Repositioning Cruises Passport Info

[mickeyfan1]

I am looking at the Curacao Visitors Information website. It states: Passports & Visa's
Most nationals (including US and Canadian citizens) need a passport and an onward/return ticket. Nationals of the following countries need to be in the possession of a visa on arrival in the Netherlands Antilles: Albania, Bulgaria, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Democratic Kampuchea, Former Yugoslavia (exception Slovenia), Former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Haiti, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, North Korea, Romania, Vietnam. If nationals of above mentioned countries are granted permanent residence in another country not mentioned on this list, they don't need a visa on entry, however it is compulsary for these persons to verify this status on the basis of documents (e.g. for the US the so called green card).

Fair warning, you may need passports for these cruises. I hope that we will all get a definate answer well in advance, but if you don't have a passport, you might go ahead and get one for everyone in your traveling party. While both cruises are pretty far out, it isn't a good idea to wait till the last minute to try and get a passport.

 

[outahere]

The U.S. State Department web site states that you need a passport for stays up to 90 days in Guatemala. The Guatemala embassy web site states that U.S. citizens do not need a visa.

If you're going on one of the repositioning cruises, I second the motion to get a passport, if you don't already have one. If nothing else, it makes going through U.S. Customs and Immigration a lot easier.

The web site for U.S. State Dept is

www.state.gov

The web site for the Guatemala embassy is

http://www.guatemala-embassy.org/visas.aspssy is

 

[ivanova]

DH, DD and I already have passports ... and we're encouraging the rest of our group to do the same ... most are waiting until Jan-March of 2005 to go through the passport process, so they'll have them far enough in advance of our Aug 20 repositioning cruise.

 

[seaulater]

It will be mandatory to have a passport on this cruise. We went last year on RCCL and it was very clear that no one could board the ship without a passport.

You can easily go to the U.S. government website and print out your applications. Go to http://travel.state.gov/download_applications.html
to print them out.

I would recommend that you apply for your passport no later than December, 2004, just to get it all done. It takes somewhere around 4 weeks to get. If you wait to long, you can always get it for more $$$$ by going through an agency, but I would rather have that money for the cruise.

My DH's passport is expiring within 60 days after the cruise, so the recommendation is that he get it renewed before, so we are planning on doing that so we don't have any hangups.

All the information on kids passports is on their too. If you are planning on taking a child out of the country without your spouse or ex-spouse, be sure to read the extra stuff about what you need to do. I got an additional notarized one page statement from my husband giving permission for me to take our daughter to Aruba when he didn't go for easter a couple of years ago and when I did get there not only did they check her passport they asked if the father had given permission and I just handed over the notarized letter. Better to be prepared, just in case!

Linda

 

[myfairygodmother]

My TA just spoke with DCL and asked specifically about the need for Passports as Curacao normally requires one. The CM stated that Disney only requires a BC/photo id for US citizens. When she asked if Curacao was granting DCL a waiver on the passports, the CM checked with someone and said that it appears that DCL has not addressed the issue of passports for the re-positioning cruise and that he was sending it to his supervisor for review.

I also learned a very important tidbit that I did not know---if for any reason you miss the boat in any port and have to fly to the next port to meet it, unless it is a US port you will HAVE to have a passport to go. Missing the boat would be my worst nightmare but all the more reason to get a passport!!

 

[my3kids]

totally not related to Passports, but related to this cruise in some way....I don't know if this is still true, but after I returned from my cruise that went through Panama, and stopped at an island off the Panama coast, I was not allowed to donate blood to the Red Cross for maybe a 3 year period. Panama was on their list of countries that if you visited, you were not allowed to donate. If anyone is a regular donor, maybe they can look into that information. It has been a number of years since I went, so the details most certainly may have changed.

 

[lotsofboys]

I was told by the CM at DCL that made our reservation for the CA - FL cruise that passports are HIGHLY recommended now. DH and I already have ours but I will be getting them for 3 DSs. Better safe than sorry!

 

[Tigfanjeff]

Originally posted by lotsofboys
I was told by the CM at DCL that made our reservation for the CA - FL cruise that passports are HIGHLY recommended now. DH and I already have ours but I will be getting them for 3 DSs. Better safe than sorry!

Passports make life a BILLION times easier, particularly in the current travel environment. I can't recommend them enough.

Also be aware that the airport in Frankfurt Germany tends to make them disappear (I'm sure Jen or Silentshot will tell you all about that one day - I'm claiming innocence).

Do go early. They usually get processed a *LOT* faster then advertised, but don't count on it.

 

[Rence]

All the information you need is located here:

US Passport Services and Information

You can even print off the forms and have them filled out ahead of time.

 

[cruisin'Mike]

Thanks for the great tips everybody. My wife asked me about this last night, and I was going to ask today. You guys are amazing!! Thanks for all the help planning this trip.

Mike

 

[dizneyusa]

National Passport Information Center
Toll Free Number: 877-487-2778
Monday-Friday ( 8AM - 8PM ) EST
npic@state.gov

Also, we received the same info like
everyone else so far from DCL. If
you want to try to call also, MAYBE
someone at DCL can investigate this
further for some of the guests that
might be travelling that DO NOT have
a passport or maybe they just do not
want to purchase one?????
800-511-1333

I think that DCL should have a public
release letter that is standard that
should be sent to anyone who has
booked these 14 day cruises.

It is DCL's first time so lets see what
info we can all come up with.

We think it is a good idea for everyone
to have a passport. It is easier when
travelling in the world the way it is today.

You can also go to your City Hall or
Post Office, they usually have forms also.

Hope the above helps a little.

Dana

 

[seaulater]

I wouldn't dare care on this cruise without a passport. I take my passport with me everytime I get off the ship. If something happens and you do not make it back to the ship (have you seen the links showing people running along the dock that have missed the ship?) You are responsible for the cost and getting to the next port or getting home if something happened.

Just try to imagine being in a foreign country, no cash on you, no passport, and trying to find a way to get to the next port or home. Not my idea of a fun time!

Pay the money and get a passport!!!!

The other thing I do is I have a credit card that I only use when I get off the ship. I don't use my normal card in a foreign country. When I get back home I call the credit card company and have them reduce the credit limit so in case any foreigner out there tries to use the number it is denied because of the low credit limit. Then when I get ready to go on my next vacation, I have the limit raised just for that fact. It has happened to other cruisers, so just an FYI if it concerns you.

 

[RobinMarie]

Thanks for the info!

 

[Regina]

I didn't even think of this.

Let's take bets to see how many people realize that passports are needed a week before the cruise???????

I'll be sure that DD gets hers this summer while she's home from school. It's way too early, but once she's back in college, we'll be the ones saying "HELP!!! HOW DO YOU GET A PASSPORT IN A WEEK??"

 

[Verandah Man]

Thanks for the tip about the passports. Our passports have expired as we haven't used them since adopting our DD in Mexico in 1991. I already printed off the forms and we will be getting our passports renewed very soon!!!

 

[Hygiene99]

Thank u Rence we can get one right up the Street.. i just think it With Like Martha would say Be A Good Thing... lol

Peter

 

[Luv2Dream]

Thanks for the great tip. My husband and I have passports but my DD doesn't. With minors, both parents have to appear at a passport office with the minor to get their passport (or one parent has to have a letter from the other saying it's o.k. to issue passport to that minor). Anyhow, it takes a trip, not just a passport application for a minor so I've got to plan for that as well. Thanks for the heads-up.

 

[KAMLEM]

How long are passports valid for before they expire? Just wondering if it's too soon to get them now for the August CA to FL repositioning cruise.

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by KAMLEM
How long are passports valid for before they expire? Just wondering if it's too soon to get them now for the August CA to FL repositioning cruise.

The last passports we got were valid for 10 years, I think it is still the same. We just have to renew ours, as we were told you have up to five years to renew an old passport.

 

[seaulater]

10 years on a passport if you are over 15. If you are under 15 then the passport is only valid for 5 years. Both parents must be present for child under 14. If child is 14-17 then the teenager must go and they may request a parent to be there.

My DH is renewing his right now. He went and got the pictures and then while using the telephone this week, the phone cord caught the pictures and they fell in the dogs water dish. I don't think they will be accepted, so we are back to square one!

Linda