razzinger

On 2/24/2019 at 10:12 AM, snooze like a norwegian said:

since this is a for dummies thread......

Do we need a passport to cruise to Alaska?  Seattle r/t  US citizen

Answering the question, nothing more............

No!

Could you need one in certain situations, YES!.

Charles,

Thank you for correcting me!!

I have a REAL ID drivers license, which with my BC is acceptable port entry WHTI. 

The REAL ID is finally compliant with the US latest effort for US air travel. Not all states have gotten REAL IDs.

3 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

AFAIK, Virginia currently does not issue EDLs. 

 

A regular DL and BC suffice on a closed-loop cruise to re-enter the US, but are insufficient to enter Canada during the cruise. Unlike most Caribbean countries, Canada makes no entry exceptions for cruise passengers. Consequently, HAL won't allow boarding with only these documents.

 

A Passport Card will definitely work, but the limitations (only for travel to Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico; not valid for air travel) outweigh the few dollars saved over the purchase price of a full passport IMO. 

I have a Virginia EDL. It has a star in the upper right corner to make recognition of the EDL easier.

Canada is part of the WHTI, therefore they do accept these docs for cruise passengers.

HAL will allow me to board without a passport.

It is not an issue of a few dollars saved as far as me buying a passport; I can buy an airplane, I just have no use for one!!

1 minute ago, Fouremco said:

So, what travel document will you use to enter Canada in lieu of a passport?

An EDL, drivers license and BC, or a passport card.

No you do not HAVE to have a passport based on OP's scenario.

Should one need to fly from Canada to the US, he/she would have problems. 

Is a passport a good idea for most? Absolutely

Does everyone need one? Absolutely not!!!!

Again this is for the cruise proposed by OP.

I have been on 8 cruises, never had a passport. Never needed one. 

I am doing a Seattle rt to Alaska in September, no intention of paying for a passport.

I snail mailed mine to Carnival. After 3 weeks with no reply or post on my account, I called and asked what was up. 4 days later I got an email saying my OBC had been approved and applied. I also did the same for my upcoming HAL cruise, mailed it, the same day, and have not heard anything (5 weeks since mailing). 

Heres the link to krazy lobster. The beaches are all right next to each other, most have a bar and/or restaurant just off the beach. The loungers and umbrellas are complimentary as well.

Cant say one is better than the other, but the owner is right there greeting everyone and making sure they are taken care of.

http://www.thekrazylobstercostamaya.com/

Check out the Krazy Lobster. Its a nice not perfect beach, but they take care of you, free internet, a free drink of some sort(non drinker here), a great price on a bucket of beers, and I have read reviews about really good food. Its a $3pp open air ride to the area, and a $2 pp taxi ride back, and there is no shortage of rides. We have been twice. Google it. Just a quick FYI, the beaches there all can have bad days with sea weed, depending on the winds and currents, but they do a great job or raking and cleaning the beaches early each day to minimize. In my photo, you can see a few pieces in the water

Our family is on the March 31, 2019 sailing of the Pride. Within a few weeks of booking our obstructed view balcony on deck 5, one cabin for 3, the other for 4 passengers, we got an email from Carnival. They offered both cabins to be upsold to a Cat 8k extended balcony for a $20 bill, for each cabin. SOLD! First time on a balcony. It was also from the front part of the ship, to the middle. 

The Carnival shareholder PDF says it must be submitted 3 weeks prior to sailing.

The same PDF says the benefit is only available on cruises thru July 31, 2019; so I am surprised to see others mention already receiving OBC for their sailings in 2020. I have a HAL cruise booked for Sept. to Alaska, and have held off submitting it until they extend the offer. I called Carnival and asked, they said a new extension should be issued this month.

Drydock is scheduled for Feb 3 to Feb 16

6 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

Which part of Boylie's post do you think is incorrect?

 

I am wrong. Since I have my passport card, I do not need both. Forgive my hardheaded me!
 

26 minutes ago, Boytjie said:

 

Unless your drivers license is an Enhance Drivers License (only theses states issue them: Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont  and Washington), you also need a birth certificated.

 

EDL's are valid for proof of citizenship.

Sorry that is incorrect info. I suggest anyone with concerns confirm with HAL, too many on these forums put out incorrect info. 

Yes I have! My travel agent of 30+yrs and the HAL document web page confirm that you or I nor millions of other US citizens, do not need a passport to take a closed loop cruise, leaving from the USA, that returns to the same port. It is recommended, but not required by HAL or the USA! My Alaska cruise confirmation has the same info. 

13 minutes ago, YCPProf said:

Just 7 days Razzinger, but I thought you needed a birth certificate to accompany the driver's license? Thanks for your answer.

You are most welcome! And to the comment posted by homassasa after yours, they are incorrect. I called HAL as soon as I saw their post, and HAL rep told me what I told you. It is best to have one, especially in emergency, since you do need one to fly home if something happened in another country. I just don't believe the added expense to rush to renew is worth it.

I am not an expert, but if you are just going on a 7 day or so cruise from FLL and returning to FLL, you don't need a passport; a drivers license will do as long as you don't plan on flying internationally. More info on your trip will help others help you.

I have been on 8 cruises and do not have a passport.

Hi! Thanks for what you do!

7 night Alaska Explorer

Oosterdam, Sept 8, 2019

First Alaska Cruise, first HAL cruise.

Cruise #9 overall.

I got 1!

I made a $1 purchase in a vending machine at work, made an online payment for $1 when the bill came. I received the 10,000 RCL points on that bill. The same day, I called RCL, and deposited those points to my cruise leaving next Sunday from Miami. Then I destroyed the credit card, since I hate them! Netted a free $99 onboard credit. Not bad for about 10 minutes of my time.

Awesome review and attitude. We are on the Nav in 3 weeks as well, and am proud to say we are on deck 7, inside, we picked our cabin, paid $667 for the 2 of us, and received $100 OBC! We don't drink or gamble, nor support the added cost venues. We expect less, just glad to be on a vacation! And when we leave the ship, we will take some of the OBC with us!!

Thanks for posting the daily compass. We are on the Feb 25 5 night sailing! Any chance you have the nightly main dining menus? Did they offer lobster? :)

Went to Krazy Lobster in Feb 2017, it was almost perfect. The owner is right there to offer you free wifi, loungers, first margarita(we don't drink) and kayaks! I also heard beers were like $2. The beachwas nice, a few rocks here or there, but clean and the palm trees offered shade on the loungers, as well as the free umbrella! Only real negative we experienced was a steady stream of locals(?) parading up and down the beach offering you "the best" sunglasses, bracelets, hand bags, etc. A firm and friendly no thank you sends them to the next set of loungers. We paid $3 per person to ride an open air cart to the beach area, and it was a $2 taxi ride pp back to the ship.Lots of taxis ready to transport you, no need to worry about missing the ship. We are headed back there in Feb 2018 with 2 grandkids, and knowing what to expect will make the next trip alot less stressfull!

We dropped it off about 930-945. Were at the terminal by 1030.

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We used Alamo at the port for drop off prior to cruise, and they have shuttles running to each terminal. Very quick and painless. Dropped us off basically at the terminal door.

Interesting thread. We cruise for the cruise; what comes included in the price of the cruise. We don't drink, don't swim, but love to eat, relax, meet new friends. 7 cruises in for us, only excursion we have done was me playing golf in Mazatlan thru Princess excursions. All other ports we have either taxied somewhere, or wandered close to the ship, then head back to have lunch on the ship. We did book Bernards in St Martin last time there on our own, and had a blast, but that was a treat since we were cruising with another couple who loved doing all the things we don't! :)

In fact, 6 of our 7 cruises we have received a check on the last day since we don't spend our onboard credit. I have purchased two photos so far from the cruise line.

Thanks for taking the time to share all the photos and comments about your cruise.

My wife and I and another couple were on the same cruise, and have almost completely different takes on the same cruise!

We thought the activities were good, the evening trivias and things (don't remember the exact names) were mostly very good, NEVER crowded.

The solarium pool area was nice, but always filled with people or their towels left to hold the chair, and the hot tubs generally were fairly well packed.

We thought the food in the Windjammer was excellent, as well as the daily selection! The main dining room food for breakfast lunch and dinner were AWESOME. Service for breakfast was slow a few times, mainly due to the fact half the people were eating from the buffet set up, others from the menu, which seemed to slow things down. Our food was always hot when served.

But everyone has an opinion, none are right or wrong just their opinion. But I certainly would not only do specialty dining, or skip the windjammer based on what I or anyone else says, give it a shot!

Worst part of the cruise for us was the hard sell from staff for specialty dining and wine tastings, some meals we had 3 different people come try to sell us the same thing. NO FREAKING Thank you! I know where to go if I want to book it!

Looking forward to going on RC again next year!