Why We Recommend Passports

Don't Leave Home Without It

If you were on Carnival Triumph this week and had to get home from Progresso, Mexico by air - could you?

Do you have a valid U.S. Passport?

If you are unsure of the answer to the first question, then you should read on.   If your answer to the second question is no, you too should read the rest of this article.   Getting home to the United States could depend on this information and your actions in response.

Re-Entry Rules

We have written about this several times, and we have a standing section both here on our blog and our Facebook page, which talks about International Travel.   On June 1, 2009, the rules changed (New Passport Rules Starting June 1st - Are You Ready).

The new rules mandated that "most" U.S. citizens entering the country by land, sea, or air must establish both identity and citizenship and therefore must possess one of the following: passport, passport card or other travel document approved by the Department of Homeland Security.

There are many caveats contained within the new rules, so it is best to consult the following websites to learn more about your specific circumstance. The final responsibility for proper documentation rests with the traveler not the cruise line, airline, cruise specialist, or any other travel professional. You’ve planned for this trip and want to be sure you aren’t denied boarding nor do you want problems when entering or exiting any country during your trip.

State Department - overview of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) - see Travel page
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – see Crossing U.S. Borders page
Canada Border Services Agency - for travel to/from Canada

Closed-Loop Cruises

The image above is the itinerary for the ill-fated Carnival Triumph voyage.   The cruise was scheduled to start and end in Galveston, Texas, constituting what is known as a closed-loop cruise.  If you are following our blog, you know that the ship had a small engine fire and was adrift.   The first plan was to tow the ship to Progresso, Mexico, but fortunately the ship drifted making  Mobile, Alabama a better choice for disembarkation.

U.S. citizens taking “closed-loop” cruises are not required to have a passport but will need proof of citizenship and a government-issued photo ID, such as an original or certified copy of a birth certificate and a driver’s license.  (More information)  It is still highly recommended that you travel with a valid passport.

See the Department of Homeland Security's GetYouHome.gov for more information on the changing travel requirements.

Different Rules if Traveling by Air

Soon after it was reported that Carnival Triumph would be towed to Progresso, the internet chat rooms were abuzz with questions about how passengers without passports would get home.

International air travel requires a passport and not simply a birth certificate and photo id.  That means that 900 passengers currently adrift on the Triumph could have been denied re-entry to the United States at the end of this ordeal.

Explaining the change of plans from Progresso to Mobile, the line indicated:

"Given the strength of the currents, it is preferable to head north to Mobile, rather than attempt to tow against them," the statement explained. Carnival now expects Triumph to arrive in Mobile sometime on Thursday, roughly the same time the ship would have arrived in Progreso. From there, the line said it will provide the necessary transportation to get passengers home. "Mobile also provides simpler re-entry [than Mexico], particularly for the 900 passengers traveling without passports," the line added.

Carnival Cruise Line had claimed that it had the situation under control and would be able to get passengers home from Mexico.   We will never know how complicated, or costly, that would have been since those plans have now been scrubbed.

If you and your family members found yourself in a situation where you had to get home from Mexico (or the Caribbean) without a passport, you would be faced with some challenges that could potentially cost you much more than the price of the initial passport fees.

If you don't have a passport, mark your calendars for March 9th.

Focusing On Family Travel

On Saturday, March 9, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., U.S. citizens may apply for or renew their passport book or passport card at any one of 25 passport agencies/centers that are open to the general public. No appointment is necessary on March 9 – normally, U.S. citizens would have to make an appointment at passport agencies.  (More details)

Reminder New Passport Rules Effective June 1st

There has been much attention given to the new travel requirements going into effect on June 1, 2009, and I would like to revisit this topic. In my previous post, New Passport Rules Starting June 1st - Are You Ready, I summarized the new rules, the list of 19 affected countries, and provided links to various government resources that would help you decide what documents are required in your particular circumstance. I'll repeat the links here for your convenience.

In this post, I want to call out a couple of the caveats that I referred to in my previous post. I suggest you read both posts and visit the websites if you are not certain what requirements pertain to your circumstance.

Closed-Loop Cruises
While the new Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires valid passports for land and sea travel, a final ruling was issued allowing leniency for “closed-loop” cruises, i.e., sailings that both originate and terminate in the same U.S. port.

U.S. citizens taking “closed-loop” cruises are not required to have a passport but will need proof of citizenship and a government-issued photo ID, such as an original or certified copy of a birth certificate and a driver’s license. Children will also be required to carry a birth certificate and a photo ID if over the age of 15.

Although a passport is not required for “closed loop” cruises, we strongly recommend all guests travel with a passport (valid for at least six months beyond completion of travel), a passport card or an enhanced driver’s license (EDL). Having these documents will enable them to fly from the U.S. to a foreign port in the event they miss their scheduled embarkation or to fly back to the U.S. if they need to disembark the ship mid-cruise due to an emergency.

If a cruise begins and ends in different U.S. ports or begins and ends in a foreign port, a valid passport or other recognized WHTI-compliant document is required. A valid passport is required if you are traveling on any Europe cruise.

Rules for Children
U.S. citizen children under the age of 16 will be able to present the original or copy of their birth certificate, or other proof of U.S. citizenship such as a naturalization certificate or citizenship card.

Groups of U.S. citizen children ages 16 through 18, when traveling with a school or religious group, social organization, or sports team, will be able to enter under adult supervision with originals or copies of their birth certificates or other proof of citizenship. See the Department of Homeland Security's GetYouHome.gov for more information on the changing travel requirements.

Here are the links to useful websites once again:

State Department - overview of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) - see Travel page
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – see Crossing U.S. Borders page
Canada Border Services Agency - for travel to/from Canada

Plan For Unexpected
I cannot emphasize enough that you need to take both land and sea requirements into consideration when deciding what document you need to satisfy the new WHTI rules. In my previous post and above, I've already cited a couple of very common situations where the unexpected can find you traveling by plane instead of by sea. In emergency situations like these, the last thing you want is to be denied boarding due to the lack of proper documentation.

You may be denied boarding if you do not have the proper identification. I suspect that there will be some delays in boarding as the rules take effect, but after they have been in effect for awhile, this should speed the boarding process at airlines and cruise ports across the world.

Finally, don't forget to complete your online cruise check-in, providing the passport numbers. This will help the cruise line comply with government manifest requirements and also speed the boarding process.