passport needed or not for Caribbean cruise?
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From: Ohioguy on 7 Jun 2010 17:00 My wife was getting on me about getting a passport. I've never needed one before, because when I went to Canada you still didn't need one, and most of my travel is inside the US. http://cruises.about.com/cs/officialinfo/ht/passport.htm At first I read the above article, which has no date but is still "dated", evidently, because it said no passport is needed for cruises to the Caribbean. It mentioned a "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative" or somesuch card, which I guess has now been replaced with a "US Passport Card". Anybody ever used a "US Passport Card" ?? It is unlikely that I'll be flying to another country, so that would probably be fine with me.
From: AZ Nomad on 7 Jun 2010 17:20 On Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:00:42 -0400, Ohioguy <none(a)none.net> wrote: > My wife was getting on me about getting a passport. I've never >needed one before, because when I went to Canada you still didn't need >one, and most of my travel is inside the US. why don't you read the documentation handed to you by the company you're cruising with?
From: Tom K on 7 Jun 2010 17:30 On 6/7/10 5:00 PM, Ohioguy wrote: > My wife was getting on me about getting a passport. I've never needed > one before, because when I went to Canada you still didn't need one, and > most of my travel is inside the US. > > http://cruises.about.com/cs/officialinfo/ht/passport.htm > > At first I read the above article, which has no date but is still > "dated", evidently, because it said no passport is needed for cruises to > the Caribbean. It mentioned a "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative" or > somesuch card, which I guess has now been replaced with a "US Passport > Card". > > Anybody ever used a "US Passport Card" ?? It is unlikely that I'll be > flying to another country, so that would probably be fine with me. The passport card is pretty much a waste. Just get a regular passport. It's not like the cost is that different. But just suppose... let's say you twist an ankle or something like that, and need to fly back to the US. Or you miss the ship because of an excursion... or whatever. But let's just say you need to fly back for some reason half way through the cruise. A passport lets you. Or let's say your wife likes it... and next year wants to go on a Mediterranean cruise... you're set with the passport. --Tom
From: rieker on 7 Jun 2010 17:40 > Anybody ever used a "US Passport Card" ?? It is unlikely that I'll > be flying to another country, so that would probably be fine with me. A passport card is worthless, IMO. If you are on a 'closed loop' cruise (one wherein you return to the same port from which you sailed) a US citizen can use the combination of a certified birth certificate and a govt. issued photo ID (drivers license). I believe that children under 16 only need a birth certificate. If you get sick and must return home from any foreign port, anywhere on planet earth, you will need a real passport (not the 'card'). If you take a cruise that departs say from Ft Lauderdale, transits the Panama Canal and you finish in San Diego, you need a passport. A passport will cost you about $10/yr. You have to pay up front....they are issued for 10 years (to adults, kids are a little cheaper and good for 5 yrs.) http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1206635771151.shtm "How will the final WHTI requirements affect passengers going on cruises? U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same port in the U.S.) will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 will be able to present either an original or a copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by DOS, or a Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Please be aware that you may still be required to present a passport when you dock at a foreign port, depending on the islands or countries that your cruise ship is visiting. Check with your cruiseline to ensure you have the appropriate documents for the stops you'll be making on your cruise." --- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: news(a)netfront.net ---
From: John Sisker on 7 Jun 2010 17:43
All of the personal documents we're seeing now days from the cruise lines, just mention the need for a passport. While there are still exceptions, that is quickly becoming a thing of the past, and something the cruise line seldom bother to even bring up anymore. Our suggestion... get a passport. You'll need it eventually, if not right away. John Sisker - SHIP-TO-SHORE CRUISE AGENCY� (714) 536-3850 or toll-free at (800) 724-6644 & (Agency ID: 714.536.3850) www.shiptoshorecruise.com / www.tinplatedesign.com > Facebook/Twitter/Blog/Flickr/MyPage |