Information on Who Needs a Passport!

[cruise_lover]

I can not give out my travel agency's name since it is against CC policies by this information was in one of their E-Newsletters. Hope it helps someone......

"

***January 1, 2008 - As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including

U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central

and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including

ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents

as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent

legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State

and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as

possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to

obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.***"

[cherylandtk]

Your Travel Agent has not updated their notice--please note the following two items, previously posted here on Cruise Critic. As of the June 19 announcement many cruise passengers will NOT need passports for RT cruises from the US to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/cruiseplanning/articles.cfm?ID=57

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=10981778#post10981778

[Ivanova]

Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.***"

 

Unfortunately DHS and the State dept think "ample" notice is 60 days ... when/if they get around to announcing passports are required for ALL cruises visiting Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean the rush to order passports will be on again, and it'll take more than 60 days to get your passport once you apply for it.

[cherylandtk]

Unfortunately DHS and the State dept think "ample" notice is 60 days ... when/if they get around to announcing passports are required for ALL cruises visiting Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean the rush to order passports will be on again, and it'll take more than 60 days to get your passport once you apply for it.

I think you are mixing up two different timelines.

 

The 60 day notice is for implementation of the second phase of the WHTI--meaning the already announced and published land and sea borders portion expected to be implemented in mid-2008 but no later than 2009. Regardless of when this is implemented, this still does not include a passport requirement for US citizens on RT cruises from the US to Mexico, Canada, Bahamas and Caribbean.

 

To add a passport requirement for the above areas would require a new proposal in the Federal Register, a comment period, a final publication of the law and then a 60 day waiting period before implementation. A process which has taken about two years for the second phase of the WHTI.

[cruisecrazy]

So is a passport required to cruise in Jan, 2008. The way I read this is that you are ok to cruise to the Caribbean until June of 2008. Is this correct?