Passport Question

[heidik]

My passport expires 5 months from the end of my Western Carib. Christmas cruise. I am not planning to get off the ship as I've been to these stops many times and would rather just veg out for the 10 days.....do you foresee a problem with the 5-month expiration for the Carib. itinerary?

[travelgirlari]

Hi Heidi,

I am going on the HAL West Caribbean Christmas Cruise in December as well and my passport expires 4 months after that (April 11) . I did ask HAL personnel (twice) if that posed a problem - and was told "no" for a trip to the Caribbean. The 2nd HAL employee told me that should I be stuck in a port for an extended time due to a mishap - it would become a problem - but I guess this means only if I were unable to get back on the ship for some emergency reason and was in Mexico for some months.

Travelgirlari

[noblepa]

My passport expires 5 months from the end of my Western Carib. Christmas cruise. I am not planning to get off the ship as I've been to these stops many times and would rather just veg out for the 10 days.....do you foresee a problem with the 5-month expiration for the Carib. itinerary?

 

A passport serves two purposes.

 

First, it is used to allow you entry into foreign countries. Most, if not all of the Caribbean nations have waived the passport requirement for US cruise passengers. So, you don't even need a passport, at all, to get off the ship in the Caribbean.

 

Secondly, the passport is used to prove that you have a legal right to re-enter the US, when you return home. You can use a passport for this purpose right up until the day it expires. I suspect, but can't say from any first-hand knowledge, that, if you returned with a passport that had expired a week ago, you would get a nasty look and perhaps a short lecture from the immigration agent, but you would be allowed in.

 

The confusion arises because some nations require that a US passport be valid for six months AFTER the date of entry, in case you overstay, whether deliberately or due to unforseen circumstances. IOW, if you enter the country on June 1, your passport must be good until Dec. 1. AFAIK, none of these nations are in the Caribbean.

 

For that matter, a passport is not even required for a closed-loop Caribbean cruise. If you sail from Miami, visit a few Caribbean ports and return to Miami, a certified copy of your government-issued (not hospital) birth certificate is sufficient.

 

Paul

[Oceanwench]

What a wonderful, concise, direct answer! :)

 

Sometimes when someone posts this type of question, posters go on and on lecturing, conjecturing ... tossing the BS.

 

Glad you cut through all the BS, noblepa.

[That's so "Ohio" of you - from a Buckeye in exile!]

[heidik]

Yes, thank you for taking the time to explain how it works - my overwhelmed brain is on cruise-info overload right now and nothing much is sinking in - simple and clear is good!

[jtl513]

For that matter, a passport is not even required for a closed-loop Caribbean cruise.

Unless you should need to fly home ...

[cherylandtk]

Unless you should need to fly home ...

 

Well, then....it's no longer a cruise, but a flight. For which Heidi can use her passport to return home.

[jtl513]

Well, then....it's no longer a cruise, but a flight. For which Heidi can use her passport to return home.

I was adding a foot-note to noblepa's statement that "For that matter, a passport is not even required for a closed-loop Caribbean cruise", and was not addressing heidik's question at that point.