I know the rules keep changing, but does anyone know the current effective date for mandatory passports for cruise travel? I've just applied for my passport, and my cruise date to Mexico is December 12th. When I applied, they told me the passport should be back in plenty of time, but I'm nervous with all of the talk lately about 3-6 months worth of backlogs in issuing passports. And they keep pushing dates back when passports will be mandatory, so I'm not sure what to think. Is anyone else going through this same situation that can help me out with informtaion?
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Winston Cole Publisher,
Winston Cole
Publisher, Planmycruisevacation.com
Cruise companies generally accept a federal or state issued ID—such as a driver’s license—and birth certificate as verification for citizenship. However, most companies strongly recommend that passports be used. These companies are ahead of the June 1, 2009 travel cruise documents deadline. Caribbean cruise travel and Bahamas cruise travel are, of course, always considered international. If your Caribbean or Bahamas cruise travel plans begin at one of these locales, you’ll need a passport to fly there from the US nonetheless.
Required documents for cruise travel are the same as overland travel. Currently, if you voyage to Mexico, travel by Caribbean cruise or enter Canada, you can get through without a passport. This likewise holds true for Bahamas cruise travel. As long as the US traveler starts and ends in his homeland, he will not be required to hold a valid passport.