Q's about arriving at Laem Chabang Cruise Port

[bomberbod]

Hi All,

Trying to arrange for parents to come and stay with me and gf after arriving on a Marrella cruise in Dec.

 

1) The cruise includes non flexible return flights and their plan is to not bother with the return flight and book a separate one way ticket home. But I was wondering how immigration works for people getting off at LC. Are they classed as in transit and not actually given a 90 day VOA ?

 

2) Is there a full immigration facility at LC that can issue a 30 day visa for people not going straight to the airport ?

 

3) If they can clear immigration how close can we get to the terminal in our car to pick them up ? 

 

The girl at TUI cruises in UK is saying "no problem" but she is trying to sell 4k worth of cruise.

 

Thanks in advance.

[sanmyn]

I live nearby LC and take several cruises.

 

Usually there is an Thai Immigration Officer who comes aboard the Ship who can issue Visas. 

If not, there is an Immigration Office in nearby Jomtien that can help you. 

You can drive your car inside LC and park near the Ship to meet arrivals. 

[Snow Leopard]

Why cant they change the dates of the flight home after booking? It will probably incur a fee but cheaper than buying a one way ticket. I would assume that they can get a 30 day TV when getting of the ship.

[bomberbod]

Thanks Snow Leopard

Unbelievably the only way you can book Asia cruises with TUI/Marella is to book the package with their own flights. You can only use the flight that is linked to that specific cruise. No changes allowed. Crazy marketing strategy I know but that is the rule at the moment. Maybe that will change if the boat is half empty nearer the time.

[Golden Triangle]

4 hours ago, sanmyn said:

I live nearby LC and take several cruises.

 

Usually there is an Thai Immigration Officer who comes aboard the Ship who can issue Visas. 

If not, there is an Immigration Office in nearby Jomtien that can help you. 

You can drive your car inside LC and park near the Ship to meet arrivals. 

Any chance that you could expand on that ? I would love to take the Mrs on a cruise without having to fly to Singapore to do it, I know a Thai company started to run cruises out of LC but I would prefer to use the big international names if possible. Thanks for any info available.

[bomberbod]

Thanks Sanmyn,

I've been looking online for days and couldn't find anything confirming that a 30 day can be issued at LC.

 

I understand that when a cruise is just passing thru LC the immigration officers just hold all passports of passengers that come ashore for excursions, leaving them with a photocopy to carry around. 

 

That's what made me wonder if it was possible to get stamped into Thailand.

 

 

[KittenKong]

6 hours ago, sanmyn said:

I live nearby LC and take several cruises.

I would be interested in knowing more about that too.