Always double check before you sail

Well the title says it all.  You have checked your booking, tickets passport and cancelled the milk but you have looked at the cruise Itinerary and you are visiting America.

You will need an ESTA visa at least 3 days before you enter USA.  There are a few questions which they ask on the official U.S Government website however there are unanswered questions.

Do you or anyone in your party have a criminal record? If so when was it?  Also does anyone have any driving bans?  If the answer is yes to any of these questions, an ESTA is not enough.  The person will have to apply for an interview at Grosvenor Square in London at the U.S Embassy.  Then it will depend in the interviewer whether you will get a visa to travel to USA.  This can take quite a long time and can be up to at lease 6 months wait.

Here is an example of one of their questions you will find on the ESTA application -

Have you ever been arrested or convicted for an offense or crime involving moral turpitude or a violation related to a controlled substance; or have been arrested or convicted for two or more offenses for which the aggregate sentence to confinement was five years or more; or have been a controlled substance trafficker; or are you seeking entry to engage in criminal or immoral activities?

The phrase 'Moral Turpitude' when you google it is very vague.  It really depends on the outcome of the interview whether you will be able to travel.

So in essence always check with fellow travelers that they do not have any convictions if you are thinking of visiting United States.  I would hate for you to be refused entrance because you haven't checked!