Biden approved Alaska Cruise today.

[IntrepidFromDC]

Alaska Cruises Closer to Restart Following President Biden's Approval (cruisecritic.com)

[lobster1313]

I am not very political but it was great to see everyone come together to help out Alaska.

[TNcruising02]

This is great.  I wonder if they will even request passports or birth certificates since the cruise is within the US.

[Aplmac]

This is the first time

that the Passenger Vessel Services Act has been touched

in about 135 years

 

- that's a long time for legislation to evolve.

 

 

[tidecat]

5 minutes ago, TNcruising02 said:

This is great.  I wonder if they will even request passports or birth certificates since the cruise is within the US.

There should be no reason to, but I would still be prepared just in case.

 

Those who were on a sailing out of Mobile that stopped only at Key West due to propulsion issues with Carnival Fantasy did not have to clear customs upon their return. Those who sail NCL's Pride of America also don't have to clear customs.

[Knights on the Beach]

Too bad they don't just make this a permanent change.

[BlerkOne]

9 minutes ago, TNcruising02 said:

This is great.  I wonder if they will even request passports or birth certificates since the cruise is within the US.

Since vaccination is required, I can see that documentation being requested/required.

[Aplmac]

2 minutes ago, cruisemom2 said:

Too bad they don't just make this a permanent change.

Agreed!

 

135 yr. old legal 'software'? How could that be out of date? lol

[kdr69]

1 hour ago, tidecat said:

There should be no reason to, but I would still be prepared just in case.

 

Those who were on a sailing out of Mobile that stopped only at Key West due to propulsion issues with Carnival Fantasy did not have to clear customs upon their return. Those who sail NCL's Pride of America also don't have to clear customs.

Pride of America is an American flagged vessel sailing from an American Port to American stops why on earth would anyone need to clear customs when they did that at the Airport on arrival to the USA?  Would be like having to clear customs after taking a boat ride on your local lake.

[ontheweb]

9 hours ago, TNcruising02 said:

This is great.  I wonder if they will even request passports or birth certificates since the cruise is within the US.

They still do need you to provide some sort of identification. If not for passports or picture id + birth certificate, what would you have them ask for?

[tidecat]

1 hour ago, ontheweb said:

They still do need you to provide some sort of identification. If not for passports or picture id + birth certificate, what would you have them ask for?

If it's not leaving the country, any photo ID should suffice.

[TNcruising02]

1 hour ago, ontheweb said:

They still do need you to provide some sort of identification. If not for passports or picture id + birth certificate, what would you have them ask for?

A driver's license or government ID.  Passports and birth certificates are used for traveling outside of the US and it sounds like the Alaska cruises this summer will not do that.

Edited May 25, 2021 by TNcruising02

[dbrucern]

I'm sure the process for getting on the ship will be the same.  Not everyone that lives in the US is a US citizen and while the Canadian border is closed (until June 21st) right now, you can still get on a plane and  come to the US.  I even know someone that hired a helicopter to take them over to the states. Plus they are going to need to verify that the person boarding matches those sailing just like they did last week when I flew to KW. 

[ninjacat123]

I'm thinking they will need gov't issue id (driver license or passport) like TSA requires when going through security at an airport.

[toad455]

Now we just need the CDC to give the green light as well.

[Joebucks]

This is awesome. Hope it goes away permanently. It would be nice to see a day or two shaved off of itineraries such as Hawaii that could focus more on Hawaii

[vivian02]

I would love to see a combined Alaska and Hawaii cruise. Say a 20 day West coast adventure up to Seward and then heading west to Hawaii. I would book that one in a second. Tim

[IntrepidFromDC]

34 minutes ago, vivian02 said:

I would love to see a combined Alaska and Hawaii cruise. Say a 20 day West coast adventure up to Seward and then heading west to Hawaii. I would book that one in a second. Tim

If you look at Seward and Hawaii on a map, you'll see Hawaii is south (nearly due south) of Seward, barely west.  The distance would require 7 or 8 consecutive "fun" days at sea.  No thanks.

[ontheweb]

4 hours ago, tidecat said:

If it's not leaving the country, any photo ID should suffice.

Haven't they changed that or are trying to change that but it has been delayed? Isn't that the reasoning behind the new enhanced drivers license? I know when I renewed my license and was asked if I wanted to pay extra to have it enhanced, I was told I did not need it when I told them I had a passport that had just been renewed a year ago.

[TooManyWakeUpsTilWeSail]

Good news for me.  Alaska is on our next (unscheduled) trip list.

[tidecat]

1 hour ago, ontheweb said:

Haven't they changed that or are trying to change that but it has been delayed? Isn't that the reasoning behind the new enhanced drivers license? I know when I renewed my license and was asked if I wanted to pay extra to have it enhanced, I was told I did not need it when I told them I had a passport that had just been renewed a year ago.

The deadline is pushed back to May 3, 2023.

[BlerkOne]

6 hours ago, tidecat said:

If it's not leaving the country, any photo ID should suffice.

Has to be a government issued photo ID for US citizens. Others would need a valid passport. Same as for Mississippi River cruises.

[PaperSniper4]

17 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

Since vaccination is required, I can see that documentation being requested/required.

 

I have wondered about that. I read that vaccinations must be about 95-95% before any cruising could re-start from the USA. However, two months ago, Carnival and Princess <at least> would were not planning on insisting that passengers be vaccinated. I am, and hope everyone else is. But I have not seen anything that says Carnival (at least) will require vacations except for the Alaska departures, which seems illogical if they are not requiring vaccinations for all  cruises.

 

Has anyone seen anything from Carnival corp that they are requiring vaccinations for all USA departing cruises? I realize things are changing daily..........I just want to go on a cruise, dangit!😲

 

Thanks.

 

Doug

[BlerkOne]

13 minutes ago, PaperSniper4 said:

 

 

 

Has anyone seen anything from Carnival corp that they are requiring vaccinations for all USA departing cruises? I realize things are changing daily..........I just want to go on a cruise, dangit!😲

 

 

 

Carnival is expected to announce more this week or next what the protocols will be, but as you say, they could change before cruising begins, and will certainly change after.

 

[PaperSniper4]

16 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

 

Carnival is expected to announce more this week or next what the protocols will be, but as you say, they could change before cruising begins, and will certainly change after.

 

I anticipate they will be requiring vaccinations, but of course it's anyone's guess at this point. I understand otherwise cruise lines have to do some sort of "simulated" cruises, whatever those are. Personally I'd like the crew and passengers to all be vaccinated, but I know there are problems there also with youngsters, existing medical situations, availability of the vaccine for the crew, etc, etc. Time will tell. I am just anxious to feel a ship under my feet and watch the ocean go by.......😎

 

Doug