US State Dept registeration

[tvlbum]

Do most of the passengers on the RTW cruises register their departures with the State Dept before they leave the country?  I will post this on the other boards as well.

[cbb]

we do just because of some of the ports we visit.  Doesn't cost us anything and takes a minute to do.

[Mura]

I've done so for ordinary cruises ... if we were ever to take the rtw (which I'm sure we won't because DH doesn't want trips longer than 14 days and that was BEFORE his vision declined so precipitously) I'd be very sure to do so.  It could get difficult listing all the countries though!  I had some problems when we only had 6-7 countries to deal with.

 

Mura

[cbb]

yeah, we gave up registering all of the ATW ports since the State Dept is not set up to handle that many ports.  Next time we'll just pick and choose the ones we're most concerned about. 

 

[CruisingIGo]

I’ve never heard of this.  Why would you register a trip with the state department?

[Mura]

Its a relatively new program.  If you run into problems on the trip, or if you're going into areas that have problems, it helps to have the consulates and embassies know where you are and how to reach you.  It's called the STEP Program (Smart Traveler).

 

https://step.state.gov/

 

It's not all that crucial if you're doing a standard European trip but could be important if you are in more insecure areas.  It also helps if you or your travel companion should become ill.

 

Mura

 

[doctork]

I found it helpful when I was doing aid work in Afghanistan.  They sent regular alerts to me, and it made my family back home in the US feel better.  I never thought about using it for a cruise, but I think it would be a good idea if your cruise visits some "dicey" areas.

[Go-Bucks!]

I tried to do it before taking this world cruise but, as someone said, the website would only take a couple places and we'll be in quite a few "iffy" places so I just decided not to do it. 

[LHT28]

I would think if you are  on a cruise the ship would have  a manifest of the pax  & those that may  be ashore 

Should some unrest happen they  can notify the proper authorities  that citizens  are in that Country & did not return to the ship 

I would  hope that if unrest broke out  before the ship docked  that they would abort docking  there

JMO