Thread: VISA requirements: Visits to Russia, Ukraine, Lybia, and Brazil

This handy bit of information is from the Costa Cruises website, and includes VISA requirements for those cruising to Russia, Ukraine, Lybia and Brazil.

VISAS

You are responsible for obtaining all necessary travel documents and for complying with Customs and Immigration requirements. Guest with out proper travel documents will not be allowed to board the vessel and no refund of cruise fare will be given to any guest failing to bring such documentation.

Please check current VISA requirements with the appropriate embassies or consulates prior to departing on your cruise vacation.

REQUIREMENTS for visiting RUSSIA and UKRAINE
For guests on itineraries visiting Russia and Ukraine, who wish to tour independently in these countries (not on a Costa organized shore excursion) will need to obtain a VISA from the respective embassy/consulate prior to travel.

If you are Visiting LYBIA
For guests on itineraries featuring Libya please be informed that as a result of inconsistent policies within the Libyan government, all guests that are of American nationality or of another nationality but born in the United States of America, may not be allowed to disembark at our scheduled port of call, Tripoli.
While the vessel has secured a blanket visa for all guests onboard; this "blanket visa” is not being accepted for entry for Americans.
If an American, you may want to consider the purchase of an independent visa. At present, this still does not guarantee entry to the country as an American guest.
Furthermore, if your passport contains an Israeli stamp you will not be allowed to go ashore.
For further information on documentation and Libyan entry requirements, please contact the Libyan Liaison Office in Washington, DC at:
2600 Virginia Avenue, NW
Suite 705
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 944-9601 (Telephone)
(202) 944-9606 (Facsimile)
The changes associated with entrance to Libya, as dictated by the Libyan officials, have been frequent and sporadic, and may change as your sail date approaches. As such, Costa Cruise Lines N.V. will continue to monitor these developments.

Requirements for visiting BRAZIL
All United States citizens traveling to Brazil must obtain a valid VISA from the Brazilian consulate or embassy prior to boarding the cruise.

Please note that additional restrictions and requirements may exist for entrance into other countries. You are advised to check with local embassies and consulates for their requirements.

Originally Posted by canarymoon

REQUIREMENTS for visiting RUSSIA and UKRAINE
For guests on itineraries visiting Russia and Ukraine, who wish to tour independently in these countries (not on a Costa organized shore excursion) will need to obtain a VISA from the respective embassy/consulate prior to travel.

Not entirely true...there are official touring companies in Russia that you can tour with without having to obtain a private Visa. Three such companies are Red October, Denrus, and Alla.

We used Red October last year...they took care of our sponsorship letters and all the arrangements so we could take a tour without having to secure our own Visas.

That's good info - Thanks!
Though if anyone has a future trip planned, it might be good to go ahead and verify that these courtesies are still being allowed these companies.
Things are changing so much!

CM...you're welcome! I should clarify though that if someone doesn't want to take a cruise-arranged excursion or a tour from a company, such as I previously mentioned, that they still will need to secure a Visa prior to the cruise, or else they will not be allowed to get off the ship.