Passport/Booking Issue

[HeatherL]

We are still planning to hopefully sail in late Jan 2007. I know this would be considered booking "late" in DCL standards, but we can't seem to decide on western or eastern. My concern is about the passports...I know we would be required to have them to sail, but is it true that DCL wants passport numbers 75 days in advance of sailing? I'm concerned that with the rush at the end of the year, that's going to be really hard for us.

Any thoughts?? Thanks :)

[mom x4,grandma x4]

Sorry I cant answer your question, but here is an e-mail address you can write and ask,perhaps they can help you or call DCL itself.

You dont want any bad info on this question, so you really should contact them ASAP.

dcl.guest.communications@disney.com


I now it is take about 8 weeks right now to get passports back and they say the closer to the end of the year, the longer it will take. I know you can pay extra $$ I think $60 for a speedier passport, but dont know how much it would really help if it was close to the end of the year.

Perhaps when you apply they will give you a number on a receipt that will satisfy DCL until you get the actual passport. we still need to get ours, but are cruising this november, so wont send for them until after we get back. Dont want to take any chances of them not getting back in time at this point.
Please let us know what you find out, thanks,
mom x4,grandma x4

[sfd33]

If you go and apply this week you will have it plenty of time. Just go to a post office that deals with passports with a photo and it shouldn't take long as long as your record is clean!!!!!! You can pay extra for rush but I think your ok if you do it this week or next week.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

We are still planning to hopefully sail in late Jan 2007. I know this would be considered booking "late" in DCL standards, but we can't seem to decide on western or eastern. My concern is about the passports...I know we would be required to have them to sail, but is it true that DCL wants passport numbers 75 days in advance of sailing? I'm concerned that with the rush at the end of the year, that's going to be really hard for us.

Any thoughts?? Thanks :)

when I was filling out that information on the DCL page prior to our just completed cruise it said you had to have it filled out like 48 hours before the cruise.

Bill

[HeatherL]

Sorry I cant answer your question, but here is an e-mail address you can write and ask,perhaps they can help you or call DCL itself.

You dont want any bad info on this question, so you really should contact them ASAP.

dcl.guest.communications@disney.com




Thanks! I tried sending an email, but its coming back as "failed delivery". :( Is there another email address for DCL I could try, or better yet, a number I could reach them at?

Thanks again!

[Kathryn in MN]

We are still planning to hopefully sail in late Jan 2007. I know this would be considered booking "late" in DCL standards, but we can't seem to decide on western or eastern. My concern is about the passports...I know we would be required to have them to sail, but is it true that DCL wants passport numbers 75 days in advance of sailing? I'm concerned that with the rush at the end of the year, that's going to be really hard for us.

Any thoughts?? Thanks :)

There is NO way any cruise line is going to turn down your reservation just because your passport hasn't arrived yet. You will need to have it in advance to report the number to them for their recordkeeping. Go apply right now - you'll have it in plenty of time.

[HIPrincess]

I just read in the local travel section yesterday that the cruise industry is lobbying the government to extend the deadline because the amount of cruisers and the percentage of the population that doesn't have their passports is overwhelming and they would lose too much business. I wouldn't wait though and get it and be done with it.

It is good for 10 years if you are over 16. We waited for my son to turn 16 so we could get his and it took less than the 6 -8 weeks that they told us. Also, don't make the mistake that I made and go to AAA to get the photos done. Most Walgreens Drug stores do it for a reasonable price and know what they are doing. We were at the post office turning in the application and they said that his photos weren't good enough...they weren't centered and his head size had to be bigger. We raced to the AAA to have them redo them and when we got back to the post office she said that they weren't much better, but she sent them in anyway, the worst she said was that they would request new photos, but as unindated as they are now, she said she didn't know if they were going to be as strict as they should be.

You need an original birth certificate and the photos and the application and cash or check. Goggle to find the local post office near you that does passports and get the application and read it over.

But like the other poster said, do it soon and you should have it back right away. Also, it is much easier for check in at the airport to have a passport we have found. Good luck!!

[Momof 2 boys]

I just got off the phone with the DCL and they said that it has been extended till Jan. 6 so after that is when you will need to have it. We will be sailing on Dec. 16th and dont need to have passports,just our I.d and Berth certificates. That saves us $418.00 at this time but we cruise DCL all the time so will need it next time. The # for DCL is 1-800-951-3532...have fun

[pppiglet]

In an effort to provide as much advance notice for all travelers, especially during the peak holiday travel period, the deadline for passport requirement to cross the border via air or sea in the Western Hemisphere has been extended from January 1, 2007 to January 8, 2007. This is the second time the timeline has been revised: The original implementation plan was to be rolled out in phases beginning December 31, 2005, but was then extended a year.

The latest timeline is as follows:

January 8, 2007: Passport required for all air and sea travel to and from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

January 1, 2008: Passport required extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.

Currently, this will not only affect all U.S. citizens traveling to and from the U.S. who do not have passports, but also foreign citizens who didn't originally need a passport to enter the U.S.

Looking for information on how to obtain your first passport -- or renew your old one -- in time for the deadline? Visit the new Passport Center on IndependentTraveler.com for the latest on passport resources.