Proof of
Citizenship/Proof of identity
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Don't leave home without proper identification. The
cruise lines have a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY regarding
missing or unacceptable citizenship documents. Make
sure you have all of the necessary documentation to
travel. IF YOU DO NOT, YOU WILL BE DENIED BOARDING,
NO EXCEPTIONS. There is no room for
flexibility on this policy. Guests who fail to
provide the cruise line with proper proof of
citizenship and photo ID will be denied boarding and
will not receive a refund.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
The information below is for reference
purposes only and is subject to change at anytime
without notice. You are advised to contact
the cruise line for the latest requirements and if
necessary the appropriate consulate, U.S. Embassy or
U.S. Immigration office to inquire further about
travel documents. Do not rely on the
information provided below, as it could change.
Check with your cruise line about the specific
requirements for your cruise before you show up at
the pier. Failure to have the proper documentation
could result in denied boarding. If you are denied
boarding you will not get a refund.
Cruise Direct Online assumes no responsibility for
advising guests of immigration, proof of Citizenship
and Proof of identity requirements.
Don't Have a
Passport? Time to Get One!
IMPORTANT: A VALID PASSPORT IS REQUIRED FOR
MOST CRUISES
Please be sure to read items numbered 1-4
1. If you FLY to and/or from your cruise
departing/returning port outside the United
States
NEW... All citizens, regardless of age,
including infants will be required to show a
passport to re-enter the United States from Canada,
Mexico, Panama, Bermuda, the Caribbean and the rest
of the World.
Guests sailing on or
after January 23, 2007 will be required to present a
valid passport during ship check-in formalities.
Passports must be valid for at least 6 months after
sailing. Passengers who's Alaska cruise itinerary
includes a port call to a Canadian city, or begins
or ends in a Canadian port/city are required to have
a valid Passport. You are responsible for having the
proper documenation with you when you travel. In
addition Visa's may be required to enter certain
countries while on a cruise. So, well in advance
of leaving home, check with the cruise line for the
exact documentation requirements for your cruise or
cruisetour. Failure to have the proper documentation
( Passport, Visa, Health Vacination
Certificates etc. ) as required will result in
denied boarding and you will not get a refund for
your cruise.
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2. If you FLY to and/or from your cruise
departing/returning port inside the United
States
US Citizens: If you are flying to
and from your cruise ports of embarkation
and disembarkation in the United States
Only, a valid passport is highly
recommended. In the absence of a passport, a birth
certificate (original or a certified copy), plus a
picture ID card issued by a federal, state or local
government agency is required. A voter registration
card or Social Security Card are not considered to
be proof of citizenship. Children under 16 years of
age do not require a picture ID.
This only applies if your
cruise leaves and ends in the United States.
If a plane trip outside the United States is part of
your cruise itinerary anywhere in the world, you
will need a valid Passport. Passengers who's Alaska
cruise itinerary includes a port call to a Canadian
city, or begins or ends in a Canadian port/city are
required to have a valid Passport, regardless if you
drive or fly. Failure to have the proper
documentation as required will result in denied
boarding and you will not get a refund for your
cruise.
3. If you DRIVE to and from your cruise
departing/returning port inside the United
States
US Citizens: If you are driving and not
flying to and from your cruise ports
of embarkation and disembarkation in the
United States Only, a valid
passport is highly recommended. In the absence of a
passport, a birth certificate (original or a
certified copy), plus a picture ID card issued by a
federal, state or local government agency is
required. A voter registration card or Social
Security Card are not considered to be proof of
citizenship. Children under 16 years of age do not
require a picture ID. This
only applies if you are driving. If a plane
trip outside the United States is part of your
cruise itinerary anywhere in the world, you will
need a valid Passport. Passengers who's Alaska
cruise itinerary includes a port call to a Canadian
city, or begins or ends in a Canadian port/city are
required to have a valid Passport, regardless if you
drive or fly. Failure to have the proper
documentation as required will result in denied
boarding and you will not get a refund for your
cruise.
4. Our
recommendation
We strongly
recommend that all guests travel with a valid
passport during their cruise. This greatly assists
guests who may need to fly out of the United States
to meet their ship at the next available port should
they miss their scheduled embarkation in a U.S.
port; guests entering the U.S. at the end of their
cruise; and guests needing to fly to the U.S. before
their cruise ends, because of medical, family,
personal or business emergencies, missing a ship's
departure from a port of call, involuntary
disembarkation from a ship due to misconduct, or
other reasons.
Guests who cruise after January 23, 2007, who need
to fly to the United States before their cruise ends
will likely experience significant delays and
complications related to booking airline tickets and
entering the United States if they do not have a
valid U.S. passport with them.
Benefits of
Having a Passport
If you don't already have a passport, now is a good
time to apply for one! There are many benefits to
having a passport:
- No more juggling birth certificates and driver's
licenses! A passport is a single document that
provides photo identification, as well as proof of
citizenship.
- The convenience of not traveling with original
birth certificates. You'll no longer have to worry
about losing or damaging these precious documents.
- Expedited entry into the United States for U.S.
citizens and legitimate foreign visitors.
For Guests 16 years of age or older, a passport is
valid for 10 years, and passports for Guests 15
years of age or younger are valid for 5 years -- so
there's plenty of time to use your passport again
and again when you cruise with Cruise Direct Online.
Travel Direct Corporation ( Cruise Direct Online and
other related companies ) assumes no responsibility
for advising guests of immigration requirements.
The information below is for reference purposes only
and is subject to change without notice. You are
advised to contact the cruise line for the latest
requirements and if necessary the appropriate
consulate, U.S. Embassy or U.S. Immigration office
to inquire further about travel documents.
SPECIAL
NOTE: Alaska, Hawaii and Canada/New England Cruises:
Due to stricter Canadian entry requirements,
immigration officials have advised that citizens
from certain countries will require a visa in order
to visit or transit Canada. Guests who are not US or
Canadian citizens may check the following web site
for a listing of restricted nationalities, to
determine if a visitor visa is necessary:
www.cic.gc.ca.
Subsequently, all guests belonging to nationalities
that require a visa to enter Canada may be denied
boarding in if they do not possess such a visa. If
you are a holder of a US Alien Resident Card or
holder of a Canadian Residency Permit you may be
exempt. Please note, visa requirements vary by
country and are subject to change. As always, guests
traveling abroad are urged to contact their local
immigration office and/or respective embassy or
consulate to determine the entry requirements for
their cruise destinations. You and only you are
responsible for having the proper documentation.
MACHINE-READABLE PASSPORTS
Effective
June 26, 2005, travelers from the 27 countries
participating in the United States' Visa Waiver
Program (VWP) must have a machine-readable passport
to enter the United States.
If you are
in possession of a passport issued by any of the 27
countries listed below, please contact the passport
issuing authority to ensure that you are in
possession of a machine-readable passport. Please
note that boarding will be denied to travelers from
VWP countries that do not have machine-readable
passports.
The 27
countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program
include: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium,
Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway,
Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Additional
information regarding the Visa Waiver Program is
available on-line at
www.dhs.gov.
For information on
obtaining a passport, click here:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
Your exact legal name
(first and last) must be shown on cruise documents.
This must match the name shown on your passport.
Middle names alone and nicknames are not allowed.
Guests are urged to read
the
information provided in the cruise lines brochure to
see
if
a passport and/or visa is required and to check with
the
US
passport office to determine the proper and current
requirements.
** You
are responsible for checking with your Cruise Line
before leaving home for specific
documentation requirements based on your ship’s
Itinerary .
In addition to the
above,
Proof of identity must be presented.
No matter what your status
is: United
States or Canadian Citizen, resident Alien or Alien,
or a citizen of any country, an official proof of
identity is required.
Proof of identity
consists of one of the following and is required of
everyone:
-
Valid
driver's license with photograph, ages 16 and above.
-
Government
identification card including photograph and
physical description.
A
photo ID such as a driver’s license must be
presented at check-in at the pier and if flying to
the port of embarkation, as most airlines require
them at check-in. In some cases you may also need a
visa. Canadian citizens
in the
U.S. on a work-related visa, will also need a
valid
I
-94 and/or copy of
I
-797.
an unexpired U.S. multiple re-entry visa (B-2
Visitor’s Visa) or a visa waiver. Resident aliens
need both a passport and an
alien resident card. Guests will need to contact
the consulates of the islands/countries they will be
visiting, to inquire about
necessary travel documentation. Immigrations
determines the proper documents which guests must
have available in order to sail.
For cruises that visit or transit in Canada,
citizens of some countries may require a Visa.
Guests must check with the Canadian Consulate for
documentation requirements. This includes cruises to
Canada (from New York) and Alaska cruises .
As of the effective dates above, holders of
non-machine-readable passports will need a valid
passport and a valid U.S. visa to enter the U.S. for
cruises departing the U.S., or a valid
multiple-entry visa for cruises that depart and
return to the U.S.
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Other Important Notes That May Apply To You.
If
you are divorced and traveling outside the country
with your children, you should check your divorce
documents for restrictions. You should have a
notarized letter from your ex-spouse, giving
permission to leave with them. This would also apply
to others’ children who are guests of yours. For
Minors (under the age of 18) traveling without
parents,( say, going with a friend and his/her
parents )they must possess a notarized
parental/guardian consent letter that authorizes the
minor to travel, and that further authorizes medical
treatment in case of an emergency. For example,
Mexico requires a notarized affidavit signed by ANY
parent not accompanying the minor. If only one
parent is going on the trip, the other parent must
sign a release form. If neither parent is going,
then BOTH parents must sign. Furthermore,
Canadian Entry Requirements stipulate that
minors under the age of 18 traveling into Canada
without both parents must have in their
possession a notarized letter of consent that
includes the actual dates of travel and signatures
of both parents as authorization to do so.
Need A Passport?
Consult the National Passport Information Center
(1-900-225-5674 or 1-888-498-3648) for guidance.
($4.95 per call flat rate fee, must use credit card)
or 1-900-225-5674 (35 cents per minute for automated
information or $1.05 per minute for operator
assisted calls).
Go
to
Travel Resources for information on how to get a
passport. Also check
http://travel.state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html
for Foreign Entry Requirements.
Need to Renew A
Passport? For more information, visit the U.S. State
Department Website.
Need a copy of your birth certificate?
Obtain a copy from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in
the state of your birth. Certified copies of your
birth certificate are identified by a raised seal.
A list of phone numbers for obtaining a copy of a
birth certificate can be found at
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/w2welcom.htm
Visa
Visas are required for U.S. citizens to visit
certain countries (countries like Australia, Russia
and Turkey). The cruise line will usually provide
the necessary forms for each passenger to complete
to obtain these visas. In some cases, the cruise
line will only require the passenger to provide them
with passport information and a "blanket" visa will
be issued for all passengers on the ship. You
should always verify what documents will be required
for your cruise.
Please
visit
Zierer Visa Service ( ZVS )
and select your country of travel to determine
whether or not you will require visas for your
itinerary.
Do I
have to use Zierer Visa Services to obtain my Visa?
No, you do not have to use them to
obtain a Visa. To obtain a visa on your own, you
must contact the Embassy or Consulate of the country
you are visiting. For a directory of consulates,
visit
http://www.travelguru.net/html/consulates.html
New U.S. Entry Visa
Requirements
The U.S. Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) will begin a new high-tech
registration system on January 5, 2004 to
fingerprint and photograph foreign visitors, who are
required to have visas, as they enter through
designated U.S. airports and seaports. The program
will exempt permanent U.S. residents and foreign
visitors from 21 countries who do not generally need
visas to enter the U.S. Those exempted countries
include Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium,
Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal,
San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
If you come from countries not included in the above
list, besides holding a visa, you will now have
digital photographs and electronic fingerprints
taken or verified upon entering or exiting the U.S.
For more information, please visit
www.dhs.gov/us-visit
Minors
For Minors (under the age of 18) traveling without
parents,( say, going with a friend and his/her
parents ) they must possess a notarized
parental/guardian consent letter that authorizes the
minor to travel, and that further authorizes medical
treatment in case of an emergency. If only one
parent is going on the trip, the other parent must
sign a release form. If neither parent is going,
then BOTH parents must sign. For example, Mexico
requires a notarized affidavit signed by ANY parent
not accompanying the minor. Furthermore,
Canadian Entry Requirements stipulate that
minors under the age of 18 traveling into Canada
without both parents must have in their
possession a notarized letter of consent that
includes the actual dates of travel and signatures
of both parents as authorization to do so.
Your Responsibility
Without exception, it is the responsibility of the
individual traveler to obtain passports, birth
certificates, visas and other documents required for
entry into a foreign country, for embarkation and
re-entry into the United States. Simply put: If you
find yourself being turned away for a lack of
documentation, your options for recourse are nil.
You will not get a refund if you are denied
boarding for lack of proper documentation.
Always contact the embassy or consulate of any
country you'll be visiting and request a copy of its
entry requirements.
United States Passport Agency Offices
BOSTON Passport
Agency
Thomas P. O'Neil Federal Building
10 Causeway Street, Suite 247
Boston, MA 02222-1094
(617) 878-0900
Region: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, Upstate New York, & Vermont
CHICAGO Passport Agency
Kluczynski Federal Building
230 S. Dearborn Street, 18th Floor
Chicago, IL 60604-1564
(312) 341-6020
Region: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, & Wisconsin
CONNECTICUT Passport Agency
50 Washington Street
Norwalk, CT 06854
Region: Connecticut and Westchester County (New
York)
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., local time, M-F,
excluding Federal holidays
Automated Appointment Number: (203) 299-5443
HONOLULU Passport Agency
Prince Kuhio Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Blvd.
Suite 1-330
Honolulu, HI 96850
(808) 522-12713
Region: American Samoa, Federated States of
Micronesia, Guam, Hawaii, & Northern Mariana Islands
HOUSTON Passport Agency
Mickey Leland Federal Building
1919 Smith Street
Suite 1400
Houston, TX 77002-8049
(713) 751-0294
Region: Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, & Texas
LOS ANGELES Passport Agency
Federal Building
11000 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 1000
Los Angeles, CA 90024-3615
(310) 575-5700
Region: California (all counties South of an
including San Luis Obispo, Kern and San Bernardino),
and Nevada (Clark County only)
MIAMI Passport Agency
Claude Pepper Federal Office Building
51 SW First Avenue
3rd Floor
Miami, FL 33120-1680
(305) 539-3600
Region: Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, South
Carolina, & US Virgin Islands
NEW ORLEANS Passport Agency
One Canal Place
365 Canal Street
Suite 1300
New Orleans, LA 70130-6508
(504) 412-2600
Region: Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina,
Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia (except D.C. suburbs)
NEW YORK Passport Agency
376 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
(212) 206-3500
PHILADELPHIA Passport Agency
US Custom House
200 Chestnut Street
Room 103
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2970
(215) 418-5937
Region: Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, & West
Virginia
SAN FRANCISCO Passport Agency
95 Hawthorne Street
5th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105-3901
(415) 538-2700
Region: Arizona, California (all counties North of
and including Monterey, Kings, Oulare, and Inyo),
Nevada (except Clark Co.), & Utah
SEATTLE Passport Agency
Henry Jackson Federal Building
915 Second Avenue
Suite 992
Seattle, WA 98174-1091
(206) 808-5700
Region: Alaska, Colorado, idaho, Minnesota, Montana,
Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota,
Washington, & Wyoming
WASHINGTON Passport Agency
1111 19th Street, N.W.
Room 300
Washington, D.C.20524
(202) 647-0518
Region: Maryland, Northern Virginia (including
Alexandria, Arlington County, and Fairfax County),
and the District of Columbia
SPECIAL ISSUANCE Agency
1111 19th Street, N.W. Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20036
Applications for Diplomatic, Official, and No-Fee
passport
In a Hurry?
Passport & Visa
Expeditors
Note: these are private companies that charge hefty
fees for their services.
We do not endorse nor
recommend any of them.
G3 Visas
3240 Wilson Blvd., Suite 150
Arlington, VA 22201
http://www.g3visas.com/
(888) 883-8472
A Briggs Passport and Visa Expeditors
1422 K Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
(800) 218-6284
http://www.passportsvisas.com/
Travisa
2122 P St. NW
Washington, D.C. - 20037
Travisa at (800) 222-2589
http://www.travisa.com
Visa Advisors
1806 T Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 797-7976
http://www.visaadvisors.com/
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