Aruba passport question

J

jcruisel

Guest
I read on these boards that Barbados will be requiring passports for cruise ship passengers, starting March 1.

It was also mentioned that Aruba will be following suit.

My question is where did you read/hear this information? A check of the State Department website on Aruba did not state this was the case.

I would also like to clarify that if Aruba is only one of the ports on your cruise, and you don't take a shore excursion there, that the cruise line will still require a passport?

I need to know because I have a relative taking a Panama Canal cruise in a few weeks, and they do not have a passport. They were told by the travel agent that their birth certificates were adequate, so I'd like to clarify this on their behalf.

Thanks!
 
C

Cruise cutie

Guest
As of today the State Dept. only strongly advised a passport..People have been gambling for years on the passport deal..my best friends sister got burned for $400.00 dollars last week when they lost the gamble, and had to pay through the nose to expedite a passport for her and her husband's Sun Princess sailing On the 19th with her sister..my best friend. on being able to board the ship to go on it to Barbadoes .They had to bite the bullet..Talked to my TA. and she said within 4-6 months she feels all the Caribbean Islands will file suit as Barbadoes..It's called security and they do not want terrorists taking flights to the Islands getting to the United States via air that way!!! As has been stated on the main Community boards forever..People will spend thousands of Dollars on cruises but not fork over $95.00 for a document that lasts 10 years..comes to 9.50/year .for peace of mind that cannot strand you in the middle of vacation Hell..Travel agencies and Travel Insurance as was stated to my best friends sister do not cover stupidity, people keep getting told this is what is going to be a standard and to just suck up the cost, as has been stated it can get expensive for a family..just buy one passport every month or so and then you have the ability to plan your vacation being stress free. We carry our passports traveling inside the Us. on flights..never have a mess in the lines that way!!!There is certainly enough in our lives to gum up a wonderful trip without asking for grief that can be prevented...IMHO..:)..Joanne
 
C

cruisequeen

Guest
I agree that I think all caribbean islands will require pass ports soon. Birth certificates are too easily forged. Once you have your pass port you don't have to worry for 5 years. It sure speeds things up using it.
 
L

luvcrusin

Guest
I heard that Barbados relaxed the Passport requirement for in transit cruise
ship passengers. (Unless your cruise orginates or ends there). Carnival told me that they recommended that I get passports so I went ahead and did it since we travel a lot in the Caribbean ! It should definitly save time and hassle to have them!
 
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