Comments on: Cruisers: Passports required June 1, 2009 http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/ Where savvy cruisers search Fri, 4 Jul 2008 18:11:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: John F http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/#comment-910 John F Fri, 11 Apr 2008 01:32:50 +0000 http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/#comment-910 Again it is the cruise line's choice who to accept on their vessel and who not to accept. There are reprecussions for ill documented passengers. Again it is the cruise line’s choice who to accept on their vessel and who not to accept. There are reprecussions for ill documented passengers.

]]> By: Snorkel2Much http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/#comment-900 Snorkel2Much Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:33:47 +0000 http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/#comment-900 anita - You still refuse to educate yourself to the facts that have been clearly made available to you: US citizens on any sailings that begin and end at the same U.S. port will be exempt from the WHTI document requirement. Instead they will only need to present a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license) and proof of citizenship (an official copy of a birth certificate, certificate of naturalization, etc) --See, it's not that hard to write a simple explanation. You should've tried to ask someone who had experienced this before you stated: "What if somebody gets sick and needs to fly home off the ship from a foreign port? You need a passport!" -- Sorry anita, but you most certainly do not. Flying home from a foreign port due to an emergency without possessing a passport is NOT the impossible mission you claim, it's a minor hassle compared to trying to make last minute air bookings. First time cruisers without passports, who may never cruise again, should be told the unbiased facts and allowed to make an informed choice. anita - You still refuse to educate yourself to the facts that have been clearly made available to you:
US citizens on any sailings that begin and end at the same U.S. port will be exempt from the WHTI document requirement. Instead they will only need to present a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license) and proof of citizenship (an official copy of a birth certificate, certificate of naturalization, etc)
–See, it’s not that hard to write a simple explanation.

You should’ve tried to ask someone who had experienced this before you stated:
“What if somebody gets sick and needs to fly home off the ship from a foreign port? You need a passport!”
– Sorry anita, but you most certainly do not. Flying home from a foreign port due to an emergency without possessing a passport is NOT the impossible mission you claim, it’s a minor hassle compared to trying to make last minute air bookings.

First time cruisers without passports, who may never cruise again, should be told the unbiased facts and allowed to make an informed choice.

]]> By: John F http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/#comment-848 John F Thu, 03 Apr 2008 02:41:36 +0000 http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/#comment-848 You are forgetting who owns the ships. It is the cruise lines and not the government. The cruise lines are going to err on the side of caution and require it. Not requiring it creates a hassle for them and will delay the embarkation and disembarkation procedures accommodating those that are claiming an exception. So, the cruise lines will err to the side of caution. TPKeller--you accuse Anita of FUD yet are you not guilty as well? The cost of a passport can only impact the cost of the FIRST cruise to the Bahamas. You are forgetting who owns the ships. It is the cruise lines and not the government. The cruise lines are going to err on the side of caution and require it. Not requiring it creates a hassle for them and will delay the embarkation and disembarkation procedures accommodating those that are claiming an exception.

So, the cruise lines will err to the side of caution.

TPKeller–you accuse Anita of FUD yet are you not guilty as well? The cost of a passport can only impact the cost of the FIRST cruise to the Bahamas.

]]> By: Jan Murdoch http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/#comment-828 Jan Murdoch Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:12:00 +0000 http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/#comment-828 snorkes2much I am with anita on this. Shes just trying to get the word out to make sure people don't run into document problems on their cruises. there was a lot of confusion last year. Sure there are some cruises that won't require a passport but the majority do. Jan snorkes2much I am with anita on this. Shes just trying to get the word out to make sure people don’t run into document problems on their cruises. there was a lot of confusion last year. Sure there are some cruises that won’t require a passport but the majority do. Jan

]]> By: Snorkel2Much http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/#comment-824 Snorkel2Much Sun, 30 Mar 2008 13:46:36 +0000 http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/#comment-824 TPKeller - Good for you in trying to get the FACTS out there, well done. ExpertCruiser - Shame on you for a grossly misleading story. Please read the ruling in the link TPKeller provided, paying particular attention to Paragraphs IV-B-6 and VI-A. How about an equally prominent retraction as a follow up? anita - Next time read the reference before telling someone who did read it that they're wrong. TPKeller - Good for you in trying to get the FACTS out there, well done.

ExpertCruiser - Shame on you for a grossly misleading story. Please read the ruling in the link TPKeller provided, paying particular attention to Paragraphs IV-B-6 and VI-A. How about an equally prominent retraction as a follow up?

anita - Next time read the reference before telling someone who did read it that they’re wrong.

]]> By: anita http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/#comment-814 anita Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:23:29 +0000 http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/#comment-814 TPKeller, Good for you having a passport. It's an important document to have while traveling. You are correct about the passport issue for cruises to the Bahamas, BUT the ruling also states that "an approved secure document" will be required. That to me is a huge can of worms. What exactly are the secure documents other than a passport. TK the problem is I get cases where people are unable to cruise because they did not have the right documentation. The problem with having differing rules for differing countries creates a ton of confusion. These two stories alone: http://www.expertcruiser.com/ombudsman/hey-kids-no-birth-certificate-no-cruise/ http://www.expertcruiser.com/ombudsman/no-passport-no-travel/ Had these folks had a passport they would have cruised...period. Granted, one story didn't need a passport, but birth certificates, still wrong information cost them their cruise vacations. My theory is simple: Get a passport and you won't have to worry what documentation (other than country specific VISA requirements) is required. I am just amazed at the number of people who love to travel out of the country, but don't want to get a passport. I guess I am stubborn on this issue. Anita TPKeller,
Good for you having a passport. It’s an important document to have while traveling. You are correct about the passport issue for cruises to the Bahamas, BUT the ruling also states that “an approved secure document” will be required. That to me is a huge can of worms. What exactly are the secure documents other than a passport. TK the problem is I get cases where people are unable to cruise because they did not have the right documentation. The problem with having differing rules for differing countries creates a ton of confusion.

These two stories alone:

http://www.expertcruiser.com/ombudsman/hey-kids-no-birth-certificate-no-cruise/

http://www.expertcruiser.com/ombudsman/no-passport-no-travel/

Had these folks had a passport they would have cruised…period. Granted, one story didn’t need a passport, but birth certificates, still wrong information cost them their cruise vacations.

My theory is simple: Get a passport and you won’t have to worry what documentation (other than country specific VISA requirements) is required. I am just amazed at the number of people who love to travel out of the country, but don’t want to get a passport.

I guess I am stubborn on this issue.

Anita

]]> By: TPKeller http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/#comment-813 TPKeller Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:11:59 +0000 http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/#comment-813 I do, in fact I'm about half way through my second. I don't want to come across as argumentative, but FUD (Fear Uncertainty Doubt) is how I would describe the claim that a passport is required to return home early from a cruise. It happens, albeit with perhaps a little extra effort, but you will get home. I see these same points over and over again on cruise message boards, and they just don't hold water. Americans think they don't need a passport, because they don't, in fact, need a passport, under these certain conditions. I'm all in favor of promoting passports, but only using reasons that are true. If you want to cast blame, I suspect it's the Cruise Lines themselves who lobbied for these exceptions. I do, in fact I’m about half way through my second. I don’t want to come across as argumentative, but FUD (Fear Uncertainty Doubt) is how I would describe the claim that a passport is required to return home early from a cruise. It happens, albeit with perhaps a little extra effort, but you will get home.

I see these same points over and over again on cruise message boards, and they just don’t hold water. Americans think they don’t need a passport, because they don’t, in fact, need a passport, under these certain conditions.

I’m all in favor of promoting passports, but only using reasons that are true.

If you want to cast blame, I suspect it’s the Cruise Lines themselves who lobbied for these exceptions.

]]> By: anita http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/#comment-811 anita Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:55:04 +0000 http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/#comment-811 TPKeller, No FUD, just facts. Do you have a passport? Anita TPKeller,
No FUD, just facts. Do you have a passport?

Anita

]]> By: TPKeller http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/#comment-810 TPKeller Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:42:01 +0000 http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/#comment-810 Not promoting, just reporting the facts. I completely agree, there are many very good reasons to get a passport. I don't think we need to resort to misleading people about it. The merits of passport ownership can hold up on their own. Every week, thousands of people cruise without passports, and some of them must return home, for whatever unforeseen circumstance. They get home. They aren't stripped of their citizenship and forced to become homeless in the Caribbean. Resorting to FUD calls your credibility into question. As an expert in the Cruise Industry, you should realize that for quite a number of short Bahamas cruises, the cost of a passport can add nearly 50% to the price of the cruise, and as such, would clearly deter many people who are considering a short trial first cruise. I believe this is the true reason why the Industry successfully lobbied for this exception to the rule, and for now at least, that is how it will be. I agree, it will add to the confusion. But it's not insurmountable, with clear and accurate reporting. Thanks! Not promoting, just reporting the facts. I completely agree, there are many very good reasons to get a passport. I don’t think we need to resort to misleading people about it. The merits of passport ownership can hold up on their own.

Every week, thousands of people cruise without passports, and some of them must return home, for whatever unforeseen circumstance. They get home. They aren’t stripped of their citizenship and forced to become homeless in the Caribbean.

Resorting to FUD calls your credibility into question.

As an expert in the Cruise Industry, you should realize that for quite a number of short Bahamas cruises, the cost of a passport can add nearly 50% to the price of the cruise, and as such, would clearly deter many people who are considering a short trial first cruise. I believe this is the true reason why the Industry successfully lobbied for this exception to the rule, and for now at least, that is how it will be.

I agree, it will add to the confusion. But it’s not insurmountable, with clear and accurate reporting.

Thanks!

]]> By: anita http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/#comment-809 anita Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:31:40 +0000 http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/cruisers-passports-required-june-1-2009/#comment-809 TPKeller, Why promote the delay in getting a passport? If people want to travel out of the country they SHOULD have one - period. What if somebody gets sick and needs to fly home off the ship from a foreign port? You need a passport! There are a lot of tangibles that could come up during a cruise that require a passport. People need to stop delaying and just get their passport. The rest of the traveling world gets this; why do some Americans think they don't need one? Anita Dunham-Potter Editor, ExpertCruiser TPKeller,
Why promote the delay in getting a passport? If people want to travel out of the country they SHOULD have one - period. What if somebody gets sick and needs to fly home off the ship from a foreign port? You need a passport! There are a lot of tangibles that could come up during a cruise that require a passport. People need to stop delaying and just get their passport. The rest of the traveling world gets this; why do some Americans think they don’t need one?

Anita Dunham-Potter
Editor, ExpertCruiser

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