Don't Pass on Passports

You may have read reports that the U.S. government has delayed implementation, requiring all sea and land passengers traveling to the Caribbean, Canada, or Mexico have passports, from January 2007 to June 2009.

All we can say is "Danger Will Robinson..Danger". Get a passport anyway! Why? Lots of reasons. The government agencies in charge of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative may, depending on the circumstances and with just three month warning, advance or not push off the start date for mandatory passports. Plus there is one huge exception to the extension- flying. If you fly into these areas you STILL have to have a passport effective January 8, 2007. Just imagine the confusion that will arise due the government's latest partial "extension" of the requirements.

Consider these situations:

1) You booked a cruise, miss it due to weather and now have to FLY to the next port to meet the ship. You will need the passport because you are now flying to the destination. 2) You are in the middle of the cruise and an emergency at home forces you to end the cruise and fly home from a Caribbean island- passport required. You may or may not be able to somehow talk your way onto the flight, but imagine how much time and effort will have to be spent doing so. 3) You're doing an Alaskan cruise and assume that you don't need a passport as you are cruising. Well, if you are flying in or out of Vancouver, you need the passport. Most cruise lines and tour operators are still advising passengers to obtain passports. A recent check of the U.S. State Department web site still shows the old requirements.

This is not the first time that our government has changed the rules of the game just before enforcement. You can take your chances and save the cost of the passports, but remember for the peace of mind, getting a passport is money well spent.

Stop in this week and say hello as we have a big Cruise Store 15th Anniversary cele-bration this Thursday, October 19 from 9:00 am to 7:30 pm. We would love to meet you, plus we have many special cruise offers if you book with The Cruise Store during the sale.

Feel free to contact us at Anderson@CruiseStore.com, or call. Bon Voyage!