Are you an American planning to travel to New Zealand? Well, are you someone who does not like to travel in a closed aircraft for long hours? Then, you can try the option of a cruise ship. You will just have to choose a cruise trip of your choice, get a New Zealand eVisa, and you will be good to start your trip.
However, there are a few more things that you will need to understand before you start this trip. Understanding these things makes your travel easy. Ultimately, helping you have a successful cruise trip that you will always remember.
What Will You Need For A Cruise Trip To New Zealand?
Similar to traveling on a flight, a cruise ship also requires you to match a few requirements. Without meeting these requirements, you will not be able to get on the cruise ship, let alone explore the country. Some of the requirements that you will be required to match are:
Have a Passport:
Exploring foreign lands is impossible without having a passport in your name. So, make sure you and others traveling with you have a passport. However, using a passport won’t be enough. You will also have to check if it is valid or not.
A valid passport in this matter, refers to one that has at least 6 months of validity on it, starting from the date you intend you start your trip. Moreover, it should also come with a minimum of 2 blank pages for it to get easily stamped during border crossing. The most important one out of all is for the visa to be in perfect machine-readable condition.
Get a Travel Permit:
Getting on a cruise ship to New Zealand requires you to apply for a travel permit. Well, in this case, you will have to fill out a New Zealand eTA application that will automatically grant you access inside the country.
The Application Process
This application process involves you following a few simple steps that ultimately get you up to your New Zealand eVisa. Some of the steps in this process that you will be required to follow are:
Visit the Portal:
The first step of the process is to visit the immigration website of New Zealand or any other reputed site for the same. From there on you will have to carry on with the rest of the process.
Form Fill-up:
The next thing that you will have to do in this process is find the right New Zealand eTA application form and fill it up properly. Make sure you fill out each and every detail about yourself and your travel purpose while constantly scanning for spelling or other types of errors. This will help you avoid any chances of a delay or straight rejection.
Add your Documents:
The next step in this process is to add scanned copies of the necessary documents. This includes copies of the first pages of your passport, recent photographs, bank statements, and other necessary documents. Make sure all your documents are in PDF or JPG format and the size matches the requirements set by the Immigration Department. This way it will be easy to attach the files with the form.
Pay the Fee:
After you have carried out all the steps that we listed above, you will just have to pay the application fee for the New Zealand eVisa. This fee varies based on the country that you are traveling from, so please check this during your application. You can easily pay this fee amount through any authorized method like a debit or credit card.
You will simply have to submit your visa application after you have completed the steps that we discussed. After that, you will just have to wait a few hours to days while the application gets processed and approved.
On approval, you will receive the visa approval letter on the email ID that you have provided on your application form. The last thing that you will be required to do is get a few printed copies of this letter and bring them with you while traveling.
Traveller Declaration
The government requires you to complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration that proves your consent for the trip. Here, you will have to provide information related to your passport, details about your voyage, travel history, and things that you are bringing with you on this trip.
Please ensure that you do not make any mistakes in NZTD. Otherwise, it can come in the way of your trip and cause more issues.
Requirements Set By the Cruise Operator
These requirements are not the same for all cruise operators. This is why, it will be best if you ask someone from the end of the service provider or just check their website. Well, irrespective of what the requirements are, it is a must for you to match them. Otherwise, you might face difficulty in getting on the cruise ship.
Things to Keep in Mind When Going on a Cruise Ship
Traveling across countries by getting a New Zealand eVisa and boarding a cruise ship is fun. However, there are a few things that you should remember while you are planning for this trip. This way you will get to have a successful trip.
Book Your Trip Early:
An early booking is always a great option for a long cruise ship. These are more expensive than the other cruises based on the distance that they travel and the stops that the ship takes. So, by booking early you will get a good chance to save some money without making any change of plans.
Get Insurance:
Safety holds the most important place when it to comes traveling to any place. This is why, all tourists are advised to get an insurance plan for their trip right after they fill out their New Zealand eTA application. This makes it easy for you to tackle the uncertainties that can occur during the trip. Thus, offering you the peace of mind that helps you in having a successful trip.
Pick the Best Cabin:
Cruise ships are huge and they are divided into multiple floors. However, there are some areas on the ship that are better than the other. For instance, the upper deck is the ideal place if you want to be closer to all the facilities. Usually, the shops, pools, restaurants, and most of the other recreational areas are on the floors of the ship. So, it is best to pick a cabin in here, this way you will at least be closer to the entertainment spots.
Carry Appropriate Clothing:
Some cruise ships require you to follow a few dressing standards. For instance, if you check their website then you will be able to find a section where the cruise operators have talked about “what to wear” section. There you will be able to find the dresses that you can wear and what you cannot. Remember to refer to this section when packing your bag for the trip after getting your New Zealand eTA application approved.
Adhering to the Rules:
All cruise ships require you to follow a few rules while you are in your cabin or anywhere in the entire ship. These are set by the authorities to ensure that safety is maintained at all times. For instance, some policies completely prohibit people from smoking or even carrying any kind of narcotic or psychotropic substances. While others have some other rules. So, remember to check the terms and policy section of the website of the cruise ship before you board the ship.
Carry Appropriate Medications:
The cruise ship from the USA to New Zealand sets off for a long duration, ranging somewhere between 19 to 23 days. This is why all cruise ships come equipped with units for offering medical assistance. Plus, they also have pharmacies from where one can easily purchase the medicines that they need. However, it is still better for you to carry the basic medicines that you use daily. This helps you to stay on the safer side in case there is an unavailability on the ship.
Ready to Go on a Cruise Ship with Your New Zealand eVisa?
Visiting New Zealand from the USA on a cruise ship is surely a long yet exciting journey. All that you have to do for this trip is book your tickets early and fill out the New Zealand eTA application in time. This way you get to experience a trip without any worries. Plus, you should also keep the things that we listed in your mind to avoid any possible issues.
However, if you still face any issues with your visa then you can simply contact the Helpdesk for assistance. On the other hand, for any difficulties on the cruise trip, you will have to contact the assistance on deck.
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