Going on a cruise in September...my cousin doesn't have his passport yet...do he need one???

Question

It leaves Los Angeles, CA and goes to Mexico, Panama, Cosa Rica and others.....Does he need one????

Answer 1

Starting Jan. 2008 you will need a passport for even cruise travel.  Currently until that date as long as it is round trip a US port you are not required to have a passport.  

Keep in mind though if an emergency occurs while on this cruise that requires you to fly home, your cousin will not be able to go home until after the cruise because you will be at International ports and there will be no exceptions to this no matter what the reason for the emergency that requires you to travel home.

You should be ok with this, but you just never know!  I would have her go out and apply right away just so in the future you won't have to worry about this.

Answer 2

not this year but next year he will, he will need his birth certificate and a picture ID

Answer 3

Check out the announcement by the Passport office at < http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbp... >.  Hopefully that will answer all your questions.

Answer 4

Since the department has been overwhelmed with Passport requests, they are letting people go on just their Birth Certificates until the end of this year.  Beginning 08 - you will definately need the passport.

Answer 5

You should be fine since that have even lifted the requirement for air travel due to the backup in applications. (of course the application backup is caused by the people who knew this was coming for two years but decided to wait until the last minute. I got mine last in August 06 and it only took 4 weeks.) The only country you might have a problem in is Panama, I'm not sure what their requirements are. Mexico will let you in with just a drivers license and I believe Costa Rica is the same.

Answer 6

Passports are not required for sea travel to Mexico until at least Jan of 2008.  All that is needed is a picture id and a birth certificate.