<p>I have heard two stories of mids going to sea and not having any accomidations set-up before arrival. One did not have a credit card thus could have been on the streets if there had noto been someone from home loan them their credit card, over the telephone. Is this normal. My mid has not gone to sea yet so I want to make sure he knows to be prepared. Was this just poor planning on the mids part?</p>
<p>Yes, this is poor planning on the mid's part. All midshipmen should have a working credit card when they go to sea. When you are sent from the Academy to your ship they are hoping the ship will be there; however, due to unforseen circumstances (weather, houston ship chanel closed, etc) the ship can be delayed. It is then usually up to the midshipmen to call the Academy and let them know and then they will be authorized a hotel stay. If you don't have a credit card you can't get a hotel room. Upon return to the Academy they will be reimbursed for the travel expenses.</p>
<p>it can be a bit sketchy - luckily, my mid has a creative streak :)</p>
<p>While on campus during trimester break visiting S, I saw a sign at the Navy Federal Credit Union on campus (zero deck) advertising credit cards for mids. They scaled the credit limit something like this: $500 for plebes, $1000 for 3rd class, etc. and they was no annual fee.</p>
<p>Looked on their website Navy</a> Federal: Credit Cards but I recommend all mids to check it out.</p>
<p>Both Navy Federal Credit Union and USAA do credit cards for mids. It's never to early for them to start building their own credit history! That said, though our D was under orders to get her own credit card ASAP, she does have one of ours as a back up.</p>
<p>The information below is from the academy travel file folder on my sons old (2002) Sea Project CD.. </p>
<p>
Advance All Midshipmen departing for Sea Duty in October (or June) who wish an advance, must report to the Travel Office in Furuseth Hall before Sept XX,. 2XXX Advances will be $50 for all New York Ports and $250 for all other ports. Remember Travel Advances must be closed out and repaid no later than five (5) business days after completion of Travel.
</p>
<p>I interpret completion of travel to mean on return to the academy following their sea term. </p>
<p>Whether I needed it or not, Id ask for the advance so I would have a little extra walk around money in my pocket before I got to my ship. A credit/debit card would be a very good thing to have too.</p>
<p>The CD also has a contact list of parents/alumni who are willing to provide lodging in the event that cadets, for whatever reason, cant find a place to stay.. They can also stay at the BOQ of any military facility provided that there is space available.</p>
<p>The Academy canceled the travel advance program recently...and that midshipmen should have about $300 in cash before heading out to sea and a credit card and a debit card..My S said that one of the ATR's said that cadets should have at least two and preferably four passport photos with them when the depart...never know when you may need them (lost passport, oppurtunity to get a visa) etc...!!! Have you ever tried to find a photographer overseas in a hurry when you've lost your passport and youv'e spent your last bit of cash on a taxi finding the Consulate???</p>
<p>I never thought about extra passport pictures, thanks. I will add to the list I have going for the future.</p>
<p>Debit card isn't enough? My bank also stated that there is conversion fees? What is that all about. If you give them a credit card how is payment made when the bill comes monthly? Since they are overseas, the parent pays the bills?</p>
<p>I would have at least one credit card beyond a debit card. You can change the billing address to the parent's house for the time at sea. What my parents did was pay the bill while I was gone and then I paid them upon my return with my earnings from sea. The credit card was only used in times of emergency or when I had to stay in a hotel or something of the sort. It wasn't for restaurants, gifts, etc.</p>
<p>The problem with a debit card is if you go to check in to a hotel with a debit card they will place a hold for the entire amount on your debit card and then you don't have access to that money even if you planning on paying with a credit card at checkout. Can cause overdrafts and similar charges.</p>
<p>I can address the conversion fees, since we live overseas. They are the charge the credit makes to you for the cost of dealing with the currency conversion and international transactions. Ours are typically 1 cent for each dollar of the charge. So $100 purchase had an added $1 fee. </p>
<p>Just be sure the bank knows that the card will be used internationally before you go. Otherwise they may deny the charge from an odd place suspecting possible fraud.</p>
<p>Thank you for the information KP2001 and KPMom2012. Your responses are helpful.</p>
<p>I understand the requirement to get visas for China. </p>
<p>My Mid is at sea now, and someone asked if he needed visas for each country he visited.
(Well, if he did, I haven't heard about it.)
Seems he went ashore at ports in Spain, Oman-or-UAE(can't remember which), Dubai..</p>
<p>So, did he have to get visas before he left? Or just show his Merchant Mariner papers(Z-card, or whatever it's called) and his passport? Just curious. I'd expect the ATRs help advise and take care of this stuff. Thanks in advance. (Of course, if he needed it and DIDN'T get it done, I guess that's just more time to work on a sea project ;) )</p>
<p>Other foreign ports are Pakistan, India. Other route w/Mids I know(and curious about controls) are South Korea, Japan, Ascention Island (of all places;) ), Brazil, Argentina.</p>
<p>Mine didn't need a visa for Korea or Japan.</p>
<p>zonker...to get into India a visa is needed
<a href="https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/guidelines%5B/url%5D">https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/guidelines</a>
the other countries no visa is required. </p>
<p>Here is the official rule form Korea regarding visa's for US citizens:</p>
<p>US CITIZENS NEED TO HAVE A VISA TO ENTER KOREA BUT CAN VISIT KOREA WITHIN 30 DAYS WITHOUT THE VISA FOR THE PURPOSE OF TOURISM OR TRANSIENT STOP OVER</p>
<p>If he goes to China a visa is required. My son had to get one to the tune of $160 which is not paid for by the Academy; and since China is a communist country they can pretty much issue you what they want. For instance he was suppose to get a 6 month unlimited entry visa for that amount of money,. but what they gave him was a 3 months 2 entry visa. Oh well.</p>
<p>
[quote]
So, did he have to get visas before he left?
[/quote]
No, once the Captain clears the ship with the local customs and immigration the crew is able to go ashore without a visa. The PRC is the only country I know of that requires one. Sometimes they will need a shore pass which the local immigration authorities will provide. Japan and Korea both require a pass to go ashore.</p>