A friend told me that you did not need to have a passport for cruises until 2008. Is that true?

Question

A friend told me that you did not need to have a passport for cruises until 2008. Is that true?

Answer 1

YES... that is true !!!!!

Answer 2

That is only true if you are not going out of your country. Otherwise I suggest you get a passport unless you want to get arrested. Contact the cruise line for more information or visit the onlione site of your cruise.

Answer 3

You need them if you're traveling to places that arent commonwealths of the United States.

Answer 4

I just got back from a ten day cruise on Monday. We applied for passports but they did not arrive on time. It took over 10 weeks. We just used our birth certificates and drivers licenses. You will NOT need one until January 2008. So we'll be ok for next cruise.

Answer 5

Yes, Go to usps.com ,look under government services, select passports. There is  a lot of information there.

Answer 6

No that is not true, and with the new rules passports are taking longer than normal to get back, so allow 8 to 10 weeks before you plan to travel to get your passport.

Answer 7

you only need a passport for cruise if they a re going to stop and dock somewhere outside of the united states, but most cruises require that you bring your passport just so you can get on the ship for identification purposes and they may not except your drivers license for some reason that is unknown to me.

Answer 8

Your friend is correct.

Please note that this applies towards "traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda."

If you're in the US, as of this year you'll need your passport anytime you're FLYING out of the country (previously you did not need it for Canada and Mexico).

As of January 1, 2008, you will be required to have your passport if travelling by LAND OR SEA.

Therefore, you won't technically be required to have a passport, but you'll need some way of proving your citizenship.  My best friend used her birth certificate during disembarkment when cruised to Mexico.

Cruiselines, however, may be proactive about this new upcoming policy, so make sure you contact your cruiseline to make sure you have what you need to get through customs.

Due to the new demand, passports are taking up to 10 weeks, but you can have it rushed for 2 weeks with a little extra money.

Here's one example of current cruiseline passport policy: http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/New_Pas...

Answer 9

Depends where the cruise is going. My kids just went to Cozumel and did not need passports. Just last week.

Answer 10

No that is not true - many cruises sail out of the USA, and they are requiring a passport now to leave from there. To go overseas you need a passport as well, so your friend is misinformed. Enjoy your holiday.

Answer 11

You do not need a passport until January 1st, 2008, but keep in mind, if you have to get off the ship to fly home for any reason, say a family emergency, from any port that is not American soil, you WILL need a passport.  That is why most cruise companies strongly suggest you have a passport now.  It is a requirement to have a passport to FLY from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, anywhere foreign to the USA.  Just think if you miss your ship at the last port of call and you need to fly home to meet the ship and get your belongings, but you can't ge out of the country you're in.  Get the passport, you will cover any possibility that way.

Answer 12

Uh, no, that's not true.

Answer 13

This depends on the type of cruise and your destination.  Contact the cruise line for information.