Passport for a cruise?

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GPapenburg

At present you do not need a passport on a cruise travel to Bermuda, Mexico, and the caribbean. A birth certificate as proof of citizenship and a driver's license as proof of ID are good to go until May 31, 2009. Persons below an age of 19 years do not need a proof of ID, just their birth certificates.

Starting June 1st, 2009 you will also need a passport, a passport card, or an enhanced driver's license denoting the citizenship for cruise travel if your U.S. port of embarkation and disembarkation should be different.

For cruises departing from / arriving at the same U.S. port you may still use birth certificate and ID for adults after June 1st, 2009. Children below 16 years do not need a proof of ID, just their birth certificates.

Cruise ship companies however recommend to hold a valid passport since an emergency flight repatriation would not be possible in case of severe illness and I would not recommend to take the risk of spending several weeks in a Caribbean hospital. You should therefore get your passports, it only takes three weeks at the moment.

Source(s):
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/ready_set_go/sea_travel/
http://getyouhome.gov/
http://travelininc.com/PASSPORTS.html
http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/travel/vacation/ready_set_go/sea_travel/faqs/whti_landsea_faq.ctt/whti_landsea_faq.pdf (see page 6)

James

That all depends on where you are traveling. It is always good to take a passport with you when you travel to international waters. If you take a cruise out of Florida, and you are traveling to the Bahamas, I am fairly certain you need a passport.

Just remember that it takes about a month to get one, so sign up early!

suncatcher

It depends where the cruise is going, if its local in your own country no
but if you are going overseas to other countries and getting off the boat yes, and every one including children need a passport, they may be in cluded on yours with you, and it takes a while to get it done if you havent had one before

t24021994

Have you thought about the passport card? It is a lot cheaper than the passport book. You can read more here http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html
Its Valid when entering the United States
from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean
and Bermuda at land border crossings
or sea ports-of-entry. Not valid for
international travel by air. We are going on a cruise to Cozumel Mexico in late June. We decided to apply for the card because it is a lot cheaper. Happy sailing!

Barkley Hound

There is no minimum age for a passport.

On June 1, 2009 all cruise passengers will be required to possess a passport unless on a closed loop cruise (see below). Prior to that date if you are only traveling to and from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda you only need documentation as indicated in the closed loop rules below. Travel to all other countries requires a passport.

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 youâ€™ll be making on your cruise.

Even though a passport is not required I would highly recommend one. If you get stuck in a foreign country without one you can't fly home. The passport cards that are being issued as an alternative to the passport book will not allow you to fly.

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Natty D

If you are American, and if the cruise is traveling only between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, then no... you don't need a passport. For any other destinations, you must take one.

vergavibrar

What IS IT with AmeriKans and PASSPORTS? Why do AmeriKans think they are so imporant they should be able to go to foreign countries with just an old utility bill or their voters ID card to go and come back.

GET A PASSPORT.. then you can be like EVERYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD who has a PASSPORT to go to FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

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