Cruise passengers must hold a valid Egypt electronic visa when they arrive in the country.
Like other tourists to the Arab Republic, they must have the right authorization to be cleared by the Egyptian authorities or they may not be allowed to disembark from a cruise liner or travel to the country’s ports to catch their boat.
Egypt is a tourist-friendly destination and is a favorite for cruise passengers. Getting the right visa for Egypt when visiting for a cruise is a simple task that won’t cause many planning headaches.
Do Cruise Passengers Need a Visa to Disembark in Egypt?
A visa is necessary to disembark temporarily from a cruise. Tourists can make their own visa arrangements and use a prearranged e-Visa. You can get one easily through a simple online Egypt visa application.
This e-Visa allows passengers to do the following:
- Enter the country to board a cruise ship
- Disembark from a cruise ship
It is also necessary to hold the visa for further onward travel overland or by plane.
What documents do cruise passengers need to disembark in Egypt?
In addition to a valid visa, passengers on a cruise must bring a passport.
This must be valid for 6 months from the date of arrival in the country.
Which Nationalities Need a Visa to Disembark from a cruise in Egypt?
Tourists arriving in Egypt must hold a suitable visa. Many foreign nationals meeting the correct Egyptian visa requirements can register online for an eVisa for Egypt that is valid for 30 days. This allows passengers to either enter the country to board a cruise ship or disembark from a cruise ship for further onward travel overland or by plane.
Citizens of several countries however must have a visa acquired from an Egyptian embassy in their country of residence in advance of their arrival in Egypt as cruise passengers. If not, they will not be allowed to disembark. This includes the following nationalities:
- India
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel
- Lebanon
- Maldives (women only)
- Palestine
- Philippines
- Sri Lanka
Do I Need an e-Visa for a Nile Cruise?
Yes, you will need a valid visa to enter Egypt before boarding your cruise ship on the Nile.
You may also be checked for travel documents when disembarking the ship at other stops along the Nile, so it is advisable to keep your passport and visa with you during your stay in Egypt.
Nile cruises regularly attract more than 8 million passengers annually, with some years exceeding 11 million. This is why it is important to know to keep your travel documents with you.
How Cruise Passengers Can Save Time on Arrival With An Egypt Online Visa
Passengers arriving in Egypt by air or land to board a cruise ship or take a river cruise will need a valid visa in order to enter the country to catch their boat. In this situation, an e-Visa is recommended, as this can be easily procured online as little as 2 days before traveling and permits up to 30 days in the country.
This allows visitors to the region to smoothly transit through Egypt from an airport or land border to take a river cruise or oceangoing ship from one of the major ports such as Alexandria or Port Said.
Alternatively, travelers who are eligible may also acquire a visa-on-arrival at an Egyptian airport. This can however result in slower immigration processing times, which could delay a rendezvous with a passenger ship if time is tight. The visa-on-arrival costs around $25, which must be paid in cash only.
