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Passport needed for western Caribbean ?


Lex

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Hello!! This will be my boyfriend and I’s first cruise and we are so excited. I’m concerned we will not have our passports in time. We both do have enhanced driver’s licenses. We are going on the wonder of the seas for the Jan 22-29th sailing to the western Caribbean. I just want to make sure we will be able to get off the ship at all of the ports (which include Falmouth, perfect day, labadee, nassau). Thank you!! Also if you have any insider tips to share for a first cruise please let me know !! 

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I'm getting on the Wonder right as you're getting off, on 1/29.  You're going to love your first cruise!  Don't fret about the passports, most likely they will come before then.  If they don't, you can sail with a drivers license and birth certificate.  Yes, you can get off in all the ports without a passport.  Insider tip I would give is, don't try to do everything while on the ship.  There is no way you can.  I remember my first cruise in 1995, I wanted to do everything!  I fad FOMO so I over scheduled and tried to do too much.  I stayed up late at the Halloween party one night, then insisted that I not miss seeing us pull into Labadee and see on the sunrise at 4:30 AM (we had slept barely 2 hours).  Yes, the sunrise coming around the mountains was  beautiful but the lack of sleep made our day in Labadee less enjoyable.

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1 hour ago, MamaBess said:

I am wondering if my passport card is good enough for the caribbean. 

 

Depends on the port if you want to get off. The cruise we just got off of you needed the passport book in Panama. Our cruise was an open circuit going from Bayonne to Galveston. Some passengers unfortunately tried using the passport card and got denied boarding (one guy managed to get on and then got escorted off the ship by security).

 

For card and what I'm saying is coming 2nd hand, a bunch of the people in my wifes facebook group for the cruise claimed on day 2 they got an email from Royal saying that sometime in the new year they won't be accepting passport cards anymore. Might be something you want to confirm with Royal directly

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Did you know you can track the status of your passport application?  Just go here:

https://passportstatus.state.gov/

I have been tracking mine.  They say it will take 6 to 9 weeks.  They also have the following advise:

If you are traveling within two weeks and have not received your passport, please contact the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 (or TDD/TTY 1-888-874-7793) with your application locator number.

Your application locator number can be found at the site listed above.

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Just relax for your first cruise.  Make sure to book any shore excursions today.  I would not recommend the UDP for your first cruise.  Instead, try Chops + 1.  Get your beverage packages (if you are going to get one) prior to sailing.  Black Friday sales will start soon and you may be able to find a deal or two there.  Have fun!!

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1 hour ago, tjcruisers said:

Depends on the port if you want to get off. The cruise we just got off of you needed the passport book in Panama. Our cruise was an open circuit going from Bayonne to Galveston. Some passengers unfortunately tried using the passport card and got denied boarding (one guy managed to get on and then got escorted off the ship by security).

 

For card and what I'm saying is coming 2nd hand, a bunch of the people in my wifes facebook group for the cruise claimed on day 2 they got an email from Royal saying that sometime in the new year they won't be accepting passport cards anymore. Might be something you want to confirm with Royal directly

For closed loop cruises (Starting and ending at the same port), a passport is NOT required, but highly recommended, in case of an emergency. The cruise TJ is referring above to is not that, as cruises departing and returning to different ports DO require a passport book.

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7 hours ago, need2cruz said:

 Insider tip I would give is, don't try to do everything while on the ship.  There is no way you can.  I remember my first cruise in 1995, I wanted to do everything!  I fad FOMO so I over scheduled and tried to do too much.

Ain't that the truth. On our first cruise my wife and I planned one excursion in the morning, and one in the afternoon at each port. By day three we were exhausted.  We cruise in a much more relaxed way now.

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