Comments on: Understanding The “Closed Loop” Cruise

By: James Scott

James Scott — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 21:49:06 +0000

I have had USA passport since 1974. Never have had a problem. Once when stopped by an Israeli policeman for driving on a restricted street, I simply waved my US passport, and he waved me on! A passport is the form of ID, much better than driver licenses or birth certificates, and is accepted everywhere in world.

By: BruceChafkin

BruceChafkin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:54:54 +0000

Many of those complaining that passports are too expensive are paying over $35 per gallon for Starbucks coffee – when they could make better coffee at home for just pennies. Just stop drinking Starbucks for a month and use the savings to buy a passport.

By: Dave Beers

Dave Beers — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:17:43 +0000

Mike, thanks for that important fact. Here is an excerpt from the U.S. Passport section of the State Department website:

“A federal or state law enforcement agency may request the denial of a passport on several regulatory grounds under 22 CFR 51.70 and 51.72. The principal law enforcement reasons for passport denial are a federal warrant of arrest, a federal or state criminal court order, a condition of parole or probation forbidding departure from the United States (or the jurisdiction of the court), or a request for extradition. The HHS child support database and the Marshals Service WIN database are checked automatically for entitlement to a passport. Denial or revocation of a passport does not prevent the use of outstanding valid passports.”

So let’s modify my original treatise by saying “if you are legally able to obtain a passport, then I strongly urge you to do so”.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 02:00:07 +0000

There are of course many Americans who are denied a passport for reasons often to do with allegedly unpaid taxes or child support.
I have a friend who cannot obtain a passport because an exgirlfriend wrongly named him as father of her child and while he is fighting this in the courts he still cannot obtain a passport.
So its not always a matter of personal choice whether to get a passport or not.

By: Dave Beers

Dave Beers — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:15:38 +0000

Some Americans think having a passport means they now have some secret dossier about them being kept by the federal government. Yet they have driver’s licenses, file taxes, and otherwise have records with local, state, and the federal government. It is silly. Some complain about the passport price, yet go out and spend over $100 a month on fast food or lattes at Starbucks.

By: laineypainey

laineypainey — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:49:27 +0000

I cannot agree with you more- I wish they would just make ti passport-only, and I wish people here in America would realize the value of having a passport instead of trying to go about it cheaply. As a travel professional, I advise customers all the time to get the passport book because it lasts for 10 years and can be used nationally or internationally, but many just say things like, “Well Im never going to need the passport after this cruise so it doesn’t matter- I’m going with the passport card”. Of course, I can’t stop them, but I know from my experience my passport has come in handy many many times!

By: Foxie

Foxie — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:11:56 +0000

Thanks so much to you and Kookie for the blog. I’ve been reading it for some time, and have always enjoyed your insight. I must say that I have never understood the reluctance of Americans generally (for clarity, I am American) to object to having a passport. When my parents were planning their first trip to Austrailia, they were shocked to find out they had to have a passport and very nearly cancelled their trip on that basis alone. Fortunately, I talked them into it (and helped them with the forms) and they had a fantastic time. What is it about the humble passport that makes so many uncomfortable?

And yes, I have one.