US Border Security Act & cruises

[tecdavidt]

Did anyone out there know about this? We are scheduled to go on a Princess cruise for New Year's Eve. We just received some paper work we need to fill out before our Docs will be sent to us.

This act requires cruise lines and other carriers to provide government authorities with passenger info in advance of each sailing. To comply please complete our Passenger Imigration Form online today or complete this enclosed Passenger Immingration Form and follow the mail or fax instructions. Your cruise tickets WILL NOT be mailed until Princess receives this information. Failure to send complete and correct information may result in delays at embarkation or in being denied boarding.

I have been on 12 cruises and two of those were in '03 and never have I even heard of this act! I am not against it but it took me by surprise since I am on this board a lot reading posts about anything new. I don't remember reading any posts about this. Maybe I just missed it being discussed?

How is DCL handling this? I am not sure when it goes into affect but it must be by Dec. Kathy

 

[hydster]

Yep Carnival did that to my inlaws on their last cruise a few months ago. According to the ICCL (international Coalition of Cruise Lines) Each cruise line will establish a method whereby this information will be collected electronically and accurately. “Cruise lines will be asking for this additional information prior to the January 1, 2003, effective date, and travel agents will need to submit this passenger data to the individual lines no later than the time of final payment. We didnt have to do it on our DCL Cruise last year but that was before the Jan 1st deadline! If you want to read about it from the ICCL site here is their link
http://www.iccl.org/pressroom/pressrelease.cfm?whichrel=16

Heidi

 

[tecdavidt]

Hmm, we were on Celebrity on the Milli last New Year's Eve and the Magic over Spring Break and I guess these two cruse lines are handling it differently. I don't remember doing anything different for our last Magic Cruise. I guess people, have current passports and birth certificate in hand or you won't board. Kathy

 

[gottaluvdisney]

DCL is doing it and has been for awhile. Well, maybe not ALL the info, but most of it. They are requiring things like your middle initial, date of birth, home address, etc. DCL tries to get this information when you confirm a cruise - the only thing I think may be different is the middle initial. I don't remember them asking for that. If they don't get it ahead of time, they will get it when you get to Port Canaveral by the paperwork you fill out--or will have to ask you. It is just easier to give the info in advance. You just never really realized you were giving it. Also, some travel agents don't want to give the home address as they are fearful they will loose the next booking by the cruise line contacting their client directly. (some agents in my office were very protective of 'their' clients)

I noticed this as a past travel agent. DCL was the first cruise line that I knew of that asked for dates of birth over the phone in the booking process. Other cruise lines typically just accepted if the person was an adult or child.

I even had clients in the past that didn't want to give their date of birth. These were usually elderly woman. I would just advise them that it is ok, as you have to show your passport or birth certificate and they will enter that information upon check-in. It just makes things go faster if all the info is provided up front.

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

Hi-

Went on a RCL cruise in August and when we rec'd our doc's it had strict instructions about going online their website and completing detailed information forms for each person sailing. It said boarding could and would be denied for failure to do so in a timely manner. They also gave us the option to call in the info to a special 800 number. Also went on a CCL cruise in July but did not have to do anything special. Going on the Magic Saturday and just did standard info we did last year.

B&W Mom

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

We were just on CCL in September, and it seems it's all in the approach. They, like Disney, get it upfront and it comes across very relaxed or almost transparent. I guess some take a more stern, hard-nosed approach.
Either way, not a big deal.