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The Passport Rules Are Changing. . .
On January 23, 2007, all travelers who enter or re-enter the United
States by “airplane” will need a passport, including United States
citizens and Canadian citizens. To extend this rule, on June 1,
2009, all travelers by land and by sea entering or re-entering the
United States will need a passport.
If you are traveling between now and June 1, 2009, citizens of
United States and Canada can use an original or certified copy of
their birth certificate along with a government issue photo ID
instead of a passport.
United States Citizens and Canadian adult citizens taking round trip
cruises at this time from a United States port and who visit the
Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico can
use birth certificate and government ID, however, children age 16
and under are not required to provide photo ID but will need their
birth certificate. If a cruise begins in one port and ends in
another foreign port, adults will need a passport at this time.
Even though United States passports cost U.S. citizens $100 for a
first time applicant, we highly suggest you obtain a passport for
cruises leaving the United States. Passports for children at a cost
of $85 again are a great form of identification and well worth the
money, especially considering a passport is valid for 10 years for
ages 16 and above and 5 years for 15 and younger
The United States government does offer slightly less expensive
alternative to a passport, called a passport card. Considering only
a short time before the rules require a passport, we see no reason
to spend a few dollars less and then still need a passport after
June 1, 2009.
Passports at this time are not required for United States citizens
to travel to and from the U.S. to any United States Territory,
including American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, Swains Island and U.S. Virgin Island.
Please Note: Photocopies of
required documentation are not acceptable. Some situations on
certain cruises may have slight variations to the above rules. Each
cruise will post the needed information and documentation needed.
For International cruises, United States citizens must have a valid
passport that will not expire within six months of the last day of
travel and some countries will require a visa. |
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United States Resident, Non Citizens:
All legal permanent residents of the United States are required to
have a valid passport of their country along with a valid Green Card
(Alien Registration) to enter or re-enter the United States.
Non United States / Canada Citizen Requirements for Passports and
Visas:
The list of countries provided below has set up a special
program called a visa waiver program with the United States and
therefore, their citizens are only required a machine-readable
passport for entry into the United States.
Andorra
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brunei
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Monaco
Slovenia
New Zealand
Norway
Portugal
San Marino
Singapore
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
The Netherlands
United Kingdom
However, any citizen of a country not listed above or a citizen of
one of those countries without a machine-readable passport must
present a valid passport and a valid United States visa to enter
into the United States. Multiple entry visas will be required if
your cruise enters more than one United States port. |
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