Thread: Passports-FINAL RULE released today!!

Even though, as I mentioned earlier, a passport may not be required for RT cruises from a US port, if stranded for whatever reason in a foriegn port, air transportation to return home will require a passport. This will require a very arduous and expensive procedure that will most likely delay and complicate your getting home. This is already the case, even in a Canadian or Mexican port.
I had an experience with a client who had to leave a ship in a Canadian port and was unable to fly home due to the fact that they didn't have passports. They were required to travel by sea to a nearby US port where they flew home.

The bottom line to be safe is to obtain a passport now, and alleviate the problem if it should manifest itself.

Reggie

We decided to get passports for the kids (age 10 and 13) back in Feb. since we do plan on traveling overseas in the next few years. We had the passports in 2 weeks.

My DW and I have passports that I accidentially put in the wash. We have travelled with them without any problems until this past May. Mine is hard to read but we have been on 6 cruises with them in this condition. I did carry the certified birth certificates just in case because I did not want to chance being left on the pier.

We decided to just get the new ones now to avoid any problems on our upcoming vacations. On 6/15 we applied for our new passports at the post office. We had to bring them with us in addition to our long form birth certificates. On 6/21/08 our new passports arrived. It only took 1 week, we expected 4-6 weeks.

All of our passports will stay out of the laundry!

We just renewed our kids passports earlier this month and it couldn't have been easier. I want to have them regardless of the rules.

I did not read the entire thread (sorry), and if this is duplicate information, I apologize, but:

DH is going to Mexico on a business trip and was informed by a co-worker that he needed to 'register' his passport. So, I said 'what?' We take our passports on our cruises, he's been to Mexico for work once before, so what is this?

Well, his co-worker just received his passport and he apparently read all the documentation with it (thank goodness some people do!). Anyway, come to find out that it isn't mandatory that you do so, but you can register your passport.

It is a way for the American Consulate in the foreign country to be able to help you (God Forbid you need it) in case of an emergency while in their country!

So, here is a link to the State Department's specific site to register. It appears that you actually create a log in and password, but it IS the State Department's website.

Anyway, just thought I'd pass this on. At least read it and decide what you're going to do.

https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/

We got our first passports about 2 years ago because the TA and everyone made it sound like we HAD to have them. My parents went with us on our first cruise & theirs too. So they also HAD to get passports. And then come to find out that some people didn't have them i guess? Anyway, my parents will probably never go on another cruise and had to buy the passports for a one time shot. I feel kind of bad about that. But we were safe instead of sorry and ready for future cruises.

The operative word above is "safe".

I agree with hanna - safe is the key word.

It's better to be safe than sorry. Your TA should have explained that while you didn't need a passport to take a cruise in the Caribbean, it's advisable to have one just in case. Should you have to leave the ship for an emergency and fly back to the U.S., you need a passport. Without it, you'll be spending alot of time and money to get a temporary one in order to get back into the country. It's too bad they didn't explain the whole process.

But you have to keep in mind that 2 years ago, they were making it mandatory and then changed the policies. So there was alot of confusion going on at the time.

You still don't 'have' to have them, but it's definitely something you'd rather have and not need than to need it and not have it.

Pete

Safe is good but you also have a choice. Just as with insurance, you have a choice.
It's important to have all the facts and then make an informed choice.

But the choice is yours to make.

Am I correct in my understanding that if the cruise is a "closed loop" cruise (For example: ship leaves and arrives in the same U.S port) a passport is not required at this time? You will only need a birth certificate and driver's license. I realize a passport is highly recommended in case any type of emergency arises....However, we are planning a cruise in December 08 and we are thinking about allowing our college son to take a friend..but will not make a definite decision until closer to date of cruise.

Any cruise before June 2009 does not need a passport unless the cruise requires it for a specific country or you have to fly out of/back into the US. It would be your decision to have or not in case of emergency and you have to fly from any port back into the states.