Is a passport required to take a cruise?

Question

I have heard thet a new law will soon be in effect make a passport needed to cruise. Is this aready the case or can I still cruise without a pssport?

Answer 1

Depends on where you want to take a cruise to.

Answer 2

* Air travel: Passports are now required for all U.S. citizens traveling to or from any international destination via air, with the exception of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

    * Land and sea travel: From January 1, 2008 to summer 2008, U.S. citizens traveling to or from the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, and Mexico via land or sea ports must present a government-issued photo ID in addition to proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. (A voter’s registration card and social security card are not considered to be proof of citizenship.) Children under the age of 16 do not require a government-issued photo ID.

    * Summer 2008 rules: Beginning as early as summer 2008, passports will be required for all U.S. citizens traveling to or from the United States via land, sea, and air—regardless of destination.

http://travel.state.gov/

Answer 3

The Feds have waffled on the implementation of passport requirements for crusing again...dates have come and gone without complete implementation for sea travel.

Here is the link to the info published by the Feds:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbp...

If your cruising in 2007, no passport required.

The Feds have targeted Summer 2008 for full implentation. The plan a 60-day notice when they determine the month of implementation.  The problem is...it can take longer than 60 days to get your passport.  We got our kids passports in about 6 weeks but I have friends that did not get theirs for 3 months.

If your planning a summer cruise in 2008, you should go ahead and get your passport.  It would be like buying $100 worth of travel insurance.

Another benefit for having passport...you clear customs quicker upon your return...

Answer 4

You don't need the passport to get off the ship [assuming here that you're US citizen].  However, you should at least have a copy of it when you leave the ship, in case you run into problems, e.g. getting left behind!  There's debate over whether you should take original or copy when you go ashore - the copy probably wouldn't get you out of the country, but it would make it easier to deal with authorities to get a substitute.  Some people worry about passport being stolen.  Either way, you should have a copy that you keep separate from the original, just in case.

At some point in the future, you will need a passport to get back into the U.S. after foreign travel, though the dates keep changing.  Safest bet is to have one.

Answer 5

yes. U need it to get off the ship in foregin contries... when u bring it, keep it safe. they are worth a lot in some places

Answer 6

check this info below from the state department - eventually passports will be required and the countries you are going to may require passports:  

AIR TRAVEL

Implemented on January 23, 2007, ALL PERSONS traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean region are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States.

LAND AND SEA TRAVEL

The following summarizes information available on the Department of Homeland Security’s website.

    * JANUARY 31, 2008

      U.S. and Canadian citizens will need to present either a WHTI-compliant document, or a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, plus proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. DHS also proposes to begin alternative procedures for U.S. and Canadian children at that time.

    * SUMMER 2008

      At a later date, to be determined, the departments will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have either a U.S. passport; a U.S. passport card; a trusted traveler card such as NEXUS, FAST, or SENTRI; a valid Merchant Mariner Document (MMD) when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business; or a valid U.S. Military identification card when traveling on official orders.

      The implementation date will be determined based on a number of factors, including the progress of actions undertaken by the Department of Homeland Security to implement the WHTI requirements and the availability of WHTI compliant documents on both sides of the border. DHS and DOS expect the date of full WHTI implementation to be in the summer of 2008. The precise implementation date will be formally announced with at least 60 days notice.

Note: The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory.

U.S. PASSPORT AND OTHER TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

    * U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport when traveling via air, land or sea between the U.S. and the aforementioned Western Hemisphere countries.

    * The Passport Card: This limited-use, wallet-size passport card is not yet available and is under development.  When available it will only be valid for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean region (includes Bermuda).

    * Other Accepted Travel Documents: SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST and the U.S. Coast Guard Mariner Document.  Members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty traveling on orders are exempt from the passport requirement. DHS has more information on these travel documents.  This information may be seen at www.dhs.gov.

ABOUT WHTI

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is a result of the Intelligence Reform and Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), requiring all travelers to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the U.S.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on February 22 its intent to propose, as part of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), significant flexibility regarding travel documents required for U.S. and Canadian children as part of WHTI requirements for U.S. land and sea border entry in 2008.

The goal of the initiative is to strengthen U.S. border security while facilitating entry for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized documentation that enables the Department of Homeland Security to quickly and reliably identify a traveler.

Media Notes

    * 09/04/2007  DHS Reminds Carriers and Traveling Public About the End of the Temporary WHTI Accommodation

    * 06/08/2007  Joint Departments of State and Homeland Security Announcement: U.S. Citizens with Pending Passport Applications Allowed Temporary Travel Flexibility Within Western Hemisphere

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)

    * Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Land/Sea Rule (pdf PDF)

Other Relevant Links

    * Department of Homeland Security

    * U.S. Customs and Border Protection