Customs Questions

[tbenson81]

Everyone has been really helpful with this question but I dont think that I am very clear on what actually happens. I know that all non-registered US ships are required to make 1 stop in a foreign port. On our cruise from LA to Hawaii roundtrip, we make 1 stop in Ensenada, Mexico for 4 hours.

 

1. What is the process for everyone to go through customs here in Ensenada? Does everyone get off the boat, go through customs and then get back on? What if we just stay in our suite during this time? Does someone come check every room for us?

 

2. If we dont have a passport, can we just use our drivers license and birth certificate?

 

Thanks for everyones help

[booboo4031]

You don't have to get off the ship or clear customs to get off in Mexico. Customs clears the ship's manifest.... the only exception being non-US citizens. Non-US citizens must present themselves with passports for customs clearance. (not sure about Canadian Citizens) For Mexico, your driver's license & birth certificate is sufficient ID for now..(rumor has it that homeland security is going to require passports in the future but no definite date has been set).

[traveller99]

Host Walt posted an article about the mandatory passport issue back on March 3, 2005 from an article in USA Today. The quote was - "WASHINGTON (AP) — In three years, U.S. citizens and Canadians will have to show passports or a federally issued ID card linked to Homeland Security databases to re-enter the country from across the border.

The intelligence bill passed by Congress last year mandates the new identification requirements be in place by Jan. 1, 2008. ... " Here's the link to the C/C posting.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=145087&highlight=passport+mandatory