Latest on passports for Caribbean

[bbowers]

From Tripso - http://www.tripso.com/archives/2005/08/detroit_braces.html
(chose Passport Deadline for Caribbean Lifted).

You all may get a reprieve yet! ug:

 

[cjsmith]

From Tripso - http://www.tripso.com/archives/2005/08/detroit_braces.html
(chose Passport Deadline for Caribbean Lifted).

You all may get a reprieve yet! ug:

Yes, but what is says is that the US Government is reconsidering it. There may be a reprieve but if I was cruising on 12/31/05 I would keep a close watch on it and act accordingly.

 

[KKB]

While the timeline has been removed from the government travel site, and the Detroit Free Press had an interview w/ an official in the passport office saying wouldn't need them until 'sometime in 2006', had yet to see anything that actually SAID that the timeline had been removed (to be further revised).
I know the government is unreliable...but the fact that a timeline was proposed in April and has NOW been lifted, I would find it highly unlikely that the date would be sooner than the original timeline, or even the same...I am quite confident that I will not need them for our cruise that disembarks Dec. 31, 2005 (hey, all I needed was one day anyway!).
That being said, I will continue to check these boards & the government site DAILY!
Kristin

 

[tvguy]

A good basic rule of travel is, if you leave the U.S., have a passport. It's like buying travel insurance, you hope you never need it, but when you need it, you need it, and there is no substitute.

 

[ivanova]

regardless of what the government does, to be safe some of the cruiselines will require passports period (regardless of destination) starting 12/31/2005.

 

[momoftwodisneykids]

My family of 4 is biting the bullet tomorrow and applying for our passports . I know we won't need them for our cruise 11/26, but this way we will be prepared for next year (or whenever they make it mandatory).

Joanne

 

[Cruella de mom]

A good basic rule of travel is, if you leave the U.S., have a passport. It's like buying travel insurance, you hope you never need it, but when you need it, you need it, and there is no substitute.

I agree 100%. And I also agree that the cruise lines might start requiring them just to end all the confusion.

If you ever run into any problems in a foreign country, a US passport is like having gold. Its an instant ticket into the US embassy where the will bend over backward to help you. This can be a real lifesaver because people get into trouble for the silliest things sometimes or they get sick, or have things stolen,etc. If you don't speak the language even the smallest thing can destroy your vacation.

I would not travel without mine.