Passport/Cruise

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OldHillcrestGuy

Well-Known Member
Ive never been on a cruise, but planning one for our 40th anniversary. Is a passport needed for locations in the Carribbean, Ive heard some places you dont need one, but that doesnt sound right unless its the Virgin Islands. I understand you can get your passport photo at some post offices? Is it best to go to a travel agent and have him arrange everything and what do the fee's cost for using him, or call these places you see in the travel sections in the paper that just has a phone number.
Im looking to go around late March or April and leave from Baltimore.

Any help with my questions would be greatly appreciated.
 
lovinmaryland

lovinmaryland

Well-Known Member
OldHillcrestGuy said:
Ive never been on a cruise, but planning one for our 40th anniversary. Is a passport needed for locations in the Carribbean, Ive heard some places you dont need one, but that doesnt sound right unless its the Virgin Islands. I understand you can get your passport photo at some post offices? Is it best to go to a travel agent and have him arrange everything and what do the fee's cost for using him, or call these places you see in the travel sections in the paper that just has a phone number.
Im looking to go around late March or April and leave from Baltimore.

Any help with my questions would be greatly appreciated.
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You dont require a passport if your cruise only hits one place and leaves & returns from an american port.

An example would be leaving from New Jersey going to Bermuda and then arriving back in New Jersey.

I have been on a cruise that didnt require one but I did purchase one just to be safe. I got my picture taken at CVS and then went to the post office to complete everything else. I received my birth certificate back in about a week and the passport in 3 weeks.
 
Katelin

Katelin

one day the dark will end
OldHillcrestGuy said:
Ive never been on a cruise, but planning one for our 40th anniversary. Is a passport needed for locations in the Carribbean, Ive heard some places you dont need one, but that doesnt sound right unless its the Virgin Islands. I understand you can get your passport photo at some post offices? Is it best to go to a travel agent and have him arrange everything and what do the fee's cost for using him, or call these places you see in the travel sections in the paper that just has a phone number.
Im looking to go around late March or April and leave from Baltimore.

Any help with my questions would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Yes..you leave the ship and step on foreign soil..you better have your passport! Some cruises out of the US require you to have passport just to board!
Have a great trip and Happy Anniversary!!:buddies:



PS: Go to your Post Office..best and quickest place to get passport..they have applications and will do photos and mail it out for you!! Super easy!!
 
Bavarian

Bavarian

New Member
OldHillcrestGuy said:
Ive never been on a cruise, but planning one for our 40th anniversary. Is a passport needed for locations in the Carribbean, Ive heard some places you dont need one, but that doesnt sound right unless its the Virgin Islands. I understand you can get your passport photo at some post offices? Is it best to go to a travel agent and have him arrange everything and what do the fee's cost for using him, or call these places you see in the travel sections in the paper that just has a phone number.
Im looking to go around late March or April and leave from Baltimore.

Any help with my questions would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Ask your Travel Agent
 
Homer J

Homer J

Power Chord
Wirelessly posted

If you don't ever plan on flying anywhere that you would need a passport, you can get a passport card. Cheaper than a full passport but can only be used if you travel out of the country by ship or car.
 
lovinmaryland

lovinmaryland

Well-Known Member
Homer J said:
Wirelessly posted

If you don't ever plan on flying anywhere that you would need a passport, you can get a passport card. Cheaper than a full passport but can only be used if you travel out of the country by ship or car.
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Passport card wont work for cruises unfortunately.
 
vraiblonde

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
Katelin said:
PS: Go to your Post Office..best and quickest place to get passport..they have applications and will do photos and mail it out for you!! Super easy!!
Click to expand...

^This^ It's not particularly expensive, around $50 or so, and only takes a few minutes. They do everything right there at the post office and mail it to you, just like Katelin said.

Also, if you're cruising in March or April, go get your passport now. Right now. Usually you'll have it back within a few weeks, but sometimes it takes longer.
 
lovinmaryland

lovinmaryland

Well-Known Member
vraiblonde said:
^This^ It's not particularly expensive, around $50 or so, and only takes a few minutes. They do everything right there at the post office and mail it to you, just like Katelin said.

Also, if you're cruising in March or April, go get your passport now. Right now. Usually you'll have it back within a few weeks, but sometimes it takes longer.
Click to expand...

When did you get yours? I got mine 2 years ago and w/ the picture and everything it was like a $125 a pop!
 
b23hqb

b23hqb

Well-Known Member
PREMO Member
vraiblonde said:
^This^ It's not particularly expensive, around $50 or so, and only takes a few minutes. They do everything right there at the post office and mail it to you, just like Katelin said.

Also, if you're cruising in March or April, go get your passport now. Right now. Usually you'll have it back within a few weeks, but sometimes it takes longer.
Click to expand...

Post Office is the most convenient place to get passport new or renewed. Same price as State Dept.

I would not leave the country on any conveyance without one, and if you are a legal resident in the US with foreign citizenship, you had best take your current green card as well, or you very well may not be allowed back in without paying for a new application (around $580 US)*

*We went through that this summer. My wife, a Bermudian citizen, had her passport but not her current alien card. It was almost a nightmare just returning to Washington state from Victoria Island, BC, Canada.

The US Customs agent in BC was kind enough to present my wife with a one-time waiver (after confirming electronically that her status was actually up to date) to save us that fee. She received a well-deserved, kindly tongue-lashing from the customs agent both in BC and Anacortes, Wa, upon return.

From me as well, as I told her numerous times to make sure she had her current card in her possession before leaving......

Wives....gotta love 'em.....:love:
 
P

Proud_Nana

Member
I would recommend getting the passport. If you are travelling from the US to a US Virgin Island, it is not necessary for the cruise as long as you remain on US soils and return to the same point. A problem arises when lets say you are visiting a non US Island and become ill or become ill and they fly you off the ship to another location. You will have extreme difficulty getting back into the US without your passport. Better safe than sorry. Also, when you get your passport, make color copies. Leave the original passports on the ship in the ships safe in your cabin. Carry the copies with you to get on and off the ship with your ship identification/cabin card. Also, we used a great local travel agent.... Welcome to your escape.... Tracy Dennis.
 
luvmygdaughters

luvmygdaughters

Well-Known Member
We went on our 4th cruise in Sept. to caribbean. We went out on royal caribbean and were required to have a passport. We went to cvs and had photos done then to the callaway post office for the passport. Whole process took approximately 3 weeks. It is worth it to get the passport so you have proper documentation when traveling out of the country. Happy Anniversay and have a wonderful time on your cruise. We love them.:buddies:
 
lovinmaryland

lovinmaryland

Well-Known Member
Homer J said:
Wirelessly posted



Did for us.

U.S. Passport Card
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Maybe different cruise lines have different rules. We just went on Celebrity in May and they would not acccept them. I bought them for the kids because it was a more affordable option. Luckily I brought their BC along w/ us because they would not accept the cards. Said that they were basically an id card or another form of a drivers license.


OP where and what line are you thinking of going on?
 
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