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I am not sure how the individual LR operations are going to implement this rule by the US Govt. but this is coming early next year. The link comes from a Cruise website (Vacations to Go) that I subscribe to. It is the weekly newsletter and I thought this was worth passing a long. Draw your own conclusions on what is needed, but I would get a Passport if you don't already have one, it simply is a good idea IMHO.
In March, the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security issued a final (we hope) ruling on the implementation date for the land and sea portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). First announced in 2005 and repeatedly modified since that time, the WHTI is designed to enhance border security and requires people traveling to and from Canada, Mexico, Panama, the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda to have a passport to enter or re-enter the United States.
Since January 23, 2007, passports have been required for anyone who enters or re-enters the U.S. by air from the destinations mentioned above.
Beginning June 1, 2009, the passport requirement will be extended to include all land border crossings and sea travel to or from the above-[/quote]mentioned destinations.
There are a few notable exceptions pertaining to land and sea border crossings:
U.S. citizens on cruises that begin and end in the same U.S. port and travel to destinations in Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, the Bahamas or Bermuda will be able to re-enter the U.S. with proof of citizenship other than a passport or passport card, such as a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. Passports will be required for cruises that begin in one U.S. port and end in another.
A new, lower-cost alternative to the passport, called a passport card, will be acceptable for entries into the U.S. by land or sea. Compared to passports, which cost $100 for first-time applicants ($85 for children), passport cards cost just $45 ($35 for children). The passport card will not be acceptable for air travel.
For more information about passport cards, click here to visit the passport card section of the U.S. Department of State's Web site.
Children under the age of 16 who are citizens of the U.S. or Canada will be exempt from the passport requirement for land and sea border crossings when the rule goes into effect. In lieu of a passport, children will be able to continue to use a birth certificate as proof of citizenship for entry into the U.S. by land or by sea. Children entering or re-entering the U.S. by air are still required to have a valid passport.
Cruise lines that sail roundtrip from U.S. ports to any of the destinations mentioned above say they will continue to accept a certified birth certificate and government-issued I.D. (such as a driver's license), in lieu of a passport for U.S. citizens. However, many cruise lines strongly suggest that guests obtain a passport anyway, and here's why.
Guests who cruise and need to fly to or from the United States unexpectedly will likely experience significant delays and complications related to booking airline tickets and entering the United States if they do not have a valid U.S. passport with them. For example, a passenger missing a cruise departure due to a late inbound flight to Miami would need a passport to fly to meet the ship at the next port.
Similarly, guests needing to fly home to the U.S. or Canada (via the U.S.) before their cruise ends, because of medical, family, personal or business emergencies, missing a ship's departure from a port of call, or a mechanical problem of some sort with the ship, would need a passport.
Of course, situations like these are extremely rare, but they can happen, which is why I also recommend passports for cruises. Always check with your Vacations To Go cruise counselor at the time of booking to verify documentation that will be required for your vacation.
For more information about obtaining or renewing a passport as a US citizen, click here to visit the U.S. Department of State's Web site. For more information about obtaining or renewing a passport as a Canadian citizen, click here to visit Passport Canada.
In March, the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security issued a final (we hope) ruling on the implementation date for the land and sea portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). First announced in 2005 and repeatedly modified since that time, the WHTI is designed to enhance border security and requires people traveling to and from Canada, Mexico, Panama, the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda to have a passport to enter or re-enter the United States.
Since January 23, 2007, passports have been required for anyone who enters or re-enters the U.S. by air from the destinations mentioned above.
Beginning June 1, 2009, the passport requirement will be extended to include all land border crossings and sea travel to or from the above-[/quote]mentioned destinations.
There are a few notable exceptions pertaining to land and sea border crossings:
U.S. citizens on cruises that begin and end in the same U.S. port and travel to destinations in Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, the Bahamas or Bermuda will be able to re-enter the U.S. with proof of citizenship other than a passport or passport card, such as a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. Passports will be required for cruises that begin in one U.S. port and end in another.
A new, lower-cost alternative to the passport, called a passport card, will be acceptable for entries into the U.S. by land or sea. Compared to passports, which cost $100 for first-time applicants ($85 for children), passport cards cost just $45 ($35 for children). The passport card will not be acceptable for air travel.
For more information about passport cards, click here to visit the passport card section of the U.S. Department of State's Web site.
Children under the age of 16 who are citizens of the U.S. or Canada will be exempt from the passport requirement for land and sea border crossings when the rule goes into effect. In lieu of a passport, children will be able to continue to use a birth certificate as proof of citizenship for entry into the U.S. by land or by sea. Children entering or re-entering the U.S. by air are still required to have a valid passport.
Cruise lines that sail roundtrip from U.S. ports to any of the destinations mentioned above say they will continue to accept a certified birth certificate and government-issued I.D. (such as a driver's license), in lieu of a passport for U.S. citizens. However, many cruise lines strongly suggest that guests obtain a passport anyway, and here's why.
Guests who cruise and need to fly to or from the United States unexpectedly will likely experience significant delays and complications related to booking airline tickets and entering the United States if they do not have a valid U.S. passport with them. For example, a passenger missing a cruise departure due to a late inbound flight to Miami would need a passport to fly to meet the ship at the next port.
Similarly, guests needing to fly home to the U.S. or Canada (via the U.S.) before their cruise ends, because of medical, family, personal or business emergencies, missing a ship's departure from a port of call, or a mechanical problem of some sort with the ship, would need a passport.
Of course, situations like these are extremely rare, but they can happen, which is why I also recommend passports for cruises. Always check with your Vacations To Go cruise counselor at the time of booking to verify documentation that will be required for your vacation.
For more information about obtaining or renewing a passport as a US citizen, click here to visit the U.S. Department of State's Web site. For more information about obtaining or renewing a passport as a Canadian citizen, click here to visit Passport Canada.
