pliskin

My favorite NCL ship is the jewel. But it's older and smaller. All the new ships with NCL are great although the bathrooms on the epic are a bit odd which is why they stopped that class after one ship.

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Seems odd to me that something like ironing is a "deal breaker" for this person.

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For what it's worth, I traveled to Cuba in March on a cruise with a non-us resident and what I was told is that per the arrangement with the Cuban government, the US was still responsible since that is where the origination port was. My travel companion still had to fill out all the U.S. paperwork despite her being from canada where travel to Cuba is legal. So most of the paperwork seems US centric.

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Not exactly an answer to your question, but I like to be last off the ship then check my luggage at the airport then wander around Miami, have a relaxing lunch near the beach, then go back to the airport and fly out. After a week or more of stress free cruising, I'm not eager to end it with a stressful airport run. But i know on past family cruises, my brother has made a 10 am flight out of FLL. Barely.

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Just spent two weeks in London and used uber everywhere and they were great and affordable. In fact uber was cheaper than the tube most of the time. I also ordered from uber eats twice. Yes, black cabs are more professional but they are insanely expensive.

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Got to go with #2. Did that itinerary a few years back and loved it although no harvest caye then. Doing it in July on the get away. And I just loved Roatan, can't wait to go back. Cozumel is what it is. It's the largest cruise port outside the US. The plus, there are tons of excursions. The minus, it gets a bit crowded especially when the mega ships are there.

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https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-ready-to-respond-to-hurricane-maria

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How many 7-day cruises does it take to become Platinum on NCL?

In the good old days youd get 1 point per day. You'd also get 1 point per day if you booked more than 9 months out. You'd also get 1 point per day if you booked a suite. So imagine the points I racked up on a suite on a 14 day! Platinum is 80 points. Gold is 55 and you get 50% off laundry which is still nice. I don't know why but I used to bring a ridiculous amount of clothes on a cruise. Free laundry got me to pack lighter. Honestly, I would have had to change outfits every 3 hours to wear them all. Pretty sure I'm not the only one who does that. (Did that he says hopefully)

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If you're exploring the train, look at Amtrak. But those can get delayed occasionally. The flights are like $110 one way on United, Delta and American.

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I know this is an RCL thread but I'm Platinum with NCL and get free laundry. Best-perk-ever.

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No begrudging here. OP asked for advice and I gave mine. That's kind of what these forums are for.

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I have to politely disagree with you. All the passport card information says that it's applicable for land and sea crossings only. It has no special value for air travel. Airlines only prohibit you from boarding without a passport because if you aren't accepted upon landing they have to take you back. If you can prove you are a US citizen via a birth certificate and the cruise manifest showing you don't have permission to stay on the island; they will get you off the island one way or another. I don't think the passport card has any more value than the birth certificate driver's license method for air travel.

We'll have to agree to disagree then. I included a thread from here on cruise critic where a stranded couple was able to get home on passport cards. And there are other similar stories if you care to google. Whereas a birth certificate can be completely unique looking depending on who issued it and a foreign government would probably not accept it as verification of anything much less even know what its used for or if its legit.

Back to the card, it is issued by the US State Department, is Real ID compliant, has an RFID chip in it, has a holographic seal and a photo of you plus the word "passport" printed on it. Assuming you also have a DL and a few credit cards on you...odds are very high you'll get home. I would not personally say that with only a birth certificate. IMO, that is an unnecessary risk. A full passport is the way to go but I would not travel with only a birth certificate even on a closed loop cruise. I do a ton of international travel, primarily by air and I never leave home without my passport card for emergencies.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2544751

 

Here's a thread that tried to claim that you must cruise with a passport and trip insurance but also proved that you don't need to......

I quoted the same thread in my post above. But note that they did have passport cards which is my point. Its not ideal, but they are a cheap insurance policy if something goes wrong. Its safer to travel with a passport but a passport card is better than just a driver's license and a birth certificate.

I really have no idea why you are arguing about this.

Although you think passport control is in the U.S.

Sorry, you are 100% wrong. Other than a couple of airports in Canada, Passport Control is most definitely 100% within the United States. You actually think the US sends border patrol agents to work in airports all over the world? That's crazy. There are very few countries that have passport control to get out of a country. From personal experience that is the case in Jordan and Cambodia and I am sure a few others but that has less to do with passports and more to do with having a valid visa that has not expired. Most countries have travel restrictions where you can stay for up to 30 days but anything longer requires a different visa. This is not about security, its about money.

The US states that a valid passport is required to leave or enter the united states. It does not say enter US airspace. Meaning, you have to have a passport to get through Passport Control which is IN the United States and we've already proven that in an emergency, that rule gets bent. YOU just have to get to a US airport.

That you said earlier all you needed was a driver's license and a birth certificate is a different matter. You were wrong about that as you would never be able to board the plane with a birth certificate. In regards to getting on a plane, oddly enough, foreign countries are not bound by US law and from personal experience, controls are extremely lax in Caribbean airports. So while you may be correct if you are flying from say Heathrow, that is not the case if you are flying from say Jamiaca.

Here is a thread right here on Cruise Critic where a couple traveled from Puerta Vallarta Mexico with only passport cards. Note that he even states that he contacted customs and United airlines and was told passport cards would be fine in their situation. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2544755&highlight=passports+and+insurance

I have no idea why you are arguing about this. My original post is that if you are going to travel on a closed loop cruise where you can board with only a DL and a birth cert, I would still get a passport but if cost is an issue, spend $50 to get at least a passport card because it guarantees you will get on the ship and can save your butt in an emergency.

So, in other words in an emergency you were able to return to the US with no ID at all.... proving that yes, you can return in an emergency without a passport, just have to jump through some hoops. But a passport card is not an accepted ID for flying to and from foreign countries. I don't think it would have been much, if any better than a birth certificate and a driver's license in that situation.

I have to politely disagree with you. Yes, you can probably get through passport control in the US with a driver's license and a birth certificate but that was never the issue. Try getting onto the plane in Trinidad in the first place with only a piece of paper and an Idaho driver's license. 100% not going to happen. However, an official US federally issued ID card that has the word "Passport" on it will get you a boarding pass and back on US soil and in an emergency get you through US customs even though they will not be happy with it.

AebleskiverAebleskiverAebleskiverAebleskiverAebleskiver.g . B2b. Re t. G

 

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OK, I've heard of butt dialing before but wow, apparently I butt posted to Cruise Critic from my phone! I am laughing my ass off.

AebleskiverAebleskiverAebleskiverAebleskiverAebleskiver.g . B2b. Re t. G

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I didn't know that birth certificates were an option. We are traveling with our toddlers and was planning on getting them passports (same cost as adults but only good for 5 years) and in gathering the paperwork for that I had already requested certified copies of their birth certificates. Just to make sure I understand right, you're saying that for travel to Mexico and Jamaica, a birth certificate is okay? Does that also allow you to fly out if needed?

 

 

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If its a closed loop cruise, one that starts and ends in the same US port, birth certificates will work. They will not help if you need to leave the cruise for any reason like a medical emergency, etc. And from others I know, they pay extra attention to small children when leaving foreign countries for obvious reasons. You could probably go on hundreds of cruises without a passport but the one time you really need it, you'd be glad you had it. If you decide to go without passports, make 300% sure you have all the right docs or they will not let you board.

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That's great information, what was the emergency and where did you fly from?

So, i wasnt completely honest in my post. I traveled from a foreign country into the US with no documentation or ID at all. I had left my passport and wallet in my hotel room which was hours away from the airport and I didn't realize it until I got to the airport and I had to get home. I walked up to US passport control and told them I had no ID at all, not even a driver's license. Needless to say, they were not happy with me nor do I recommend ever trying this yourself. I was taken to a back room and they asked me a bunch of questions which I answered so they let me go but stating this was a one time deal and to never do this again. I asked if a passport card would have worked and they said yes, in an emergency. And this was just a few years ago, well after 9/11.

From that point on, I always carry my passport card in my wallet just in case.

You have to think if you have an emergency and have to fly from Trinidad to Miami, do you think they are going to send you back to Trinidad because you only have a passport card?

On a side note, the questions they asked me were kind of freaky. Like where did I live in 1987, who was my roommate in 1993, where did my father live in 2001, etc. They knew a ton about me. A little scary.

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Passport cards are a complete waste of money. They are not good if you need to FLY back home, which is what would presumably happen if you couldn't come back on the ship. The cards are no better than a birth certificate.

You have personal experience with This? Did you try to fly with a card but was denied? Because I can say that in an emergency, it has worked for me. Remember, passport control is in the United States not in St. Kitts or wherever you are flying from unless you are flying from Canada. Passport book is definately the way to go but if cost is an issue as OP states, the card insures you'll get on the ship and in an emergency, should get you home, even on a plane.

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Add in people who blame corporate greed and think they're getting ripped off for every little thing plus people who have no respect for foreign cultures when they are in port. And it's been stayed already but people who are rude to the staff. Lastly, people who are drunk off their ass by noon.

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Id go with passport cards if money is an issue. They are only $50 each and work for all land and sea entries. And would probably work fine in a medical emergency. One thing I've seen frequently is people at the port who aren't allowed to board the ship because they didn't have the right paperwork. Thier vacation was ruined and they were out the travel costs to get to the port, hotel the night before, etc. Not worth the risk to save $50 IMO.

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Personally I have used PCCs instead of TAs although I guess they are sort of TAs. I've gotten lots of upgrades and extra OBC. But i also check the line's web site frequently even after booking to keep an eye on prices. PCCs, like TAs, it's a crapshoot to get a good one. My first PCC was spectacular then several were just meh, but now think I've found another good one.

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Super Shuttle also runs buses to POM from FLL

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A missed point here: the comparison should be between a cruise vacation and a different vacation. Say one of the big ships has 4,000 passengers to the Caribbean. That's 4,000 additional plane flights plus driving around, getting taxis, etc for a full week. Or 2,000 RVs driving 1,000 miles. I don't see cruising as any worse than another type of vacation. Add to that, cruose lines have created an economy where there was none which is definately a good thing. Plus NCL got an "A" in the environmental ratings. Woo hoo!

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