PASSPORT INFORMATION

CLICK HERE to complete your Passport Application Online. You will need to print and take to your nearest Passport Acceptance Agency for processing.  Current processing time is 4-6 weeks.  Fee is appx $100 for regular processing. CLICK HERE for locations.

NOTICE

In order to cruise in 2010, you will need to have a valid US Passport or other approved document (non-international air travel) .  Below is information on the new Passport requirements published by the US State Department.

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 required by government regulations and policies. They are subject to change without notice.

For the current passport requirements click here.

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 passports, visas, inoculation certificate and family legal documents are required for boarding and re-entry into the United States and other countries.

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 proper documentation.

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



Consecutive Sailings

Guests on consecutive sailings must ensure they have the proper travel documents for their entire cruise vacation.

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) 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.

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.


Areas that fall under the WHTI:
Canada
Mexico
Bermuda
The Caribbean region (includes 17 nations)

Please Note: The WHTI-compliant documents described below are acceptable for entry or re-entry into the United States. You may be required to present additional or different travel documents when entering foreign countries, including countries in the Western Hemisphere. Before you travel, make sure you know the entry requirements of the country you plan to visit. See Country Specific Information for more information on the country you are traveling to.

AIR TRAVEL

ALL PERSONS traveling by air outside of the United States are required to present a passport book or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States.

LAND AND SEA TRAVEL

ALL PERSONS traveling by land and sea outside of the United States are required to present a passport book/card, or other valid travel documents to enter or re-enter the United States.

The following summarizes information available on the Department of Homeland Security’s website:

Effective June 1, 2009, all U.S. citizens are now required to present a passport book, passport card, or WHTI-compliant document when entering the United States.
Please Note: Children under age 16 will be able to continue crossing land and sea borders using only a U.S. birth certificate (or other form of U.S. citizenship such as a naturalization certificate.). The original birth certificate or a copy may be used. See the Department of Homeland Security's Ready, Set.. Go! for more information on the changing travel requirements.
The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory.

U.S.PASSPORT AND WHTI COMPLIANT DOCUMENTS:

U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport when traveling via air, land or sea.
The Passport Card: The passport card is only valid for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region, and Bermuda.
WHTI-Compliant Travel Documents for U.S. citizen travel via land and sea, as of January 31, 2008:


Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST)
State Issued Enhanced Driver’s License (when available)
Enhanced Tribal Cards (when available)
U.S. Military Identification with Military Travel Orders
U.S. Merchant Mariner Document when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business
Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card
Form I-872 American Indian Card
For further information see U.S. Customs and Border protection.

Michigan Enhanced Driver License or ID Information

Beginning June 1, travelers returning to the U.S. by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean must have a passport, passport card or other federally approved document to enter the country. This requirement is part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), which was enacted to heighten border security.

To comply with WHTI and provide Michigan residents with a cost-effective and convenient document that meets driving, identification and border-crossing needs, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land proposed the enhanced driver's license and state identification card. Her initiative received federal approval in October 2008.

Any Michigan resident who is a U.S. citizen may apply for an enhanced license or ID card. They are excellent options to the standard license and ID, especially for the thousands of travelers and commercial drivers that cross the U.S.-Canadian border daily.

These are dual-purpose document designed for the user's convenience. In addition to serving as a typical driver's license or ID card, they may be used to re-enter the U.S. at its land or sea ports when returning from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean. This flexibility speeds your passage back across the border. They verify your identity and citizenship - no other proof is needed. Enhanced driver's licenses and ID cards are among the federally approved border-crossing documents when entering the U.S. required under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

Your enhanced license or state ID card has a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip that contains a unique reference number. The unique reference number allows the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials to quickly and accurately verify your identity and citizenship.

When you enter the U.S. at a land or sea port that has an RFID reader, your RFID number will be referenced against a secure database to verify your identity for border-crossing purposes. There is no personally identifying information stored on the RFID chip. The Customs and Border Protection official may also physically inspect your enhanced license or ID, ask for additional information, or perform additional inspections.

Not every port of entry will have an RFID reader. If your port of entry does not use an RFID reader, the Customs and Border Protection official may inspect your enhanced license or ID or use other means to confirm your identity and citizenship.

Documents required to apply for Enhanced Driver License or ID:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/SOS-428_275188_7.pdf

For more information, please visit:  http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-1627---,00.html