2026 SHANGHAI to Japan/Korea Cruise • Royal Caribbean Spectrum of the Seas Prices & How to Book

It depends. The visa requirements will depend on your exact route and itinerary.

If your cruise departs from Hong Kong and doesn’t include any international stops, like the two-night weekend getaway cruise, then you definitely do not need a visa for that sailing.

If your cruise starts in Shanghai, the answer depends on how long you’ll stay in China.

China currently has a 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy available to all nationalities, including Filipinos. The important keywords here are 24-hour and transit. To qualify, your stay in China must be less than 24 hours, and you must present an exit ticket or proof of onward travel scheduled within the next 24 hours. Your cruise booking can count as that onward ticket.

For example, if you arrive in China on the same day as your cruise embarkation, you may qualify for the visa-free transit policy. The same applies to when you return. If the ship arrives in Shanghai on the same day as your departing flight out of China, you may still be eligible.

But, honestly, we still think it’s risky. We would strongly recommend securing a proper double-entry China visa just to be safe. You never know, embarkation could get delayed, or your return flight could be rescheduled, which may put you at risk of overstaying. On our previous trip, even though our stay in China was technically less than 24 hours, we still applied for a China visa for peace of mind.

What if your cruise includes a stop in Japan? If your itinerary has a port of call anywhere in Japan, you generally do not need a Japan visa because most cruise ship passengers are exempt, as long as they arrive and depart on the same vessel.

How about Korea? Do you need a Korean visa if the ship stops there? If the port of call is Jeju Island, then no. Jeju is visa-free for many travelers, including Filipinos under certain cruise arrangements. However, if the stop is anywhere else in South Korea, whether that’s Busan or Seoul, then a Korean visa is required.

On our most recent sailing, Busan was our port of call, so we applied for a Korean visa beforehand. We actually met several Filipinos on board who were told by the travel agency they booked with that they didn’t need a Korean visa for Busan. Unfortunately, that information was incorrect. A visa is definitely required for Busan, so they were not allowed to disembark.

Imagine, you’re already there, you can literally see Korea from the ship, but you’re not allowed to set foot in the country. We honestly felt bad for them because we could really sense their disappointment.

So remember, Korea is only visa-free if your destination is Jeju Island. For Busan, Seoul, and other destinations in mainland South Korea, a Korean visa is a must.

QUICK RECAP

Is visa required?

• HONG KONG: NO
• CHINA: If staying for less than 24 hours with exit ticket, NO. Avail of the 24-hour visa-free transit. But if staying for over 24 hours, YES
• JAPAN: NO
• SOUTH KOREA: For Jeju Island, NO. For anywhere else in Korea, YES