A visa is an endorsement on your passport that will allow entry into the country you ll be visiting. It states that your passport has been inspected and that everything is valid. It will usually give permission for you to visit a country for a specific time period and purpose. Many countries you ll be visiting on a cruise do not require a visa. You ll want to ask your travel consultant in advance and consult your cruise packet just to make sure you ll have the papers you ll need.
Visas often take several weeks to process.
All travel documents are the responsibility of the passenger. The U.S. State Department, Bureau of Consular Affairs Foreign Entry Requirements web page. This site lists the entry requirements of foreign countries. It also includes the addresses and telephone numbers of foreign embassies and consulates in the United States. This web site is a good starting point, but since the information presented is subject to change, you should also check directly with the embassy or consulate of the country you a planning to visit.