A. Here's The
Vital Information You Need To
Know Before You Go...
· Domestic
sailings are all sailings
originating and ending in ports
located in the U.S., Canada and
Mexico including Panama Canal
sailings.
Before Leaving
Home:
· Please take a few minutes to
familiarize yourself with the
required travel documents you
will be asked to provide prior
to boarding the ship. Caution:
The requirements described below
are subject to change by
governmental bodies without
notice. So, you must check with
your cruise line well in advance
of travel for the latest
requirements.
· It is the sole
responsibility of the guest to
identify and obtain all required
travel documents and have them
available when necessary. These
appropriate valid travel
documents such as a passport,
visas, inoculation certificate
and family legal documents are
required for ship boarding and
country entry and/or re-entry.
· Guests who do
not possess the proper
documentation may be prevented
from boarding their flight or
ship or from entering a country
and may be subject to fines. No
refunds will be given to
individuals who fail to bring
the proper documentation.
· The spelling of
the guest(s) name above must
match their proof of
identification during ship
check-in formalities.
· Due to new
government regulations, guests
must be checked-in no later than
90 minutes prior to the sailing
time or they will not be
permitted to sail. To expedite
boarding, check-in online at
your cruise line's web site.
· Please
immediately review all guest
names printed on your booking
confirmation or on Insight for
accuracy. For Air/Sea
reservations, a name change fee
of $75 or more Domestic and
$125 International may apply
after ticketing. ( check with
your cruise line about their
fees ) Name changes may result
in a new booking so that
original flights, fares and seat
assignments may be lost.
Additional airline fees and
penalties may apply to assigned
air reservations.
· The Department
of Homeland Security requires
all Domestic US Airlines to
collect the following
information for each passenger;
Passengers Full Name (as it
appears on government issued
IDs), Date of Birth and Gender.
Please contact your Airline no
later than 72 hours (3days)
prior to flight departure to
provide them the required
information.
Failure to do so
may result in check-in delays or
denied boarding. If you have any
questions, please contact the
Airline directly.
Consecutive Sailings.
· Guests on
consecutive sailings must ensure
they have the proper travel
documents for their entire
cruise vacation.
Passport
· As of June 1, 2009, the U.S.
government implemented the full
requirements of the land and sea
phase of the Western Hemisphere
Travel Initiative (WHTI). This
requires all travelers to and
from Canada, Mexico, the
Caribbean and Bermuda to present
a valid passport or other
approved document that
establishes the bearer's
identity and citizenship in
order to enter or reenter the
United States. Passports must
have at least 6 months to go
before they expire from the date
you return to the United States.
· U.S. citizens
on closed-loop cruises (cruises
that begin and end at the same
port in the U.S.) will be able
to enter or depart the country
with proof of citizenship, such
as an Original birth certificate
( photo-copies are not
acceptable ) and laminated
government issued picture ID,
denoting photo, name and date of
birth. A U.S. citizen under the
age of 16 will be able to
present either an original or a
copy of his or her birth
certificate, a Consular Report
of Birth Abroad issues by DOS,
or Certificate of Naturalization
issued by U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services.
· A U.S. citizen
under the age of 16 will be able
to present either an original or
a copy of his or her birth
certificate, a Consular Report
of Birth Abroad issues by DOS,
or Certificate of Naturalization
issued by U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services.
For further details about WHTI
requirements and a complete list
of approved documents , please
visit
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html#compliant_document
Alien
Registration Card (Green Card)
· U.S. lawful permanent
residents will continue to be
able to use their Alien
Registration Card issued by the
Department of Homeland Security
or other valid evidence of
permanent residence status to
apply for entry to United
States.
· Card renewal is
an important matter. ARC holders
(United States permanent
residents) with expired cards
may be considered "out of
status" and may be denied entry
/ reentry into the United
States. If your ARC was issued
over 10 years ago, you should
check the expiration date
printed on the front of the
card. If your card is expired,
or it is about to expire, you
should renew your card before
you sail.
· If you are
holding an old edition ARC
WITHOUT an expiration date, you
will not be detained from
entering the United States but
U.S. Customs and Border
Protection highly suggests that
you apply for a new card before
you sail.
· For additional
information, visit:
http://www.usimmigrationsupport.org/greencard_renewal.html
Family Legal Documents
Should the last names of the
parent and minor child traveling
with them differ, the parent is
required to present the child's
valid passport and visa (if
required) and the child's birth
certificate (original, a
notarized copy or a certified
copy). The name of the parent(s)
and the child must be linked
through legal documentation.
Adults who are not the parent or
Legal Guardian of any minor
child traveling with them are
required to present the child's
valid passport and visa and an
original notarized letter signed
by at least one of the child's
parents. The notarized letter
from the child's parent must
authorize the traveling adult to
take the child on the specific
cruise, must authorize guardian
to sign legal
documentation/waivers for
participation in any activities
requiring them and must
authorize the traveling adult to
supervise the child and permit
any medical treatment that must
be administered to the child. If
a non-parent adult is a Legal
Guardian, the adult must present
a certified certificate of
Guardianship with respect to the
child.
Q: What travel documents and
identification will I need for
international sailings?
A: Please note: Domestic
sailings are all sailings
originating and ending in ports
located in the U.S., Canada and
Mexico including Panama Canal
sailings. For Domestic Sailing
Information
Click Here.
All other sailings are
considered to be international
sailings. These include
itineraries in Europe, Asia,
Africa, South America and
Australia/New Zealand and most
of rest of the World including
re-positioning sailings
originating or ending in their
ports. U.S. citizens traveling
on any international sailing are
required to have valid
passports. ( good for 6 months
beyond the date you return to
the United States )
Before Leaving Home:
Please take a few minutes to
familiarize yourself with the
required travel documents you
will be asked to provide prior
to boarding your ship. Caution:
The requirements described below
are subject to change by
governmental bodies without
notice. So you need to check
with your cruise line for the
latest requirements well in
advance of travel.
It is the sole responsibility of
the guest to identify and obtain
all required travel documents
and have them available when
necessary. These appropriate
valid travel documents such as a
passport, visas, inoculation
certificate and family legal
documents are required for ship
boarding and country entry
and/or re-entry.
Guests who do not possess the
proper documentation may be
prevented from boarding their
flight or ship or from entering
a country and may be subject to
fines. No refunds will be given
to individuals who fail to bring
the proper documentation.
Consecutive Sailings
Guests on consecutive sailings
must ensure they have the proper
travel documents for their
entire cruise vacation.
Passport A valid passport is
required for travel.
For your protection, your
passport expiration date must be
in excess of six(6) months of
the sailing termination date.
U.S. citizens carrying an
Official (maroon cover) passport
must also be in possession of a
valid Diplomatic or personal
(blue or green cover) passport
to allow ship embarkation.
Visas It is the guests'
responsibility to identify and
to obtain the necessary visas
before commencing their cruise.
Based on nationality, many
countries still require an entry
visa.
Suggestions on where to get visa
information:
U.S. citizens can visit the U.S.
Department of State Foreign
Entry Requirements
Canadian citizens can visit
Foreign Affairs and
International Trade Canada
the Embassies (Consular Service
Office) of each country on your
sailing itinerary
or the visa service of your
choice, such as CIBT for
specific visa requirements,
information, forms and fees that
apply to your nationality.
CIBT
toll free telephone:
1.800.858.8579
INOCULATION / HEALTH
As detailed in our brochure, all
guests must ensure that they are
medically and physically fit for
travel. The Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) and the World
Health Organization (WHO)
provide guidelines as to which
vaccinations are required in
each country. In many cases
inoculations are recommended but
in some circumstances they are
required. We recommend that you
check with your health care
professional or a Travel
Medicine Specialist certified by
the WHO for guidance. Other
informational resources can be
accessed at the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention's
Traveler's Health website. or
toll free at 1-877-FYI-TRIP, and
the World Health Organization
website.
Family Legal Documents
Should the last names of the
parent and minor child traveling
with them differ, the parent is
required to present the child's
valid passport and visa (if
required) and the child's birth
certificate (original, a
notarized copy or a certified
copy). The name of the parent(s)
and the child must be linked
through legal documentation.
Adults who are not the parent or
Legal Guardian of any minor
child traveling with them are
required to present the child's
valid passport and visa and an
original notarized letter signed
by at least one of the child's
parents. The notarized letter
from the child's parent must
authorize the traveling adult to
take the child on the specific
cruise, must authorize guardian
to sign legal
documentation/waivers for
participation in any activities
requiring them and must
authorize the traveling adult to
supervise the child and permit
any medical treatment that must
be administered to the child. If
a non-parent adult is a Legal
Guardian, the adult must present
a certified certificate of
Guardianship with respect to the
child.
Please take a minute to review
the passport policy below. If
you don't already have a valid
passport, be sure to avoid the
rush and give yourself plenty of
time to apply for one. Once
you've got a passport in hand,
the whole world is yours to
explore.
U.S.
Citizen Passport Requirement
The Western Hemisphere Travel
Initiative (WHTI) when fully
implemented on June 1, 2009 will
require all travelers to and
from Canada, Mexico, the
Caribbean and Bermuda to present
a valid passport or other
approved document that
establishes the bearer's
identity and citizenship in
order to enter or reenter the
United States.
Passport Requirements
A valid passport is a
requirement for air travel to /
from Canada, Mexico the
Caribbean and Bermuda
Effective June 1, 2009 only a
valid passport (unless otherwise
noted below) or other WHTI
compliant document will be
accepted for entry or re-entry
into the United States. For a
list of all approved documents
visit: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html#compliant_document
U.S. citizens on closed-loop
cruises (cruises that begin and
end at the same port in the
U.S.) will be able to enter or
depart the country with proof of
citizenship, such as a birth
certificate and laminated
government issued picture ID,
denoting photo, name and date of
birth. A U.S. citizen under the
age of 16 will be able to
present either an original or a
certified copy of his or her
birth certificate, a Consular
Report of Birth Abroad issues by
DOS, or Certificate of
Naturalization issued by U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration
Services.
Alien Registration Card (Green
Card)
U.S. lawful permanent residents
will continue to be able to use
their Alien Registration Card
issued by the Department of
Homeland Security or other valid
evidence of permanent residence
status to apply for entry to
United States.
Card renewal is an important
matter. ARC holders (United
States permanent residents) with
expired cards may be considered
"out of status" and may be
denied entry / reentry into the
United States. If your ARC was
issued over 10 years ago, you
should check the expiration date
printed on the front of the
card. If your card is expired,
or it is about to expire, you
should renew your card before
you sail.
If you are holding an old
edition ARC WITHOUT an
expiration date, you will not be
detained from entering the
United States but U.S. Customs
and Border Protection highly
suggests that you apply for a
new card before you sail.
For additional information,
visit: http://www.usimmigrationsupport.org/greencard_renewal.html
Sea Travel Only (before June 1,
2009)
For domestic travel which
includes: the Bahamas, Bermuda,
Canada, the Caribbean and
Mexico, a Passport (valid or
expired), valid U.S. Passport
Card or State or Provincial
Enhanced Drivers License is
highly recommended.
In the absence of a Passport,
U.S. Passport Card or State or
Provincial Enhanced Drivers
License (when available - this
secure drivers license will
denote identity and citizenship)
or any other Department of Home
Land Security approved
Identification / Citizenship
document(s), a birth certificate
(original or certified copy),
plus a laminated picture ID card
including photo, name and date
of birth issued by a federal,
state, or local government
agency is required.
U.S. and Canadian citizen
children ages 16 and under will
be expected to present a birth
certificate issued by a federal,
state, provincial, county or
municipal authority.
Note:
Baptismal paper and hospital
certificates of birth are not
acceptable.
A voter registration card or
Social Security Card are not
considered to be proof of
citizenship.
For U.S. Naturalized citizens,
in the absence of a passport,
Naturalization papers (either
original or notarized copy) plus
a laminated picture ID card
issued by a federal, state, or
local government agency is
required.
International Travel
A valid passport is required;
visas are required where they
apply. This includes Europe,
Asia, Central and South America.
For additional passport
information, visit
www.travel.state.gov.
Our Recommendation
Royal Caribbean International
strongly recommends 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 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. For
additional passport information
visit www.travel.state.gov
Non-U.S. Citizens
You will need a valid passport
and, in some cases, a visa. If
you live in the U.S., you will
also need the original copy of
your Alien Registration Card
(ARC or "Green Card") and any
other documentation the
countries on your itinerary
require due to your alien
status.
Canadian Landed Immigrants
All Canadian Landed Immigrants
(inclusive of those who are
citizens of the British
Commonwealth countries) who
reside in Canada must have valid
passports and US visas. Also
required is the original copy of
your Permanent Resident Card (PR
Card) formally the IMM 1000 or
with respect to any country on
the itinerary any other travel
documentation required because
of alien status.
Visas
Please contact the Embassy
(Consular Services) of each
country on your sailing
itinerary or the visa service of
your choice for specific visa
requirements, information, forms
and fees for your nationality.
VISA WAIVER PROGRAM
Citizens from the Visa Waiver
Program countries of: Andorra,
Australia, Austria, Belgium,
Brunel, 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 seeking to
enter the United States will be
required to have in their
possession a machine readable,
biometic passport with a digital
photograph valid for the
duration of the voyage.
A machine readable passport is
one having an alpha-numeric code
on the bottom of the picture
page. Example:
P<<UKDOE<<JOHN<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<1234567890M1234567890M1234567890<1234567890
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 Raye & Marty Trencher Cruise Traveler Magazine Publisher and Editors 
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