Cruisers-passport info

I just filed for my passport so I'll share what I know as a lot of you don't have a passport.  A passport is not required but it is HIGHLY recommended that you have one.  If for any reason you get seperated from the ship you CANNOT fly back to the US without one.  A passport is good for 10 years so why not get one?  Who knows we might make this an annual event.

Here's the link for info:  http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html.  This is where you get all the info you need to apply.  The forms you need are on this site.  Just fill out the forms online, hit submit and then it will allow you to print it. 

Have your pictures made.  This can be done at Walmart ($7.24 per person), CVS ($7.99 but they have a coupon on their website for $2 off=$5.99), Walgreens (price unknown).  The post office charges $15 per person for photos.  I went to Walmart last night (my store took pics until 7:45 pm), it took about 5 minutes to take them and 15 minutes to develop them.  These can be done anytime before you apply-just don't do anything drastic like change your hair color from brown to blonde after you have them made.

Fees: $75 per person for a new passport plus $25 per person processing fee.  Plus my PO charged us 25 cents to copy our driver's license so I took my own copy with me (it needs to be front and back on the same piece of paper).

Where to go:  you can go to any county courthouse or post office.  Most places require an appt.  It took us 25 minutes to complete things once we got there.  (my guy was an idiot and should of been done in 10 min).

What you need to take with you:  Original birth certificate with a SEAL, your driver's license (plus a copy), the forms you filled out and printed online and SEPERATE checks to pay with.  The post office only accepts checks or money orders.  I needed 3 checks-2 for $75 dollars each and then one for $50.25 for our processing fees plus xeroxing Clay's license).

Wait time:  4-6 weeks providing there are no problems.  The seal on my birth certificate was so light (cuz I'm older than dirt) he said it might get rejected.  If that's the case, I'll go online and order a new one and that will take a few more weeks.  That's another reason not to wait til the last minute to get it done.

Hope this answered everything you need to know.  PLEASE copy/bookmark this page as I will NOT be typing all this out again, lol.

From My folks' experience a couple of years ago, take extra copies of the paperwork you fill out as well, just in case the PO person screws up one copy.

 

Thanks Stephanie.....I still need to do this.   I am booked for the cruise and so is Sandy Fitch.    We are waiting word from Lynne Ruth that she is booked then we are all good to go !!!  i am EXCITED as all get out.

Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian

If you don't mind telling me what kind of room you got (inside, ocean, etc) and on what deck, I'll put it on the list so people that want to stay close to one another can book it that way.

 Oceanview.....Riveria Deck......Room R135.    


Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian

"just don't do anything drastic like change your hair color from brown to blonde after you have them made."

You mean like lose 150 lbs?  My passport photo looks nothing like me so I keep a side by side before and after photo with it.   I've gotten questioned several times by TSA when flying!

If you need to get it faster, you pay an extra $25 and can get it in about 2 weeks. Thats we did last year and we got ours in about a week. Our son got married in Denmark and we only had about a months advance notice and wanted to make sure we got it in time.....

I haven't been on here in forever, whats the info on the cruise

Amy

Amy there are several different threads about the cruise on this page.  Check it out and let me know if you want to join us.  So far we've got about 30 people going.

Hopefully since it isn't until September everyone should have plenty of time to get their passports without having to pay a rush fee.  It's currently only taking about 3 weeks to get one.