NEW ID REQUIREMENTS AFFECTS NEW YORKERS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS MORE

(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

HOMELAND SECURITY ISSUES NEW ID REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW YORKERS—AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS—HEADING TO US AIRPORTS and CRUISEPORTS

If you are a traveler from New York, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, or American Samoa, head’s up. Travelers from those locations soon will be out of luck if they try to travel using a driver’s license as ID.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, driver’s licenses from these four states and Samoa do not comply with the minimum standards of the federal Real ID system.

The system was created by an act of Congress following recommendations from the 9/11 Commission that the Federal Government should “set standards of the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.” DHS will begin enforcing its final phase, allowing only travelers from compliant states to use their driver’s licenses as ID for domestic air travel, and cruise travel originating from the US to be implemented by the year 2016. New York and Minnesota had obtained a federal extension for implementing the Real ID system, but that extension will expire on Jan. 19, 2016.

The Act requires that all state IDs issued for those persons born after Dec. 1, 1964, comply with the REAL ID system, under which the issuing state’s DMV records must include social security numbers, photographs, and home addresses of drivers.  While New York does offer enhanced licenses, which the state believes makes it compliant with the law, it does not require that its residents get one. According to a story in today’s issue of Newsday, in New York, 11.5 million driver licenses are active in the state, and only 800,000—or just 6.9% of them —are enhanced versions.

New Hampshire residents also face problems with the Act, as state law there does not require the DMV to store social security numbers. Meanwhile, New Hampshire law also doesn’t require a photograph to be stored at the DMV or a home address be printed on the license, two things that the Real ID law requires.  In Louisiana, though the state’s House of Representatives voted to adopt federal REAL ID regulations, Gov. Bobby Jindal vetoed legislation in June, 2014, citing issues with state versus federal rights as the reason. The same problem came up when Minnesota tried to pass laws requiring REAL IDs last April.  Besides the extra cost of obtaining an enhanced license, there are also privacy concerns over the Real ID requirements. Douglas Kidd, the executive director of the National Association of Airline Passengers, told Newsday that while his organization understands the need for extra security “whether the Real ID and the additional personal data associated with it actually provides any real security remains to be seen.”   Debates and security concerns notwithstanding—and especially with the waiting periods for passports already getting longer—travel agents and cruise consultants and the traveling public can help themselves and their customers by reminding them that citizens from these four states who were born after Dec. 1, 1964, will soon no longer be able to board a domestic flight or cruiseship without a valid passport period. So the sooner they get in line, the better.

Just thought you might like to know this and be able to share with your customers, family, and friends who might be affected by these travel restrictions.

It’s a jungle out here!!

CruisewithMike, Berryhill

 

GREECE’S DEFAULT NOT AFFECTING TRAVEL SO FAR

The Economics are Difficult for Greek Nationals

Well, as if the economics in Greece weren’t already bad enough. Its Official – as of Midnight Tuesday, Greece defaulted on its multi billion dollar IMF loan, and while efforts are presently underway to restructure yet another bailout scenario for Greece, it will be an uphill battle for them for sure, having defaulted already.

However, here’s the light at the end of the tunnel. Travel and Tourism to Greece, which is derived mainly from outside of Greece, appears to be, for the present pretty much unaffected, which is really good news indeed for Current and Prospective travelers to this Mediterranean Paradise!

Now, while you may have heard that Grecian Nationals are being faced with Banks being closed, and ATM withdrawal limitations of no more than $60 euros, this does not effect foreign nationals who are traveling from abroad. As they are only limited by their own banks normal daily withdrawal limitations.

Greek appeal remains Strong!
While the recession in Greece has reached catastrophic proportions for pretty much everyone in the country, (with many businesses and services being shut down) – the travel business just might be one of the country’s brighter stars that shines.

There is an natural appeal of Athens and Greece for cultural reasons and the beauty of its islands; they’re not going anywhere and the people (both foreign and national) will continue (and should) go there, and shop there. Also, there is a unique and kindred spirit between Americans and Greeks, that’s also – is not going to change either!

Greece has, not only the appeal, but also the prices to continue as a major player in travel.

Pricing is appealing, and while I think it may have something to do with their present situation, the fact is, that Greece offers good prices and great experiences for those who visit there, with cultural stops, restaurants and shopping being high on the popularity list. You can eat at some of the most spectacular restaurants in Santorini and Athens that are half the cost of the restaurants compared to Paris and nearby Rome.

So as for GREECE – TRAVEL ON MY FRIENDS

Wish2Wed Wedding Services Price List

                   Wish2Wed Service Price List

CruisewithMike, also provides “top notch” land based wedding ceremonies within a 150 mile radius of the Orlando Florida Area. Pricing includes unlimited consult, and your choice of standard vows, or custom for your special ceremony.

Distance Zones                   Zone 1          Zone 2          Zone 3           Zone 4

                                                           up t0 35 mi.    36-59 mi     60-99 mi.    100+mi.

In-House Civ/Contemp Service $45.00

On Site Religious Service Base Fee                  $75    $90    $105   $120.00 (Base + Expenses)

On Site Non-Religious Service Base Fee        $65     $80    $95     $110.00 (Base + Expenses)

On Site Special Service Base Fee i.e.,

LGBT Commitment, Biker, Other                   $85     $95    $115    $135.00 (Base + Expenses)

Unity Sand Rite                                    $38.00

Unity Candle Rite                                $30.00

For Non Wedding Day Rehearsals Extra Trip Expenses are $50 for zones 1 & 2 , and .35 cents per mile (Round Trip for Zones 3 & 4)  or $105 if Overnight Stay is needed.

Ground Travel Mileage Rate                         35 cents per mile

Ground Travel Hourly Rate                          $15 per hour

Daily Travel Rate                                 $65 per day (+ Travel, Per Diem and Expenses)

Daily Per Diem Rate                            $40

Air Travel Rate                                    Published Air Rates

Service Booking Deposits                  BASE RATE (Accept Credit Card) Due At Time of Booking Balance in cash due day of, but prior to Service

Public Service Discounts                  I always offer a Public Servant Discount to Any Police, Fire, or Rescue Personnel (Paid, or Volunteer), as well as for Any Military (Active Duty, Reserve, or Retired). Just need you to show me your ID Credentials prior to your ceremony. The Discount is 20% from your total fee(s).

Notes: Prices for Services Above Include Base Travel Zone and 30 minute drive distance,

and include Finalizing of Florida Marriage Documents and also a Certificate of Marriage.

Bookings cancelled at least 72hours prior to a scheduled event, will remain as a credit for a

Period of 90days towards future bookings.  Bookings cancelled less than 72hours prior to a

Scheduled event are 90% non-refundable.

Please Contact Mike direct at (407) 378-3138, or email at Wish2Wed@gmail.com  . I appreciate your interest in my services!!

 I can help with Honeymoon, Anniversary, or Vow Renewal Cruises!!!

Visiting Canada? What you should know, BEFORE you Go!

Better Be Aware

When Travelling to Canada (From the US)

Sometimes you come across little not so well know Travel Tid-Bits, I thought that I would add this new section to my Travel Blog Site, in an effort to spread the word, and endeavor to help even more of my Travel and Cruise Readers.

My first Travel Tid-Bit has to do with US Citizens travelling to Canadian Provinces. Did you know that if you have been convicted of DUI, or DWI here in the United States, that you could face being denied entry into Canada?

Yes that is right. Let me explain………….Canada views any infractions of driving impaired as A FELONY, even if you were convicted of MISDEMEANOR offenses related to such statutes in the United States. One of the many things Canadian Border Agents are checking for are; Name Associations with potential terrorist watch lists, U.S No Fly  Lists, as well as for FELONY travelers (which by definition are not able to enter Canada). You must also understand that the level of cooperation between Canada and US Reporting Agencies has never been better, and it is something which you definitely do not wish to be caught giving false information about, as that alone is something that can get you banned from entering Canada for 5 years, on top of having to deal with the actual reason(s) for being detained while trying to enter Canada.

While you might be asked if you have ever been charged, or convicted of a CRIME you must answer truthfully. While potential travelers can request waivers for being “rehabilitated”, that is in itself a process which requires an application being submitted to the Canadian Authorities, and generally requires a period of time (at least 5 years) to have lapsed from the time of a DUI, or DWI conviction, as well as evidence that you have successfully completed a rehabilitation process, as well as being free of any further charges or convictions for such related offenses. The biggest surprise for most Americans is that they may be turned away at the Canadian border if they have any type of alcohol related offense.

• It does not matter if you are arriving as a passenger in another person’s car.
• It does not matter if you have no intention of driving in Canada at all.   The Washington State Ferry reports that during peak tourist season the Canadian border patrol in Victoria turns a half-dozen or so passengers each week for DUI / DWI offenses.
• It does not matter if your offense was classified as a misdemeanor or a felony by US Courts.
• There are no exceptions for fans, guests, officials, or anyone else entering Canada for special events.  Even former U.S. President G.W. Bush had to get a special waiver to enter Canada because of his 1976 drinking-driving offense that occurred in Maine. So that should pretty much tell you EVERYONE is subject to this process.

There are 2 ways to obtain permission to enter Canada despite having a DUI or DWI on your record.

Your first option is to file for a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) at a Canadian visa office or when you arrive at the border.  This is how American athletes get into the country despite DUI’s or other convictions.  About 10,000 TRP’s are granted every year and many are to people with less than stellar pasts.

• The filing fee for a TRP is around $200.   A Canada Customs and Immigration officer will review the TRP and decide if you will be allowed to enter the country.   The permit is then valid for up to one year.

Your second option is to prove to Canada that you have been rehabilitated.  If you are deemed to be rehabilitated, you will be granted lifetime access into Canada despite the offenses.  A rehabilitation document does not need to be renewed. The process is somewhat complicated so you may want to have it handled by an experienced immigration lawyer.

• Your offense must be at least 5 years old to apply for rehabilitation.   To obtain this approval you will file the Canadian rehabilitation forms with the nearest Canadian visa office.  Fees range from $200 to $1,000 depending on your offense.
• You should expect that it will take at least 6 -12 months obtain this waiver so apply well before your intended Canadian border crossing.

So, the bottom line is to know before you go – especially to Canada! Remember, do not lie or assume that a certain charge was too trivial to bring up or mention, as false statements to border authorities can land you into hot water in itself not to mention your being delayed at the border or even denied entry altogether.

Wishing you happy and safe travels!!!

 

CruisewithMike: Thanks for visiting our weblog for updated information on this and other interesting travel and cruise topics. If you would like to obtain more information on this and other topics, you can simply browse through our library of informational topics on these subjects. You can  contact Mike by email  at mberryhill@cruiseplanners.com or check out more details to come about this cruise opportunity at http://www.cruisewithmike.info . You can follow mike on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cruisewithmike  . Join our Travel Club at http://meetup.com/Sun-Cities-Travelers-Group/  Mikes web site can be found at http://cruisewithmike.net  .

Crowded Travel Lines and Cancellations could be coming

We Could Be Facing
Long Waits, and Travel Cancellations

March 1st, marks a very critical U.S. Federal government budget deadline that is fast approaching. If no action is taken by the U.S. Congress and President to avert a forced shutdown, then $85 billion in spending must be cut immediately.

Various federal agencies are warning that this will dramatically cut the number of air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel at airport security and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel, many of whom would be furloughed from their respective operations. In turn, furloughed air traffic controllers could mean a sharp reduction in the number of airline flights allowed to depart with a significant number being canceled. Furloughed TSA personnel could mean substantially longer lines at airport screening. Furloughed CBP personnel could mean very long lines at customs.

According to U.S. Transportation Secretary Roy LaHood who has indicated that the furloughs and facility shut-downs referenced in the statement below will not occur until April.

“Because of the severe impact the sequestration could have on travel – potentially resulting canceled flights, as well as longer wait times for travelers both at airport security and customs check points” it is due to this and other statements from government officials which is why I am communicating these concerns here.

It is imperative that you closely monitor flight schedules and airport wait times. You should also allow for extra time not only when checking in for your flights, but also while passing through security screening and when boarding”. If all slows to a crawl wait times for the entire process could easily exceed 3+ hours, especially at larger metropolitan airports.

If you have booked your travel plans through a travel agent or cruise planner you should be in close contact with them, so they can be ready to assist you, should your travel plans become disrupted.

CruisewithMike: Thanks for visiting our weblog for updated information on this and other interesting travel and cruise topics. If you would like to obtain more information on this and other topics, you can simply browse through our library of informational topics on these subjects. You can  contact Mike by email  at mberryhill@cruiseholidays.com or check out more details to come about this cruise opportunity at http://www.cruisewithmike.info . You can follow mike on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cruisewithmike  . Join our Travel Club at http://meetup.com/Sun-Cities-Travelers-Group/  Mikes web site can be found at http://cruisewithmike.info  .

Another Carnival Ship Triumph is adrift at sea

Coast Guard making way to the stranded Triumph – Photo Courtesy USCG-Reuters

Yet Another Carnival Ship
is adrift at sea

“Houston we have a problem” can also now be a hailing sign for Carnival Cruise Lines, especially to those in the Texas port of Galveston. As the Carnival Cruise ship Triumph  (which set sail Feb 7th, and was due back on the 11th to and from its home portage of Galveston) flounders off the Mexican coast, adrift after a reported engine room fire crippled the ship early on Sunday leaving 3,143 passengers stranded without power, air conditioning, and running water. It has even been reported to several news agencies and to and from loved ones on-board the stricken ship, of backed up sewage running down walls, and urine soaked carpets in the staterooms have forced passengers to vacate their staterooms, not to mention the horrid foul stench that has engulfed the ship.
Despite relief efforts with food and supplies being brought to the ship, there are also reports of waiting in lines four hours long, just to get a hamburger, and there are even reports of fights breaking out on-board over food, and passengers acting like savages.
I am sorry, but it is seems clear to me for the need to speak out about this the third such incident to occur to Carnival passengers in only the last few years. Certainly most everyone remembers the November 2010 engine room fire aboard the Carnival Splendor which was adrift for several days off the coast of Mexico, then less than a year ago was the Carnival owned Costa Allegra which similarly was adrift in the Indian Ocean after an engine room fire had occurred. As a travel insider I was just reading last week where Carnival was experiencing record level bookings, which that alone was laudable certainly in just the connection to the most horrible incident in January of 2012 of the Costa Concordia capsizing accident which resulted in more than 30 lives lost, and again such cruise line is actually owned by Carnival.
It seems blazingly apparent to me that Carnival is placing profits over passenger safety and comfort. There are only so many reasons that a fire (one of the most dangerous hazards at sea) really occurs. Whether the findings are faulty (or outdated) equipment, failure to have adequate training (or a lack of proper response)in engine room operations, or a failure of adequate supervision or insight; Carnival has dropped the ball when it comes to doing everything necessary to operate safe and efficient ships. Initially with respect to this most recent incident Carnival is saying the cause was a fuel line leak in the No.6 generator. Wonder when that fuel line was last worked on or replaced?
I have booked clients on Carnival owned cruise ships for many years, even groups in the past. However, I can no longer in good conscience subject my customers to such inconvenience and even potential harmful experiences. I think it is time for my fellow colleagues and the American Cruising public alike to draw a line in the sand when it comes to what Carnival is doing. It’s time we start speaking out. In light of so many of these ships that are getting older, why isn’t more attention given to equipment condition and passenger safety. Each time one of these incidents has happened, (including with this most recent event) they (Carnival) have promised to rectify the deficiencies and learn from them, but that is obviously just not the case. It seems that Carnival must be doing something differently than the other cruise lines to be running into so much misfortune. These older ships need longer off times to be sure that safety inspections are thorough enough and are being taken more seriously.
While I feel it possible that you can have such an incident occur once, maybe even twice, but excuse me – three times! It’s just not possible for one cruise line to have happen to them and not be held responsible for more than just fare refunds, and future cruise credits. Until I am convinced Carnival has made changes and taken steps to avoid such dangerous situations I just can’t feel comfortable in putting myself or passengers aboard Carnival.-CruisewithMike

CruisewithMike: Thanks for visiting our weblog for updated information on this and other interesting travel and cruise topics. If you would like to obtain more information on this and other topics, you can simply browse through our library of informational topics on these subjects. You can  contact Mike at email cruisewithmike@cruiseholidays.com  or check out more details to come about this cruise opportunity at http://www.cruisewithmike.info . You can follow mike on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cruisewithmike  . Join our Travel Club at http://meetup.com/Sun-Cities-Travelers-Group/  Mikes web site can be found at  www.mberryhill.cruiseholidays.com .

Hurricane Sandy, Aftermath for the Cruise Lines

Hurricane SANDY

Aftermath for the Cruise Lines

While it is customary that Hurricane Season brings a number of storms every year, and while the cruise lines remain continually poised to make necessary changes, as most hurricanes are tightly-knit, slow-moving storms with somewhat predictable paths, making them fairly easy to avoid or divert around in most cases. Meaning usually at most, the cruise passenger may end up with a slightly modified itinerary than expected, but one that is as safe, and relatively calm as any other typical cruise.

But Sandy has been a particular challenge for the cruise lines primarily due to its hugging the coastline course, and while churning along passed the coastal East Coast Port cities like Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and Port Canaveral in Florida, Charleston, S.C., Baltimore, Md. and New York City. Sandy was also an unusually large storm, encompassing a path of several hundreds of miles in size, while picking up nearby storm systems which added to the severe after-effect impact.

As we all know now, the hurricane was itself only part of the story. The surge of seawater which followed the storm and floods to low lying coastal areas; carrying away sand and tearing down structures which also occurred.  Another factor with Sandy is the thousands of flights that were canceled in anticipation of the storm. (check out the standing water at LGA’s jetways left) Most likely many cruise passengers missed their ships due to last minute flight cancellations which numbered more than 20,000 in all. It stands to reason that this will also create some delays in getting some of those stranded folks out as airport operations are expected to slowly return to normal beginning on Halloween Wednesday, with only some airports operating. Those located in hardest hit New Jersey, and the New York City area airports may take longer to get back to normal operations.

Unfortunately, if your cruise becomes affected by a hurricane in any way you are rather at the mercy of the cruise line. You do not have any right to cancel the cruise or demand a refund. Your only option is to have purchased “cancel for any reason” trip insurance when you book the cruise.(which in many cases can be purchased for about a forty percent increase in your policy costs). Generally, traditional trip (travel) insurance probably will not cover your hurricane canceled cruise since it falls under the “acts of God” category.

Sandy resulted in a relatively few number of Cruise Cancellations on the part of the cruise lines, and only a few Sailings which were actually delayed,(mostly by pushing the departure dates back by a day or less). However, there were a multitude of cruise ship Reroutes, and Scheduled Port Changes as a direct result of Hurricane Sandy. In many cases where sailings are cut short, the cruise lines will offer some form of compensation to cruise goers to make up for their shortened sailings.

Unlike most hurricanes that affect the cruise lines, Sandy left behind a list of Damage to both Ships, as well as private island paradises that are owned by the cruise lines.

Damage to Cruise Ships

The 4,000 Passengers aboard Disney’s newest cruise ship the “Fantasy”, were tossed about a good deal resulting in mainly damage to Interior areas including the Pool area, Gift Shops, Cafes and various other venues. The pool area also overflowed causing some water damage to those areas in and around the pools areas.

But Disney is downplaying the incident. Disney Cruise Line Spokeswoman Rebecca Peddie says in a statement that the damage involved only some “cracked windows and broken furniture that have been addressed.”

Meanwhile, a call at “Castaway Cay” which is Disney’s private island paradise by sister ship Disney “Dream” was postponed a day so that crews could clear away debris left by the storm, Peddie says. The private Bahamas island is Disney’s most popular port of call.

P & O’s 3,000 passenger ship the “Ventura” sustained a gash in her hull located near the pool deck. It has been reported by passengers onboard P&O Cruise’s Ventura, that the ship has been seriously damaged from rough weather while crossing through the Bay of Biscay in advance of Hurricane Sandy’s moving through the south Florida area. It is reported that a large crack, about 2 inches wide, has appeared on one of the upper exterior decks. Passengers from the ship are reporting that the crack runs the entire horizontal length of the deck and vertical to the deck below. Windows on the deck below have been shattered from the crack. Passengers are reportedly being sectioned off from this area near the Laguna Pool of the ship while passengers who have private balcony cabins on Deck 14 below are being ordered not to use their balconies. A P&O spokesperson has confirmed that ”repairs will be made to the aluminum deck on Ventura upon arrival its in Southampton. This has no structural strength or safety implications, and is not expected to delay its next scheduled sailing.

Damage to Private islands

Several cruise lines have their own “private islands” which they use to give passengers a day at the beach without any distractions. Almost all of the private islands are small Bahamian Cays that offer anywhere from remote sparsely tree lined beaches to quite elaborately furnished activity areas that are generally very popular with cruisers.

Hardest hit appears to be that of Princess Cruise Line’s  “Princess Cays,” which is actually a private beach resort on the Bahamian island of Elute, 50 miles east of Nassau. According to PCL “Princess Cays has experienced extensive beach erosion, some downed trees and roof damage. The end of the observation pier was also lost,” according to company spokesperson Karen Candy who said that clean up will begin as soon as conditions allow. The next scheduled call there is not due to take place now, until November 11.

Norwegian Cruise Line is reporting that its “Great Stirrup Cay” sustained some minor damage to structures and landscaping, as well as beach erosion. The island, which had just completed a $30-million upgrade, has been closed down temporarily for quick repairs but the line expects it to reopen in the first week of November. Unfortunately, stops there by three Norwegian ships had to be canceled: Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Pearl. Fortunately, most of the improvements which were made during the recent upgrade were unaffected.

Holland America’s private island, “Half Moon Cay”, which is located about 100 miles southeast of Nassau and are often visited by ships of sister cruise line Carnival. According to HAL, the island “sustained some minor damage,” including to a few permanent structures as well as beach erosion and uprooting of some vegetation. Holland America expects to make repairs quickly with only minimal impact to normal operations.

Royal Caribbean, cancelled two stops at its private island “Coco Cay”. While no real damage is being reported by RCCL, the island was expected to be reopened to ships today.

However, while Sandy handed the cruiselines more than the typical hurricane storm system would have dealt out, this damage pales in comparison to the devistation that has been heaped upon the people of New England. Our thoughts, our prayers, and our concerns are with you now, as one who personally understands what havoc flood waters can create. We are thinking of you all! – CruisewithMike

CruisewithMike: Thanks for visiting our weblog for updated information on this and other interesting travel and cruise topics. If you would like to obtain more information on this and other topics, you can simply browse through our library of informational topics on these subjects. You can  contact Mike at email cruisewithmike@cruiseholidays.com  or check out more details to come about this cruise opportunity at http://www.cruisewithmike.info . You can follow mike on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cruisewithmike  . Join our Travel Club at http://meetup.com/Sun-Cities-Travelers-Group/  Mikes web site can be found at  www.mberryhill.cruiseholidays.com .

Ten Tips on How to Prevent Seasickness

Top Ten Tips on

How to Prevent Seasickness

First, let me say that I am not a physician, but I have been on more than 40 cruise sailings. As a professional cruise consultant I have hundreds of active cruise customers and clients. I have  dear family members who have accompanied me who suffer from severe motion sickness, and I personally am a gastric bypass recipient where food tolerance and stomach distress are daily issues for me, even on good days. So, while my expertise does not come from medical training, I do have a good deal of valuable personal knowledge and insight to offer on the subject.

My first tip, should be that of my hat – to the cruise line industry in that recent innovations made to ship stabilizer systems on today’s modern cruise vessels have greatly improved the experience of a smoother ride for many cruisers. That being said, as with any venture out into open waters can attest to the fact that Oceans are still what they are, and can at times become rather “tossed-about” in their nature.

Initially, I think you should be asking yourself, do YOU suffer from severe motion sickness symptoms. If you answer yes, then I strongly recommend a visit with your family physician prior to your cruise and consider having them prescribe medication, and better yet consider a trans-dermal patch for use during your entire cruise. Also, don’t make the mistake of thinking you feel fine and either fail to use or discontinue use of your patch(and/or other medications) before you complete your cruise and travel, as you may well find yourself feeling very sorry for doing so.

OK, so the balance of my writing here will be focused on what the everyday person who only experiences occasional effects with respect to motion sickness faces in their travels.

Seasickness (as it is often called) is actually Motion sickness, which is a very common disturbance of the inner ear that is caused by repeated motion. In addition to sea travel, motion sickness can develop from the movement of a car or from turbulence in an airplane. The symptoms of motion sickness are nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, and a sense of just not feeling well. These symptoms arise from the inner ear (labyrinth) due to changes in one’s sense of balance and equilibrium.

In my opinion, Seasickness is best thought of as a prevention issue, as your condition prior to boarding your cruise (or plane to get there for that matter) is probably more important to anything else you can do. While it may be impossible to prevent all situations and ailments from motion sickness, the following tips may be a help to you in the prevention or lessening the severity of motion sickness:

1. Monitor and give thought to your consumption of foods, drinks, and be sure to AVOID alcohol before and during travel (as it actually causes dehydration to the body), and makes you more vulnerable to motion sickness.You should also avoid excessive caffeine, and acidic foods or liquids intake that “do not agree with you” or make you feel unusually full. Heavy, spicy, or foods that are rich in fat may actually worsen motion sickness for some. Suggestion: Rather than consuming a filling meal prior to boarding your ship, consider smaller more frequent snacks until you have gotten aboard the ship and know better how you feel. Consequently, you should never travel on an empty stomach either, and be sure to take in plenty of water prior to/and during your travel(s).
2. Try to choose a seat where you will experience the least amount of motion possible. As a former flight attendant, I can attest to the fact that the middle of an airplane over the wing is generally thought to be the calmest area of an airplane. When choosing your stateroom on a ship, those in mid-level staterooms, and near the center of a ship generally experience less motion than passengers cruising in higher or those located in the extreme forward or aft staterooms.
3. Try to avoid being in close proximity to the preparation of foods that can give off strong food odors which can enhance the symptoms of nausea. If it becomes unavoidable try sucking on a lemon drop, or other hard candy, as your sense of smell can often be overcome by doing this. Another natural remedy for the effects of stomach distress held by many cruisers is the use of Ginger. Ginger root comes in various forms of pills, drops, powder, and even candy. As well as available in lower doseage commercial products such as teas, cookies, cakes, and breads. While this is not a scientifically proven treatment, many of my cruise passengers attest to its efectiveness.
4. Avoid sitting in a backwards facing position from your direction of travel. Definitely when travelling by car, you should endeavor to sit in the front seat. Be sure to explain this need to your travel partner(s), so when situations arise while travelling, they understand your needs in advance.
5. Do not read while traveling if you are prone to motion sickness. Also, it is advisable to not view thru binoculars or use cameras for prolonged periods as this can actually enhance the onset of motion sickness.
6. Whenever you travel by auto or boat, it can sometimes help to keep your vision focused on the horizon or on a fixed point. Never stare at the waves or other moving objects. While inside the cruise ship try to focus on walls or items of furniture as compared to looking out the windows.
7. Definitely be sure to get a full, and good night’s sleep before embarking onto your cruise ship. Try your best to avoid getting or becoming stressed as well.
8. Be sure to steer clear of others who may be suffering from the effects of motion sickness. Just overhearing others talk about motion sickness or seeing others experiencing such ill effects can sometimes lead to you becoming sick or feeling ill yourself.
9. Be sure to remain close to an open window, vent, or other source of fresh air if possible. If traveling by Motor coach, always sit toward the front of the bus, never in the rear that is susceptible to diesel fumes. When traveling by ship, AVOID the lower decks that are closest to the engine rooms that again put off toxic diesel odors, which can either keep you feeling seasick or cause it to occur.
10. There are medications that can help. Be sure to consult with your physician prior to departing for your vacation. One such measure that has been tried by many cruisers is electronic wristbands that operate by applying acupressure on a specific nerve (the P6-neiguan) in the wrist that is thought to control nausea and vomiting.  While there are over-the-counter medications such as meclizine (found in Bonine, Antivert, and Dramamine, which are normally available in the cruise gift shops) can be a very effective preventive measure for short trips or for mild cases of motion sickness. Your doctor also may choose to prescribe medications for longer trips, or if you repeatedly develop severe motion sickness. An example of a prescription medication is a patch containing scopolamine (Transderm-Scop) that often is effective in preventing motion sickness. Remember that scopolamine can cause drowsiness and has other side effects, such as blurred vision, etc., and its use should be discussed with your physician prior to your trip.

I truly hope that you have found some information here that you can take away with you on your next cruise or travel adventure that will be a help in combating the effects of motionsickness and seasickness. Bon Voyage!- CruisewithMike

CruisewithMike: Thanks for visiting our weblog for updated information on this and other interesting travel and cruise topics. If you would like to obtain more information on this and other topics, you can simply browse through our library of informational topics on these subjects.

You can contact Mike by email at mberryhill@cruiseplanners.com or check out more details to come about this cruise opportunity at http://www.cruisewithmike.info . You can follow mike on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cruisewithmike . Join our Travel Club at http://meetup.com/Sun-Cities-Travelers-Group/ Mikes web site can be found at http://cruisewithmike.net .

Hurricane Sandy Impacts on Cruise Sailings

Hurricane Sandy

Impacts on Cruise Sailings Thusfar

As a service to our readers, we are FORWARDING a post from our good friend RICH TUCKER at CruiseSource.

If you desire to have the fastest and latest updates we highly recommend that you subscribe to his link below. Rich is the foremost writer on Hurricanes and their impact on the North American Cruise Schedules!

Hurricane Sandy Cruise Impacts

Posted: By CruiseSource 24 Oct 2012 02:17 PM PDT

Hurricane Sandy made landfall earlier today in Jamaica.                        

Cruise ships in the Caribbean are navigating around the storm keeping their passengers and crew safe. We will have a better idea of the damage in Jamaica tomorrow and if the damage will prevent ships from calling on Jamaica next week. If I had to guess, I’d guess that cruise ships will continue to call on Jamaica next week [but that is just a guess].

The projected path of Hurricane Sandy indicates that there could be impacts Friday cruise departures from Miami or Port Canaveral. She could also impact Carnival Fantasy departing from Charleston on Saturday.

No announced impacts to Cruise Departures

There have not been any changes to upcoming cruise departures from Hurricane Sandy. We will monitor announcements closely and report here if there are cruise impacts from Hurricane Sandy. CLICK HERE to subscribe to CruiseSource.

If you are departing between Thursday – Saturday, I recommend you be in contact with your travel agent and bookmark this page for updates. You can also follow @CruiseSource on Twitter.

Last update from Carnival Cruise Lines [5 PM ET]:

10/25/12 AND 10/26/12 DEPARTURES:
CARNIVAL DESTINY, CARNIVAL SENSATION and CARNIVAL IMAGINATION
At this time, no changes have been made and our itinerary remains as scheduled. We’re keeping our fingers crossed the weather will not impact our plans.

At the moment, there are no changes expected for any other sailings departing this weekend.

BTW, I’m departing Sunday from Ft. Lauderdale on the Allure of the Seas. From the projected path, we look fine but I will be watching this one closely.

Author Note: Rich Tucker, founder of CruiseSource has been reporting on cruise impacts from tropical storms and hurricanes since 2008.

CruisewithMike: Thanks for visiting our weblog for updated information on this and other interesting travel and cruise topics. If you would like to obtain more information on this and other topics, you can simply browse through our library of informational topics on these subjects. You can  contact Mike at email cruisewithmike@cruiseholidays.com  or check out more details to come about this cruise opportunity at http://www.cruisewithmike.info . You can follow mike on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cruisewithmike  . Join our Travel Club at http://meetup.com/Sun-Cities-Travelers-Group/  Mikes web site can be found at  www.mberryhill.cruiseholidays.com .

Do I need A Visa for travel to a certain country?

Do I Need A Visa

For Travel to a Certain Country?

Many times I am asked if a customer or client needs a travel visa when traveling to certain country destination. I have provided a list of more than 200 countries and whether or not U.S. Citizens are required to obtain a travel visa in order to enter a certain country. Note: Those Country Names shown in Green Do not require a visa for pleasure travel purposes.

Prices for travel visas can vary widely from less than $50, up to hundreds of dollars. They are usually dependant on the destination being traveled to, purpose of visit (whether business or pleasure), how soon to departure you are applying for your visa, and relations between the host country and the U.S. Government. Note: U.S. Citizens traveling abroad are strongly encouraged to check on the latest travel information, including warnings and watch lists which can be found on the U.S. State Department website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/

I hope you find this information helpful.

Country	US Citizen Visa Information
Afghanistan	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Albania	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Algeria	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Andorra	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Angola	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Anguilla	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Antigua and Barbuda	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days
Argentina	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Armenia	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Aruba	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days
Australia	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Austria	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Azerbaijan	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Bahamas	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 3 months Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 3 months
Bahrain	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Bangladesh	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Barbados	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to six months Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to six months
Belarus	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Belgium	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Belize	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days.
Benin	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Bermuda	Business: No visa is required for you to travel to this destination. Tourist: No visa is required for you to travel to this destination.
Bhutan	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Bolivia	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival
Bosnia Herzegovina	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Botswana	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.
Brazil	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
British Virgin Islands	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Brunei Darussalam	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Bulgaria	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Burkina Faso	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Burundi	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Cambodia	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Cameroon	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Canada	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to six months Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to six months
Cape Verde	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Cayman Islands	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Central African Republic	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Chad	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Chile	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.
China	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Colombia	Business: Visa Required Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Comores Islands	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Congo	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Cook Islands	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days
Costa Rica	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.
Cote D’Ivoire	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Croatia	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.
Cuba	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Cyprus	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Czech Republic	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Denmark (Including Greenland)	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.
Djibouti	Business: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival. Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Dominica	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Dominican Republic	Business: Visa Required. Visa required for travelers entering the Dominican Republic for technical business purposes (such as installing software) and carrying computer equipment and/or tools. For regular business purposes (business meetings, seminars, etc.) visas are not issued prior to departure. A card will need to be purchased upon arrival in the Dominican Republic. Please check with your airlines for further information. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days
Ecuador	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Egypt	Business: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival. Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
El Salvador	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Equatorial Guinea	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Eritrea	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Estonia	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Ethiopia	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Falkland Islands	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Fiji	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to six months Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to six months
Finland	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.
France	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
French Guinea	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
French Polynesia	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
French West Indies	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Gabon	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Gambia	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Georgia (CIS)	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Germany	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Ghana	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Greece	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.
Grenada	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Guatemala	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Guinea Bissau	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Guinea, Republic of	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Guyana	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Haiti	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Honduras	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Hong Kong	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Hungary	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.
Iceland	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
India	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Indonesia	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Iran	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Iraq	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Ireland	Business: No visa is required for you to travel to this destination. Tourist: No visa is required for you to travel to this destination.
Israel	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.
Italy	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Jamaica	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to six months
Japan	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Jordan	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Kazakhstan	Business: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival. Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Kenya	Business: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival. Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Kiribati	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of (North)	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Korea, Republic of (South)	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Kosovo	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Kuwait	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Kyrgystan	Business: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival. Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Laos	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Latvia	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Lebanon	Business: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival. Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Lesotho	Business: No visa required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa required for a stay of up to 90 days
Liberia	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Libya	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Liechtenstein	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Lithuania	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Luxembourg	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Macao	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days
Macedonia	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Madagascar	Business: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival. Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Malawi	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Malaysia	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Maldives	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Mali	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Malta	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Marshall Islands	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Mauritania	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Mauritius	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Mexico	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 180 days for simple business meetings. A visa should be obtained for people conducting technical activities. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 180 days
Micronesia	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days
Moldova	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Monaco	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Mongolia	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Montenegro	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Montserrat	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Morocco	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Mozambique	Business: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival. Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Myanmar (Burma)	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Namibia	Business: Visa Required Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Nauru	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Nepal	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Netherlands	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Netherlands Antilles	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.
New Caledonia	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days
New Zealand	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.
Nicaragua	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Niger	Business: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival. Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Nigeria	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Norway	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Oman	Business: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival. Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Pakistan	Business: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival. Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Palau	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to six months Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to six months
Panama	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days.
Papua New Guinea	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Paraguay	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Peru	Business: Visa Required Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Philippines	Business: Visa Required No visa required for stay of up to 21 days. Visa required only for stay longer than 21 days Tourist: Visa Required No visa required for stay of up to 21 days. Visa required only for stay longer than 21 days
Poland	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Portugal	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.
Qatar	Business: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival. Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Reunion Island	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Romania	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days
Russia	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Rwanda	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Saint Lucia	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days
Samoa (American)	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days
San Marino	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Sao Tome & Principe	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Saudi Arabia	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required Tourist travel can only be authorized through approved tour groups.
Senegal	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.
Serbia	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.
Seychelles	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Sierra Leone	Business: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival. Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Singapore	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Slovakia	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days
Slovenia	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Solomon Islands	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Somalia	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
South Africa	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
South Sudan	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Spain	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Sri Lanka	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
St. Vincent and the Grenadines	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to six months Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to six months
Sudan	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Suriname	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Swaziland	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 60 days
Sweden	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.
Switzerland	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Syria	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Taiwan (Republic of China)	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days.
Tajikistan	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Tanzania	Business: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival. Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Thailand	Business: Visa Required Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days
The Vatican (Holy City)	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Tibet	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Timor-Leste	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Togo	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Tonga	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days
Trinidad and Tobago	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Tunisia	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 120 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 120 days.
Turkey	Business: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival. Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Turkmenistan	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Turks and Caicos Islands	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days
Tuvalu	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Uganda	Business: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival. Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Ukraine	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.
United Arab Emirates	Business: Visa Required However, no visa is required in advance of travel for a stay of up to 30 days in the UAE. Tourist: Visa Required However, no visa is required in advance of travel for a stay of up to 30 days in the UAE.
United Kingdom	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to six months Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to six months
Uruguay	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Uzbekistan	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Vanuatu	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days
Venezuela	Business: Visa Required Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days
Vietnam	Business: Visa Required Tourist: Visa Required
Western Samoa	Business: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days Tourist: No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days
Yemen	Business: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival. Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Zambia	Business: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival. Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.
Zimbabwe	Business: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival. Tourist: Visa Required – Please read the note below regarding visas obtained upon arrival.

Note: It may be possible to obtain a required visa upon arrival at some of these destinations. Significant restrictions often apply and requirements for entry vary. Check with the local consulate for details. Be sure to inquire with your airline if boarding is allowed without a visa. Immigration officials in the destination country can refuse entry to anyone for any reason. To minimize risk of being refused entry and to avoid excessive waiting for an on arrival visa to be issued, the US Department of State strongly recommends that travelers obtain all visas prior to departure whenever possible.

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