Will This Hurt The Cruise Business?

[disneyholic family]

to answer your question, no, it will not hurt the cruise business.
Certainly not in the long run.

 

[jgalecpa]

The Secutiry Fee:

My Understanding (after working with the fine people at FMP: Financial Managment Planning for eight years 1993-2001) at the US State Depratment was that the security fee is actually a fee imposed to fund permanet capital improvements at US embassies worldwide.

Some of you may remember, but in 1998 AL Qaeda simultaneously blew up two separate embassies in Africa.

This pointed out the inherent danger of US embassies which are located too close to the street.

As you may imagine the cost of constructing new buildings, moving streets, etc, if phenomenal.

One was to offset this that was coming out of the security fee. I also understand there is an offset fee imposed on foreign nationals seeking US entry Visas as well.

Just a point to bring light on the fee.

Jim

PS The State Dept lost eight employees that day, as well as scores of local residents were killed.

 

[georgina]

I just got a passport right before my west coast cruise. Sure it's expensive. BUT it's good for 10 years. Divide the price by 10 years and it really isn't that bad of a price. I choose to see the glass half full!

Kids passports are good for 5 years, and if you only need to use it once in that time, dividing by 5 years for the cost is irrelevant. It is an added cost and a pain for one stop in Nassau for us.

 

[tvguy]

You can use a passport every time you need a birth certificate. So you can lock up your birth certificate at the bank, and just use the passport, which is physically more durable. They aren't just for travel.
We use our kids passports every year for school registration, soccer signups, little league registration, and at the bank, where they now require photo id for cash withdrawals from savings accounts.

 

[kimsue68]

Call it what it is, A VACATION TAX!!!!! If I didn't ALREADY book my crusie, I would NOT be taking this cruise!! The last vacation that I have been on was over 4 1/2 years ago, and after this cruise, it will be another LONG time before I take another serious vacation, And by the time that I need the passport for id for my kids, (school, sports) it will be expired!!

 

[chasbos]

kimsue68 - if you only vacation once in a while than a passport does seem a bit extreme. Our family travels out of country every year so they are necessity for us. We can complain about them all we want but they are going to be needed and there is not much we can do about it.

 

[georgina]

You can use a passport every time you need a birth certificate. So you can lock up your birth certificate at the bank, and just use the passport, which is physically more durable. They aren't just for travel.
We use our kids passports every year for school registration, soccer signups, little league registration, and at the bank, where they now require photo id for cash withdrawals from savings accounts.

Wow, I used the birth cert only when I registered them for kindergarten, I have custodial accounts so the bank requires my picture ID (PA won't even issue ID's to kids under 16), and they have never been required for sports that I can recall. My kids are not high level athletes. My oldest may go to Europe with her French class sometime, but I do feel it is a waste for the other two.

At dinner tonight I just had a conversation with my sister who is urging me to get Irish passports for the kids because Ireland is going to make it more difficult for descendents of Irish citizens to get them. My nephew is able to work in Europe much easier with his Irish passport. I laughed at her, but maybe after I get their US ones I'll get them Irish ones too! I didn't ask her how much they cost!

 

[Buddy Bear]

The Secutiry Fee:

My Understanding (after working with the fine people at FMP: Financial Managment Planning for eight years 1993-2001) at the US State Depratment was that the security fee is actually a fee imposed to fund permanet capital improvements at US embassies worldwide.

Some of you may remember, but in 1998 AL Qaeda simultaneously blew up two separate embassies in Africa.

This pointed out the inherent danger of US embassies which are located too close to the street.

As you may imagine the cost of constructing new buildings, moving streets, etc, if phenomenal.

One was to offset this that was coming out of the security fee. I also understand there is an offset fee imposed on foreign nationals seeking US entry Visas as well.

Just a point to bring light on the fee.

Jim

PS The State Dept lost eight employees that day, as well as scores of local residents were killed.

Regardless of what the money is for it is just throwing good money after bad. The fools in our goverment can't balance a checkbook much less a budget. I am amazed how much waste there is in government yet people still will not vote to end the corruption.

The last time I cruised with DCL was August 2004 and I used a non-photo driver's lincense and a Sam's Club card (photo on card) to get on the ship.

Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem giving the government more money if they would spend it wisely, but personally it is like giving your son or daugther money knowing they will spend it on drugs, but you give it to them anyway.

 

[KKB]

Looks like we will have to ante up the $500 for our family of 5 since we disembark on Dec. 31, 2005 (by the way, who starts new regulations on the last day of the month--of the year??!!) Just our luck!
I don't mind for DH & I--we will cruise again. But it is frustrating knowing there is virtually NO chance the kids will need them again in the next 5 years.
We cannot afford to take 5 ona cruise (MIL's Xmas present). Now, if I consider I am getting airfare & cruise for 5 for $500, I would do it every time! But I would rather spend this $ on the cruise.
We had NO problem or delays w/ BC/DL on Oct. cruise.
I understand the times....but that doesnt' mean I have to like it!
Kris

 

[tvguy]

Wow, I used the birth cert only when I registered them for kindergarten, I have custodial accounts so the bank requires my picture ID (PA won't even issue ID's to kids under 16), and they have never been required for sports that I can recall. My kids are not high level athletes. My oldest may go to Europe with her French class sometime, but I do feel it is a waste for the other two.

At dinner tonight I just had a conversation with my sister who is urging me to get Irish passports for the kids because Ireland is going to make it more difficult for descendents of Irish citizens to get them. My nephew is able to work in Europe much easier with his Irish passport. I laughed at her, but maybe after I get their US ones I'll get them Irish ones too! I didn't ask her how much they cost!

Don't misunderstand me, a passport is not required for school and stuff, but it can be used in place of a birth certificate. We keep ours locked up at the bank, and use the passports which are physically more durable. California will issue a photo ID to anyone that has the $12 fee and a birth certificate, so that's an option I guess too.