"VISA" - NOT JUST A CREDIT CARD!

Another peculiarity about a “world” cruise is the need for travel visas. I’d been to Italy, Mexico, Canada, and certain foreign territories in the Carribean. None of these countries required a “visa” to enter. So how do I know which countries require them, and how to get them? This has proved a confusing process, with inconsistent information given along the way . . . but I think I've finally figured it out!

HOLLAND AMERICA PROMOTES ZIERER VISA SERVICE
          Holland America Line (“HAL”)’s web site tells us that “Some countries require that you obtain official authorization (called a visa), before entering their country. Usually, there is a fee required. You are responsible for obtaining any necessary visas.” For questions about visa requirements, they refer us to Zierer Visa Service at http://zvs.com/tourkits.php. There, we read that "Holland America Line is pleased to offer its customers the expertise and experience of ZVS, the fast and easy way to obtain a visa, passport and other documents for travel anywhere in the world. You have been directed to this website to get the ZVS Visa Application Kit you will need to complete to obtain a travel visa for your upcoming trip.” Plainly, HAL is promoting ZVS.

          My travel agent told me HAL would send out a “visa packet” 90 days before we travel, but it didn't arrive until 10/17 (80 days out).  I had already ordered my visas on my own by that point ... .  The packet only included forms for ZVS, without mention of any other visa service provider.

BRAZILLIAN TRAVEL VISA

ZVS' WEB SITE SAYS HAL WILL HELP WITH SEVERAL VISAS ON BOARD IF TAKING HAL EXCURSIONS, BUT THIS TURNS OUT TO BE MISLEADING
          The ZVS web site (cited above) only suggests that we complete their applications for Brazil and India now, adding, “If you do not see your ... destination country your cruise line may be obtaining the visa on your behalf.” A linked page adds that “US Passport Holders can obtain visas for the following destinations onboard ship if you are participating on a Holland America shore excursion: Australia, Vietnam, ... Egypt, ... Indonesia, ....” This suggests HAL will NOT obtain visas for us onboard if we are NOT “participating on a Holland America shore excursion” in these locations.  So I ordered them on my own -- only to find out later (based on a letter from travel agent Cruise Specialists) that "Visas or permits for the following countries will be obtained by Holland America Line and any charges for them will be billed to your shipboard account:  Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Egypt."  Their letter doesn't mention how much HAL will charge, nor does ZVS' web site.  They do say an Australian ETA may be purchased on board for $35, or $25 through Cruise Specialists prior to sailing (in fact, it only costs $20AUD and is extremely easy to obtain directly from the Australian web site - below).  And then, alas, I find a letter from HAL, buried in the package, which does give HAL's costs.

COUNTRIES REQUIRING VISAS
          So, I'd been told I was responsible for getting my own visas, and that HAL wouldn't get them for me.   I'd been told HAL would charge, e.g., $35 for what only costs $20AUD for the Australian ETA.  To be safe, I decided to get my own visas before we leave. But first, I had to determine which of our destination countries require visas. Unfortunately, HAL’s web site does not provide this information. ZVS’ web site has a “Visas” page, http://zvs.com/visas.php , where I could (and did) look up each destination country. There, I learned that visas are required for:
          Brazil
          Australia (an ETA/Electronic Travel Authority is required)
          Indonesia
          Vietnam
          India
          Egypt

          For Argentina, a Visa is not required, but US nationals must pay a “reciprocity fee” of $140 to enter (apparently, the US charges Argentinians $140 to enter the US). According to ZVS' web site, a Visa is not required for Sri Lanka, so Cruise Specialists' letter, saying HAL will get the visa for Sri Lanka, was confusing.  In its much-anticipated letter, HAL explains that it will get US nationals a "landing endorsement" (not a visa) for Sri Lanka free of charge.

 HOW TO GET THE VISAS
          Okay, so we need visas for 5 countries and an ETA for Australia.

AUSTRALIAN VISA

           ETA for Australia
          The easiest and cheapest one to obtain was the ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) for Australia. Just go to http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/ .  I looked into two Australian visas that were inappropriate (an "eVisitor", which is a free, but only available to Europeans, and an e676 tourist visa, which costs $110 and is good for Americans - but unnecessary if only staying in Australia for "up to 3 months").
          You just need your Passport and a credit card (the "other Visa").  It's free, except for a $20AUD fee charged by iVisa Services, which processes the payment. You instantly get a reference number for inquiries and a confirmation that your ETA has been recorded in their database. It says it will be available for checking by Australian immigration authorities upon arrival to Australia, and we do not need a visa label in our passport. (It goes into their system and is there to be checked when we arrive.)
          The ETA doesn't expire for a year and is good for up to 3 months, plenty of time to cover our 2.5 days in Sydney and 2.5 days in Cairns. It's good for multiple entries into Australia. IF you want to stay for longer than 30 days at a time, then you can still apply (and pay the $110 fee for) the e676 ordinary Visa.  There is no need to pay $25 to the TA or $35 to HAL!
          **Update:  Another traveler posted this link, where they claim to provide the ETA for only $10.99:  http://easyeta.com/australian-visa/select.html


EGYPT VISA

           Other Visas
          Instead of using ZVS, I decided to try a service recommended by a fellow traveler, who posts on Cruise Critic: A Briggs Passport & Visa Expeditors. The application forms can be found and completed/printed at www.abriggs.com/order_form_nu/ .  You follow the instructions, fill out the forms and send them (with your passport) to A Briggs. They put the visas right into your passport.  Their costs (all for multiple entry), were:
          Brazil - $160
          Indonesia - $100
          Vietnam - $150
          India - $76
          Egypt - $15
                    Service fees - $435 ($55 X 3, $135 X 2)
                    Shipping - $58
                    Check writing - $25
                    Total - $1,019

          Then I got HAL's letter, saying we can obtain visas on board for Indonesia for $50, Vietnam for $45 and Egypt for free.  I promptly cancelled my A Briggs requests for Egypt, Indonesia and Vietnam and was refunded my money for these three.  The total cost for Brazil and India only was $414.  I later had to add-back Egypt, because the "quick stamp" that HAL was providing doesn't work for us, since we're flying to Cairo, seeing the Pyramids, and then flying to Athens from there.  Add back $75 for an Egyptian Visa ($15 + $55 service fee + $5 check writing fee).  What a confusing labyrinth this all is!

THE BOTTOM LINE:  (1) Get your Australian ETA directly from one of the sites referenced above; (2) get your India and Brazil Visas in advance, either from ZVS, A Briggs or another visa service provider, and (3) wait and get the rest (Egypt, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Sri Lanka "landing endorsement") on board, as they're cheaper through HAL -- unless you're taking an overland excursion in China and/or Egypt, in which case you'll need Visas for these locations as well!  Why didn't someone just say this - long ago??

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR BRAZIL AND INDIA VISA APPLICATIONS
          I also just learned on 10/17/11 (via an e-mail from a HAL World Cruise rep.) that passengers "MUST" put the following contact information on their visa forms, or they will be denied (we cannot just put the ship as our address in India and Brazil):
          India:
               J.M. Baxi & Co.
               Godrej Coliseum Phase-2 "C" Wing
               Office No. 801, 8th Floor
               Mumbai, India  400 022
          Brazil:
               Iss Marine Services Ltda. (Rio)
               Rua Conselheiro Saraiva 28/4º ANDAR Centro
               Rio de Janeiro-RJ  20091-030 Brazil

Unfortunately, I didn't know this when I sent in my applications, but it turns out this wasn't fatal.  I didn't use the "right" addresses, and my visas are going through just fine.   Whew!