Not entirely off-topic, however, also not directly cruise related.

Just learned that if you are flying directly to Australia from the USA for tourism, your airline can arrange your visa at no fee together with your airline ticket booking.

Any experiences or relative knowledge in this matter? Thanks!

You can do it online - very easy - there is a charge though, but I'm sure if the airline does it they will pass that charge on to you.

Australian visa

I did that electronic thing a couple of years ago. Very easy, and only about $20 as I remember.

We just got electronic Australian visas yesterday--it was $20.00 (which they say is a handling fee--not a cost for the visa). Don't know if the airline would charge the handling fee or not, but I'd be surprised if they didn't.

I say - that's a bit rude! $20! How come you have to have a visa to enter Australia but we don't to enter the US for under three months? I'd better keep quiet or they may rethink it.

I thought $20 was pretty reasonable--we had to pay $60 just to drive through Zimbabwe recently. I think we paid $75 for a Brazilian Visa and had to send our passports by registered mail to their embassy to get the Visa Stamp. Getting the Australia visa was a breeze. Don't know why they require it, but my guess is it's just another form of taxation--but this way they can tax the visitors rather than the local voters. I'm amazed the US doesn't require Visas for Australian visitors--we'll have to look into that!!!! ;)

It's taxes, unfortunately. My understanding is that it's not a conventional visa such as one would need to get for going to a non-reciprocal country.

Peggy - please don't bother looking into it!! I've just booked on TUSH and need all my spare change for that!! Lee

No problem--we're happy to welcome all our Aussie visitors to the "land of the free" :app:

Is there a time frame in which you must get the Aussie visa..for South America it is a 90 day window ( before you arrive)..is Aussie that same sort of thing..

Claudia--it doesn't look like there's a window of any sort. We got the visa's online on 8/16 and they were effective for any 90 day period beginning from 8/16/06-8/16/07. The 90 day clock starts the day you arrive in Australia which could be the same day you get your visa.

Peggy: Since signing on for TUSH, I have been thoroughly entertained with the clever and funny things some LCTers have come up with - loved your 'land of the free'!

Thanks, Lee--I'm known for speaking "freely" :)

Why I enjoy you Peggy!!!

So, apparently no LCT'er has experienced receiving an Aussie visa through their airline.

It's called an ETA, and the $20 fee to the airline is for the service of providing it. They have to have a special connection to the Australian gov't, which isn't free, that I know of.

At one time they were provided free by the airline, but as costs rise, they have added fees.

Forgot to add, Australia requires visas from people from almost every country except New Zealand.

B & F, not my understanding.

What I've learned, possibly incorrectly, is that airlines can arrange your visa with a direct USA/Aussie booking.

I'm well aware of ETA's, and, those fees, $20AUS, are not to the airline, but, elsewhere..