Will i need a passport to go on a cruise in february?

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Travel Gary

The new law says that you do need a passport to get back into the US regardless of the destination (even Canada, Mexico and Bahamas) if traveling by air. Here's the official word. There does seem some misinformation about cruise ships but best to get one just to be on the safe side. I work for a cruise line and we are urging all guests to get a passport before travel next year:

The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security have announced the official requirements for citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to present a valid passport to enter or re-enter the United States. The implementation schedule is as follows:

January 23, 2007 - Valid passport required for all air travel into or out of the United States.
As early as January 1, 2008 - All persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by air, land or sea, will be required to have a valid passport.

JJBP

If you go to any Caribbean island you will have to have a passport, you wouldn't if you are going US Virgin Islands. According to the new homeland Security laws you wouldn't be able to enter the United States again with out one.

chipster_45

Depends on where you start, if you are leaving from the US, no, if you have t o fly to a foriegn country to begin your cruise then yes. Here is what the State department says:

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

# Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.
# As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries

OK yeah well whatever

We are cruising in February, and, while the US State department doesn't require a passport for the cruise, Norwegian Cruise Line DOES. Their requirements trump the State Department in this instance. I have posted the link to the State Department's page about passports below.

They're good for 10 years anyway, so it's ten bucks a year.

roundater

New Requirements for Travelers

* Media Notes
* Flyers & Fact Sheet
* Frequently Asked Questions
* Federal Regulations

Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)

The proposed implementation timeline has two phases:

* Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.
* As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.

The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Travel Documents for U.S. Citizens Under WHTI

Under the proposed implementation plan, the following documents will be acceptable to fulfill document requirements:

* U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport when traveling via air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, and may also use a U.S. passport when traveling via sea and land borders (including ferry crossings).
* The Passport Card (also referred to as the PASS Card): This limited-use passport in card format is currently under development and will be available for use for travel only via land or sea (including ferries) between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Similar in size to a credit card, it will fit easily into a wallet.
* DOS and DHS also anticipate that the following documents will continue to be acceptable for their current travel uses under WHTI: SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST, and the U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document. As proposed, members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty traveling on orders will continue to be exempt from the passport requirement.

Background

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to develop and implement a plan to require all travelers, U.S. citizens and foreign nationals alike, to present a passport or other document, or a combination of documents, that denote identity and citizenship when entering the United States. Congress amended portions of the Act in 2006. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is the Administrationâ€™s proposed plan to implement this mandate.

The goal of the Initiative is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized, secure and reliable documentation which will allow the Department of Homeland Security to quickly, reliably and accurately identify a traveler.

Media Notes

* 11/22/2006 Passports Required for Air Travel to United States as of January 23, 2007
* 10/17/2006 Department of State to Introduce Passport Card

Flyers & Fact Sheet

* Fact Sheet - Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (pdfPDF)
* Flyer on Passport Requirement for Air Travel to United States as of January 23, 2007 (pdfPDF)

Frequently Asked Questions

* Frequently Asked Questions about the New Travel Initiative Requirements (FAQs)

Federal Regulations

*
Final Rule - Air Phase (pdf PDF)
*
Proposed Rule - Passport Card (pdf PDF)
*
Comments Submitted in Passport Card Rule Making Proceeding (DOS-2006-0329-0001)

Other Relevant Links

* Department of Homeland Security
* U.S. Customs and Border Protection

You will need a Passport to get back IN the US in February. As far as a cruise, there's an extended exception to 2008 where you can still use an original birth certificate. HOWEVER, when you go through the security checks for Immigration, if you have a Passport, they look, wave you through and it's done, if you have a birth certificate you most likely will be aimed to the "let's have a little question and answer session" line. The hassle isn't worth it and eventually going to have to have one anyhow, so get a Passport now to avoid the hassles.

pattie541

Per cruiselinefans.com:

As of today, 11/25/06, this is what is on the government Passport web site (New Requirements for Travelers )

New Requirements for Travelers
Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)
The proposed implementation timeline has two phases:

Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document.

As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.

Here's my suggestion, whatever your destination is:
get the passport. It's a great ID while traveling. And if you're planning on traveling outside of the US, you might as well get it as soon as possible. It is good for ten years!

man_of_mustard

If you travel out of the country, you'll need a passport.

Lynne

It's a good idea. I'm not sure where your destination is, but I know you need a passport to go to any Carribean Island, Mexico or Canada-any border crossing as of January 2007. Apply for one at the post office soon- it takes a good 6 weeks or so to get one. If you rush order it, the price increases quite a bit. Good luck! Have a great time!

S0LYMAR

You have plenty of time to get that passport between now and your departure date. Get the passport and if they don't request it (I doubt it) then it will encourage you to go on another international vacation. Remember that the passport is good for 10 years.

Say What?

Only if you leave US waters.

getsteppin2000

if you plan on stepping off the plane, you will need one.

Same as ships. That was in '02. I do beleive today, it could be required anyway, since you would be entering international water.

Just assume that after Dec. 31, 2006 you will need a passport to leave and enter the US no matter to what destination you go. If you don't have your passport by now and you need it for Feb. 2007, I highly recommend you have it expedited. It will cost you more, but you will receive it on time. So many people waited until the last minute to get their passport that the offices are falling behind getting passports out and it will take longer than the usual 4-6 weeks to get your passport back.

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