OldSalt73

On 3/30/2024 at 2:25 PM, yakcruiser said:

Maybe a security issue? Piracy is a real thing in that neck of the woods. And I'm sure their Coast Guard boat in no way resembles one of ours.

2 minutes ago, SCX22 said:

If you consider yourself a traveler...

First, you should memorize the expiration date of your driver's licenses, state issued IDs, passports--anything you would use as credential to enter an airport or a foreign country--like you memorize your Social Security number.  Second, you should do your due diligence to renew these important documents with enough time receive them before the expiration date.

I'm thinking you meant "memorize the license and ID numbers" vs. the expiration dates...although, that would be helpful, too.

1 hour ago, kirtihk said:

Yes.  There are too many so to speak something's to live with.

“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out the front door…” JRR Tolkien

23 minutes ago, Torfamm said:

It’s important to note though that there may be additional requirements imposed by cruise lines. For example, many passengers have been caught unaware that Princess requires everyone in the travel party to have a passport if only one adult is traveling with one or more minors. This is true for all itineraries.

 

You can find Princess’ document requirements here 

https://www.princess.com/learn/faq/pre-cruise/prepare-for-your-cruise

Wow! The devil IS in the details! That had escaped me. Reason to get PP for all the kids, too.

6 minutes ago, kirtihk said:

Perhaps, you didn't "translate" a meaning of my post properly.  It was about the fact that 10 years expiation is truly <10 years.  So, people pay for 10 years when in reality they pay for 9.5 years or potentially even less.

I translated perfectly. The expiration date is 10 years. It is valid for most purposes for that long, including returning to the US.

https://hk.usconsulate.gov/u-s-citizen-services/passports/less-than-six-months-validity-left/
 

The six month requirement is NOT a US DOS limitation, rather it imposed by host countries. Therefore airlines and cruise lines almost universally require the six month from end of voyage. Applying your logic, a four month world cruise would penalize 10 months from the passport. Point being, there will likely always be the six month penalty regardless of statutory validity. Just something to live with.

48 minutes ago, kirtihk said:

I always wonder why it is 10 years; it should be 10.5.  Then real number of years would be actually 10 years.  Currently, last 6 months are meaningless for people who travel within that time.

 

In reality it should be 10.75 years, so people would be able to apply for renewal in 10 years and get a new passport in about 3 months or less.

You do realize that applying logic to bureaucratic dictates is a manifest waste of energy? The 10 year valid date, or 10.75, or 12, will not change other countries’ six month “cushion”. The cushion is imposed so that you don’t expire while there and then have trouble being repatriated.

42 minutes ago, AZjohn said:

lol…. I can’t even remember how many times we have heard this🤣.

 

Dont get me wrong, I have a passport, Global Entry, and verified ID. The problem isn’t me, it’s the other half of the US population that continues to drag their feet (and this includes some state governments).

 

Cheers

Free entertainment… sit in the airport near security on Real ID D-Day and observe the meltdowns. Bring popcorn.

1 hour ago, beg3yrs said:

 

Not sure @dw64 is a captain, just retired from the airlines. Could have been a gate agent (which actually would have had more experience with TSA Pre-Check than a pilot).

 

Regardless, I believe @dw64 is confusing Global Entry, which is absolutely tied to a passport and includes TSA Pre-Check with stand-alone Pre-Check.

Agree… the worst that did was “promote” someone. Let’s call it a courtesy.

6 minutes ago, capriccio said:

and 7.  For any international travel or passport questions and concerns start with the US State Department’s website:  www.state.gov. Their travelers section is more trustworthy than cruise line passenger service reps, neighbors, and even posters on cruise critic 😀

Neighbors... that's a good one.  Some of mine haven't been more than 100 miles from home during their life.... General response to a description of a cruise is "Whhhut?"

1 hour ago, dw64 said:

Yes it is attached to passport. I'm retired airlines. I know. 

I respectfully invite your attention to the tech orders, Captain.

https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/factsheets/tsa-precheckr-application-program

55 minutes ago, Mark_K said:

 

Passports, TSA PreCheck and other mysteries of the universe....

1. From the TSA Website...  you can get a KTN without a passport, however the required documentation may be trying. Might as well get the passport...

2. Passports and ships, even planned US domestic-only trips... from long personal experience with ships (and airplanes), they don't always go where (or when) as planned) for countless reasons. Having a valid passport can significantly ease your "revised" travel plans.  There will not always be a convenient Embassy or Attache Office if you wind up in some little port in some moderately unfriendly country.  Come to think of it, the same applies for airplanes when the itinerary is outside of the continental US or going to a "passport not required" destination.

3. Please apply judgmental filter: IMHO, all adults should possess a valid passport.  If you are entertaining any cruise ship travel, it should be a mandatory personal item regardless of planned itinerary.

4. More judgy opinion: If you're balking at the couple of hours of prep work and the $160 fee ($16/yr... or about four adult cups of coffee at Starbucks) perhaps you should re-think cruising.

5. While you're at it... one of the best investments you can make is to get the Global Entry.  Price is $100 (vs $85 for the PreCheck) AND, PreCheck is included. You will endure some schedule shenanigans to get the interview, but our planned six month wait was rapidly whittled down to five weeks as appointment openings came up.  It's really easy if you're returning from international travel, just go to the GE kiosk/office, do the interview (fog the mirror) and your card appears in the mail.

6. When ordering your passport, get the additional page version... it lasts longer.  Some places require a minimum of two unused visa pages or... you don't get to come in.

7. The answer for the mysteries of the universe is "42".