Nothing can ruin a cruise like arriving at a country's port, seeing the beautiful scenery, colorfully dressed people and fascinating architecture from the ship's deck, then learning you can't leave the cruise ship because you didn't get an entry visa for the country. Not all countries require visas, but the ones that do will not allow you into the country without one.
A travel visa is a sticker or stamp placed on a page of the traveler's passport. Visas can be obtained by going to the country's embassy or consulate in person or by hiring a visa service to do it for you. In a few countries, the visa can be obtained after you arrive in the country, but be certain this is the case before leaving home.
This depends largely on your citizenship. For a cruise ship stopping in Italy, a citizen of Great Britain won't need a travel visa, but a citizen of South Africa will. You can learn which countries require travel visas by reviewing the embassy consular websites of the countries where your cruise ship will stop, or consulting a reputable visa service. Also check your cruise line's website for a list of countries requiring visas.
