Are passports required returning from cruises?

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Melissa B

No:
-If you are cruising this year

-AND-

-If you are leaving from and returning to the U.S. by sea.
Example, your ship leaves from Miami and returns to Miami (or any other port within the U.S.).

However, you will need photo I.D. (driver's license) and a birth certificate (one with a raised seal). Married women are encouraged to bring their marriage license to show proof of name change.

Keep in mind that it takes around 10 weeks to get a passport and you will have to surrender your original birth certificate when applying. You can expedite your passport if you need it sooner(but it is costly). If you apply for a passport and do not get it in time for your trip, you can get another birth certificate but again it may take a week or two. I would suggest doing a passport well in advance.

Also, as of next January, you WILL need a passport for international sea travel. Right now one is required for all international air and land travel. However, international sea travel does not require one until Jan. 2008.

Required: No. Recommended: Yes.

You are able to cruise with a Passport OR certified copy of your birth certificate until January 2008 since it's coming back into the US by land or sea. The Passport requirement for this year is for air travel.

However, I recommend if you have time, get a Passport for the simple reason that when Immigration checks the passengers (either getting back or going into US Territories such as US Virgin Islands), if you have a Passport you simply walk through Immigration and are waved through and if a birth certificate you get the "questions and answers" part. It doesn't take that long for the questions and answers, but it's so much easier to just hold up your Passport and walk on through.

Dusie

No for Caribbean cruises that start and end at a US port until Jan 2008.

TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

If your cruise originates from a US port and departs and returns BEFORE December 31, 2007, you do not need a passport to reenter the US. However, if you fly to Puerto Rica, Europe or other countries to board a cruise ship you need a passport right now. You will also need a passport if you go on a cruise and get sick and have to be flown back to the US.

The best advice is for you to get a passport now. The passport office just announced that it will now take longer to get new passports because the volume of applications has skyrocketed (understandable since starting January 2008 everyone will need one). Even with expedited processing it will now require a minimum of 4 weeks to get a passport. So apply now. Use the web site below for more info.

Randi

Yes, if you're returning from a foreign country by air.

beez

Yes, if you're entering the U.S. and if you've been to other countries.

wolf

In 2007 all USA citizens will be required to have a passport to leave and enter the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

JENNIFER

Yes, in international waters.

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