Q: Do I need a passport when I take a cruise?

A: If you don’t have a passport, you should get one. In the past, cruise ships would allow you to get on and off the ship using a driver’s license and a birth certificate. Security is getting tighter, and will continue to get even tighter. Getting a passport is easy, but takes a little time. If you are short for time, you can get an expedited passport. This costs extra. But it is always a good back up. About 10 years ago, my wife were booked on a cruise. Almost a month and a half before the cruise, someone stole her checkbook with her driver license tucked inside. That was the only picture ID she had. She of course went to the DMV to get a replacement. She got a temporary driver’s license, but this had no picture. The replacement driver’s license would take 4-6 weeks. It was kind of close, and we were worried that the replacement license wouldn’t make it before our cruise. We went through the steps to get her an expedited passport. We got her passport a couple weeks before the cruise. Thankfully we ordered as her replacement driver’s license didn’t show up before we had left on the cruise.

Posted by RJ in Travel on May 3rd, 2006 |