Passport panic!

[Enforcer]

We are going on a Mediterranean cruise on Independence of the Seas on 13 August. Just realised that my ten year old son's passport expires October this year.

According to government website UK passports are only required to be valid for duration of trip when visiting EU countries. We will be visiting Gibraltar, Italy, France and Spain.

However- will RC require 3 or 6 months on our passports?

Not sure I'll be able to get an appointment at passport office in time.

 

Any experience of this?

Thanks so much.

Mandy

 

Hi Mandy,

 

We have visited all of those countries many times on cruises and the only time we have had to show our passport is at the check in desk before we board.

 

Pete

[Newtoncruise]

You will probs be ok with the existing one. They have same day appointments. Which passport office? Are you sailing from Southampton

[land lover]

If you are only travelling to other EU countries, you don't need 6 months on your passports, as long as all your passports are still valid at the end of your holiday, you're absolutely fine

 

I agree...

[Scotty G]

I assume you are American.

 

British Subject and US Citizen ;)

[gagirl7143]

Friends were denied boarding for a transatlantic when their passports (US) expired 2 months from the sail date. Would not chance it but that is me.

[grnyel05]

I called Royal Caribbean with a somewhat related question a few years ago and then were helpful. I would suggest calling them to confirm that you just need to meet the entry requirements of the various countries you are visiting.

 

In my case I had booked a cheap one way cruise from Miami to Panama and only had 4 months left before my passport expired. Panamanian entry requirements were 3 months left on the passport for US passport holders though the cruise line recommended 6 months. When I called Royal Caribbean they were helpful in confirming that I only needed to meet the entry requirements of Panama.

[kmorg1234]

If you extend your passport early they extend the new passport by the time remaining on the old one........so you don't lose out!

 

Does the US do this as well? That is brilliant.

[robtulipe]

Does the US do this as well? That is brilliant.

 

No, nor does Canada. :mad:

[MikeNJ1109]

Does the US do this as well? That is brilliant.

 

The State Department has never added the time whenever I've renewed my passport -- and I'm on my sixth passport now.

 

Michael

[Shak]

These articles may answer some questions on this subject.

 

Shak

 

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/countries-require-six-months-passport-validity-100788.html

 

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2014/09/231319.htm

 

http://www.uspassporthelpguide.com/six-months-validity-rule/

[broberts]

You need to go onto the official website for each country you are visiting, transiting thru airport. And also the website of our country. Each of these will tell you how much room is REQUIRED to be left on your passport. Some country's required 6 months others require 3 months.

 

This issue is too important to be left to Cruise Critic. The airlines can also deny you is boarding if they believe your passport expiration date is not sufficient for the itinerary you you are flying.

 

I agree the CC is not to be relied upon for definitive answers in this area. But I would caution about relying on country web sites. One has to search them diligently and completely (often an exhausting task) to insure that one does not miss a cruise visit exception to normal visa/passport requirements.

 

One must also check with the cruise line as it may have regulations more onerous than the countries being visited. I recall seeing at least one CC thread that reported passengers being denied boarding because passports were not valid for a sufficient time. This despite, (it was reported), none of the countries being visited requiring passports valid beyond the visit length.

[nbsjcruiser]

We are going on a Mediterranean cruise on Independence of the Seas on 13 August. Just realised that my ten year old son's passport expires October this year.

According to government website UK passports are only required to be valid for duration of trip when visiting EU countries. We will be visiting Gibraltar, Italy, France and Spain.

However- will RC require 3 or 6 months on our passports?

Not sure I'll be able to get an appointment at passport office in time.

 

Any experience of this?

Thanks so much.

Mandy

 

I know you're in the US and so it may differ for you but I often hear the same questions being asked in Canada about passports needing to be within x number of months of expiry so I went to the horse's mouth and called Customs one day and asked that specific question. I heard a big sigh on the other end of the phone and he told me he gets this question all the time and the answer is always the same. They put an expiry date on the passport for a reason. If you are traveling before the expiry of the passport then its a valid passport. Period. End of story. Now, as I say, maybe the US treats passports differently so I won't comment there but perhaps a call to US customs might help in this case.

[TravelerThom]

...If you are traveling before the expiry of the passport then its a valid passport. Period. End of story...

Sorry, that is NOT the end of story. It doesn't matter if Canada says your passport is valid. What matters are the rules in place in the country you are attempting to enter and the rules of the carrier who is to take you there.

 

Thom

 

BTW the OP has clearly stated that she is from England, not the US.

[Missusdubbya]

The State Department has never added the time whenever I've renewed my passport -- and I'm on my sixth passport now.

 

Michael

 

Neither does Australia :(

[Missusdubbya]

Sorry, that is NOT the end of story. It doesn't matter if Canada says your passport is valid. What matters are the rules in place in the country you are attempting to enter and the rules of the carrier who is to take you there.

 

This. For instance in Thailand you will be refused entry if you have less than 6 months remaining validity.

[mollyeilis]

This. For instance in Thailand you will be refused entry if you have less than 6 months remaining validity.

 

But it could easily be different for you, with what I assume to be an Australian passport, vs the person from Canada, vs the US citizen, vs the UK citizen who wrote the original post.

[broberts]

I know you're in the US and so it may differ for you but I often hear the same questions being asked in Canada about passports needing to be within x number of months of expiry so I went to the horse's mouth and called Customs one day and asked that specific question. I heard a big sigh on the other end of the phone and he told me he gets this question all the time and the answer is always the same. They put an expiry date on the passport for a reason. If you are traveling before the expiry of the passport then its a valid passport. Period. End of story. Now, as I say, maybe the US treats passports differently so I won't comment there but perhaps a call to US customs might help in this case.

 

All passports are valid until their expiry date. However, a valid passport is not the sole criteria for entering many countries.

 

Generally, Canada requires that a visitor passport be valid for the entire length of stay.

 

On the other hand, many visitors to Fiji must have "A valid passport that does not expire within 6 months from the date of departure from Fiji" (http://www.fijiembassydc.com/visas.htm).

[barneyboy]

We are from the uk and have never had to take our passport ashore to be checked at any EU ports

[nealstuber]

To visit the countries you are going to, your passport has to be valid until you leave. So you will be fine with that. So long as Royal Caribbean don't have their own rules, and they have said you can board, then all will be well.

 

 

Agree, except with the word "said" with respect the RCCL.

 

I'd get it in writing, with a number to call on embarkation day.

[waterbug123]

This. For instance in Thailand you will be refused entry if you have less than 6 months remaining validity.

 

And last year when we went to Istanbul we had to have 6 months remaining on our passport in order to get a visa.

 

So yes, the passport itself may be valid til the expiration date, but that doesn't not equal actually being able to travel anywhere in the world with it.

[Paulxyz2004]

Sorry, that is NOT the end of story. It doesn't matter if Canada says your passport is valid. What matters are the rules in place in the country you are attempting to enter and the rules of the carrier who is to take you there.

 

Thom

 

BTW the OP has clearly stated that she is from England, not the US.

 

You are exactly right !!!

 

 

I'm not sure what the reason is, but it's a pretty standard recommendation when you travel that there needs to be 6 months remaining. Just think of it as your passport expires 6 months sooner than the printed date, then you won't feel so much like it's being wasted.

 

It could be that the 6 month thing was put in place when it used to take 6 months to get a passport.

 

 

The reason for this is pretty simple. Many countries have a time Frame you are allowed to visit as a Tourist, be it with or without a visa. This time Frame can be 6 month and they want your passport to be valid when you leave. That´s why some countries have the rule of your passport being valid for another 6 month. Obviously it varies from Country to Country.

[Paulxyz2004]

Hi Mandy,

 

We have visited all of those countries many times on cruises and the only time we have had to show our passport is at the check in desk before we board.

 

Pete

 

While this information is correct, as it is for most cruise ports of call, it says nothing about the OP´s Situation. RCI Scans your passport and provides the information to the port authorities. If your passport does not meet the criteria of the visited port you have a Problem.

[JVilleGal]

If your passport does not meet EVERY country/port to be visited you won't even be getting on the ship! It's not a choice to simply not go ashore, once in port you are effectively in that country. You will be DENIED BOARDING if your passport is deemed in any way deficient. Not only the Expiration dates, but many countries ever req a certain # of pages remaining empty in your PP and nearly all require your PP to be scannable so if it is damaged in anyway (think washing machine) you can also be denied.

 

 

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