Originally Posted by
moondog
I definitely remember you posted the form here for us to see, but I am hoping you can focus on the cruise related issues in isolation.
The "form", Turkey, breaking laws during previous stays in China, being a journalist... are variables that apply to ALL people, and our understanding of them is pretty much as good as you could hope to expect from a group of unpaid hobbyists with no skin in the game.
Are you able to provide any information that applies specifically to travelers whose itineraries include cruise ship segments?
Please accept my apologies if you feel that I'm repeating myself. The thing is this:
-the UK press articles are puff pieces, at best
-but, even puff pieces might have legs (unbeknownst to their clueless authors)
-in light of your relationships with the articles' subjects and --by extension-- their peers, you are possibly in a unique position to close the loop
I just heard from another passenger from the
Quantum of the Seas arriving at the Beijing Airport.
"If arriving from the UK you don’t get a ten year visa, you get a two year one or you apply for the 144 hour ‘in transit’ visa. You can only obtain the 144 hour if you fly direct to a destination in China, and don’t visit any other place before you leave on your cruise. It seems that even having the two year visa didn’t guarantee admission. Some families had members who were allowed entry and some who were refused. No reasons given so they don’t know why."
AMENDED TO ADD this may be new to recent visitors
"https://www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/visa/free-transit-24hour.htm
China 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit
Who are eligible for the 24-hour TWOV of China?
National of most countries are eligible for the 24-hour visa-free transit,
while there are exceptions in certain airports for some nationalities.
1. Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Yemen passport holders transiting in Xiamen require a visa.
2. Syrian citizens transiting in Guangzhou are not eligible for the 24-hour visa-free transit.