Lightning85 Posted January 26, 2020 #1 Share Posted January 26, 2020 I just received my travel doc's Saturday and it said my passport has to be valid for 6 months after the Caribbean cruise. I am not departing the ship on any destination and my passport is valid for only 5 months after the cruise. Can I still cruise with my passport? I'm not getting off the ship till I get back to Miami...Doesn't sound fair. This is my last cruise too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmerl Posted January 26, 2020 #2 Share Posted January 26, 2020 Renew your passport. Do you really want to get there an be denied boarding? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dd likes to cruise Posted January 26, 2020 #3 Share Posted January 26, 2020 Do you have to use your passport? Is this an literary that drivers license is good enough? Details about where cruising to, and your nationality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightning85 Posted January 26, 2020 Author #4 Share Posted January 26, 2020 Today is the 26th of January and I only got my travel Doc's yesterday. Was never told of the 6 month rule by the Oceania rep when I booked. Just found out yesterday. Not sure I can get it back before the cruise on 11 March. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted January 26, 2020 #5 Share Posted January 26, 2020 I believe O requires all to use a passport even on closed loop cruises Call Oceania & see if they will accept 5 mths 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KS&JW Posted January 26, 2020 #6 Share Posted January 26, 2020 The 6 month rule is pretty standard for all international travel. If you use an expeditor, you can get a new passport in as little as a day. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightning85 Posted January 26, 2020 Author #7 Share Posted January 26, 2020 I will call them again but when I called yesterday I was on hold for 20 minutes while they spoke to a supervisor who said 6 months. Being handicapped it makes it a little hard to travel about 40 miles to renew it. Thanks, I'll manage. Still not fair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pinotlover Posted January 26, 2020 #8 Share Posted January 26, 2020 Another reason to use a Travel Agent. Mine would have looked at my passport data and told me when I booked the cruise that I needed to update my passport. Obvious example of someone that needs a true travel professional to hold their hand. From this saga, Oceania’s clerks obviously don’t do that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruseforme Posted January 26, 2020 #9 Share Posted January 26, 2020 I was fine, until I read your stmt of not being fair!?? Please see the Terms and Conditions of your cruise: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/legal/terms-conditions/ Passport and Visa requirements, and regulations in regards to vaccination certificates and other health requirements vary by destination. It is the sole responsibility of each guest to obtain and have available the appropriate valid travel and health documents for their chosen itinerary. Any guest traveling without the proper documentation will not be allowed to board the vessel and no refund of cruise fare or any other travel components purchased from Oceania Cruises will be issued. Passports must be valid six months from the date of trip completion. Due to airline security measures, your passport name must match your airline ticket name or you may be denied boarding. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retafcruiser Posted January 26, 2020 #10 Share Posted January 26, 2020 34 minutes ago, Lightning85 said: Being handicapped it makes it a little hard to travel about 40 miles to renew it. Thanks, I'll manage. Still not fair. You can renew by mail. You will need new photos. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kriscruises Posted January 26, 2020 #11 Share Posted January 26, 2020 You still have time to renew by mail. You will have to pay a small extra fee for expedited service, but that will get you a renewed passport within three weeks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clo Posted January 26, 2020 #12 Share Posted January 26, 2020 1 hour ago, Lightning85 said: I'm not getting off the ship till I get back to Miami. You don't know that. You could have a medical problem that required your going ashore. Then you'r e really in a mess. Not sure why you think it's not "fair." 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mura Posted January 26, 2020 #13 Share Posted January 26, 2020 We once had to cancel a cruise we really wanted to take because DH's passport only had 5 months left. We knew about the 6 month rule so we knew we didn't have a choice. I agree that you should renew your passport by mail with expedited service OR use a service, but I suspect that would be more expensive than doing it yourself. I have renewed by mail with expedited service and received it earlier than anticipated. The most difficult part of the process is getting new passport photos. All necessary forms can be found online. Mura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightning85 Posted January 26, 2020 Author #14 Share Posted January 26, 2020 Forget the not fair part and I do see where you're comi g from. It's just after more than 15 cruises this is the first time I heard of this. Just wish my Oceania person Had brought that up when I booked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mura Posted January 26, 2020 #15 Share Posted January 26, 2020 The Oceania person certainly SHOULD have mentioned it. I will say that my TA always reminds me of the rule when we book a cruise. And that's in writing, when I get confirmation of having made the deposit. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmerl Posted January 26, 2020 #16 Share Posted January 26, 2020 We booked directly with Oceania as well and toward the bottom of my initial invoice for my cruise it clearly states: "It is imperative that all guests obtain the necessary travel documents prior to the vacation departure date. Failure to produce the correct visa and valid passport at embarkation will result in denial of boarding. Please ensure passport is valid at least 6 months after the cruise return date. Birth certificates, copies of passports and passport cards are not accepted." 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawaiidan Posted January 26, 2020 #17 Share Posted January 26, 2020 6 hours ago, Lightning85 said: I just received my travel doc's Saturday and it said my passport has to be valid for 6 months after the Caribbean cruise. I am not departing the ship on any destination and my passport is valid for only 5 months after the cruise. Can I still cruise with my passport? I'm not getting off the ship till I get back to Miami...Doesn't sound fair. This is my last cruise too. You bet iti will be your last because they will deny you boarding...with no refund because it is the law to have 6 months and they told you so...... It is the law even iy you think in not fair.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawaiidan Posted January 26, 2020 #18 Share Posted January 26, 2020 5 hours ago, retafcruiser said: You can renew by mail. You will need new photos. your local post office has the paperwork.... go to a mailbox etc store they and many others do passport pic.... you could have many options to renew within a few miles/min travel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieBelle Posted January 26, 2020 #19 Share Posted January 26, 2020 FYI we got our last passport photos taken at Walgreens. CVS will do the same. Katie 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PaulMCO Posted January 26, 2020 #20 Share Posted January 26, 2020 (edited) 7 hours ago, Lightning85 said: I just received my travel doc's Saturday and it said my passport has to be valid for 6 months after the Caribbean cruise. I am not departing the ship on any destination and my passport is valid for only 5 months after the cruise. Can I still cruise with my passport? I'm not getting off the ship till I get back to Miami...Doesn't sound fair. This is my last cruise too. What bad info on this board... (except KS&JW) Get your photos done at CVS and use a Passport/Visa service -- they can get this done in a week. You can use VISACENTRAL (the one Oceania recommends) or the one I use Passportvisaexpress.com. Do not use the mail. Edited January 26, 2020 by PaulMCO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clo Posted January 26, 2020 #21 Share Posted January 26, 2020 5 hours ago, Mura said: The most difficult part of the process is getting new passport photos. Costco does them. And I got some from just a little photo gallery in a strip mall. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted January 26, 2020 #22 Share Posted January 26, 2020 Even our local post office will do it where they have the passport applications but as suggested use a courier service of some kind rather than regular mail. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoyaheel Posted January 26, 2020 #23 Share Posted January 26, 2020 35 minutes ago, PaulMCO said: What bad info on this board... (except KS&JW) Get your photos done at CVS and use a Passport/Visa service -- they can get this done in a week. You can use VISACENTRAL (the one Oceania recommends) or the one I use Passportvisaexpress.com. Do not use the mail. I absolutely would (and have) used expedited svc directly with the State Dept when renewing a passport. You can send certified or express if you feel the need for extra speed (pretty sure you can even send UPS or Fedex if you want). Why give an agency money when I can do it just as well myself. YOU might not follow that advice, but it's not BAD advice. That's merely your opinion. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightning85 Posted January 26, 2020 Author #24 Share Posted January 26, 2020 Guess I'll be going to the passport office Monday. Thanks everyone. Better believe that after more than a dozen cruises and this being my first glitch, I'LL RENENBER. Thanks again.......Gary 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoyaheel Posted January 26, 2020 #25 Share Posted January 26, 2020 FYI all the paperwork/forms can be found online - don't have to get at the post office. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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