Passport for San Juan cruise?

Question

I am going on a cruise departing from san juan in approx. 1 month. Do I have to have a passport?

Answer 1

No you do not. As long as the ship departs from a US port you are okay. The department of homeland security will start requiring passports for cruises in 2008. You do need to show a birth certificate and other ID; however, it is recommended to use a passport because it will speed up entry back into the country. If you live in or near a major city, you can visit the passport office. Show proof that you'll be traveling within the next several weeks and you can receive a passport on the spot or within days depending on how much you want to spend to expedite it.

I copied this from the State Dept http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html:

As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries

Answer 2

Yes, if you are flying in and out of the United States after January 23, 2007 you have to have a passport, so print the paperwork off from the online website, fill it out, get your picture taken at a place that offers passport photos, take it to the designated place and tell them you have travel plans and ask for them to express it as that does cost more but thats the only way I know of..




U.S. Citizen Passport Requirements
Air Travel
Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport to enter (or re-enter) the United States.

U.S. lawful permanent residents will continue to be able to use their Alien Registration Card (Form I-551) issued by the Department of Homeland Security or other valid evidence of permanent residence status to apply for entry to the United States.

San Juan, PR is part of the Caribbean, but just because you are leaving on a cruise out of an American port, you still have to have one because you are flying out of the country to catch the cruise.

Answer 3

No need for a passport to travel to PR, but you do need one to travel from PR to any other country, it's not a place where you can just stop by and then travel wherever you want, it's a free associated state of the US and all Puerto Ricans are US citizens, so they need passports to travel also.

Answer 4

Not yet, 2008 for cruises. And to fly in to SJU from any place in the US you don't need one either.