FYI Re: Traveling to the Cayman Islands - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

Caribbean Girl · 01-25-2006, 10:18 PM

I hope this helps someone avoid major hassles. We just found out that it is necessary to have a valid passport in order to travel to the Caymans. This stipulation has been in the 'books' since 2004. My understanding had been that passports would not be necessary for travel to the Caribbean until 2007. Today, I found out otherwise from our local Post Office Passport Officer.

sailyn · 01-25-2006, 10:22 PM

Thank you for this information, Cira! Hopefully it will keep some unfortunate traveler from being granted access to this port!

It's been on the 'books' since 2004?

We always travel with a passport, but I don't recall having to show it to enter the Caymans.

Sheffie · 01-25-2006, 10:58 PM

Don't you think that may be for people flying into GC, not cruisers?

hanna · 01-25-2006, 11:12 PM

Sheffie, good question. Who has the answer? I bet Sue does.

Caribbean Girl · 01-26-2006, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheffie

Don't you think that may be for people flying into GC, not cruisers?

Sheffie, it is a good question. However, when I e-mailed VacationsToGo, they referred me to a passport service out of Texas (Sam's Passport and Visa Service.) The gentleman there told me we might be denied entrance without a passport. I then called the local Post Office Officer and she looked it up in her documents, which said that passports had been required to enter the Caymans since '04. When I went to the P.O. later to gather the paperwork, she showed me the listing. They both advised we get our passports to be safe. All I could envision was not being allowed to board the ship. It would have been a nightmare for sure. The PO Officer also pointed out that these guidelines are changing very rapidly. I am just passing on what we are being told right now.

sue miller · 01-26-2006, 08:10 AM

I am surprised they are saying this. Here is the state dept NEW update. Canada, Mexico, ALL Caribbean, SAME DATE now. January 1, 2008.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

AngieBaby · 01-26-2006, 11:07 AM

I found this on the RCCL website

Starting December 31, 2006, the United States government is introducing new passport rules. Don't risk disrupting your travel plans! If you are planning travel for 2007 or beyond, please take a minute to review the new regulations below. If you don't already have a valid passport, be sure to avoid the rush and give yourself plenty of time to apply for one. Once you've got a passport in hand, the whole world is yours to explore.

The new U.S. passport regulations will take effect gradually over the next few years:

By December 31, 2006, passports will be required for all air and sea travel to and from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

By December 31, 2007, passports or other accepted travel documents will be required for land border crossings to and from Canada or Mexico.

By January 1, 2008, all Americans departing and returning to the United States will be required to have a valid U.S. passport.

U.S. Citizens
For information on obtaining or renewing a passport, visit the State Department's Website. U.S. passports are valid for ten years, so the initial cost averages out over subsequent vacations - especially if you cruise frequently.

Non-U.S. Citizens
You will need a valid passport and, in some cases, a visa. If you live in the U.S., you will also need the original copy of your Alien Registration Card (ARC or "Green Card") and any other documentation the countries on your itinerary require due to your alien status.

For all sailings ending on June 25, 2005, or later, citizens from the Visa Waiver Program countries will require a machine-readable passport valid for the duration of their voyage. These countries include:

Andorra Luxembourg Australia Monaco Austria The Netherlands Belgium New Zealand Brunei Norway Denmark Portugal Finland San Marino France Singapore Germany Slovenia Iceland Spain Ireland Sweden Italy Switzerland Japan The United Kingdom Liechtenstein

A machine-readable passport has a code like this on the bottom of the picture page:

P<<UKDOE<<JOHN<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<1234567890M1234 567890M1234567890<1234567890

sue miller · 01-26-2006, 11:23 AM

Yes but if you hit the yellow box on the right that says new requirements for travelers, the site above, the State Dept. comes up!!

sue miller · 01-26-2006, 11:29 AM

Yippeeeeeee I found it!! You need a passport if you are flying in and staying, not flying right back out!!

http://www.worldtravelguide.net/data/cym/cym040.asp

AngieBaby · 01-26-2006, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sue miller

Yes but if you hit the yellow box on the right that says new requirements for travelers, the site above, the State Dept. comes up!!

Sue...what yellow box? In my post?

ETA...Nevermind I see it is the yellow box on the State Dept site you are talking about