| When you think about a cruise vacation, you | | | | the case in your family, you may have to file some |
| probably think of being a pampered tourist, enjoying | | | | extra pieces of paperwork to get a passport, and |
| lush accommodations and fabulous service. However, | | | | then to make sure the authorities know it is ok for |
| there is a lot of work to be done to prepare for a | | | | the child to be traveling out of the country with one |
| cruise before you get to enjoy the cruising life. | | | | parent. |
| Documentation is key. Depending on where you are | | | | Some countries actually require those who want to |
| going the documentation items you need could be | | | | stay for a little while to apply for visas, which would |
| limited or extensive. If you are just going on a one or | | | | mean even more paperwork. The rules for what |
| two day cruise that is in the U.S., you may not need | | | | documentation is required to go into and out of a |
| much. But, if you are going into deeper waters and | | | | country will differ by nation, so check with your |
| to foreign ports the rules are a little different. | | | | cruise line about this possibility. |
| Even if you are only going on a few day cruise to | | | | For other countries, you will need to have proof of |
| somewhere like Jamaica you are going to need a | | | | some medical vaccinations due to the possibility of |
| passport. While it is an island that is very close to the | | | | illnesses in their region. The environment of the place |
| state of Florida, it is still a foreign country, and | | | | you are visiting also matters so if you are visiting |
| therefore you need the proper documentation to | | | | Spain then do check out weather in Alicante before |
| show your citizenship. | | | | you actually go there. |
| If you don't have a passport, you need to get one | | | | If you normally book your vacation through a travel |
| well in advance of your trip. Also, if you do have one, | | | | agent, they may well help you take care of all of this. |
| make sure it is not about to expire. Generally, you | | | | They know that for the most part tourists really |
| should give your self up to six months to get your | | | | want to focus on what they will see and what |
| passport, at a minimum two. Passport offices around | | | | accommodations they will have on their cruise, not |
| the country are backed up and getting a passport | | | | the little paperwork details, so they will usually |
| these days takes longer than it did before. If you're | | | | compile a list of all the documentation and any |
| within a few months, you may want to pay extra to | | | | medical certification you will need in order to be |
| get your passport expedited. | | | | allowed to go on your trip. In addition, a good travel |
| There may be even more documentation to be had | | | | agent will know enough about the cruise industry |
| if your family has some children who are from | | | | they may be able to recommend great deals on |
| previous marriages and do not have the same last | | | | wonderful destinations for your cruise. |
| name of the parent taking them on the trip. If this is | | | | |