New Passport Fees Begin July 13th

U.S. State Department 

Announced the New

Passport & Visa Fees

New passport fees for the U.S. Passport Book, the U.S. Passport Card, and other passport services will be in effect on Tuesday, July 13, 2010. There is still time to get a passport or renew your existing one before the new prices take effect.

We strongly advise all cruise line passengers carry a valid passport on all cruises, even if the destination ports allow for other forms of identification.    There is always the possibility of unexpected air travel which has higher requirements than for a closed-loop cruise for example.    See our International Travel tab for passport and visa information as well as Tips for Traveling Abroad and Travel Warnings, Country Specific Information & Travel Alerts.

New Passport Fees

Adults: First-Time (Age 16 and older) increase to $110 (from $75) plus a $25 processing fee
Adults: Renewal (Applying with DS-82) increase to $110 (from $75) with no processing fee
Minors (Under age 16)  increase to $80  (from $60) plus a $25 processing fee
Passport cards also increase by $10 for both Adults and Minors


For a complete list of fees, including extra services (such as additional pages) see the following:
New Passport Fees - Effective July 13           Current Passport Fees

There are two components that you must consider when determining the proper documentation required for an upcoming trip:    the requirements to re-enter the United States and the entry requirements of the countries being visited on your cruise or other vacation.

Important Note:    Passports must be valid for 6 months from the end of your trip, so be sure to check expiration dates and allow sufficient time for processing renewals.

Ruby Princess Skips Athens Call

Athens Demonstrations

Cause Itinerary Change

Princess Cruises announced that the current Ruby Princess sailing will alter it's itinerary due to demonstrations in Athens.    Due to the 24-hour general strike and march planned in Athens for May 20th, the day of the scheduled call,  Ruby Princess extended their call in Venice until 10 PM May 18th.   The ship will be at sea on the 19th and 20th and arrive Friday, May 21 in Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey as planned.

Princess felt that the strike would present problems with local transportation, shops and monuments -- much of which would be closed the day of the visit. In addition, it created safety concerns that naturally occur with large public gatherings. Therefore, they did not believe it was in the best interest of their passengers to make a call to Athens.   ( Read More)

Useful Links:

U.S. Department of State:   Current Travel Warnings     Greece Country Specific Information

Recent Embassy Notices for American Citizens

When traveling in a foreign country, it is wise to know about the location of U.S. Embassies

U.S. Embassies (Websites of U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions)
State Department's travel registration website - register travel  with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate

International Travel   (this Tab above has information about traveling abroad including documentation requirements, travel warnings, health, and safety information)
 

Passport Day March 27th

Planning travel outside the United States?

First, plan to get your passport. 

U.S. Department of State will  be open on a Saturday to get you started. 

On Saturday, March 27 only, you will not need an appointment to apply for a U.S. passport at a regional passport agency. You will be able to apply for either routine processing or pay an additional $60 for expedited processing.  All passport agencies will be open and accepting passport book and passport card applications from 10 am to 3 pm .   Press Release

Passport-themed events for adults and children will take place at regional passport agencies and thousands of passport acceptance facilities around the country. If you’ve been waiting to apply for your U.S. passport, this is the time. Apply on Passport Day in the USA 2010!    Passport Day Locations

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

Canada, Bermuda, Mexico and the Caribbean (17 nations) fall under the WHTI.

WHTI-compliant documents described are acceptable for entry or re-entry into the United States. You may be required to present additional or different travel documents when entering foreign countries, including countries in the Western Hemisphere.   Before you travel, make sure you know the entry requirements of the country you plan to visit. See Country Specific Information for more information on the country you are traveling to.

Related Blog Posts

New Passport Rules Starting June 1st - Are You Ready (March 2009)

Reminder New Passport Rules Effective June 1st (May 2009)

Important Information - Land and Sea Travel (January 2008)


My Advice - Travel with Valid Passport

If you read all the rules and regulations, you may find that for your particular travel plans, you can "get away" without a passport.  For example, a closed-loop cruise does not require a passport for sea transportation.   However, should you find yourself needing to return home by air,  you could now be faced with a problem since air travel has a different set of rules.

Also note that passports must be valid for 6 Months after the end of your trip (in most cases).