Silligan Posted June 5, 2019 Report Share Posted June 5, 2019 Hello! So, I know, I know, the cardinal rule of cruising - you are SUPPOSED to have a passport even if the cruise does not require one. I looked at my husband's and my passports, and his expired last January, and mine expires this July - about a month before we leave on our August cruise to Bermuda. I started filling out our renewal applications, and then I saw the fee - $110 apiece! Yikes! I hadn't renewed since 2009, so I forgot about the fees. I'm deciding what to do. If I mail our renewal applications today, will our new passports even arrive in time for our August trip? If not, I don't feel like shelling out the $ right now. We have a big Disney trip coming up in 2 weeks, and we are on a strict spending diet until then. Ha. BUT...if we are likely to get our passports in time for our August trip I'll bite the bullet and shell our the $ now. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted June 5, 2019 Report Share Posted June 5, 2019 12 minutes ago, Silligan said: If I mail our renewal applications today, will our new passports even arrive in time for our August trip? You can opt for expedited passport processing and get it back in just a couple weeks. My opinion is the cost of the passport is well worth the simplicity it affords. They last for 10 years. Silligan, Phillo and tiny260 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silligan Posted June 5, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2019 44 minutes ago, Matt said: You can opt for expedited passport processing and get it back in just a couple weeks. My opinion is the cost of the passport is well worth the simplicity it affords. They last for 10 years. Thanks, Matt. I was leaning towards renewing...just being cheap. Do you know if I can mail my husband's and mine in the same envelope? They're both going to the same place, after all. I guess I'll head to the post office this afternoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted June 5, 2019 Report Share Posted June 5, 2019 4 minutes ago, Silligan said: Do you know if I can mail my husband's and mine in the same envelope? I do not know how that works, sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted June 5, 2019 Report Share Posted June 5, 2019 I see no reason why you couldn’t mail them together. Good luck ! Silligan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silligan Posted June 5, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2019 1 minute ago, WAAAYTOOO said: I see no reason why you couldn’t mail them together. Good luck ! Thanks! I figured as much. I'm going to try it. Last time we got our passports we weren't married yet. Going on the cruise for our 10 year anniversary! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted June 5, 2019 Report Share Posted June 5, 2019 5 minutes ago, Silligan said: Thanks! I figured as much. I'm going to try it. Last time we got our passports we weren't married yet. Going on the cruise for our 10 year anniversary! Congratulations ! Silligan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChessE4 Posted June 5, 2019 Report Share Posted June 5, 2019 Remember also there is a travel card that works for cruises, and you can order one when you renew the passport. It costs extra, but it gives you a second picture ID, which might come in handy. For example, you can leave the passport in the ship safe and take the travel card and sea pass with you at port. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bakerette Posted June 5, 2019 Report Share Posted June 5, 2019 Remember that instead of renewing for the passport booklet with is $110, you can renew for the passport card which is $30, the passport card has the same information on it just like the passport booklet, and the passport card is the same size as a credit card, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpeedNoodles Posted June 5, 2019 Report Share Posted June 5, 2019 1 minute ago, Bakerette said: Remember that instead of renewing for the passport booklet with is $110, you can renew for the passport card which is $30, the passport card has the same information on it just like the passport booklet, and the passport card is the same size as a credit card, But you can't fly with a passport card, which limits options of getting home if something happens on an island When I renewed our passports we got them back in under 5 weeks - I was shocked how quickly they took care of it. Silligan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atlantix2000 Posted June 5, 2019 Report Share Posted June 5, 2019 I would be highly confident you would receive your passports in time for an August cruise without paying for expedited processing. Silligan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kao935 Posted June 5, 2019 Report Share Posted June 5, 2019 Hello--I just renewed and mailed my husband and my applications last week and was told I could put both renewal applications in one big envelope but the applications should be in 2 separate envelopes. You can track the status process at travel.state.gov or call at 1 -877-487-2778. Silligan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silligan Posted June 5, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2019 10 minutes ago, Kao935 said: Hello--I just renewed and mailed my husband and my applications last week and was told I could put both renewal applications in one big envelope but the applications should be in 2 separate envelopes. You can track the status process at travel.state.gov or call at 1 -877-487-2778. Thanks. That is super helpful. I’m going to mail everything tomorrow and hope that regular processing is quick enough for an August 10th departure. So I guess they’d better arrive by August 9th. Ha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTripp Posted June 5, 2019 Report Share Posted June 5, 2019 Hi Silligan, , I mailed our two renewal request forms, passports and seperate checks together in one envelope in Jan. No issues, got them back super fast, within 2 weeks. FYI, the travel cards came first in seperate envelopes and outer envelope did NOT look like anything official. So double check all your incoming mail / junk mail in your mail box. Happy cruising! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silligan Posted June 6, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2019 13 hours ago, RTripp said: Hi Silligan, , I mailed our two renewal request forms, passports and seperate checks together in one envelope in Jan. No issues, got them back super fast, within 2 weeks. FYI, the travel cards came first in seperate envelopes and outer envelope did NOT look like anything official. So double check all your incoming mail / junk mail in your mail box. Happy cruising! Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FManke Posted June 6, 2019 Report Share Posted June 6, 2019 19 hours ago, Silligan said: Hello! So, I know, I know, the cardinal rule of cruising - you are SUPPOSED to have a passport even if the cruise does not require one. I looked at my husband's and my passports, and his expired last January, and mine expires this July - about a month before we leave on our August cruise to Bermuda. I started filling out our renewal applications, and then I saw the fee - $110 apiece! Yikes! I hadn't renewed since 2009, so I forgot about the fees. I'm deciding what to do. If I mail our renewal applications today, will our new passports even arrive in time for our August trip? If not, I don't feel like shelling out the $ right now. We have a big Disney trip coming up in 2 weeks, and we are on a strict spending diet until then. Ha. BUT...if we are likely to get our passports in time for our August trip I'll bite the bullet and shell our the $ now. Thoughts? If you are just cruising into a foreign port, all you will need is the cheaper "passport" card. You only need a full blown passport for air travel in and out of the US. The turn around for the ones we got a few years ago was pretty quick, under like 4 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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