Quote:

---

We did disney cruise last summer, start/end in FL, but stop in BVI, passport was required for 6/7 year old boys if they got off at that stop (which they did).

---

i think you may be mistaken about this...(assuming it left and returned to the same port in FL)

dp

htxag09 said:

---

And there is no distinction between passengers who use birth certificates or passports. You don't have to show your passport when debarking at other country's ports, unless that country requires it and/or a VISA, which I don't think many Caribbean countries do, for sure not the bigger tourist spots that cruises stop at. All you have to show is your room key.

---

we didn't have to show it getting off, we had to show it to get back on.
A room key was not enough, they were officials checking documents. Our kids have passports, so that was what we used.

Hincemm said:

---

Quote:

---

We did disney cruise last summer, start/end in FL, but stop in BVI, passport was required for 6/7 year old boys if they got off at that stop (which they did).

---

i think you may be mistaken about this...(assuming it left and returned to the same port in FL)

---

as noted above, adults need passport or BC/ID, kids 15 and under need BC.

our kids have passports, so that's what we used, and they absolutely had to show it. Not just a room key.

62strat said:

---

htxag09 said:

---

And there is no distinction between passengers who use birth certificates or passports. You don't have to show your passport when debarking at other country's ports, unless that country requires it and/or a VISA, which I don't think many Caribbean countries do, for sure not the bigger tourist spots that cruises stop at. All you have to show is your room key.

---

we didn't have to show it getting off, we had to show it to get back on.
A room key was not enough, they were officials checking documents. Our kids have passports, so that was what we used.

---

My experience is we didn't have to take documentation, yours was obviously different.

But this is very different than saying passports are required. Your kids could have used a birth certificate had they not had a passport.

I do think it's wise to use a passport in case something happens, like getting left at an island. I also think passports make the overall boarding and deboarding process at the main port easier. But they aren't required for the vast majority of closed loop cruises, regardless of what country the vessel is flagged under.

on a related note, my passport expires in Aug of 2024, and we plan to go mexico in october 2024.

I assume I can just renew it now, since lead/wait times seem to be long?

Do I lose the 12 months of it being valid, or does it tack onto the existing expiry date?

You get 10 years from the time of renewal.

I absolutely would renew it now. Lead times are long. I sent mine off expedited over a month ago and I'm still worried about having it back for September (but also leaves me without being able to take any impromptu trips).

JMac03 said:

---

(but also leaves me without being able to take any impromptu trips).

---

this is what I worry about.. to renew I have to send it in the mail right? So I'm without a passport for who knows how long? Why don't I see a renew in person option on the website? In person seems to only be for new passports, or lost, more than 15 years old, etc.

Our last trip to mexico was in end of Jan; we dreamt it up and booked it like the in Oct/nov prior.

62strat said:

---

JMac03 said:

---

(but also leaves me without being able to take any impromptu trips).

---

this is what I worry about.. to renew I have to send it in the mail right? So I'm without a passport for who knows how long? Why don't I see a renew in person option on the website? In person seems to only be for new passports, or lost, more than 15 years old, etc.

Our last trip to mexico was in end of Jan; we dreamt it up and booked it like the in Oct/nov prior.

---

Even if you go in person, you still have to mail it off. I went to the TAMU office, got photos, etc, then they gave me a USPS
Envelope to go buy postage for and mail. They mailed my daughters off.

(Ignore the sunglasses emoticon, that was on accident)

JMac03 said:

---

62strat said:

---

JMac03 said:

---

(but also leaves me without being able to take any impromptu trips).

---

this is what I worry about.. to renew I have to send it in the mail right? So I'm without a passport for who knows how long? Why don't I see a renew in person option on the website? In person seems to only be for new passports, or lost, more than 15 years old, etc.

Our last trip to mexico was in end of Jan; we dreamt it up and booked it like the in Oct/nov prior.

---

Even if you go in person, you still have to mail it off. I went to the TAMU office, got photos, etc, then they gave me a USPS
Envelope to go buy postage for and mail. They mailed my daughters off.

(Ignore the sunglasses emoticon, that was on accident)

---

seems like with the new smart scan they have, you wouldn't even have to send it off. Have someone verify your current one, then they send off the info to get a new one, when the new one is mailed, it cancels the old one, getting it down to just a few days or week without one.

Just FYI...I needed a renewal for a trip about 10 weeks out so I booked refundable flight within 14 days and called yesterday and got an appointment in Houston.

They had a block of appointments on a Tuesday morning from 730-1030 so it didn't seem like appointments were that hard to get.

I just received my renewed passport today ~9 weeks after I sent forms.

Standard processing (not expedited).

I was panicking a bit because after I'd already submitted, I had a random trip to Manila pop up on my calendar at end of August.

Renewed mine in person at the Montgomery post office. Appointment was 6/12. State status portal showed they received 6/15. Arrived in the mail on 8/3 so 8 weeks from the time they received. No expediting or anything.

Wife and kids applied for the first time during the same appointment and haven't received anything but we are also not expecting them until toward end of month.

Hoping you made it to MX!