Passport not needed, right?

[fuzzel]

Or maybe they don't have the time or the money to travel to see the rest of the world and even if that is the case who cares?

 

Oh, I don't care, definitely the problem for the non-owner of the passport, not mine :)

 

Time they have: they are sitting on a boat for a while which ports in various _foreign_ countries....

 

Money they have: 135/10=13.50, that is one reasonable drink a day on that ship they are going with, which, as they cannot get off, they will need to get...

 

 

Americans are in a very funny situation with regards to passports and travel: most of them don't ever even exit their own state. And that is quite logical when you realize that some US states are the size of several European countries combined and can have summery (beach) and wintery (mountains with snow) things going on in the same state. Note also that a EU Country typically is comparible with a US State. On top of that one can travel without a passport with some other kind of ID and as the US is extremely vast it has everything to offer (except maybe for some of the "old stuff" that Europe for instance has). Thus for most Americans, unless they have a need/want to go outside of the US they will never need a passport.

 

The fun thing though is, a cruise boat does not operate _inside_ the US. It operates in International Waters. Typical cruises, ignoring CruiseToNowheres, go to foreign ports all the time.

 

Hence obviously, if you are taking a cruise, you are wanting to see something of the rest of the world (unless you want to be stuck in the Casino, but one can go to Vegas+AtlanticCity for that, why bother with cruising then...) and thus you likely want to disembark somewhere. As you want to see something, you likely will get interested in seeing more of the port than you get to see on your cruise, thus that passport can only become handy...

 

Why does it bother you so much what choice someone makes that you need to label them, especially when that choice has no impact on you?

 

When that person cannot properly identify him/herself at returning back to the ship that might delay every of the other ~4000-ish cruisers... Thus that CAN have an impact on us.

Edited February 6, 2015 by fuzzel
Added second reply, you know, avoid getting 5000+ nonsense posts

[CruisingAmazona]

Just making sure, that my husband won't need a passport if we are traveling from Miami, FL around the western caribbean and then back to Miami, Fl. Don't want to renew his passport and spend extra money if it isn't needed at this time. He does have his birth certificate (New York) :)

 

Not sure whether or not it is required, but in this time and age, I would not go anywhere without my US passport! I do know that now that we both have Passport Cards, we do not need to bring our actual passports on cruises and can use the passport card alone.

[cliffd64]

Why buy something that you don't need regardless of what it costs? For a long time the only type of travel we could do was on closed loop cruises so it didn't make sense to get a passport until we would need it for the travel that we can do. Now that the day is upon us we're obtaining them.

 

Fact: You don't currently need a passport on a closed loop cruise. You are correct.

 

Fact: In almost all cases, you probably won't get stranded and need a passport.

 

Fact: Having a passport in any travel situation where you have left the U.S. is a good idea. It does provide a traveler with security knowing that in the event that you are separated from the cruise you may travel via air or any other method to re-enter the US with no question.

 

Fact: A passport is valuable to a person for all sorts of reasons and is an indisputable form of identification. Maybe you want to take that Med cruise aboard the Epic in Europe... You're gonna need a passport to fly to your embarkation port. Maybe you changed jobs and have to fill out a ID-9 form... Passports are extremely helpful in fulfilling identification requirements. Maybe you lost your wallet and driver's license and have to prove your identity to get a replacement, once again its very helpful. Everybody has different tastes of travel, maybe the OP has plans to travel beyond our borders by air.

 

My question to you is: Do you expect that the id requirements for a cruise will stay that way forever? Last time they changed travel requirements, there was a huge crush of people obtaining passports and they nearly doubled in price. Purchasing one now protects you against that type of change for the ten years it is valid. We are probably one good incident from requiring a passport for any international travel. In my mind I'd rather make the investment now and enjoy the benefits and utility of it than be forced to later at a much higher rate.

[sparks1093]

Oh, I don't care, definitely the problem for the non-owner of the passport, not mine :)

 

Time they have: they are sitting on a boat for a while which ports in various _foreign_ countries....

 

Money they have: 135/10=13.50, that is one reasonable drink a day on that ship they are going with, which, as they cannot get off, they will need to get...

 

 

Americans are in a very funny situation with regards to passports and travel: most of them don't ever even exit their own state. And that is quite logical when you realize that some US states are the size of several European countries combined and can have summery (beach) and wintery (mountains with snow) things going on in the same state. Note also that a EU Country typically is comparible with a US State. On top of that one can travel without a passport with some other kind of ID and as the US is extremely vast it has everything to offer (except maybe for some of the "old stuff" that Europe for instance has). Thus for most Americans, unless they have a need/want to go outside of the US they will never need a passport.

 

The fun thing though is, a cruise boat does not operate _inside_ the US. It operates in International Waters. Typical cruises, ignoring CruiseToNowheres, go to foreign ports all the time.

 

Hence obviously, if you are taking a cruise, you are wanting to see something of the rest of the world (unless you want to be stuck in the Casino, but one can go to Vegas+AtlanticCity for that, why bother with cruising then...) and thus you likely want to disembark somewhere. As you want to see something, you likely will get interested in seeing more of the port than you get to see on your cruise, thus that passport can only become handy...

 

 

 

When that person cannot properly identify him/herself at returning back to the ship that might delay every of the other ~4000-ish cruisers... Thus that CAN have an impact on us.

 

For me and mine closed loop cruises were the only type of international travel that we could take up until this year. The cost of airfare for a family vacation was out of the question. And there are some that are content with only traveling to the islands in the Caribbean. Everyone's travel needs are different and US citizens do have choices when it comes to what documentation they will use on closed loop cruises in the western hemisphere.

 

As far as your example goes of one person holding up a ship when not having the documentation when returning- when returning from a port all that is required is a photo ID and your cabin key (not to mention the fact that the ship would set sail without them and would not wait), so sorry, my not having a passport would not affect you;).

[newmexicoNita]

It's really a shame that people couldn't just answer the OP's question, instead we get into the various opinions about traveling with or without a passport.

 

Clearly the OP knew the risks, because she was simply trying to verify what she already knew and instead of an answer she get 23 posts telling her what she should do.

 

you are right, but these boards are for conversation and information as well; from her comments I do think she had thought about what could or would happen if they got stuck, for some reason in Mexico. She seemed to think, because it was a loop everything would be ok. Most of us were just trying to tell her the risk, even though we also agreed, he didn't need one.

[sparks1093]

Fact: Having a passport in any travel situation where you have left the U.S. is a good idea. It does provide a traveler with security knowing that in the event that you are separated from the cruise you may travel via air or any other method to re-enter the US with no question.

 

I am secure in the fact that my government will not strand me in a foreign port and am comfortable with a potential delay in the event of an emergency. The State Department has the authority to waive the regulations in the event of an emergency or for humanitarian reasons. That there may be a delay is why I purchase travel insurance.

 

Fact: A passport is valuable to a person for all sorts of reasons and is an indisputable form of identification. Maybe you want to take that Med cruise aboard the Epic in Europe... You're gonna need a passport to fly to your embarkation port. Maybe you changed jobs and have to fill out a ID-9 form... Passports are extremely helpful in fulfilling identification requirements. Maybe you lost your wallet and driver's license and have to prove your identity to get a replacement, once again its very helpful. Everybody has different tastes of travel, maybe the OP has plans to travel beyond our borders by air.

 

Yes, a passport has many uses but it's primary purpose these days is for international air travel. There are alternate means of documentation for other types of travel available that make sense for some. If I wanted to take a Med cruise on the Epic (not really interested in either, but I'll play:)) not having a passport would not interfere with those plans because all I would have to do is obtain one.

 

My question to you is: Do you expect that the id requirements for a cruise will stay that way forever? Last time they changed travel requirements, there was a huge crush of people obtaining passports and they nearly doubled in price. Purchasing one now protects you against that type of change for the ten years it is valid. We are probably one good incident from requiring a passport for any international travel. In my mind I'd rather make the investment now and enjoy the benefits and utility of it than be forced to later at a much higher rate.

 

Yes, I do expect the requirements to stay around for awhile, although forever is such a long time. DHS determined that a US citizen traveling on a closed loop cruise presents a very low risk to the national security. I suppose if something happened that changed that assessment they would consider changing the regulations, but if that were to happen there would be plenty of time to obtain a passport (as I recall the last time they changed the requirements it was, what, three years from the time it was proposed until it was enacted?).

[Cruiser Who Knows Nothing]

Sparks1093 - you are simply amazing...I bow to thee. I agree with each and every one of your posts on this thread. It all comes down to comfort level.

 

This topic always baffles me. There are SOOO many other things that I can do that affect others, like chair hogging, smoking on the balcony, unruly kids in the adult pool.

 

Me not having a passport, seriously will not affect anyone else but me and my family, and we are prepared to deal with it should the occasion occur. The ship will sail and I'm fine with that.

 

Besides....I know people. One call and we are on American soil...STAT. JK, but not really. :cool:

[Mouse's Shadow]

All I can say, is that I have lived in my house for 30 years, and have never filed an insurance claim, but I still pay dearly for my homeowner's insurance. It's my experience that life can hand you a curve ball, when you least expect it. Being stranded in a foreign country with a medical issue, and complicating the situation by not having a passport, could mean that hours of waiting for the State Dept to assist, can turn into days or weeks. I guess it's a risk that everyone has to calculate.

[newmexicoNita]

All I can say' date=' is that I have lived in my house for 30 years, and have never filed an insurance claim, but I still pay dearly for my homeowner's insurance. It's my experience that life can hand you a curve ball, when you least expect it. Being stranded in a foreign country with a medical issue, and complicating the situation by not having a passport, could mean that hours of waiting for the State Dept to assist, can turn into days or weeks. I guess it's a risk that everyone has to calculate.[/quote']

 

As a person much older and wiser at the time, told me 50 plus years ago; insurance is something you hope you will end up throwing your money away on. We all need to carry it for safety (same with things like passports) I have never forgotten her advise.

[cherylandtk]

...but if that were to happen there would be plenty of time to obtain a passport (as I recall the last time they changed the requirements it was, what, three years from the time it was proposed until it was enacted?).

Actually it was six years, 2003-2009. And I also commend you on removing your personal opinion from your factual answers; I will re-state it here that we are all adults with our own levels of comfort and our own levels of risk tolerance. We all take risks every day, how many and what kind is an individual choice.

[titangas]

All I can say' date=' is that I have lived in my house for 30 years, and have never filed an insurance claim, but I still pay dearly for my homeowner's insurance. It's my experience that life can hand you a curve ball, when you least expect it. Being stranded in a foreign country with a medical issue, and complicating the situation by not having a passport, could mean that hours of waiting for the State Dept to assist, can turn into days or weeks. I guess it's a risk that everyone has to calculate.[/quote']

 

The only difference is that unless you bought your house CASH thirty years ago, you did not have the option of NOT having insurance.

Homeowner's insurance is a mandatory requirement in getting a mortgage as no lender will provide you with $$ with their investment protected.

[Cruise_More_Often]

It's really a shame that people couldn't just answer the OP's question, instead we get into the various opinions about traveling with or without a passport.

 

Clearly the OP knew the risks, because she was simply trying to verify what she already knew and instead of an answer she get 23 posts telling her what she should do.

Over 1,200 people have opened this thread. Some may be questioning the same thing as the OP and may be happy for the advice given here.

[JVilleGal]

Over 1,200 people have opened this thread. Some may be questioning the same thing as the OP and may be happy for the advice given here.

 

 

Perfecting said!

[waxing witch]

Not sure whether or not it is required, but in this time and age, I would not go anywhere without my US passport! I do know that now that we both have Passport Cards, we do not need to bring our actual passports on cruises and can use the passport card alone.

 

traveling with a passport card is almost the same as traveling with government photo id & birth certificate OR enhanced drivers license. passport cards are ONLY good at land and sea crossings between US, canada, mexico, bermuda, caribbean. passport cards cannot be used for flying outside of US. as convenient as a passport card is, it does not remedy the 'thing that might happen while you're not in america' that everyone worries about.

Edited February 7, 2015 by waxing witch

[sparks1093]

As a person much older and wiser at the time, told me 50 plus years ago; insurance is something you hope you will end up throwing your money away on. We all need to carry it for safety (same with things like passports) I have never forgotten her advise.

 

Actually the decision to insure something or not (if you have a choice) is similar to the decision making process for deciding whether or not to get a passport. Let's take travel insurance as an example- when deciding to get travel insurance people look at how much they stand to lose versus the cost of the insurance, what the risks are, how likely or unlikely the risks are of happening.

 

This is how I look at that. Insurance. we stand to lose the cost of the trip, not earth shattering although it would be nice to get some of the money back if we can't go. Our health insurance provides international coverage, but this might be a hassle because we are required to use in-network providers. We don't carry anything particularly expensive so lost luggage isn't too big of a concern. Medevacs cost upwards of $25k- I don't have $25k hanging around and while the risk is small the consequences can be quite large. We can obtain decent comprehensive travel insurance for about 7% or so of the total trip cost, so we decide to obtain travel insurance.

 

Passport. If something goes wrong we lose time from the delay in obtaining travel documents from the Consulate. From all that I've read this can take up to 2 to 3 days for an emergency. During this time there will be expenses for lodging and food. The risk of something happening that would cause us to miss the ship or leave the ship mid-cruise is very low. Since the risk is low and the potential loss is low we decided to wait to obtain passports until we were planning a trip that actually requires them because when we started cruising we had no idea when that day would be(which is this year:)).

 

 

Actually it was six years, 2003-2009. And I also commend you on removing your personal opinion from your factual answers; I will re-state it here that we are all adults with our own levels of comfort and our own levels of risk tolerance. We all take risks every day, how many and what kind is an individual choice.

 

Thanks, 6 years. My memory isn't what it used to be (not as I recall, anyway:o).

[luvtheships]

Not sure whether or not it is required, but in this time and age, I would not go anywhere without my US passport! I do know that now that we both have Passport Cards, we do not need to bring our actual passports on cruises and can use the passport card alone.

 

We even take our passports when flying to Florida from NYC

 

It's a no brainer and the best form of ID available

 

Before any of my kids had picture drivers licenses I know I felt extremely comfortable with a passport for them

 

Where else would you have a legal picture ID for a 10 year old?

 

It a priceless item IMHO

 

 

 

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Edited February 7, 2015 by luvtheships

[zqvol]

Not sure whether or not it is required, but in this time and age, I would not go anywhere without my US passport! I do know that now that we both have Passport Cards, we do not need to bring our actual passports on cruises and can use the passport card alone.

 

I have a number of friends with dual citizenship. They NEVER travel on their US passports, and if I had dual citizenship I would always use my other passport.

 

BTW, if you have to fly back to the US your passport card is worthless since it is not good for entry into the US by air, so you might as well travel with a DL and BC.

[sparks1093]

I have a number of friends with dual citizenship. They NEVER travel on their US passports, and if I had dual citizenship I would always use my other passport.

 

BTW, if you have to fly back to the US your passport card is worthless since it is not good for entry into the US by air, so you might as well travel with a DL and BC.

 

A passport card has three advantages over DL/BC- 1) it may be used for open jaw sailings in the western hemisphere, 2) it is one document instead of two and is sturdier than a paper BC, and 3) the traveler's citizenship info is already in the State Department database which should speed up the time necessary to issue an emergency travel document. (That it may also be used for land border crossing is only pertinent to those who need to cross the border frequently.)

Edited February 7, 2015 by sparks1093

[njhorseman]

We even take our passports when flying to Florida from NYC

 

It's a no brainer and the best form of ID available

 

Before any of my kids had picture drivers licenses I know I felt extremely comfortable with a passport for them

 

Where else would you have a legal picture ID for a 10 year old?

 

It a priceless item IMHO

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

JMO, but since a passport is "priceless", the last thing I would do is risk losing or having it stolen by taking it with me when I don't need it, such as when flying from NY to Florida.

 

A 10 year old doesn't need a "legal picture ID", so again why risk carrying something so valuable that isn't needed?

[luvtheships]

JMO, but since a passport is "priceless", the last thing I would do is risk losing or having it stolen by taking it with me when I don't need it, such as when flying from NY to Florida.

 

A 10 year old doesn't need a "legal picture ID", so again why risk carrying something so valuable that isn't needed?

 

I prefer to travel with it. Plain and simple

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[njhorseman]

I prefer to travel with it. Plain and simple

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

That's fine, it's your personal preference, but it's a lot different from saying "it's a no brainer and the best form of ID available" which implies that somehow carrying your passport for a domestic trip has some benefit over a drivers license or other form of official ID, because it has none.

[luvtheships]

It's a no brainer if you want a picture form of ID for a young child

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[patch62]

I prefer to travel with it. Plain and simple

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Agreed...plain and simple!!! the only way to travel....good secure feeling ....for whatever!!!!

[MSH from Norway]

....and all you people are saying is I'm american, I don't use a passport, I don't have travel insurance, and take only shipsexcursions.......

 

Well, you know that a ship can leave early???

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=4589

..... 450 cruisers were stranded in San Juan on Sunday when port authorities ordered Carnival and Royal Caribbean vessels to leave early to avoid Hurricane Irene.

 

.......I guess a lot of them had a lot of fun trying to go home again.....:rolleyes:

 

That why "everyone" in Europe uses passports when we travel......:o

[sparks1093]

....and all you people are saying is I'm american, I don't use a passport, I don't have travel insurance, and take only shipsexcursions.......

 

Well, you know that a ship can leave early???

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=4589

..... 450 cruisers were stranded in San Juan on Sunday when port authorities ordered Carnival and Royal Caribbean vessels to leave early to avoid Hurricane Irene.

 

.......I guess a lot of them had a lot of fun trying to go home again.....:rolleyes:

 

That why "everyone" in Europe uses passports when we travel......:o

 

They were not stranded in San Juan. Since San Juan is a US territory they got on a plane and flew home. That incident was a better testament to getting to the port of departure a day early than whether or not to have a passport. The US government gives its citizens a choice for closed loop cruises. Some choose one thing, others choose another.

Edited February 8, 2015 by sparks1093