puckliny

Yup, thanks Ferry_Watcher for your help.

No I'm just going to ask the question, not going to hold up the line.

Hello all. So I went to the Stamford CT state passport agency. 2 days and I have passports in hand!!!! so relieved. Who says the Government can move fast?! In any case just for giggles I’m going to ask at the dock if I can board with just my license. See how that goes as a little test.

No need to wait. Since it’s my 2 kids that would be left on the dock (joking) there was no chance I wanted to take a huge risk like that. So I made an appt with a State Passport Agency had to drive 3 hours this AM and pick up Thursday, another 3 hour drive. But now we have no worries. I just can’t take the risk some stickler dock person decides to enforce this rule which doesn’t apply.

Hi folks. I see lots of opinions and I believe the ones who say it’s down to the ship is correct. The countries may not need it but a cruise personnel could be a stickler especially with the open loop issue. I’ve made an appointment at a Passport Agency hopefully they can crank it out same day. RC won’t say anything other than 6 months citing from the “book”. If it goes to a contract reading I’m sure they will have themselves covered. My question is really has anyone been on this route with this particular problem and know what happens. In any case if I get the passports tomorrow it’s all moot. Thanks everyone.

I totally agree with all the folks saying it should not be an issue, I see that Bahamas, St Martin, St Lucia, Barbados all do not require the 60 day especially for cruisers. BUUUUT the official stance of RC is that I need the 60 days because it's open loop Ft Lauderdale to San Juan. So it's silly since it's still a US to US port. So I'm hoping someone here has had recent experience on RC with this situation and could speak to it. Last thing I'd want is to meet some stickler at the dock that decides the 60 day thing is an actual issue. It would not be an issue with any customs officer but the ship maintains policy. All I get from the Chat and call center is a direct read from their play book. Anyone go though this recently?

Hi folks, going on Rhapsody next Saturday, during check in I just saw my kids' passports expire within 6 months, has any gone on the Ft Lauderdale ending in San Juan cruise with this issue? They "strongly recommend" but is it really necessary? I'll only have 5 days to get passports for my kids if I have to comply with this 6 month rule. None of the islands require this from cruisers, but it is technically an open loop cruise.

Thanks for the tip, will do.

Thanks, I just got off the phone with RC of course they just state the "policy", they won't say it's ok let alone put it in writing. Looks like an emergency visit to a Passport Agency. Do they actually produce the passport the same day? Going to have to drive from NY to Boston to get an appointment on Weds (2 days before the cruise). This whole open loop thing is a major pain, wish RC was a little more verbal with this, didn't find out until I "checked in' which allows multiple types of documents and up to just 3 days prior to the cruise. Then a little note popped up. OMG! Thanks for all the advice, looks like I have to do it even though the countries may not need it RC might and they could stop us from boarding.

I just realized my kids passports expire with in 6 months of our trip. 1 week until the cruise. We're starting from Ft Lauderdale and ends in Puerto Rico on Royal Caribean. They are saying strongly suggest passports go beyond 6 months past the trip. Do I really have an issue here? Has anyone done this with problems or no problems? We go to St Thomas, Barbados, St Martin, St Lucia, Nassau. Having a freak out here. Any advice? This is considered open loop since different ports. Are birth certificates and Enhanced Driver's licences not good enough?