Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

[JoeyandDavid]

 The membership of the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) is exceedingly concerned with the implications of the current phased-in passport deadlines under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). The potential negative travel and business impact of the January 8, 2007, deadline for air and sea passengers could be mitigated with a single, delayed unified deadline for all modes of travel.

The cruise industry’s highest priority is safety and security and we support the government’s effort to enhance border security by requiring a single, standardized identification document, (e.g. passport). However, there is no basis for treating travelers who travel by air or sea any differently from those who travel over land borders, and having two different sets of rules, depending on one’s mode of travel, is extremely confusing to travelers.

Having a unified implementation date for all modes of travel will give much needed time to the federal government, the travel industry, and most importantly, the traveling public, to adapt to the new passport program. The Western Hemisphere includes the regions that are the most heavily visited cruise destinations in the world, accounting for 75 percent of all cruise ship visits, with a total of 8.36 million passengers of which approximately 90 percent or 7.5 million were U.S. citizens. Currently, the State Department estimates that less than 30 percent of all Americans have passports.

A recent survey* of the cruise lines found that only 30-40 percent of U.S. passengers on short cruises in the Western Hemisphere (two to five days) currently have passports. On longer voyages, the number of U.S. citizens traveling on cruises with passports only increases to a total of 50-65 percent. Taking a cruise is typically a group vacation and if one individual or more does not have a passport, it could deter the entire family or group from taking a cruise. The survey showed that 65 percent of groups traveling to and from U.S. ports have at least one member who does not have a passport.

“If you’re thinking of taking a cruise in the near future, it’s a good idea to go ahead and purchase a passport now if you don’t already have one,†said Angela Plott, ICCL vice president. “It’s best to be prepared.â€Â

The ICCL has been actively working with the U.S. government to find the proper way to implement WHTI. The industry supports delaying the date until it can be implemented without seriously affecting travel, including Congressional efforts to amend the law. We pledge to continue to work with policymakers to ensure efficient and secure travel across our nation’s borders and through its seaports.

Per the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and the 2004 Intelligence Reform law, all U.S. citizens are required to have passports for travel within the Western Hemisphere (Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda) by January 1, 2008. To implement the law, the Departments of State and Homeland Security proposed a phase-in program referred to as the WHTI. As set in the notice of proposed rulemaking, the deadlines for U.S. citizens to obtain a passport are:

• January 8, 2007 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air or sea travel within the Western Hemisphere.

• January 1, 2008 – Passport or other accepted document required for all U.S. land border crossings.

* conducted by ICCL with its member lines for passengers carried in 2005 and the first quarter of 2006

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[JoeyandDavid]

Have you got yours?

[mercedes]

Both my hubby and I do, thanks for the article.

[SCIROCCO]

Yessir Me and Annie Have Ours! :wink: I hear now that they are coming out with a New type of a Passport kinda like your drivers License where you slide it through some type of Electronic Machine :shocked: Have you heard anything about that Joey? :huh:

[mercedes]

That's the kind my hubby and I have, they just slide it through the machine.

[JoeyandDavid]

Are you talking about the ones that are embedded with the micro chip?

Here is a great article about that

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1209/p12s01-stct.html

[SCIROCCO]

Have you heard anything about that Joey? :huh:

Are you talking about the ones that are embedded with the micro chip?

Here is a great article about that

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1209/p12s01-stct.html

Yeah Thats It! Great article thanks I wonder if I can trade mine in for the new one? :wink:

[sailingrose]

Probably not with the fee Robert. You know our government always need to make a buck...... :wink:

[lilrosie]

...I'm sorry but I have a dumb question...but I dont understand...In order for me and my family to go to cozumel in March on a cruise do we need a passport..or do we have until 2008?? If we need one now..I do not even know how to go about getting one..

[jtutak]

Yes you need one read this for instructions http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html