Travel Preparation: Obtain a Passport for Child

A tightening of the belt for passport requirements went into effect on June 1st, 2009for U.S. travelers. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) now requires valid passports for land and sea travel with the continued exception for “closed-loop” cruises. These are cruises that originate and terminate at the same U.S. port.

This leniency applies only to cruises and many of the cruise lines are strongly recommending to their passengers to travel with a valid passport, one that is valid for at least 6 months beyond completion of travel.

According to the U.S. State Department, travelers by air will be required to present a passport book to enter or re-enter the United States. Sea travelers may also use the passport booklet or the passport card and now the continued option of birth certificate and photo ID. Qualifying cruise passengers opting to take advantage of this leniency will be required to show proof of citizenship such as a original or certified copy of a birth certificate and a government issued photo ID i.e. driver’s license. Children under the age of 16 will also be required to show a birth certificate as proof of citizenship.

For children under the age of 16, applying for a passport booklet can only be done in person and costs $60, compared to a passport card for $10. There is also a $25 execution fee that is payable to the location where passport documents are being submitted.

In addition, both birth parents need to complete a consent form. This ensures that either the mother or father is aware that their child will be able to travel out of the United States. Visit the State Department’s Web site for specific details about passports for children.

When just one of the birth parents is traveling with the child on a cruise or when the child is traveling without his/her parents, a notarized consent letter is required for cruises as well and is always good to have on hand for the grandparents or other adults responsible for the child.

Another difference for children obtaining a passport is that they are valid for five years for children under the age of 16, compared to 10 years for those 16 and older.
Many community postal locations offer passport fairs, complete with a photographer on site to capture your little one, and they are available for multiple attempts as the photo has to meet very specific criteria. When obtaining a passport for our then one-year-old, it took three attempts to get a photo that was approved.

All air travel and cruises that begin and end in different U.S. ports or foreign ports will still require a valid passport or other recognized WHTI compliant document.

Lynn Torrent, senior VP of sales and guest services with Carnival Cruise Lines says, “We’d like to take this opportunity to remind all our guests that proof of citizenship is required in order to travel and failure to present a valid document at check in will result in denied boarding and no refund will be issued.”

Future travelers struggling with the dilemma of “do I or don’t I need a passport?” will be better served by visiting the U.S. State Department WHTI requirements Web site. This site offers explanations of terms and requirements as well as tips for living abroad and overseas Citizen’s services. Applications for passport booklets and passport cards are available for printing as well as locations to apply in person and the frequently asked questions section offers a broad spectrum of answers to possible issues.

When planning for the dreaded “what if” scenario, even travel insurance may not protect a traveler when trying to re-enter the U.S. from a foreign port if they need to return to the U.S. due to an emergency.

Bill Thomas, CEO of Tropical Latitudes Travel, explains “Since the passport card is not valid for air travel, the continued leniency policy for closed-loop cruises does present some concerns for travelers without a valid passport. Should an emergency arise and cruisers need to disembark in a foreign port and fly back to the U.S., they might face delays in admittance back to the U.S..”

The best protection for the entire family? “Have a valid passport,” Thomas states.

In 2007, 18.4 million U.S. passports were issued, according to U.S. State Department spokesperson Adriana Gallegos. From 2008 through 2009, 7.1 million have been issued. “The demand has been lower than expected,” Gallegos says. “We attribute this to a delay in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative and the current economic conditions.”

Photo Courtesy of the U.S. State Deparment

The Flying Debate: Kids Allowed?

As a freelance travel writer and owner of travel pr firm FSR Ventures, I monitor media inquiries carefully, especially those dealing with family travel. So, when MSNBC travel columnist Christopher Elliott recently posed the questions, “should kids be banned from airplanes” and “should kids be allowed to fly in first class”, I felt compelled (understatement) to provide my commentary.

Elliott did respond to my response to him, which is more than many journalists do and I do appreciate that he is a parent; however, I do believe he approached this article with biasness based on the pure article topic.

You can see my comments to this journalist by reviewing the article below. I am not saying that my viewpoint is the correct one, but I do strongly believe that we cannot discriminate against our children especially considering that I’ve experienced more rude adults on flights than kids. Let’s not forget that 9-11 happened as a result of “adults”, not kids.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30745204

Based on Elliott’s personal travel experience where his child embarrassed him in first class, that episode could have occurred in coach just as easily. Is he trying to say that those who paid less or opted to not use frequent flyer miles for an upgrade should have to endure a child who is misbehaving or more so, a parent who was not prepared to keep their child occupied and entertained? I am not saying that kids do not act up. In fact, our toddler had one of those incidents, but we took control and remedied the situation.

To suggest that because a child cries on a plane should be banned from flying or should not be allowed to sit in a seat their parents purchased is insane. Can I call for the same ban on rude adults or terrorists?

What do you think? Please post your comments regardless of how you feel.

Tropical Family Travel During Hurricane Season

Today, June 1, 2009 launches the official start of Hurricane Season. While the 2009 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Forecast predicts nine to 14 named storms (which is a less active season compared to 2008’s predictions), it only takes one to cause catastrophic damage. NOAA forecasts four to seven hurricanes, and one to three category 3+ hurricanes for this year’s hurricane season which goes through November 30.

“Tropical systems acquire a name – the first for 2009 will be Ana – upon reaching tropical storm strength with sustained winds of at least 39 mph,” according to the NOAA Web site. “Tropical storms become hurricanes when winds reach 74 mph, and become major hurricanes when winds increase to 111 mph. An average season has 11 named storms, including six hurricanes with two becoming major hurricanes.”

A thought of a hurricane might put off some families from traveling to hurricane prone destinations, such as Florida or the Caribbean, but there are proactive steps travelers can take to ensure smooth sailing throughout hurricane season.

Author of Smooth Landings and owner of MacNair Travel Management Michael MacNair says "Whether you are taking a cruise or visiting an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean during hurricane season, a traveler's two best defenses are to purchase travel insurance and to align with a travel partner."

There are numerous “fine print” items when a storm has been named, a hurricane is eminent or after an island or resort has been hit. Not to mention, for those living in hurricane areas, certain travel insurance items will allow for travelers to return home even if they are vacationing in a non-hurricane area.

Following are seven recommended travel strategies MacNair recommends to help prepare for the onset of hurricane season:

1. Use a travel agent.
Purchasing vacation packages through a travel agency will give travelers the peace of mind in knowing that travel professionals are their advocates and ready to help them through difficult travel scenarios. If a vacation is booked online, a vacationer may find they are on their own and it may be difficult to get through to one of their representatives.
2. Purchase travel insurance.
Be sure to read the hurricane clauses of travel insurance policies or ask the travel agent for guidance. Depending on policy purchased, a pre-planned trip can be completely altered and rescheduled with no penalties. Travel insurance can also protect the traveler who lives in a hurricane zone and needs to return to their home after a hurricane hit area.
3. Do not make assumptions.
Just because a storm or hurricane is spinning or went through the destination a consumer is traveling to, do not assume flights are cancelled or that a resort sustained damage. Always check with travel professional to check on status.
4. Be one step ahead.
Always call the airport early to check on the status of your flights. Many airlines allow online check-in up to 24-hours prior to departure. Check the weather at your destination a few days before your trip. Knowing in advance what the expected weather pattern is going to be will help a vacationer to prepare and take necessary steps prior to their trip.
5. Sailing around the storm.
If taking a cruise vacation, there is a good chance that a vacation will not be ruined by a hurricane. The cruise industry has state-of-the-art technology on all of their ships and they can alter their itineraries to avoid oncoming hurricanes. Be flexible when cruising during hurricane season and if the route is altered, look at is as a travel adventure.
6. Charged technology gadgets.
Accessing the Internet on wireless devices, gives travelers up-to-the-minute storm tracking information. Be sure to carry a fully charged cell phone and have the travel agent's number and after-hours emergency assistance number in hand in case alternate travel arrangements need to be made. Even while waiting in line at the airport, traveler should call the travel agent as they might be able to resolve the issue before reaching counter.
7. Take an extra day.
Particularly when cruising out of southern ports such as Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, Miami and San Juan, consider spending a pre-night prior to cruise in the departure city. This has multiple benefits including a day to unwind and get into vacation mode and gives a cushion in case of delayed flights due to inclement weather.

Tropical Family Travel editors have traveled in the midst of several named storms and even weathered Hurricane Ivan during a cruise. The above steps are helpful to feel prepared for a weather situation that is only somewhat predictable at best. Purchasing travel insurance with a vacation package is one of the best investments families can make allowing the most flexible options if faced with making any changes. Be open to changing your itinerary if faced with a hurricane situation.

Bill Thomas, owner of Tropical Latitudes Travel, explains that for a honeymoon couple planning their dream trip at a Sandals Resort in Negril, Jamaica, they had to quickly change their getaway to Puerta Vallarta, Mexcio (far outside of the hurricane’s path that wrecked havoc on Jamaica).

“Since the couple thought ahead and purchased the travel insurance Tropical Latitudes Travel recommended, we were able to quickly change their honeymoon location as soon as the hurricane’s path was eminent,” he says. “Cruises are the other most flexible vacation packages during hurricane season as the ships often change their path to stay outside of the storm’s bans. While you may not visit one of the islands originally scheduled, be open to the adventure as you might discover something unexpected and new.”

Photo Credits: NOAA