Why does she need a passport?

[teachingmyown]

A question about the new passport regulations...

My friend & her hubby are preparing to go on a trip. They will be leaving from a Tennessee airport, connecting through Denver and arriving in Alaska. While there they will be on an Alaskan cruise, stopping at Alaskan ports. On the return trip they will leave from an Alaskan airport, again connect through Denver and finally arrive back home in Tennessee. Every place where she will be able to set foot to ground is considered "USA" and at no time is a trip into Canada (or any other country, ftm) planned, so why does she need a passport?

 

[Fern Modena]

Actually your friend is probably mixed up on her itinerary. Due to the US Passenger Services Act, at some point the ship *will* make a stop in Canada, even if it is only a "technical call" and she doesn't get off. Most of the Alaska Cruises either stop in Victoria (or Vancouver, but usually Victoria) or else start or end in Vancouver. The reason I say your friend is probably mixed up is because of the above, and also because I can't for the life of me think of any cruise like the one you described. Even if she was doing a B2B, or "back to back" which starts in Anchorage and ends there, she'd still be in Vancouver at the midpoint.

Fern

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Yep as Fern explained.

If the ship does not make a call outside US waters, it must be flagged in the US and staffed by a US crew. That would make the cruise uneconomic. So the itineraries include a non-US port of call.

 

[dougp26364]

I believe that, as it stand now, the passport requirement for cruise ship passengers in the Caribbean, Canada and Mexio are not required to have a passport until after Jan. 1, 2008. The cruise lines may enforce stricter requirements than the Feds. I know that my daughter will be going on a Caribbean cruise this summer. Her SO put off getting their passport information in until the last minute. I checked the Carinval cruise site to see what their requirements were. For Carnival, it said the strongly urge passengers to have their passport in case they miss the ship (flying into/out of these countries requires a passport) but that birth certificates remain acceptable.

As mentioned all cruise ships leaving from and returning to the U.S. must make at least on foriegn port of call. Even if it's just for a couple of hours to take on supplies of take on fuel. That port requires passengers to show proof of citizenship when returning to the U.S.

 

[riverdees05]

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)

The proposed implementation timeline has two phases:

Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.

As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.
The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

 

[teachingmyown]

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)

The proposed implementation timeline has two phases:

Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.

As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.
The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

See, this is what I was remembering...it sounds to me like she **technically** doesn't need one BY LAW. I realize that the cruise line or the air line or even the travel arranger may have arbitrarily decided to require one, but it doesn't sound like this trip, taking place this summer ('07) qualifies under the law to require the passport.

The reason this question came up is when she received her passport a couple of weeks ago her name on it was misspelled. She immediately sent it back in for correction, having to pay the expedited fee, etc. It still hasn't returned and they are supposed to be leaving in a matter of days. It'll probably get here in the nick of time, but just in case it didn't we were wondering what her options would be.

 

[dougp26364]

See, this is what I was remembering...it sounds to me like she **technically** doesn't need one BY LAW. I realize that the cruise line or the air line or even the travel arranger may have arbitrarily decided to require one, but it doesn't sound like this trip, taking place this summer ('07) qualifies under the law to require the passport.

The reason this question came up is when she received her passport a couple of weeks ago her name on it was misspelled. She immediately sent it back in for correction, having to pay the expedited fee, etc. It still hasn't returned and they are supposed to be leaving in a matter of days. It'll probably get here in the nick of time, but just in case it didn't we were wondering what her options would be.

I had thought some cruise lines were going to enforce the passport being required even though the law does not require it. The reasoning behind is that people do miss the ship. When that happens, they often must fly home. Without a passport, you have a problem. Therefore rather than hear any more bad PR in the press they decided it was better to pay it safe than sorry.

If it doesn't get back in time and the cruise line requires a passport rather than a birth certificate and a photo ID then I hope she bought travel insurance the covers such an event. Otherwise she may be denied boarding and they do not have to offer her a refund. It should all be in the cruise contract that can be found and printed online or with her cruise documents she received in the mail.

 

[Dave M]

I'm still perplexed by the stated itinerary. I can't find any cruises on major cruise lines - other than back-to-back and similar cruises - that start and end in Alaska. Thus, unless they are starting or ending in Seattle or San Francisco, it's almost certain that they will start or end the cruise in Vancouver. If the plan is to fly to or from Vancouver, a passport is required.

Many passengers book a cruise and let the cruise line arrange air travel. If that's the case with your friend, that might well explain why she could be confused about the travel specifics. As Steve and Fern have accurately stated, an "Alaska" cruise is almost never solely a U.S. cruise.

However, a simple "why do I need a passport" call to the cruise line or the travel agent (if there is one) will clear up any confusion.

I hope you'll let us know how this turns out. Curiosity....

 

[johnmfaeth]

I just don't get why so many people are adverse to just getting one "in case".

If you are on a cruise and get very ill, do you want to be fown back to the US immediately for treatment?

That is the best argument. It's also better proof than a driver's license which is more easily conterfeited during identify theft. Thus a better ID to use when one is needed in general.

 

[dougp26364]

I'm still perplexed by the stated itinerary. I can't find any cruises on major cruise lines - other than back-to-back and similar cruises - that start and end in Alaska. Thus, unless they are starting or ending in Seattle or San Francisco, it's almost certain that they will start or end the cruise in Vancouver. If the plan is to fly to or from Vancouver, a passport is required.

Many passengers book a cruise and let the cruise line arrange air travel. If that's the case with your friend, that might well explain why she could be confused about the travel specifics. As Steve and Fern have accurately stated, an "Alaska" cruise is almost never solely a U.S. cruise.

However, a simple "why do I need a passport" call to the cruise line or the travel agent (if there is one) will clear up any confusion.

I hope you'll let us know how this turns out. Curiosity....

At the very least, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Princess all sail from Seattle, WA. There are some very small cruise lines that might sail RT from Alaskan ports but I'm not sure who they would be. I know on each of the three Alaskan cruise we've been on we've always seen small cruise ships in one or two ports. One of which struck a rock and took on water sometime back.

 

[Dave M]

I agree. NCL is another. Many cruise lines sail to and from Seattle as part of Alaska cruises.

However, since the OP stated that the friends will start and end in Alaska, something is amiss, unless the cruise is on one of the very small cruise lines, such as Adventure Life Voyages or Cruise West.

 

[teachingmyown]

I just don't get why so many people are adverse to just getting one "in case".
.

Did you read my post #6 above, or just the first one then hit "reply"? She isn't adverse at all to having a passport, just didn't want to try to "make do" with the one that had her name wrong.


And Doug, please don't say anything else about hitting rocks and taking on water! I had already sent her the link to this thread!! Say reassuring things, like, "cruising is SO much fun", & "the ships are SO safe". :whoopie:

 

[Bill4728]

I copied this from another thread but for young kids they are changing the rules so they may not need passports.

No passports for kids between US and Canada

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was looking at the website of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and found this proposal:

This proposal, which will be subject to public comment as part of the rulemaking process on the WHTI, would allow U.S. and Canadian citizens, ages 15 and younger with parental consent, to cross the border at land and sea ports with a certified copy of their birth certificate as an alternative to a passport or other WHTI compliant identity card. U.S. and Canadian citizen children, ages 16 through 18, traveling with public or private school groups, religious groups, social or cultural organizations or teams associated with youth athletics organizations would also be able to enter, under adult supervision, with a certified copy of their birth certificate

So, you may not need to get passports for little kids for that trip across the border.
__________________
Bill

 

[dougp26364]

Did you read my post #6 above, or just the first one then hit "reply"? She isn't adverse at all to having a passport, just didn't want to try to "make do" with the one that had her name wrong.


And Doug, please don't say anything else about hitting rocks and taking on water! I had already sent her the link to this thread!! Say reassuring things, like, "cruising is SO much fun", & "the ships are SO safe". :whoopie:

It was a very small cruise ship and no one was hurt. We've sailed Alaska 3 times now. She'll have a GREAT time. For the most part sailing the inside passage is like sailing on a lake.

 

[geekette]

Curiosity is killing me!

What ship or line are they sailing, and what date?

 

[Dave M]

Very good question, one that echoes the question that I implied earlier.

With more info, we will almost certainly be able to explain "why" in response to the OP's question or, better yet, perhaps be able to show that, in fact, a passport isn't required, despite what the OP's friends have been told.

 

[Pat H]

Cruising is a lot of fun. I went on my 1st and 2nd cruises last year. The 2nd one was the TUG cruise to Alaska. It was really smooth sailing and we had an end cabin. The scenery is breathtaking. The sound of the glaciers calving is amazing. She will have a ball.

 

[teachingmyown]

Since curious minds demand satisfaction...

I double checked with my friend and so she double checked her itinerary and travel instructions and realized she had not remembered it exactly right when we were talking before (she had told me she wasn't completely positive)...

"on the way back, the ship docks in Canada. The restriction is
specifically on airline travel. If my passport doesn't arrive in time,
our plan B is to present my birth certificate which is acceptable for
ground travel and rent a car driving across the border. "

But, she received an email saying that her passport left out today and so should be here in time for the trip so it all works out in the end.

You guys were right, as usual! That's one reason why I like hanging out with ya. I learn so much!!

Thanks bunches!

 

[dougp26364]

Keep in mind that the restriction will apply to cruise travel and land travel starting in 2008.....just for future reference.

 

[nightnurse613]

That's what Royal Caribbean said on my last trip to Mexico (passports strongly recommended). We didn't need passports.