Do we need a visa for a 7hr visit on cruise ship march 2014 xiamen

If you do not leave the port, the visa is not needed. If you plan to visit the XM city, the visa is needed.

Hello Jean,
We are also stopping in Xiamen for 7 hours as part of a cruise coming from Japan, and departing for Vietnam after Xiamen. Princess Cruises says that we need a Chinese visa, so I am just wondering what your experience was, and which cruise line you booked with. Did you have to get a Chinese visa before leaving your home country, and if not, what happened once you reached Xiamen port? Were you able to get off the ship on your own, or were you required to participate in a cruise company shore excursion? Did you have to visit a Xiamen port office to get a permit and if yes, how long did it take? Thank you.