Passport Exp. date

ok we have booked a cruise in a few weeks and our son's passport expires in May 03, now, according to our travel agent, they just said a valid passport is needed, but after searching throughj celebrity's website, it says that passport expiration date's must not be within 6 months of cruise termination date.....could someone please xplain if he will be able to go, he's 16

[mbuckellew]

Hi Worried, I don't know about the expiration date issue, but perhaps you could bring the alternate form of ID along with the passport - original birth certificate with raised seal and driver's license.

If they give you problems with the passport you can present the other ID.

You could also call your passport office and see if they can expedite a renewal.

Cheers,
Michelle B.

we're from poland so he doesn't have a U.S birth certificate but he does have his learners permit for driving and a federal translation of the birth certificate, but we'll probably just try to expedite a renewal

[ToKathy]

They mean the passport can't have expired more than 6 month ago.....Your son's passport is good until May 2003 so he could use it up to 6 months past that expiration date......not 6 months before it expires........it is always good before it expires...that 6 month clock doesn't start ticking until the May 2003 expiration date.

[Lisa]

to kathy - not exactly true, but close enough. A lot of cruise lines and foreign governments require that your passport not expire within 6 months of your visiting their country - as it was explained to me, if something happened to you and you had to unexpectedly had to stay in a country longer than anticipated due to a medical emergency or some other situation, you would have time for the US Embassy in that country to get you a new passport, etc. On the other hand, an expired passport can be used as an official government photo id for quite a while after it is expired, but is not good for international other than to where you can get by with the photo id/raised seal birth certificate. Worried - I would not worry too much, your son will be fine, but if it would make you feel better, consult the cruise line itself.

ah hah cruise line contacted...no problems...he will be able to get on just fine....thanks to everyone and i hope we have fun on the mercury!

[ToKathy]

Thanks Lisa....I stand corrected.....