airdvr 210 #1 April 1, 2009 From another site for Travel Agents: THIS IS A MESS! Makes no sense that the passport card wasn't taken. This wasn't me, it was a friend that sent this e-mail. I think this was the Celebrity Infinity yesterday. In my years here I have never had this problem. I had a customer book a Celebrity Panama canal cruise with me set to sail today, She called me a month ago and asked if she needed a passport ..I called Celebrity and they said no , I called back numerous times plus I checked the WHIti As well. They get to the pier today along with a few other people who had passport cards and were denied boarding I called Celebrity direct and spoke with supervisors and they all agreed there was no reason to deny boarding and they should be able to cruise. The pier captain overode the corporate people and said no boarding, leaving them stranded with a bunch of other people as well..I have never had this before and i am extremly upset .. As I always I advise people to get a passport but I cant make them. Thye are now waiting for their luggage to be off loaded and going back home ..Very very mad...They even spoke to a high up individual from Celebrity in Miami and they agreed they can sail but the pier can overide the company. This is going to be very costly for me The moral for this is dont trust the cruiseline or even the customs regualtions because the authority at the pier has final say . And they didnt want nothing to do with me quoting the Western Travel Inititive to them . they sent 16 people away today and 4 of them had passport cards and were also denied boarding, chalk that one up to they are as good as a passport UPDATE: It was homeland security that denied boarding. Here's the latest -- Celebrity told the customers to go to Miami today and get passports ..They did ..The passport people in Miami told them they didnt need them for the sailing They are flying out tonight to Grand Cayman and will be boarding the ship tommorow morning when it docks UnbelievablePlease don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #2 April 1, 2009 Getting a passport isn't that difficult, it costs a little money, go to the post office...For those that don't know, you need passports to cross into Canada and Mexico now too... So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #3 April 1, 2009 Quoteyou need passports to cross into Canada and Mexico now too... That story sounds like the time I was denied boarding at the door of an airplane by the captain, because I had my parachute rig on my back - he didn't want the passengers "to be frightened". Even though the airline policy said that a parachute rig is permissible as carry-on luggage. The captain has the final word, and cannot be overridden. There's a new rule threatening to go into effect that would make me carry a passport with me for my canoe trips on the Rio Grande River, on the Texas border with Mexico, because we sometimes set foot on the riverbank on the Mexican side of the river. Stupid rule. The Park Service is trying to get an exception... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
millertime24 8 #4 April 1, 2009 Not me. Muff #5048 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LaRusic 0 #5 April 1, 2009 QuoteQuoteyou need passports to cross into Canada and Mexico now too... That story sounds like the time I was denied boarding at the door of an airplane by the captain, because I had my parachute rig on my back - he didn't want the passengers "to be frightened". Even though the airline policy said that a parachute rig is permissible as carry-on luggage. The captain has the final word, and cannot be overridden. There's a new rule threatening to go into effect that would make me carry a passport with me for my canoe trips on the Rio Grande River, on the Texas border with Mexico, because we sometimes set foot on the riverbank on the Mexican side of the river. Stupid rule. The Park Service is trying to get an exception... The same kind of thing is starting to happen to those of us that scuba dive in the st lawerence. Depending on the wreck that we visit, we could be required to carry our passports on the dive boat with us. Its pretty insane, we dont even dock on the american side.The Altitude above you, the runway behind you, and the fuel not in the plane are totally worthless Dudeist Skydiver # 10 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SivaGanesha 2 #6 April 1, 2009 QuoteI had a customer book a Celebrity Panama canal cruise with me set to sail today... Panama isn't covered by the WHTI, at least according to the following websites: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Caribbean Region The USA, of course, no longer has any connection at all with the Panama Canal Zone."It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coreece 190 #7 April 1, 2009 Quote That story sounds like the time I was denied boarding at the door of an airplane by the captain, because I had my parachute rig on my back - he didn't want the passengers "to be frightened". Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,406 #8 April 1, 2009 You need passports to FLY into Canada and Mexico now; you need a passport card if you are driving... Having said that... it's a whole lot better to have the passport and be wrong; than to have the passport card and be wrong.Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billeisele 130 #9 April 2, 2009 agreed - get a passport and eliminate the issue crossing back to the US from Canada (before passports were required) customs questioned me because the kids didn't have passports I thought they were kidding (have since learned that customs agents are breed with no sense of humor). The conversation went something like - How do we know they are yours? They're not, there hers but the way they behaved on this trip you can have them. OK sir go ahead. I think the shocked look on wifes and kids face gave away the plan.Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SivaGanesha 2 #10 April 2, 2009 QuoteQuoteI had a customer book a Celebrity Panama canal cruise with me set to sail today... Panama isn't covered by the WHTI, at least according to the following websites: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Caribbean Region The USA, of course, no longer has any connection at all with the Panama Canal Zone. It seems that Panama is a unique case and this may have accounted for the confusion. As of right now and until June 1, passports are not required for land/sea travel to/from Panama: Caribbean Tourism Official Rails Against WHTI However, as noted in the earlier links, it appears that for all other WHTI countries they will be requiring a passport card for land/sea entry, but for Panama--uniquely--they are now requiring a full passport. It still leaves unclear what documents are acceptable for Panama before June 1, though. On the one hand, passports aren't supposed to be required until June 1--so proof of citizenship should be acceptable, and the passport card should serve as proof of citizenship. On the other hand, the passport card is quite specifically not intended for use in Panama. Bottom line is that I can see why there is a lot of confusion where Panama is concered--it is clearly being handled differently from all other countries under the WHTI."It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
