TUI VISA - Incorrect Information

leylandsunaddict

alice100 wrote: »

I did do my own research however the visa application process seemed to be completely inappropriate considering we would only be in that country to fly home (this was for a cruise)
This is when I spoke to TUI and they told me that as we were arriving by sea we would not need a visa, hence I didn’t get one.

Which country and which cruise line?

I'm still presuming this information was given to you in store? Was it the cruise specialist for the store that gave you the wrong info?

TadleyBaggie

leylandsunaddict wrote: »

Alice didn't say it was a TUI cruise.

No, but I would willing to bet it was a Marella cruise.

Marella Discovery left Malaysia at the end of March and made its way to Corfu via India, Sri Lanka, Dubai, UAE, Oman, Jordan and Israel.

bradders1983

TadleyBaggie wrote: »

No, but I would willing to bet it was a Marella cruise.

Marella Discovery left Malaysia at the end of March and made its way to Corfu via India, Sri Lanka, Dubai, UAE, Oman, Jordan and Israel.

Doubt she would need a visa to get into Corfu though.

TadleyBaggie

bradders1983 wrote: »

Doubt she would need a visa to get into Corfu though.

You can pick and leave this cruise at several points, so e.g. fly to malaysia, cruise to dubai, fly back.

alice100

Yes it was a TUI package cruise around Asia. Final destination was India and we were there for one morning before flying home and they would not allow us on the flight out.

bradders1983

Don't you mean you were SCHEDULED to be there for one morning? If not then it is all getting rather confusing.

leylandsunaddict

alice100 wrote: »

Yes it was a TUI package cruise around Asia. Final destination was India and we were there for one morning before flying home and they would not allow us on the flight out.

You need a visa for India even if you don't get off the ship. If it was the cruise specialist who did the booking for you they should know better than to give visa requirements to passengers. It's basic stuff even to a junior travel agent. Just another reason I'd never book via a vertically integrated agent. Too much sales training and not enough product knowledge, or common sense in this case. :mad: Even Marella cruises T&Cs are quite clear about it being your own responsibility, so whoever it was should have known better than to go against your contract with their own personal thoughts.

Caz3121

Marella cruise site also clear that you need to arrange your own visa for India (unlike some countries that they arrange for you)
Not sure how the mode of arrival is relevant - you would need to enter the country to get to the airport and you cannot enter the country without a visa. Sound like OP got a very inexperienced agent giving them incorrect information that clearly contradicted all the official sites.

Archergirl

I would not accept the advise of a TA on visa matters, they tell you you need them for places you do not and direct you to Visa Genie etc that charge an arm and a leg for something you can do yourself sometimes for free.

photome

alice100 wrote: »

I did do my own research however the visa application process seemed to be completely inappropriate considering we would only be in that country to fly home (this was for a cruise)
This is when I spoke to TUI and they told me that as we were arriving by sea we would not need a visa, hence I didn’t get one.

You did your research and found you needed a visa ( presumably from an official source) but decided to rely on a TA word, at least they gave it to you in writing to allow you to get the refund , without that I doubt they would have refunded anything.

I think you need to take some responsibility

What more do you want from them?