passport times

[tmusgrave]

We applied for ours three weeks ago and they came in exactly 2 weeks. You can track the progress online, but ours were in the mailbox before it even showed up online.

[LihueR]

My wife and daughter just got theirs in 8 days.

[Chell-y-Bell]

Ok, this is not related to passport times, but passport use on a cruise in general. I've never traveled out of the country as an adult and therefore have never had a passport or know when/how often they get used...especially on a cruise. Do I have to take it off the ship with me or would a copy be accepted to return to the ship? I'm going to get an ID card seperate from my DL to take to shore and am a little nervous taking my passport off the ship, should something happen. Any advice?

[Lone_Warrior]

Dolly,

 

It's good that you're getting your passport since it is required.

http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/New_Passport_Requirements.aspx

 

You should easily get your passport in time if you submit it before the end of the month. If it doesn't show up by the end of November, I would call and check the status. They can expedite it if you're close to your trip and they've taken too long. There are also options to pay for expedited processing in advance but, I wouldn't think that it's necessary in this case. Enjoy your cruise. :)

 

Passports will be mandatory on/after June 1, 2009 for ALL cruises. Until then they are not mandatory for cruises, but needed if you get left behind at port and want to return home.

[cherylandtk]

Passports will be mandatory on/after June 1, 2009 for ALL cruises...

Sorry Lone Warrier, but this part is not correct. BC and ID will continue to work after June 1, 2009 for round trip cruises from a US port:

 

Cruise Passengers. U.S. and Canadian citizens arriving on cruises from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, or the Caribbean will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of identity and citizenship, such as a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. View complete list of acceptable documents at CBP.gov.

 

It is still a good idea to have a passport, just not mandatory.

[cherylandtk]

Ok, this is not related to passport times, but passport use on a cruise in general. I've never traveled out of the country as an adult and therefore have never had a passport or know when/how often they get used...especially on a cruise. Do I have to take it off the ship with me or would a copy be accepted to return to the ship? I'm going to get an ID card seperate from my DL to take to shore and am a little nervous taking my passport off the ship, should something happen. Any advice?

Michelle, the real purpose of having the passport, particularly on a cruise such as yours--where a passport is not mandatory--is to be able to return home or travel to the next port by air in an emergency. It would therefore be wiser to take it with you in ports, and safeguard it as you would your money, credit card or DL. It can be replaced if lost or stolen, which is unlikely. A copy is not going to allow air travel. Although many people prefer to leave the passport in the safe, it won't be any use to you if it is in the safe and you are not on the ship with it. You will find strong opinions both ways on this, just ask yourself WHY you have the passport and then use it accordingly.

[nilsbyy]

Am I correct in taking the new regulations to mean that you can go on the cruise without a passport, but you can't leave the ship (and enter the other country) without it?

 

I have a passport, I was just wondering. Can anyone clear up the rules for me?

[BroncosFan2010]

Applied Nov. 9th.... it arrived exactly 2 weeks later. I live in MI.

[RiverRat001]

I applied in South Carolina on a Thursday and it arrived in the mail on the following Wednesday.