If i want to go to the bahamas on a cruise do i need a passport?

Question

If i want to go to the bahamas on a cruise do i need a passport?

Answer 1

Yes. You will need a passport in 2008...for now NO - although I would check out the US State Dept Consulate web site because I was required to have a passport last year and year before last...on cruises it depends on the ports of call....some islands require it , some do not...Whether or not you plan to disembark at a particular port of call if the ship goes there and that island requires a passport, you must have one.

Answer 2

As the other answer said, you do not need to have a passport if you will be traveling this year.

That being said, it is not a bad idea to get one if you can. The passport laws have been moved back many times, they keep changing what they will be doing (they just changed the rules for children and passports a day or two ago) So, the passports rules are very unsure at this point. The government can change the rule at any time, so you may want to have one just in case.

Also, if you would need to fly home for some reason (such as a family emergency) you do need to have a passport. Any air travel needs  a passport, but at this point, you don't need them for cruises.

Have a great time!

Answer 3

Not if you slept with Anna Nicole Smith!!!

Answer 4

The simple answer is No until January, 2008.

However, you will need proof of citizenship ID which would be a state certified copy of your Birth Certificate to get back into the US when returning. There is a misconception about Passports. They are used as proof of citizenship for Immigration into the US or into US territories (ie. US Virgin Islands). But for sea travel, a form of citizenship can be a certified copy of a Birth Certificate until January, 2008.

Cruise lines "encourage" but don't require Passports. Their only requirement is a Passport OR state certified copy of a Birth Certificate as is required of them for Immigration.

One thing to keep in mind however is if for some reason, family illness, an emergency, etc. you have to fly back to the US from the Bahamas after getting there by a cruise, the travel by air requirements will be in place even though you went by cruise. And travel back into the US by air requires a Passport.

Another thing to think about if you have time to get a Passport is that when arriving back into the US, if you have a Passport you walk through Immigration and just get waved through. If you have a Birth Certificate they usually (not always) stop you and have a little "question and answer" session with you.

But for your answer, no, but must have proof of citizenship to gain reentery back into the US either by Passport or state certified copy of your Birth Certificate (original can be used, but highly discouraged for obvious reasons). But the Bahamas don't check your Passport and use it like the cruises do as a form of ID along with your ship pass allowing you back into the port to get back on the ship. The cruise lines check to see what ID you have when signing in at embarkment (check in).

Answer 5

The US Government is not requiring you to have one for cruise travel until 2008.  That being said....if something happens while you are on the cruise such as a family emergency or injury etc....you will not be able to re-enter the US without a passport.

Answer 6

It depends upon when you travel.

Passports will be required for land and sea travel beginning Jan. 1, 2008.  However, if you do not need a passport if you cruise in 2007.

Check out url:  http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbp...

Answer 7

Nope! I have been there twice.

Answer 8

When my fiance and I went on our Bahamas cruise, we made sure to have a passport.  Why risk being in another country without one.

Answer 9

No, you will not need a passport until startiung January 2008.  But you can save yourself a bunch of hassles by applying for one now and beating the rush, especially if you plan to do any more traveling outside of the country.

Read the exact details at this web site:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/passpor...  

Also, if you cruise to the Bahamas and somehow get left behind, or get sick and have to fly back to the US, you need a passport right now.