61 DAYS TO GO . . .

     MONDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2011

     AS WE CONTINUE TO PREPARE FOR THE JOURNEY, I THOUGH TODAY I WOULD GET INTO THE MUCH HEATED DEBATE OVER A PASSPORT VS. I.D.  YOU SEE THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CHANGES TO THE PASSPORT LAWS OVER THE PAST RECENT YEARS.  SOME HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE POST SEPTEMBER 11th SECURITY CHANGES AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN TO TRY TO ENTICE PEOPLE BACK INTO TRAVEL WHILE KEEPING THEM SECURE AND WITHOUT TOO MUCH DELAY.
     THE REASON I SAY PASSPORT VS. I.D. IS THAT ON WHAT'S CALLED A "CLOSED LOOP" ITINERARY, A PASSPORT IS NOT REQUIRED.  A "CLOSED LOOP" ITINERARY APPLIES TO A U.S. CITIZEN, INCLUDING CHILDREN, WHO BOARD A CRUISE SHIP WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, TRAVEL ONLY WITHIN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, AND RETURN TO THE SAME U.S. PORT ON THE SAME SHIP ARE NOT REQUIRED TO TRAVEL WITH A PASSPORT EVEN IF VISITING A FOREIGN COUNTRY.  THE POSSIBLE PROBLEM LIES IN THAT IF YOU ENCOUNTER AN EMERGENCY IN SAID FOREIGN COUNTRY, YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO FLY HOME FROM THERE, NO MATTER WHAT THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE A PASSPORT.  HOWEVER RARE THE POSSIBILITY, IF IT'S LIFE-THREATENING, YOU STILL CAN NOT BE FLOWN HOME.  OTHER THAN THAT REALLY, YOU'RE O.K. WITH AN OFFICIAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE FOR YOURSELF AND THOSE IN YOUR PARTY (INCLUDING KIDS), AND A DRIVER'S LICENSE ALSO FOR THE ADULTS.
     DISNEY HIGHLY RECOMMENDS GETTING A PASSPORT FOR YOUR TRIP, AND YOU CAN SEE WHY.  THEY DON'T WANT TO BE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF SOME EMERGENCY HAGGLING OVER SEMANTICS.  IF YOU HAVE ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION, THEY CAN LOOK LIKE THE HERO IN YOUR EMERGENCY.  IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, THEY CAN LOOK LIKE THE VILLAIN.
     BUT SINCE ALL THE CHANGES IN PASSPORT RULES AND REQUIREMENTS, PRICES HAVE SKYROCKETED.  THEY WENT UP AGAIN THIS PAST JULY.  AN ADULT PASSPORT IS NOW $135 AND A CHILD'S IS NOW $105.  THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL $240 ONTO YOUR TRIP PRICE IF YOU DON'T ALREADY HAVE A PASSPORT.  I DON'T.  WE DON'T.  NEVER HAD ONE.  SAD THAT I NEVER HAD A REASON TO EITHER.  I'VE BEEN TO SOME 46 STATES IN THE U.S. INCLUDING HAWAII, MEXICO, CANADA, PUERTO RICO, BUT NEVER ANYWHERE REQUIRING A PASSPORT.
     SINCE YOU CAN EXPECT A PASSPORT APPLICATION, PICTURES, AND PROCESSING TO TAKE AROUND 6 WEEKS, YOU HAVE TO PLAN AHEAD.  IF YOU NEED IT FASTER YOU CAN APPLY WITH AN EXPEDITED PASSPORT APPLICATION FOR AN ADDITIONAL $60 PER PERSON AND AN ADDITIONAL $15 PER PERSON OVERNIGHT SHIPPING.  NOW YOU CAN SEE HOW IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE AND CAN'T TAKE THE CHANCE OF JUST WAITING IT OUT, YOU COULD BE INTO SOME SERIOUS CASH.  I SAY CASH BECAUSE YOU CAN'T USE A CREDIT CARD TO GET A PASSPORT EITHER!
     WHICH BRINGS ME BACK TO A BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND I.D.  SINCE WE MAY NOT EVEN GET OFF OF THE SHIP ON OUR ONE DAY IN NASSAU, BAHAMAS, I HARDLY SAW OUR GETTING PASSPORTS AS A NECESSITY.  I DID HOWEVER GET US BOTH NEW BIRTH CERTIFICATES AND SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS.  WAS IT NECESSARY?  NO.  BUT NOW I'LL HAVE 2 OFFICIAL COPIES OF BOTH STORED SEPARATELY TO BE AS SAFE AND SECURE AS POSSIBLE.  BOTH COST NEXT TO NOTHING AND WERE RECEIVED FAR FASTER.
     OBVIOUSLY THIS IS ALL A MATTER OF PERSONAL PREFERENCE.  SOME PEOPLE THINK NOTHING OF THE PASSPORT EXPENSE AND DO IT WITHOUT THINKING.  SOME JUST CAN'T HANDLE THE THOUGHT OF A POSSIBLE EMERGENCY AND GET PASSPORTS OUT OF PURE PANIC.  SOME WORRY ABOUT VERY LITTLE (GUESS WHO I'M REFERRING TO HERE) AND KNOW IT ALL BE O.K.  IT WOULD NOT SURPRISE ME IF THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS CHANGED AGAIN AT SOME POINT, BUT THAT'S WHERE THEY STAND RIGHT NOW.  AT LEAST KNOWING THIS IN ADVANCE GIVES YOU THE CHANCE TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION FOR YOU AND YOURS.  :-)
     SEE YA REAL SOON!   ºOº