are looking for an assurance from someone that it is not required.

If you are getting mixed response whether it is required or not, you need to just get the visa.

[chawlaaman]

Can You confirm if there were any issues with your travel -Please?

Folks,

My parents are visiting us from India (coming on a tourist visa) and plan to board the ship for July 1st cruise to Bahamas. The travel agent nor Carnival gave me a specific answer.

1) Does one (an Indian national with a US multiple-entry valid visitor visa) need a Bahama's visa to take the cruise?

2) What documents are required when re-entering into the US? Can there some issues regarding visa here for such travelers?


Would greatly appreciated any feedback, advise, pointers, recommendations.

Can You confirm if there were any issues with your travel -Please?

[vjmenon]

Sharing my experience..

I went for 3 days Bahamas Cruise via Royal Caribbean. The Cruise authorities didn't ask for the Bahamas visa neither for me, nor for my parents. They only checked the passport & the US visa. (I'm on H1B & my parents have come to US in a B1/B2 visitors visa). During the disembarkation at Miami port, the US customs checked only the US visa (no new I-94 was issued)

It was a good trip without any issues.

[john1818]

I went for 3 days Bahamas Cruise via Royal Caribbean. The Cruise authorities didn't ask for the Bahamas visa neither for me, nor for my parents. They only checked the passport & the US visa. (I'm on H1B & my parents have come to US in a B1/B2 visitors visa). During the disembarkation at Miami port, the US customs checked only the US visa (no new I-94 was issued)

It was a good trip without any issues.

So can you confirm if you were able to get out of ship and get inside port.

Thanks

[armukati]

Bahamas Visa

I went for 3 days Bahamas Cruise via Royal Caribbean. The Cruise authorities didn't ask for the Bahamas visa neither for me, nor for my parents. They only checked the passport & the US visa. (I'm on H1B & my parents have come to US in a B1/B2 visitors visa). During the disembarkation at Miami port, the US customs checked only the US visa (no new I-94 was issued)

It was a good trip without any issues.

Hi
Please could you tell us if your parents did come out of the cruise in Bahamas?
or did you get visa for them or they didn't need one for the cruise and less then 24 hours

[[email protected]]

Hi, I am planning the same. Can you pls confirm that to get down from cruise you require Bahamas visa?

[Mickey23]

Bahamas Visa Requirements for the Cruise

I have been searching for this information for quite sometime and now I think I have found a closure. I am referring to information I found on Bahamas Consulate Miami's FB page. I hope this helps everyone

This is the FB page for Bahamas Consulate General Miami -

This is the Visa Requirement Note from the FB page -

This is the Note specifically for Cruise Ship Passengers -

Bottom line is yes you need a visa if you are not a permanent US resident (without green card) or US citizen. Doesn't matter if you are taking a cruise or flying into Bahamas.

[Rajeffery]

No Bahamas visa required for Indian citizens in the US

Just wanted to share our experience too as it may help others.
We were just back from a cruise to Nassau, Bahamas in May, 2016.
We(myself and my wife) are both on H1b visas and my visa actually expires after 2 weeks of our trip(Of course I have an H1B extension too).
We also took our parents who has B2 visa.

I'm listing out various entry and exit points and the documents that have been checked.

1) While we are embarking on the ship at Miami, they checked our passports (Not sure if they had verified if we have any valid visa to return) but we were asked if we have any permanent card, I told them we just have non-immigrant visas. These people are from Carnival.

2) While disembarking the ship at Nassau,Bahamas they just checked the Sail card(similar to boarding pass for flights) and a picture ID. We just showed our passports for picture IDs for all of us. No body checked/asked for any Bahamas visa or as such. Btw, this check happened in the ship itself before we got out. There are no other checks once we are out.

3) Again to get back on to the ship at Bahamas, they just checked our passports and sail cards. But this time the verification is done before we even get on to the dock. The sail cards are verified and the baggage was scanned while entering into the ship.

4) While disembarking at Miami the CBP official is checking the Visa on passport and verifying the photo. He just asked me what do I do and what company I work for. He didn't even ask for any I797 or anything. He also asked about our parents when would they leave and if they had return ticket. We answered yes and that's all - we are out of the port.

Based on our experience it is safe to go to Bahamas without having to get Bahamas visa for Indian citizens who are in the USA on a non-immigrant visa. For green card holders anyway it is stated officially that they do not need any visa.
Yes, Officially it is mentioned on Bahamas consulate website and other sources that Indian citizens need Bahamas visa to get there but it seems that cruises starting from US are an exemption/oversight on their part. If you flying to Bahamas it may be the case that you need to show Bahamas visa.

In the worst case scenario if they changed their policies and they do not allow you to get off the ship at Bahamas. Just stay on the ship itself like many people do as it is matter of only few hours you get to spend outside. We actually had time from 10 AM to next day 6AM. We got off the ship by 11 and got back at 7 PM.

For the return to US I believe we definitely need a valid (unexpired) US visa stamp.

My friend and his family also accompanied us. And his case is that even though he has valid H1b visa, his current company holding the visa is different. But there was no cross verification and he was not even asked any questions.

On a side note we thoroughly enjoyed the cruise and I would recommend it to everyone. It's a nice experience.