JB&JLG74

According to what I read in the travel.gov website, you can only apply in person if you are a 1st time applicant, if you are traveling within 2 weeks or if you need to obtain a visa within 4 weeks.

 

My passport is still good for 9 years. I would like to obtain the passport card without having to renew my passport. I will continue to research their website or call to get that information. Thank you.

Good luck. I was in the same situation and ended up going around in circles for days trying to figure out how to do this, including numerous phone calls.

You can only use DS-82 if you can answer yes to all of the "eligibility" questions. I took the position that I could not submit my passport because it would not be returned to me with a tracking number. And I was a first time applicant for the Passport Card. Perhaps I was lucky and my office took pity on me. All I know is that is how I was able to do it.

I wish you well and hope that the system has finally made adjustments for people like us.

It is my understanding that one needs a visa if they are leaving the province/state in which the port is located. So if one wanted to go from Kusadasi to visit Pamukkale one would need a visa.

I have always applied by mail. Are you saying that with the DS-11 when you apply in person you can keep your old passport and they will mail you the new one?

When we went in person and used the DS-11 to get passport cards, our passports were taken away from us only long enough to be photocopied. They were treated the same as any other documentation, such as a birth certificate, that one needs to get their first passport. I don't remember the cost and I think that it might be more $ to apply in person. And we were "first time" applicants for the passport card. I'm not so sure you could "renew" a passport on the DS-11 because they would want to cancel the old one.

But if you need your passport while your old one is being renewed, consider having two US passports. I didn't know this was possible until I met a passenger who has two -- one to travel on and one to send out for visas. I don't know the process but it can be done. Google "second US passport."

Yes. The cost for a passport card is $30 and the instructions are on the U.S. Government website for travel. The cost for a passport book is $110. The cost of getting both together is $140, unfortunately not deal on getting the package deal. Hopefully it is not as difficult as JB&JL experienced, I did not read through those instructions.

A passport can be renewed even if it has not expired. But if you have several years left, you may not want to renew it. The rub comes because there are only two passport application forms: DS-82 (renewal by mail) and DS-11 (application). To use DS-82, you must be able to send in your current passport. Passport cards can only be returned by mail, renewed passports can be sent overnight (i.e., trackable) for a fee. Documentation (i.e., current unexpired passport that you sent with the DS-82) is returned in a separate mailing. I was not comfortable with my current unexpired passport being sent by mail that could not be tracked. And I feared that someone might accidentally punch holes in it and mark it expired given that is the normal procedure with the DS-82. Thus, I used the DS-11 and applied in person.

The "class system" already exists on HAL and every other cruise line. The Pinnacle restaurant is reserved only for suite passengers for breakfast, and the Neptune Lounge is only accessible for suite passengers.

 

Stating that one wouldn't cruise a particular cruise line because of lack of access to one area is a little over the top.

Yes, but it is not "in your face" the way it is on, say, Cunard. I was just on a segment of the Queen Vic's World Cruise and a large section of the quiet lounge was roped off during the day for only those on the entire World Cruise. It has also been my experience that the more a line encourages a class system, the more passengers take it to heart and interaction becomes clickish. Makes me feel like I'm back in high school.

The dining for suite only guests is something that prevents us from booking a cruise on Celebrity. We dislike the idea of creating a class system. We feel that no matter what type of cabin we choose to sail in, we should be able to dine in any restaurant we choose. Our money is just as good as that of someone in a suite. HAL, don't start a class system, please.

Totally agree. I don't want to see a class system, either. It would really take away from the "family" feeling I get on HAL.

Can I apply for a passport card even though I don't need to renew my passport? I like the idea of carrying the card.

 

I always carry a copy of our passports. I also email it to myself and my family in case we need it. If I don't have access to the internet, my family can fax it to me anywhere in the world.

 

Better safe than sorry!! :D

We did get our passport cards about a year after we renewed our passports and it was a real challenge. Apparently the system assumed that one would get them with the passport renewal. Their plan was that we send the passports to them via tracked mail or courier and they would return them via regular mail (as they do with expired passports). I phoned several times but got no where. We ended up going to the post office's passport office and applying in person as if we'd never had a passport. This allowed us to use our current passports as ID and still retain them. This was a couple of years ago; I don't know if the process has gotten any better.

We used to book Cat C on the lower promenade deck (we enjoy the quick access to the outdoors) and mark it for upgrade (the only thing higher was a balcony). That all changed with the new categories because those rooms are now Cat E. Yes, it saves us a little on initial booking, but now we mark our reservations as do not upgrade as HAL's idea of an upgrade is not our idea of an upgrade (higher category rooms are now on a lower deck). We do consider and have opted for paid upsells.

All depends on your "travel tolerance". I'd take the 11AM because even with things not going smoothly, I've walked off and been to FLL by 8AM. It's unlikely you'll miss an 11AM flight if you walk off first thing.

 

Might you? Yes. If missing that, flying standby, etc. would be too stressful for you, take the later flight.

I agree. If you can manage your luggage on your own and are some of the first off, it is a quick trip to the airport and the taxi line has not yet built up. Very do-able most times. But yes it is a risk (as is any departure time, really; it's just that the risk decreases the more time you allow). Under normal circumstances, the 11 am departure should be fine.

I too will move my meds to a smaller container. I get a 90 day supply of very small pills mail order that always come in a bottle much larger than needed (about 3 inches tall). I move these to a one inch bottle, which can hold the whole 90 days, and I write on the bottle what they are. Then I carry the prescription order/refill form that came with the meds. I am usually on a long cruise that requires the 90 day supply. But it is nothing that should set off alarms, no narcotics. Mainly just larger dosages of vitamins that I can get in smaller doses OTC.

Another thing to consider is banking. If you are going to change money ashore, you may need the passport.

There are obviously many factors to consider when deciding whether to take a passport ashore and they all must be weighed. While it is my general practice to leave the passport in the safe, it is not a hard and fast rule. I think about:

* availability of the passport -- I can't take it ashore if HAL is holding it

* what HAL has told me -- do they say to take the passport or do they say to take a photo ID

* is the next port in the same country so that it would not be needed to rejoin the ship in the next port (I don't know the rules in the EU --once I clear EU immigration do I need my passport to move from France to Spain)

* chances I would need to return to the US rather than the next port

* length of time ashore and what I am doing ashore -- am I independent or on a private excursion or a HAL excursion

* is it easy to carry the passport -- am I swimming or doing something else that would require that I leave my possessions on the beach or check them

Risk is a sliding scale and we all do what we are most comfortable with.

I should have said "undocumented alien" and your passport is your proof of citizenship.[/b]

This is a bit extreme. I really don't think that one who has a passport card, a photocopy of their passport, and a digital copy of the passport is "undocumented." It may be a hassle to clear up, but I don't think it makes my immigration status illegal. And if it gets to the point of needing the absolute proof of citizenship with the passport book and the help of the US embassy, one probably has larger issues.

I would rather keep the passport in the safe and have to obtain it from HAL (either from the port agent or couriered from the next port) than have it stolen. As someone said, if I am mugged I am probably in the hospital and will miss the sailing anyway. So I can afford to wait the day or two it would take to have the passport couriered to me.

What many people forget to take, is the Daily Explorer that contains the port agent's contact info. That is very helpful to have should any problems arise while onshore.

Not that this is likely, but I once disembarked in Ft Lauderdale when the immigration computers went down. Those who disembarked very early were OK, but then things stopped and no more passengers were called until after 11 am. Just saying things can happen.

When we renewed our passports a couple of years ago, we thought that we didn't need the passport cards and did not order them. Then we discovered that we needed to send our passports out for visas during the period we wanted to take a Caribbean cruise so we got the cards (so much easier to get them at the same time as the passports). It is true that you cannot fly internationally on them, but we use them as our government issued photo ID when flying domestically or on shore in port. If lost, it is less of a problem to loose these cards than to loose a drivers license. The card is smaller and easier to carry and we can leave the passports in the safe. We have never missed a sailing, but have been told that if a ship is leaving without you, they will leave your passport with the ship's agent (the ship does have the ability to get into your safe).

Okay, I'm clearly confused. I was sure that I had read that the "Sharing" menu had gone away due to many complaints but I guess not. No problem as we (Mom and I) thoroughly enjoyed it.

I wish it would go away. It's not so much the sharing concept, I just liked the selections on the old menu better. Italian food needs garlic bread!

I've tried the search to find the "new" Canaletto menu, after they changed from the shared plates. Every link I've found still shows that shared menu (which, by the way, we really enjoyed). Does anyone have a link to the new new menu? TIA

Got off the Zaandam on June 14. The menu was still the "new" sharing menu. I think this menu has been around a couple of years.

The cost of the different excursions will not show, it only shows the $ - $$$$ you have to actually buy an excursion before they show the cost. At one time you could see the cost before you booked. Don't like it or I'm I doing something wrong?

Allan

If you click on the name of the excursion, you will see the overview or description of the excursion. I have found that if you scroll up, the pricing info and time is in large print above (it just doesn't show when you click through to the tour because it is at the top of the screen),

Yes, the taxi takes about 15-20 mins. Make sure the taxi driver puts on the meter, they start at 20 Dirhams from the Port. The first cab we went in said the fare would be 80 dirhams but refused to put on the meter, we demanded he take us back to the rank and got out and into another one . The price at Burj Khalifa on the meter was only 40 dirhams.

 

 

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Thank you for the head's up regarding the taxis.

There won't be a lot of people around that early in the morning. General advice is to arrive 15 minutes before your time slot. You should be up within half an hour of arrival and even spending an hour up there, you will be back in time for your ships departure with time to spare.

 

There are always loads of taxis at the terminal. There is a rank at the mall beside the lake. There will. E fewer taxis about of it is a Friday morning but you will still be able to get one.

Thank you, too. Both of you have been very helpful. It will be a Sunday morning.

It's approx 15/20mins by taxi. But if you plan to go up the Burj Khalifa, I recommend you book/buy a ticket. When I was there, I went via an excursion so the ticket was included and when we were at the mall where you go into the tower, the boards stated all tickets were sold for the next few days. You have to book a time to go up.

Well worth it for the views!

Thanks for such a quick response!! I see from the website that they open at 8:30 am and that I can buy tickets online 30 days in advance. If I can get the early tickets and leave the port by 8 am it looks like we can do this and get back to the port before noon.

Does anyone know how far it is from the cruise terminal in Dubai to the Burj Khalifa? We would like to take a taxi there in the morning and tour the observation decks, but our ship sails at 1 pm (after an overnight). Would this be possible? Any idea how long the taxi ride would take and the cost? Any info is appreciated. Thanks much.

My husband and I visited Cuba for a week in October 2013 on a land tour with a license for cultural or educational reasons. We do not have relatives or any connection to Cuba other than we wanted to visit. We were on a charter flight out of Tampa. We did not go to the resorts that many Canadians and Europeans go to (as Floridians we have plenty of beaches at home). We stayed in Old Havana and had a fantastic time. It is a beautiful country. I would love to go back on a ship. I'm hoping that a cruise to Cuba can get clearance the same way that the land tours do (cultural exchange or educational) and that we will see a cruise to Cuba soon. I had heard that the Canadian cruise (myCubacruise.com) had a pilot program for winter 2014 so that a small number of US citizens could join that cruise but didn't look into it because we already had plans for that time period.

I've only been on the two Grands -- 2012 S. America and 2014 Pacific and Far East. As I said, there was not a problem with an unusual number of rude people on the S. America trip so it may have just been bad luck with the Grand Pacific and Far East. For whatever reason, there were a lot of rude people this time.

There is a lady who documented everything with pictures and fully intended on sending all material to Holland America Seattle, once again it wasn't so much the dog that was out of control but the lady who owned the dog, she felt she had an entitlement over everyone else, I did the Great Wall tour with her on the bus and believe me, I never booked another tour after that. I also agree with the other poster who commented on the fact that the behavior of people was far worse than the dog, while on the great wall tour a tall gentleman who I knew because of his height was looking for a seat with more leg room and was told by the lady behind him to pick a seat and sit his fat ass down, that is how our day started. I can honestly say we will never do a long cruise again and it had nothing to do with our room, the staff, the food or the ship...it's because of the attitude of a lot people on board. If I had to hear "Well when I was on the world cruise" one more time I was going to scream. From now on we will do 30 day cruises and connect different itineraries, but never another grand or world cruise.

I agree that it was more the woman than the dog. Most of the dog's behavior would have been acceptable at a pet friendly hotel. The problem was that this was a "no pets" venue so the dog's behavior, which wasn't up to service dog standards and screamed pet, was inappropriate to the circumstances no matter how cute the dog may have been in other circumstances.

I did notice early on in the cruise that there were many more rude people onboard than I am used to encountering. I don't think it was because of the length -- I didn't see it on my 2012 Grand South America. I tend to attribute it to the Amsterdam, which also does the World Cruises and has many Grand and World repeaters.