By Carl Dombek
For the past few months, I’ve been working with a company that greets arriving cruise ship passengers at the departure city’s airport, then gets them on buses that take them to their waiting vessels.
My experience to date has revealed two huge mistakes I’ve seen too many people make, and which have caused them to miss their cruise. To keep that from happening to you, here are a couple of “best practices.”
Number 1: ALWAYS travel with a passport.
While there are other documents that may (or may not) get you on your ship, a passport book is the only way to be absolutely certain you will be allowed onboard.
A wallet-sized passport card, which some travelers carry, is valid only for entering the U.S. via land or sea borders from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. You cannot use it to fly into the U.S., nor can you use it to travel to Europe, Asia, or other global destinations.
An original or certified copy of a birth certificate can be used in certain, limited circumstances along with government-issued ID, according to the U.S. government. Those circumstances include "closed-loop’ cruises (starting and ending at the same U.S. port).” However, even if it is not a U.S. government requirement, some cruise lines require passengers to possess a valid passport.
In addition, the U.S. Department of State recommends that everyone taking a cruise from the United States specifically have a passport book in case of emergency, such as an unexpected medical air evacuation or an emergency that requires you to fly home from a foreign port.
If you already have a passport, make sure its expiration date is at least six (6) months after the end of your cruise. If not, renew it ASAP. If you don’t yet have one, check the requirements here and get a passport before you travel. Passports for applicants 16 years old and older are good for 10 years; children’s passports are good for five years.
Associated misconception
Just recently, a party of three – two adult sisters and their senior-citizen mom – arrived at the airport just a little more than two hours before their ship was to sail. Their flight was delayed and they’d missed the last shuttle bus we operated from the airport to the cruise terminal.
Our people jumped into high gear, got their names and stateroom numbers, loaded them into a taxi, then called the ship to advise that the three late passengers were on their way and to please not leave without them.
Coming in the day before sailing would have saved a lot of frazzled nerves.
You can book your own room at your favorite chain, of course, but your cruise line might also offer “pre-cruise” packages that include a stay at a preferred hotel – perhaps at a discounted rate – and transportation to the ship on the day of departure.
Other, more minor, issues
Keep your passport and other identification, medication and medical devices (like CPAP machines) with you and not in your checked luggage.
Cruise lines assign boarding times to passengers. These are not carved in stone; they’re intended to space the passengers out so the ship doesn’t have 4,000 passengers showing up at the same time. If you’re a bit earlier or later than your assigned time, it is truly no big deal.
Related thoughts
There are countless websites offering cruisers advice on everything from what to pack to how (and how much) to tip. All of us – including me – have opinions on these topics, many of which I’ve addressed in previous articles. Feel free to peruse them and take away whatever you find valuable.
For the past few months, I’ve been working with a company that greets arriving cruise ship passengers at the departure city’s airport, then gets them on buses that take them to their waiting vessels.
My experience to date has revealed two huge mistakes I’ve seen too many people make, and which have caused them to miss their cruise. To keep that from happening to you, here are a couple of “best practices.”
Number 1: ALWAYS travel with a passport.
While there are other documents that may (or may not) get you on your ship, a passport book is the only way to be absolutely certain you will be allowed onboard.
A wallet-sized passport card, which some travelers carry, is valid only for entering the U.S. via land or sea borders from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. You cannot use it to fly into the U.S., nor can you use it to travel to Europe, Asia, or other global destinations.
An original or certified copy of a birth certificate can be used in certain, limited circumstances along with government-issued ID, according to the U.S. government. Those circumstances include "closed-loop’ cruises (starting and ending at the same U.S. port).” However, even if it is not a U.S. government requirement, some cruise lines require passengers to possess a valid passport.
 |
| Passport book |
In addition, the U.S. Department of State recommends that everyone taking a cruise from the United States specifically have a passport book in case of emergency, such as an unexpected medical air evacuation or an emergency that requires you to fly home from a foreign port.
If you already have a passport, make sure its expiration date is at least six (6) months after the end of your cruise. If not, renew it ASAP. If you don’t yet have one, check the requirements here and get a passport before you travel. Passports for applicants 16 years old and older are good for 10 years; children’s passports are good for five years.
Associated misconception
A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license is NOT a substitute for a passport. REAL IDs can be issued to anyone who is a lawful, permanent resident of the United States, not just U.S. citizens., so they do not prove citizenship.
Number 2: Arrive in your departure city THE DAY BEFORE YOUR CRUISE.
Too much can happen to risk seeing your multi-thousand dollar vacation go up in smoke to save the cost of one room-night at a local hotel.
Number 2: Arrive in your departure city THE DAY BEFORE YOUR CRUISE.
Too much can happen to risk seeing your multi-thousand dollar vacation go up in smoke to save the cost of one room-night at a local hotel.
 |
Our people jumped into high gear, got their names and stateroom numbers, loaded them into a taxi, then called the ship to advise that the three late passengers were on their way and to please not leave without them.
Coming in the day before sailing would have saved a lot of frazzled nerves.
You can book your own room at your favorite chain, of course, but your cruise line might also offer “pre-cruise” packages that include a stay at a preferred hotel – perhaps at a discounted rate – and transportation to the ship on the day of departure.
Other, more minor, issues
Keep your passport and other identification, medication and medical devices (like CPAP machines) with you and not in your checked luggage.
 |
| Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth at Seattle's Pier 91 |
Cruise lines assign boarding times to passengers. These are not carved in stone; they’re intended to space the passengers out so the ship doesn’t have 4,000 passengers showing up at the same time. If you’re a bit earlier or later than your assigned time, it is truly no big deal.
Related thoughts
There are countless websites offering cruisers advice on everything from what to pack to how (and how much) to tip. All of us – including me – have opinions on these topics, many of which I’ve addressed in previous articles. Feel free to peruse them and take away whatever you find valuable.
Bon voyage!
Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.
Photos by Carl Dombek
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