Passport Delays Loom for Short-Hop Cruisers

Don't wait much longer to get a passport if you're planning a winter cruise to the Caribbean or Mexico.


Industry watchers such as Mike Driscoll expect delays at passport offices in the weeks leading up to Jan. 8, which is the day new government rules take effect. The rules require all cruisers to carry passports, even on three-day trips.

Previously, many itineraries required that the passenger have only a driver's license and birth certificate.

"There could be a surge in applications come January," says Driscoll, editor of Cruise Week newsletter. "By the time October rolls around, cruisers booked for January who don't have a passport likely will require expedited service, which doubles the cost."
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