Cruising in 2007? Remember your passport!

The passport-free ride long enjoyed by US and Canadian cruise travelers to many Western Hemisphere destinations, like Bermuda, the Caribbean and Mexico, is reaching its end.

New US immigration regulations, which are tentatively scheduled to become effective for those whose cruises end on or after January 7th of 2007, require citizens of the United States, Canada, and Mexico to show a valid passport for entry into the United States by air and by sea. This includes the over 16 million American and Canadian citizens expected to take a cruise from a US port in 2007.

United States citizens can apply for a passport a one of the more than 7000 passport acceptance offices. These are mostly post offices, but also include regional passport offices and American embassies overseas. New applicants must complete the required form (printable from the US passport office website) and bring proof of citizenship (an original or certified copy of your birth certificate, green card, or naturalization papers), a photo ID, two passport-size photos, and $97.00. Those renewing passports may apply via mail.

Passport processing takes from four to six weeks and passports are valid for ten years. If your travel plans require a foreign visa, allow extra time, as that document is stamped directly into your passport.