HELP! New passport rules. Even for closed loop cruise.

[runamuc]

My sister just called me to let me know that she just recieved a message from her TA about new requirements for travel to the Carribean, Bahamas , etc. It said you must have a passport. Even on a closed looped cruise. She is traveling on the Carnival Miracle. I am also booked for March 1 st on the Miracle but booked with a PVP. Carnival has not notified anyone as to this new change.
So I called the Passport office for the USA and the lady looked up different countries to see if the have changed their laws. Yep ..they did. She had me call the Royal Netherlands Embassy to double check. They said yes even on a closed loop cruise and directed me to their web site :

ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS: All U.S. citizens must have a valid U.S. passport for all air travel, including to and from Aruba. All sea travelers must also now have a passport or passport card. We strongly encourage all American citizen travelers to apply for a U.S. passport or passport card well in advance of anticipated travel. American citizens can visit travel.state.gov or call 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778) for information on how to apply for their passports. Visitors to Aruba may be asked to show onward/return tickets, proof of sufficient funds and proof of lodging accommodations for their stay. Length of stay for U.S. citizens is granted for thirty days and may be extended to 180 days by the office of immigration. For further information, travelers may contact the Royal Netherlands Embassy, 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone (202) 244-5300, or the Dutch Consulate in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Houston or Miami. Visit the web site for the Embassy of the Netherlands and the Aruban Department of Immigration for the most current visa information.

Now I did not bother to check out each country as I was told this applies to all the others mentioned.
So I have a call into Carnivan and still waiting for a call back.

[okgirl]

I believe this only applies to people who are going to stay in the Bahamas or the island.....cruise passengers are considered in transit and are exempt.

If this were truely a change I would think that there would be MUCH more chatter about it and not from just one TA. This would be a game changer for ALL cruiselines and their passengers.

[sparks1093]

Originally Posted by okgirl

I believe this only applies to people who are going to stay in the Bahamas or the island.....cruise passengers are considered in transit and are exempt.

If this were truely a change I would think that there would be MUCH more chatter about it and not from just one TA. This would be a game changer for ALL cruiselines and their passengers.

The cited rules are for Aruba, but I would be surprised if they don't also have the same exclusion for cruise ship pax (I think the TA is mis-interpreting but haven't done the research necessary to confirm it).

[panamatiger]

It makes more sense to have a passport than not while traveling.
Looks like Aruba wants US Citizens to have one. Here is the link

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p.../cis_1153.html

We are going to Aruba in April 2012. Thanks for the heads up. I found these countries still to be passport exempt:

St. Vincent & the Grenadines
... NOTE: Be aware that Caribbean cruises that begin and end in the US (closed loop
cruises) do not require that you travel with a valid passport. ...
travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1028.html - Nov 18, 2011 Barbados
... NOTE: Be aware that Caribbean cruises that begin and end in the US (closed loop
cruises) do not require that you travel with a valid passport. ...
travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1022.html - Nov 18, 2011 Dominica
... NOTE: Be aware that Caribbean cruises that begin and end in the US (closed loop
cruises) do not require that you travel with a valid passport. ...
travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1102.html - Nov 18, 2011 French West Indies
... NOTE: Be aware that Caribbean cruises that begin and end in the US (closed loop
cruises) do not require that you travel with a valid passport. ...
travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1746.html - Nov 18, 2011 Belize
... Cruise ship passengers: US citizens on closed-loop cruises (ie, cruises that begin
and end at the same US port) will be permitted to depart or enter the US ...
travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1055.html - Nov 18, 2011 British Virgin Islands
... NOTE: Be aware that Caribbean cruises that begin and end in the US (closed loop
cruises) do not require that you travel with a valid passport. ...
travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1079.html - Nov 18, 2011 Grenada
... States. This requirement will be extended to sea travel (except closed-loop
cruises), including ferry service, on June 1, 2009. Until ...
travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1128.html - Nov 18, 2011 Mexico
... All US citizens traveling outside of the United States by air, land or sea (except
closed-loop cruises) are required to present a Western Hemisphere Travel ...
travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html - Nov 18, 2011 Dominican Republic
... This requirement was extended to sea travel (except closed loop cruises),
including ferry service, during the summer of 2009. US ...
travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1103.html - Nov 18, 2011

I remember showing a passport the last time we were in Grand Cayman as well

Panama

[AWCHIEF]

Current guidance from Carnival:

CRUISE TRAVEL
U.S. Citizens
Carnival highly recommends all guests travel with a passport (valid for at least six months beyond completion of travel). Although a passport is not required for U.S. citizens taking cruises that begin & end in the same U.S. port, travelling with a passport enhances your disembarkation experience, as delays may be expected upon your return to the U.S. if you do not have one. Additionally, passports make it easier for you to fly from the U.S. to a foreign port should you miss your scheduled port of embarkation, or need to fly back to the U.S. for emergency reasons.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) allows U.S. citizens (including children) sailing on cruises that begin and end in the same U.S. port to travel with one of the following WHTI compliant document:

• Valid U.S. Passport
• Passport Card
• Original or suitable quality copy of a Birth Certificate (Issued by the department of vital statistics)
• Certificate of Naturalization
• Trusted Traveler Program Membership Card, e.g., Nexus Card, Sentri Card or Fast Card
• Enhanced Tribal Card
• A Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• Enhanced Driver's License (EDL)

Note: Enhanced Driver's Licenses can be used as proof of citizenship at land and sea ports of entry. However, it cannot be used to travel by air outside the United States.

[RoofingPrincess]

There are two separate issues:
1) The requirements of the US for re-entry; and
2) The requirements of each country visited on the cruise.

Regarding #1, the US still has the passport exemption for closed-loop cruises. This is from the CBP (Customs & Border Patrol) website: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...-take-a-cruise
Regarding #2, most if not all Caribbean islands have an exemption for people visiting on a cruise; since they're there for less than a day, they're treated as if they're "in transit", much as if they were simply changing planes in an airport, on the way to somewhere else. I can see requiring passengers arriving by sea for a stay (for example, on a yacht) to have a passport, but to be honest, if a country decided cruise ship passengers had to have passports to visit,
a) they'd have to have someone there to check each person getting off; and
b) the cruise lines would probably stop going there, because so many Americans cruise with their driver's license and birth certificate, and wouldn't be able to take those cruises.

Carnival's own website is still showing that you can use the driver's license and birth certificate on a closed-loop cruise,
http://www.carnival.com/cms/fun/crui..._document.aspx
and that's probably exactly what the Carnival rep will tell you when you talk to them.
Your sister's TA may have misinterpreted something she read.

[elcuchio24]

It'll be nice when they DO make it mandatory, so we can stop having these discusions.

[*Mach*]

As has been stated above, Aruba is free to... and apparently has... modified it's requirements for visiting the island. On this end of the equation, however, nothing has changed.

The documentation requirements for 'closed loop voyages' remains the same as does the CBP list for 'contiguous territories or adjacent islands.' The information can be found here:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/in...d_loop_faq.xml

[runamuc]

Just talked to my PVP and she said nothing has changed. Just MIS information from a TA. I do know that it is better to have a passport . But the point is why cause so much confussion to your clients. Makes you wonder how much this TA knows about cruising.

[mondello]

Originally Posted by elcuchio24

It'll be nice when they DO make it mandatory, so we can stop having these discusions.

Ahh, a voice of reason in a sea of...

[DanBoy]

Agree...Very upsetting getting crappy information like that.

[*Mach*]

Originally Posted by runamuc

Just talked to my PVP and she said nothing has changed. Just MIS information from a TA. I do know that it is better to have a passport . But the point is why cause so much confussion to your clients. Makes you wonder how much this TA knows about cruising.

Ya' know... cruising is a very unique form of vacation. I can't think of many other types of vacation travel that involve three, four or five different countries and at least two modes of transportation. It's complex... very complex and all of the ins and outs can be tough to follow. That's why Cruise Critic and similar sites are of great value... information.

I could imagine a TA who deals with all forms of travel not being up to speed on a given aspect (although a very important aspect!) of a specific type of vacation or on laws recently passed in one of the lesser visited countries.

Bottom line, I guess, research if it sounds odd!!

[B and C Blake]

Well, apparently this has been a requirement for some time.
http://www.aruba.com/sigma/Entry_Req-Eng.pdf

On page 3 notes that the ONLY thing cruise ship pax are exempt from is the Visa requirements.

The date at bottom of the document is from August 2011.

I find it interesting that this has not come up before now.
I wonder if the Authorities in Aruba are just being lenient for right now.

Just another step closer to Phase 3 of passport requirements becoming a mandatory requirement.

It's just easier to go ahead and get a passport and be done with it.

[mosaic_mom]

I could be wrong, but it sounds to me like they mean people who travel there by sea and stay a while. Not really meant for cruise passengers who stay for a few hours and leave again.

[arpie05]

Originally Posted by runamuc

My sister just called me to let me know that she just recieved a message from her TA about new requirements for travel to the Carribean, Bahamas , etc. It said you must have a passport. Even on a closed looped cruise. She is traveling on the Carnival Miracle. I am also booked for March 1 st on the Miracle but booked with a PVP. Carnival has not notified anyone as to this new change.
.

I got an EMAIL from Carnival this week for my June cruise stating what travel documents I need. Might want to see what email you have set up for your reservation.

[jakesnana]

Originally Posted by B and C Blake

Well, apparently this has been a requirement for some time.
http://www.aruba.com/sigma/Entry_Req-Eng.pdf

On page 3 notes that the ONLY thing cruise ship pax are exempt from is the Visa requirements.

The date at bottom of the document is from August 2011.

I find it interesting that this has not come up before now.
I wonder if the Authorities in Aruba are just being lenient for right now.

Just another step closer to Phase 3 of passport requirements becoming a mandatory requirement.

It's just easier to go ahead and get a passport and be done with it.

If Aruba is requiring passports for cruise ship passengrs, it's going to put a whole new twist on the 8 nt. Carnival cruises in 2013 that make a stop in Aruba.

I was going to set up a group on one of those sailings, once the schedule comes out past 4/13, but I think I'll wait and see how this shakes out. This is the first I'm hearing from this requirement, but if it's true, this would not be the best itinerary for a group (most will not want to get passports just for one cruise).

[B and C Blake]

Originally Posted by jakesnana

If Aruba is requiring passports for cruise ship passengrs, it's going to put a whole new twist on the 8 nt. Carnival cruises in 2013 that make a stop in Aruba.

I was going to set up a group on one of those sailings, once the schedule comes out past 4/13, but I think I'll wait and see how this shakes out. This is the first I'm hearing from this requirement, but if it's true, this would not be the best itinerary for a group (most will not want to get passports just for one cruise).

Can't see why.

There are excursions on the Alaskan cruise that require a passport because they cross into Canada by land.

Although having said that if it is indeed required it should be listed at time of booking. Just like when you book the excursions in Alaska.

Carnival is only responsible for recommending the proper documents.
As travelers we are responsible for checking what is required and make sure we have whatever it is we need.

JMHO I think the US needs to just forget all this mess and require passports. Then there is no question what we need.

[KruznKel]

Originally Posted by B and C Blake

JMHO I think the US needs to just forget all this mess and require passports. Then there is no question what we need.

I agree with this.. why are they prolonging the inevitable... just do it...sorry that it costs money.. but atleast you have 10yrs.. where as we only have 5yrs here and no choice but to have a passport!!!

[kicia]

I agree that passports should become mandatory. I don't know why Americans (and I'm one but with a passport) are so resistant to this idea.

[KruznKel]

Originally Posted by kicia

I agree that passports should become mandatory. I don't know why Americans (and I'm one but with a passport) are so resistant to this idea.

I can tell you why they would lose all the cruise passengers that can't afford it... plain and simple...