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All Cruise Newsletters
CruiseCompete Currents
Cruise News and Information
September 19, 2005
2006 Summer Sailings Are Selling Out Fast!
If you're thinking about an awe-inspiring cruise to Alaska or the Mediterranean next year,
it's a good idea to move quickly and book your cabin now. The most popular sailings to these
regions are already filling up for next year, especially for summer cruises. There's little
downside to booking now, as there are usually no cancellation penalties until you get much
closer to your sail date. This will allow you to take full advantage of price drops or even
change your mind entirely. Just ask your travel agent for details on cancellation policies
before you book.
Passports not needed for Caribbean cruises until 2008
Due to successful lobbying by Caribbean nations, passport requirements for cruise passengers
will not change in January as previously noted here. U.S. citizens currently need to show a
birth certificate and photo identification when traveling to the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
Citing homeland security concerns, the U.S. Department of State originally set December 31, 2005
as the deadline for securing passports. The change of plans is welcomed by the cruise industry.
The State Department has indicated that the new passport requirements for travel to and from the
Caribbean, Canada, Panama, Bermuda and Mexico will go into effect no later than January 1, 2008.
New Orleans passport processing center update
If you applied BEFORE August, 25, 2005 at an Acceptance Facility in the New Orleans Passport Agency
Region (including states AL, AR, GA, IN, IA, KY, LA, MI, MO, NC, OH, TN, VA (except DC suburbs
including Alexandria, Falls Church counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudon, Prince William, and
Stafford), WI and Puerto Rico, OR in Southern California (all Counties South of and including San
Luis Obispo, Kern, and San Bernardino), Clark County, Nevada; New York City, and Long Island, AND
you are traveling within the next 6 weeks and submitted your passport application from any of the
above listed locations, THEN please contact the National Passport Information Center (NPIC),
toll-free, at 1-877-487-2778 (TDD/TTY 1-888-874-7793) to get specific information on how to proceed
in getting your passport.
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