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Royal Caribbean enforcing passports?

AlDubya

By AlDubya,
in Royal Caribbean International

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AlDubya

AlDubya

Posted
Posted

I was just told that, while the date for U.S. regulations on passports for the Caribbean won't take effect until January 2007, Royal Caribbean is now enforcing this on their own (i.e., you HAVE to have a passport).

 

Has anyone recently cruised in the past few weeks and, if you have, were you forced to present a passport?

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cruisinfanatic

cruisinfanatic

Posted
Posted
I was just told that, while the date for U.S. regulations on passports for the Caribbean won't take effect until January 2007, Royal Caribbean is now enforcing this on their own (i.e., you HAVE to have a passport).

 

Has anyone recently cruised in the past few weeks and, if you have, were you forced to present a passport?

Not true at all. If it was, there would be thousands turned away every week. Passports are not needed until the end of this yr.
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john & Gerrie nj

john & Gerrie nj

Posted
Posted

when will it all end?

have a fun time.

If you are an alien from a certain country you don't need a passport to come and go as you please,

I'm mad it cost me a taxpaying natural born citizen $97 for a passport

so I can cross the border and return.

there I feel better my spleen is vented.

have a great cruise.

john

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AlDubya

AlDubya

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My apologies... I had full faith that I would be OK with just a birth certificate (I have a passport, but I misplaced it in my house and cannot currently find it).

 

However, my parents who are paying for the cruise (wedding present, it will be for our honeymoon), spoke with the travel agent and the travel agent told them that Royal Caribbean is enforcing this ahead of time.

 

I tried doing an interent search and I couldn't find anything corroborating this and still believed I was right. I just figured the best source of information would be from people getting off the ship in the past few weeks.

 

If it was just from my parents, I would have disregarded the information. Coming from a travel agent gives it a little more credibility... not a lot :p, but a little more. :D

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takeavacation

takeavacation

Posted
Posted

You only need a passport if your cruise returns to the US (or you return to the US from a foreign port) after 12/31/06. Even if you depart earlier than this date -- you will need a passport to get back into the US. If your cruise arrives back in port before 12/31/06 -- no passport is needed, but you will need your birth certificate (no photocopies).

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lovemylab

lovemylab

Posted
Posted
when will it all end?

have a fun time.

If you are an alien from a certain country you don't need a passport to come and go as you please,

I'm mad it cost me a taxpaying natural born citizen $97 for a passport

so I can cross the border and return.

there I feel better my spleen is vented.

have a great cruise.

john

 

I would be curious to know what aliens won't be requiring passports to travel. I have family who are aliens in the US and they have always used passports.

 

Considering you are visiting different countries I don't think it is unreasonable to have a passport. I am Canadian and when I went on a cruise last year I needed to have one - IMO anyone who travels should have one.

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leoandhugh

leoandhugh

Posted
Posted

to quote the op "coming from a travel agent should give it a little more credibility" ; emphasis should be on the word "little" for at least some of them. but in fairness, the same can be said of rcl's customer (non)service reps. as you see on these boards time after time, ask the question of 6 different CS reps, you will probably get 4 different answers.:(

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Cassandra

Cassandra

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I can't understand why you guys want a headache & not buy your passports? You know the rules, you know they are going to change. Just get the passport & stop fussing. Why do you want to risk getting to the gate at the port, see your ship in your sights only to be turned away?

 

Don't forget - none of these cruise lines are registered in the United States. They are owned outside the U.S. and therefore they have different guidelines. If they want to enforce passports early, they can.

 

I would just get the passport - you are going to need it in the future anyway no matter what. Better safe than sorry.

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CasaSmith

CasaSmith

Posted
Posted

We just got back on July 31 from Enchantment and they were accepting original birth certificates. The people in front of us in immigration had their original birth certificate and driver license with photo. They did not give them a hard time, just looked to make sure it was original and photo.

 

Hope that helps.

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familycruzer

familycruzer

Posted
Posted
I can't understand why you guys want a headache & not buy your passports? You know the rules, you know they are going to change. Just get the passport & stop fussing. Why do you want to risk getting to the gate at the port, see your ship in your sights only to be turned away?

 

Don't forget - none of these cruise lines are registered in the United States. They are owned outside the U.S. and therefore they have different guidelines. If they want to enforce passports early, they can.

 

I would just get the passport - you are going to need it in the future anyway no matter what. Better safe than sorry.

 

The OP does not have time to get a passport. They are taking up to 8 weeks to be processed. I myself have 4 of them to buy this year and am doing them one at a time. $97 x 4 is a big expense for my family.

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zqvol

zqvol

Posted
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RCCL has the power, if they chose to exercise it to require any type of identification that they want for you to board their ships. If they want to require passports now there is nothing that prevents them from implementing that requirement, but there is no reliable information that has been made available that indicates that they are requiring passports.

 

The best source for information is either RCCL customer service or their web site, and of course your TA is also a good information source.

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TheEngineer

TheEngineer

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Posted

The cruise docs I recently received for my September cruise say these will be needed for any cruise coming back after the New Year, but any before that, a birth certificate and photo ID is acceptable.

 

I agree, getting a passport is inevitable and should be done, but it isn't urgent...yet.

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Andipanda1

Andipanda1

Posted
Posted
It's not a headache. Why do you think it is. For all you know the OP may never go out of the country or cruise again. He doesnt need one this yr. Leave him alone.

 

In the post-9/11 world we live in, it's actually better to have one than to not have one. Think about it.

 

I'm applying for mine next week.

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familycruzer

familycruzer

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Posted
Just read on the us gov site that they are delaying the passport rule untill jan 2008,also if you are a u.s resident,you will have to have fingerprints at the port you renter in.

I know RCI does not have to follow this rule.

 

By air and sea you will need a passport.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

December 31, 2006 - Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

 

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negc

negc

Posted
Posted
Just read on the us gov site that they are delaying the passport rule untill jan 2008,also if you are a u.s resident,you will have to have fingerprints at the port you renter in.

I know RCI does not have to follow this rule.

 

Please read the entire section of the rules. The January, 2008 deadline refers to land border crossings not air or sea. That deadline remains January 1, 2007.:rolleyes: To post information contrary to this is misleading and wrong.

A little knowledge is definitely a dangerous thing, especially when that knowledge is incomplete and leads to incorrect conclusions.

As to what RCI or any other cruiseline has to follow. They have to follow the rules established by the US government if its passengers reenter the US. They will not make the rules more stringent than required by law because that would put them at a distinct disadvantage when competing with other cruiselines. Only when the new US passport regulations go into effect, will RCI and all other cruiselines require them, not before.

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MIcruiser99

MIcruiser99

Posted
Posted

I just received my travel documents for my September cruise. The booklet states that a passport is highly recommended but a birth certificate and picture id are acceptable.

 

The booklet also states what has been previously mentioned - after Dec. 31, 2006, guests are required to have a passport.

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