Passport question

[lysolqn]

Haven't had an opportunity to read through the passport "sticky" yet - hoping to go the easier route and get an answer from someone in the know on this board.

 

Is it permissible to use a passport for immigration purposes when cruising to the Caribbean r/t from Miami, if the expiration date of the passport is within three or four months of completion of the cruise? In other words, if your passport expires in January 2010, is it still considered valid for re-entry into the US in November 2009?

 

The government website indicates some countries may not consider a passport valid within a few months of its expiration but no mention is made of whether a cruise line will accept such a passport or even if US Customs and Immigration will accept it.

 

I know the safe route is to renew the passport prior to the cruise but what good is an expiration date if a passport is unacceptable months prior to that date?

 

Thanks.

[Happy ks]

I'm sure it will be fine. When you visit some countries, you have to have a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your visit date, but typically a cruise vacation you are only in port one day. People on a cruise can even visit without a passport in the Caribbean.

 

For a more accurate answer, instead of trusting Cruise Critic, go to the government website for current information.

 

http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

[lysolqn]

For a more accurate answer, instead of trusting Cruise Critic, go to the government website for current information.

 

http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

 

Thanks...did that prior to posting here. No mention is made re validity of passport within six months of expiration for sea travel, or any other kind of travel for that matter.

[sk8teacher]

Some cruise lines will not allow you to fill out immagration forms with a passport that expires less than six months from the END of the cruise. Just had a fellow cruiser on our next cruise find that one out. She had to go out and get a new picture and get her passport updated.

 

I personally would recommend renewing before you leave.

 

Cheers,

[paul929207]

Definitely contact the cruise line ASAP. You don't want to get to the ship and find out it is not acceptable.

[azspring]

Princess Requires 6 months left on your passport after the cruise. I have to renew my DD passport pre-cruise this year (leaving late Dec., returning early Jan.) and her passport expires in March. In filling out online pre cruise documents, it won't accept her info (and she's 13).

[cherylandtk]

Everyone above is correct in that cruiseline websites require six months left on the passport, but its just a programming issue. Since you do not need the passport to take a RT cruise from Miami in 2009 in the first place, yours will still be valid to get on the ship and back into the US with only a few months left on it. The US accepts a US passport up to and including the day of expiration.

 

However, to get around the aforementioned programming issue, you will need to call Princess directly to enter your passport information into the Personalizer so that you can print out your final docs. (Some people just enter a false expiration date..but I don't recommend this) If you do not complete the Personalizer before boarding be sure to arrive no later than 2 hours prior to scheduled departure to ensure you are placed on the manifest in time to meet those limitations.

[Essiesmom]

The OP is sailing in NOVEMBER 2009, and new passport regs should be in force by then. It's not US regulations that require six months...It is the foreign countries to be visited. Best course is to Google the countries/islands and see what they say. Interesting experience 20 years ago: Traveled frequently with a company that arranged tours for professional groups. A member of our group to Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore and Bali trip had originally book a different tour, but it was cancelled. the agency required us to send them our passports and they got the visas, and the tour escort would have all the papers when we gathered at the US port of departure. Well, when she rebooked another tour, they hadn't returned her passport, and she assumed they would know they had it and the tour escort would have it. No passport. She had to stay in San Francisco and get a temporary passport, good for six months. She rejoined us in Hong kong. When we got to Bali, they had the six month reg...and she didn't have six months left, because we had already been traveling a week or so. There were some tense moments, but I believe some cash changed hands under the table and she was allowed in. EM

[cherylandtk]

The OP is sailing in NOVEMBER 2009, and new passport regs should be in force by then.

Essie, the 'new passport regs' in effect in November 2009 still won't require a passport for the OP's cruise. OP is on a RT cruise from Miami to the Caribbean; all covered under the WHTI. Your points are valid for the Asian countries you mention..but do not apply to the OP or to cruises within the Caribbean basin.