Passports and Cruising

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), once implemented, will require all travelers entering or re-entering the United States to be in possession of a valid passport, even when traveling from certain countries in the Western Hemisphere for which passports previously were not required. Implementation of the WHTI is presently expected to be on the following schedule:
• January 23, 2007 - Valid passport required for travel by air between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
• As early as January 1, 2008 - Valid passport required for all U.S. air, sea and land border crossings. This requirement may become effective Summer 2008, but no later than January 2009, but with the passport backlog being caught up, the extra time probably won’t be needed.

Until that time and for Sea Travel Only, for domestic travel which includes: the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico, a passport (valid or expired) is highly recommended. In the absence of a passport, a birth certificate (original or certified copy), plus laminated picture ID card issued by a federal, state, or local government agency is required. Note: Baptismal papers and hospital certificates of birth (except for new borns) are not acceptable. For U.S. Naturalized citizens, in the absence of a passport, Naturalization papers (either original or notarized copy) plus a picture ID card issued by a federal, state, or local government agency is required. A voter registration card or Social Security Card are not considered to be proof of citizenship. Children under 16 years of age do not require a picture ID.

A passport for a cruise is still the preferred proof of citizenship even when traveling before the initiative requires a passport. The unforeseen possibility of a medical disembarkation or early cruise termination may require that you have a valid passport to enable you to fly back to the United States, which now requires a passport.

The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

International Travel - A valid passport is required: visas are required where they apply. This includes Europe, Asia, Central and South America. This has not changed.