$500.00 for family passports

What documentation will I need If I do not get passports for my family when we travel to Mexico. I got passport applications today and for almost $500.00 I can apply for passports(not including pictures $). Can we get away with birth cert. with little hassle or should we invest in passports?

Thanks
Lola

[jleq]

Under corrent recommendations, travel to the Caribbean will require a Passport after 12/31/05....Mexico after 12/31/06. A Passport makes embarkation/travel more convenient. I believe all countries except the U.S. require passports for such travel.

[Rob M.]

Passport Fees
From: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/fees/fees_837.html


March 8, 2005

Routine Services (Form DS-11)
Non-Refundable

Age 16 and older: The passport fee is $55. The security surcharge is $12. The execution fee is $30. The total is $97.

Under Age 16: The passport fee is $40. The security surcharge is $12. The execution fee is $30. The total is $82.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would suggest getting passports, they are good for 10 years, thats $10 a year basically for a passport. It's well worth it. When clearing customs at the airport the lines are always the shortest and the quickest for travelers with passports.

- Rob

Rob you are right with the information regarding pricing on the passports except my childrens passports are only good for 5 years not 10 years. We would need a total of 6 passports(4 for children). We will be driving to FL. to visit sister before leaving on cruise and our vacation is getting close to $5000.00. I understand that vacations cost money but this is starting to get a little pricey.

Lola again......when I mentioned the above price that includes our travel to and from FL by car, tipping, excursions and extras on cruise.

Thanks
Lola

Lola, if your cruise is before 12/31/05, all you need is a birth certificate & driver's license or picture ID for each person, (not sure about what sort of picture ID for children). I do not travel with children.

I have a passport that expired in 1975. . We have been cruising, with the above. Last cruise was 4/17/2005.

Hope you have a wonderful time.

[cherylroy]

We broke down today and took pictures ( 4 of us) - the pictures were only 10.00 a person for 2 - 2x2 pictures for the passports. I figured we are not going to give up cruising, so might as well do it right and comply and get it done as soon, every tom, dick and harry will be trying to get passports at the last minute!
cheryl

cheryroy, you are correct & I have made plans to renew my passport & get one for DH. I am sure time will be of the essence this year.

Lola, was asking what she would need in lieu of a passport, since money may be an issue.

just trying to help.

jp

[momx4]

Yikes, I have a family of 6. Thank God we don't need them right now, but come our April cruise we will. Best to get started early on them and beat the rush!

I'd go to the web page and read it.
http://travel.state.gov/passport
Mexico is very picky about this sort of thing.

[momx4]

I was told from Carnival that we don't need them in Mexico until 12/31/05.
Hope this helps......

[David W]

With a family of 4 or more, I would start early ( 6 months to a year early )in getting the passports. Say (1) this month and (1) next month and ect. I'm going to get ours this year for next cruise in Aug. 2006.

Lola, I understand where your coming from on the money. With just the 2 of us, our cruise next year will be close to or over $3000.00 ! It adds up quickly !
If your cruising before 12/31/05, your safe this year. But if not, like us traveling to the Eastern next year, we'll all have to have them. I started a cruise fund this year, for next cruise in 2006 . I add $20.00 a week until we cruise next Aug. It helps take the blow out of the total figure. Cruise, airlines,precruise motel, and ect.

Hope you have a wonderful cruise and sunny skies, and calm seas;
david

[LisaK]

i would double check with immigration, Mexico is getting very picky.
I think that Belize now requires a passport. Its up to the individual country.
When are you traveling? it would be less of a burdern financially if you didn't get them all at once.

We are cruising in August(05) and I have never been on a cruise before and did not know about everything involved about cruising(passports, tips and etc). It has been an eye opening experience. This has been a dream of mine to go on a cruise for a long time and I hope it is worth it ($).
My husband said that if it will create problems not to have passports than get the passports but he is growling when he says it (ha-ha). I want to take the birth cert, and photo IDs but it is not worth it if it will ruin our vacation. I should have been working on this a long time before now but I only planned our cruise 2 months ago

Lola

[David W]

You'll be fine this year ! The new law goes into effect in Dec. 31 2005. My son just left Monday (30)going to the western carribean with only Birth cert. and Drivers Lic. Everything went fine for him.
have a great cruise;
david

[momx4]

I double checked with Carnival and Homeland Security's Website, we do not need a passport at this time. But we will come 12/31/05. They stated that since we are not guest in the country longer than 24 hrs, we only need a photo I.D. and Orig. Birth Certificate for now. Thank God, I got a little nervous there!!!!!

[Tink63]

Lola, I've always used my BC and photo ID when traveling out of the Country and don't find this to be any harder than passports. I've seen people with passports go through in just the same amount of time that it takes me. I will have to get one soon, but until then, I'm using what I have.

I suggest you do the same. Kids don't need a picture ID, just their BC.

Save your money for when you really do need a passport.

This board is really fantastic. Being a new person to cruising I have received wonderful advice on how to cruise. Hopefully, I will become a cruise junkie and I will start getting my passports one at a time for the next cruise we take for vacation(a year away).

Momx4 you know $500.00 is alot of money to shell out at one time for anything when you have 4 kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lola

[Jim Bragg]

Lisa, at the moment Belize allows you to only have the BC and photo ID that you need on any Caribbean cruise IF you go there by cruise ship. They have a sepcial exemption for cruiseship folks. If you go there by any other means then you have to have a Passport. ALL cruises to the Caribbean and I think Bermuda must have a Passport after Dec. 31, 2005. ALL cruises, including those that go to Canada and Mexico only, will need a Passport after Dec. 31, 2006 and after Dec. 31, 2007 you will need a passport to go anywhere by any means such as going to Canada or Mexico by land. It is expensive when you have a large family but the adults last 10 years and the kids 5 but it is a great means of ID for ANY occasion. My wife and I have used ours a number of times other than cruising.
Jim

[momx4]

Lola........I share your pain! When we get back, we'll get started on the passports.

[LisaK]

thanks for the clarification on Belize, Jim. It can get all so confusing. Had decided to get the passports last year before this initiative was passed. It was such a hassle last time with the BC and photo id's - separate lines, you had to have them in your right hand and visible, etc, etc.
Lola and Mom will be fine for now, get the process started for the future, especially if you are planning on crusing again soon, there will be a huge crush to get them last minute before the initiative goes into effect.

[Jim Bragg]

Lisa, that is the same way for Barbados I believe, Passports required except for cruiseship passengers. Now that passports will be required for everyone period it will stop some of this confusion. The down side is that I will no longer get to breeze by that long line of people without passports when we get off and get in the short and fast passport only line. <G>
Jim

[tribbs1]

We are a family of 6 also. I had my passport already since I went to England, DD had hers for a people to people trip to Australia, DH got his in Dec. for our trip to Jamaica, so I deceided to get the 3 boys theirs in April for our June cruise. I only had to pay for 3 at one time so it didn't hurt too bad. Take your BCs for now and apply for passports 1 or 2 at a time. You can get pictures at Walgreens for $8. The postal employees at our branch suggested them. They were fine. I figure by the time the three older kids need to renew their passports they can pay!!!! I do feel better not having to carry around 6 BCs and worrying about them falling apart as mine and DH's are old ().

[momx4]

Thanks Tribbs........great advice!

Thanks to everyone for your messsages. They really help me with my decisions.

I'm leaving on Sept. 11, Western Carribean to Belize, Cozumel and Merida. I really hate to part with over $100.00 for a passport since I don't travel often. I think I'm either being paranoid or overly cautious, but I'm afraid the passport requirements will change with little or no notice and then I will miss my cruise because I was planning to use my BY and photo I.D. Are there many cases where people are denied a passport?

[wakedreams]

I didn't realize how much they cost.....but I have to get them for Jan 2006.

Where do you get the applications for a passport?

thanks!

[momx4]

Go to your local post office. Or check in the phone book.....Hope this helps.

[Anne Campbell]

Dear Lola.....I went to the State Department travel web site and here are the new rules:
Starting Dec. 31, 2005, passports will be required for visitors to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America. Starting Dec. 31, 2006 you will need them when traveling to and from Mexico and Canada. And, the US Passport office says it takes six to eight weeks.

"New Requirements for Travelers Between the United States and the Western Hemisphere

Travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada will be required to have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all United States citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. This new requirement will also affect certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States. Most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and to a lesser degree, Mexican citizens will be affected by the implementation of this requirement. " for more information visit

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

Starting Dec. 31, 2005, passports will be required for visitors to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America. Starting Dec. 31, 2006 you will need them when traveling to and from Mexico and Canada. And, the US Passport office says it takes six to eight weeks.

Thanks for all the information!!!!

Lola

[David W]

Sinkrswim,
No worries here mate ! In Sept 2005, your ok ! If everything goes right, I'll be on the Sensation on Sept. 24 2005. Thats all the wife and I will take with us is Birth.Cert. and Drivers Lic..

Hope you have a wonderful cruise;
david