Passport question..."valid 6 months after the voyage end date"?

[lovetotravel06]

Title pretty much says it all. Surely that's not required for a closed loop out of Miami is it? (the 6 months thing) Have sailed Royal MANY times and lately a couple Celebrity, never heard such language. 1st time on VV!  Got an email saying the exact quote in title (among other info). Sailing soon on Scarlet Lady Riviera Maya and was for sure surprised. My PP expires and 3 months or so (I know, I need to get on renewal). 

TIA for any real world info! 

[cantgetin]

That is VV's normal requirement at all ports rather than make different rules for different nationalities or departure ports.  They have, in the past, made exceptions IN ADVANCE for US citizens on closed loop cruises out of Miami who did not have time to get a renewal before their cruise.

Most other lines also follow the government requirements of allowing cruisers to cruise on a birth certificate and photo ID; VV does not unless an exception is granted.

When do you cruise?  How long as passport renewals taking now (our experience has been that they take the same or less time than they are showing on line.). If you don't have time for a renewal, contact VV as soon as possible and see if they will issue you an exception letter.  Print this out and take it to th cruise terminal with you; you don't want the terminal people claiming that they can't find it in their records. The passport is good for re-entry into the US until the expiration date.

Another point might be the "what if something happens and you need medical care in a foreign hospital that extends beyond the date on your passport?"  Yes, the State Department has provisions for issuing an emergency passport, but is that really what you want to be doing at an already stressful time?

[rebeccac]

1 hour ago, lovetotravel06 said:

Title pretty much says it all. Surely that's not required for a closed loop out of Miami is it? (the 6 months thing) Have sailed Royal MANY times and lately a couple Celebrity, never heard such language. 1st time on VV!  Got an email saying the exact quote in title (among other info). Sailing soon on Scarlet Lady Riviera Maya and was for sure surprised. My PP expires and 3 months or so (I know, I need to get on renewal). 

TIA for any real world info! 

Actually, if you go to the FAQs for both Royal and Celebrity, they do have the 6 month language in there.  It is pretty standard language for all cruise lines.  It is put in there as a CYA since there are certain countries around the world that do have that requirement.  That being said, it is rarely a requirement from most of the Caribbean countries you will likely visit from Miami.  I am honestly not sure if the cruise line "requirement" or the individual country requirements are the ones to follow.  

[garycarla]

There are many posts if you scroll down the page abouts passports.

 

They also list the requuirements on the Virgin website.

[blackjack24]

18 minutes ago, rebeccac said:

Actually, if you go to the FAQs for both Royal and Celebrity, they do have the 6 month language in there.  It is pretty standard language for all cruise lines.  It is put in there as a CYA since there are certain countries around the world that do have that requirement.  That being said, it is rarely a requirement from most of the Caribbean countries you will likely visit from Miami.  I am honestly not sure if the cruise line "requirement" or the individual country requirements are the ones to follow.  

That might be but they don't require a passport at ALL on Royal or Celebrity for closed loop cruises. I understand what OP is talking about. Birth cert and ID is all thats needed for closed loop.

Edited February 18 by blackjack24

[rebeccac]

15 minutes ago, blackjack24 said:

That might be but they don't require a passport at ALL on Royal or Celebrity for closed loop cruises. I understand what OP is talking about. Birth cert and ID is all thats needed for closed loop.

 

Virgin doesn't require a passport for the closed loop sailings from Miami either.

[lovetotravel06]

31 minutes ago, garycarla said:

There are many posts if you scroll down the page abouts passports.

 

They also list the requuirements on the Virgin website.

I didn't scroll too far out but did use the search option. Didn't see anything pop right up so thought I'd just post.

Edited February 18 by lovetotravel06
typo

[lovetotravel06]

2 hours ago, cantgetin said:

That is VV's normal requirement at all ports rather than make different rules for different nationalities or departure ports.  They have, in the past, made exceptions IN ADVANCE for US citizens on closed loop cruises out of Miami who did not have time to get a renewal before their cruise.

Sounds like they are a little lazy in that department. How hard is it to adhere to closed loops out of MIami not even legally requiring a passport let alone the 6 month deal?

 

Most other lines also follow the government requirements of allowing cruisers to cruise on a birth certificate and photo ID; VV does not unless an exception is granted.

 

Indeed, most other lines (ALL) do.

When do you cruise?  How long as passport renewals taking now (our experience has been that they take the same or less time than they are showing on line.). If you don't have time for a renewal, contact VV as soon as possible and see if they will issue you an exception letter.  Print this out and take it to th cruise terminal with you; you don't want the terminal people claiming that they can't find it in their records. The passport is good for re-entry into the US until the expiration date.
Cruise coming right up. Passport good for another 3 months. Will contact them tomorrow. I saw no reference to needing 6 months remaining on a valid passport when booking. Only when I received email today did I notice that.

 

Another point might be the "what if something happens and you need medical care in a foreign hospital that extends beyond the date on your passport?"  Yes, the State Department has provisions for issuing an emergency passport, but is that really what you want to be doing at an already stressful time?

Thanks for the additional info on Passport knowledge. I've had one since 1984 though so,.....Kind of know the ropes. 35 cruises and a good deal of world travel under my belt. I know about the 6 month thing when traveling abroad to some countries. Never heard of a closed loop cruise out of a US port needing the 6 months remaining on the valid passport though. 

 Appreciate your input.

 

[cantgetin]

Fingers crossed for you, but I strongly suspect that VV will issue the exception.
Another way in which the 6 month rule is easier for VV is that it applies to all cruisers.  While a US citizen can do a closed loop out of Miami on a passport with less than 6 months remaining, a citizen of a foreign country must have the 6 months to re-enter the US.  By just saying 6 months for everyone, VV doesn't have to teach their terminal crew different rules.  But in most cases, the terminal crew works other lines on days that VV is not in port, so yeah, it is laziness.

[lovetotravel06]

Another quick question..after "checking in" shows 4:15 as the earliest time available. Is that right? Royal and Celebrity are normally about ready to set sail by then! Sound right to all you VV regulars?!

 

Thanks and thanks to all who replied. 

[lovetotravel06]

4 hours ago, rebeccac said:

Actually, if you go to the FAQs for both Royal and Celebrity, they do have the 6 month language in there.  It is pretty standard language for all cruise lines.  It is put in there as a CYA since there are certain countries around the world that do have that requirement.  That being said, it is rarely a requirement from most of the Caribbean countries you will likely visit from Miami.  I am honestly not sure if the cruise line "requirement" or the individual country requirements are the ones to follow.  

Thanks for the reply...as I mentioned, I have a fair amount of experience. I've never heard of the 6 months deal on a passport on a closed loop out of FL, EVER. VV made it the first thing I needed to understand, etc...Way different experience from any of my 35 prior cruises so was surprised...just so happened it was the first time I'd not renewed my PP pretty far in advance, 

[fsdorado]

5 minutes ago, lovetotravel06 said:

Thanks for the reply...as I mentioned, I have a fair amount of experience. I've never heard of the 6 months deal on a passport on a closed loop out of FL, EVER. VV made it the first thing I needed to understand, etc...Way different experience from any of my 35 prior cruises so was surprised...just so happened it was the first time I'd not renewed my PP pretty far in advance, 

 

It also matters what ports you're stopping in.  For example, for Columbia, you MUST have a password with at least six months left.  This is the law in Columbia, not a cruise line policy.  I think there are one or two other islands in the Caribbean that require passports but most do not.

 

 

Frederick

[neverendingcruising]

3 hours ago, lovetotravel06 said:

Another quick question..after "checking in" shows 4:15 as the earliest time available. Is that right? Royal and Celebrity are normally about ready to set sail by then! Sound right to all you VV regulars?!

 

Thanks and thanks to all who replied. 

Yes, if you were late picking a time this could be normal. They don't let people on the ship until 1:30 at the earliest. Conversely, you don't have to be off the ship until 10:30

[lovetotravel06]

2 hours ago, fsdorado said:

 

It also matters what ports you're stopping in.  For example, for Columbia, you MUST have a password with at least six months left.  This is the law in Columbia, not a cruise line policy.  I think there are one or two other islands in the Caribbean that require passports but most do not.

 

 

Frederick

Yes, I know that. This is a little Caribbean 5 night cruise that most certainly doesn't "require" passports. Cozumel and Bimini. That's why I was so surprised at the notice at the top of my email from VV's "to do" list....I'm quite well traveled and wondered what in the world they were going on about. 

Thanks for the reply.

[lovetotravel06]

33 minutes ago, neverendingcruising said:

Yes, if you were late picking a time this could be normal. They don't let people on the ship until 1:30 at the earliest. Conversely, you don't have to be off the ship until 10:30

VERY late picking a time would be an understatement. Many times we travel spur of the moment and this cruise was one of those times. Glad to hear that 4:15 isn't unusual. On RCI and Celeb you'd be left behind if you showed up at 4:15! 🙂 

I suspected that that later disembarkation might be the reason. I'm a fan of that! We're normally about the last ones off the ship and are fine with that. 

[cantgetin]

2 minutes ago, lovetotravel06 said:

 

I suspected that that later disembarkation might be the reason. I'm a fan of that! We're normally about the last ones off the ship and are fine with that. 

I like the late timing for several reasons.  One is that your cabin is ready when you board.  The other is not being rushed off the ship on the last morning unless that is your choice.  Yes, you have to do something between leaving the hotel and check in time, but we have usually been able to get a 12 or 12:30 "late check out," so not bad.  In Miami, you can drop your luggage and go to Bayside if you get there early. (complimentary shuttle).  Or just hang out in the hotel lobby till you get fed up with that, go somewhere for lunch, etc.  There is a very small food place in the terminal area, but.....

[fsdorado]

15 hours ago, lovetotravel06 said:

Yes, I know that. This is a little Caribbean 5 night cruise that most certainly doesn't "require" passports. Cozumel and Bimini. That's why I was so surprised at the notice at the top of my email from VV's "to do" list....I'm quite well traveled and wondered what in the world they were going on about. 

Thanks for the reply.

 

Yup, you should be good without a passport for that itinerary.  That being said, I would never travel internationally without a passport.  It just makes it easier if something goes wrong.  Have a great cruise!!

 

 

Frederick

[lovetotravel06]

23 hours ago, cantgetin said:

Fingers crossed for you, but I strongly suspect that VV will issue the exception.
 

I went ahead and called just to be sure. Rep said I would be fine but to go ahead and complete my check in (pic of Passport, etc) and see if what happened. He allso put in a call to terminal operations (think that's what he called it) and explained he situation to them. Was to receive email from them within 72 hours. 

 

 Check in did flag the 6 months thing but allowed me to continue. After completing that received email stating that I was all set to go. 

 

 Terminal Operations Crew lady emailed this AM at 9:30 and said I was all good to go as well. 

 

SO, what threw me for a loop for a bit has all been resolved now. Wanted to check back in and let CC know what transpired. 

 

Thanks for the comments and now I will be seeing how I like Virgin very soon! I've done enough research on youtube and here to know that it's going to be quite different that what I'm accustomed to! Looking forward to it actually! 

Thanks again, Sailors! 

 

 

[CruisingWalter]

On 2/18/2024 at 2:21 PM, lovetotravel06 said:

Title pretty much says it all. Surely that's not required for a closed loop out of Miami is it? (the 6 months thing)

 

It's the same rule for all cruise lines. 6 months after sailing date for all cruises, yes including closed loop cruises. VV can issue an exception, but are not required to. 

[lovetotravel06]

5 hours ago, CruisingWalter said:

 

It's the same rule for all cruise lines. 6 months after sailing date for all cruises, yes including closed loop cruises. VV can issue an exception, but are not required to. 

That's all fine and dandy but I've NEVER seen or heard anything about it on the many closed loop cruises I've taken on Royal and Celebrity. Not once out of MANY closed loops. SO, when I got the VV email and the very first thing I saw to "remember" was to "triple check my PP is valid for at least 6 months after the voyage end date" maybe you could understand where I was like WHAT?

 I'm sure the language is in the fine print somewhere on RCI or X but I've never seen or heard of it nor anything about making exceptions let alone the #1 thing I needed to "triple check".  Thus this thread. 

 

Edit.. Not only did they offer the "exception" phone rep said no problem at all right off the bat and a very swift email from a Virgin Terminal Operations Crew member stating the same kind of led me to believe this wasn't the only time they'd had someone inquire "what are you talking about". Both assured me no problem since it was a closed loop which is what I assumed to be the case all along. Hardly an "exception" in my opinion but whatever, I digress. 

Thanks to all that chimed in. 

Edited February 20 by lovetotravel06
More info

[CruisingWalter]

28 minutes ago, lovetotravel06 said:

That's all fine and dandy but I've NEVER seen or heard anything about it on the many closed loop cruises I've taken on Royal and Celebrity. Not once out of MANY closed loops. SO, when I got the VV email and the very first thing I saw to "remember" was to "triple check my PP is valid for at least 6 months after the voyage end date" maybe you could understand where I was like WHAT?

 

It's literally the first thing in Royal Caribbean's Travel Documents FAQ. "The passport must be valid for six months after the day your cruise ends...

[fsdorado]

10 minutes ago, CruisingWalter said:

 

It's literally the first thing in Royal Caribbean's Travel Documents FAQ. "The passport must be valid for six months after the day your cruise ends...

 

I think it's fair to say that all of us are really bad about reading the Cruise Contract, especially those of us who have been on many cruises.  Just check the box and move on.

[CruisingWalter]

3 minutes ago, fsdorado said:

I think it's fair to say that all of us are really bad about reading the Cruise Contract, especially those of us who have been on many cruises.  Just check the box and move on.

That's totally true, after almost 20 years we rarely read anything anymore. 🙂  But that's one rule we've always remembered because it can bite you in the butt with the cruise line who decides to enforce it when you show up.  

[lovetotravel06]

57 minutes ago, CruisingWalter said:

 

It's literally the first thing in Royal Caribbean's Travel Documents FAQ. "The passport must be valid for six months after the day your cruise ends...

I've never read cruise travel documents FAQ's at least that I can remember. 20 years ago maybe I did, who knows, Never a need to. Virgin emailed me and that was THE first thing they brought up wasn't FAQ's in a cruise contract. Royal/X has never emailed me squat (specifically) referring to the 6 months thing. 

 Just a fluke that I hadn't renewed my passport yet.. Also, have seen more than my fair share of people cruise with a Birth Certificate and DL. Don't even HAVE to possess a passport closed loop (that applies to Virgin as well) but would fall under the "exception" with them apparently although I'd never go without. Chill for crying out loud.

Edited February 20 by lovetotravel06

[garycarla]

I am amazed at how complicated folks want to make this.

 

1 - Passport is not needed on closed loop cruises as per the U. S. Government.

2 - Virgin has been big on requiring it, but has loosed up a bit if you have govt ID and birth cert.

3 - If your ONLY id is going to be a passport, then the 6 month rule kicks in.

4 - What any other cruiseline says or does means close to nothing.

5 - Virgin has their requirements right on the website.

6 - And yes, there are good reason to take a passport, even if not required.

 

And please not get into the argument about leaving it on the ship or taking it with you.  That argument is as old as a few other things that will not be resolved in our lifetime.