Hello to all you Bloggers. This writer and Blog have been inactive for a month due to serious illness. I just want to assure you that we're back on the air, and that you can keep up to date with the latest cruise developments on this Blog. Additional cruise news is always available on our website at http://www.MyNextCruise.com/
The Departments of Homeland Security and of State has issued the "FINAL" rulemaking concerning the requirements of passports for land and sea border crossings under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. After years of development following 9/11, this ruling is the end of the process and can be considered FINAL when helping your clients ensure they have the proper identification when traveling. Note: Final is an optomistic word in a world where a single terrorist incident could change all the rules in one day- R.M.
Effective June 1, 2009, the following rules take effect for cruise passengers:
U.S. citizens on cruise voyages that begin and end at the same U.S. port (closed-loop itineraries) must show proof of citizenship* and government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license). A passport will not be required for passengers that fall into this category.
*Documents include: Original or certified copy of birth certificate; Naturalization papers; Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by Department of State
All other passengers and/or itineraries (such as cruises which begin in one U.S. port and return to a different U.S. port or any cruise that begins or ends in a foreign port) will require a passport or other recognized document. (Think Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, etc! - R.M.). For a list of accepted documents, see http://www.travel.state.gov/.
The good news for a majority of cruise passengers – American citizens that leave and return on their cruise from the same U.S. port – is that the travel document requirements will remain largely unchanged from how the industry is operating today.
The bad news is that those unfortunate enought to become ill or injured on a cruise will not be allowed to return home by air, or at best will experience long delays. Being ill is enough to handle at one time. R.M.
My advice to all travellers is to get a passport now. for only about $10 per year, you can have the best I.D., and stop watching my blog for the next set of "final" regulations. Meanwhile, healthy passengers without passports can cruise roundtrip with "birth certificate and driver's license" I.D.'s. Since vacations are all about relaxing and letting go of stress, even these people should get that Passport NOW!
The Departments of Homeland Security and of State has issued the "FINAL" rulemaking concerning the requirements of passports for land and sea border crossings under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. After years of development following 9/11, this ruling is the end of the process and can be considered FINAL when helping your clients ensure they have the proper identification when traveling. Note: Final is an optomistic word in a world where a single terrorist incident could change all the rules in one day- R.M.
Effective June 1, 2009, the following rules take effect for cruise passengers:
U.S. citizens on cruise voyages that begin and end at the same U.S. port (closed-loop itineraries) must show proof of citizenship* and government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license). A passport will not be required for passengers that fall into this category.
*Documents include: Original or certified copy of birth certificate; Naturalization papers; Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by Department of State
All other passengers and/or itineraries (such as cruises which begin in one U.S. port and return to a different U.S. port or any cruise that begins or ends in a foreign port) will require a passport or other recognized document. (Think Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, etc! - R.M.). For a list of accepted documents, see http://www.travel.state.gov/.
The good news for a majority of cruise passengers – American citizens that leave and return on their cruise from the same U.S. port – is that the travel document requirements will remain largely unchanged from how the industry is operating today.
The bad news is that those unfortunate enought to become ill or injured on a cruise will not be allowed to return home by air, or at best will experience long delays. Being ill is enough to handle at one time. R.M.
My advice to all travellers is to get a passport now. for only about $10 per year, you can have the best I.D., and stop watching my blog for the next set of "final" regulations. Meanwhile, healthy passengers without passports can cruise roundtrip with "birth certificate and driver's license" I.D.'s. Since vacations are all about relaxing and letting go of stress, even these people should get that Passport NOW!
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