I forgot to come back to this thread sooner, but wanted to report that I received my new passport two weeks after I applied paying for the expedited service and R/T Priority Mail. So, it seems worth the cost if you can't wait months. After years in the military and few years as a federal civil servant in my past life, the expedited passport service is the most incredibly efficient thing I've ever seen the government accomplish. ? My stress level about my upcoming cruises is way down!