CRUISING FAMILY REUNIONS – MAKING MEMORIES FOR A LIFETIME!!!

When is the last time you spent a week, or even 3 or 4 full days, to relax with your family – stop to smell the flowers as they say? Other than for a wedding or a funeral, when is the last time you took the time to visit great Aunt Milly or your cousin Jason – you were so close when you were kids. Do your children really know their cousins in Michigan or Aunt Sue who moved to California many years ago? With our busy lives, you may not be able to take many opportunities to spend the quality time that you desire, even with those who live in your own home. We mostly take our relationships for granted until it is too late.

What better way to get the family together than on a vacation and what better value for a vacation than a cruise? A family or family and friends reunion is a great way to relax, catch up on each other’s lives and become acquainted with those new family members – even introduce the kids to their cousins in Kansas or Oklahoma. The value is phenomenal – your “hotel”, meals and entertainment are all included in the price and paid up front. And, don’t forget to ask about the special amenities that are tailor-made for your group. If you can dream it, you can make it happen.

Many types of accommodations are available to meet individual family needs – from Suites to Inside cabins – with great bargains for triple and quadruple accommodations. You are able to see new places, experience new adventures and even enjoy an educational experience with your children, while still having fun. Best of all, there are no meals to cook, dishes to wash, car pools to drive or beds to make. You do not even have to entertain the kids all day – the cruise lines do a great job at that in a safe and secure environment. Your time is spent relaxing, seeing new places, meeting new people and spending quality time with those you love - making memories to last a lifetime. Want some privacy? Here’s good news – many of the ships are so big and there is so much to do that you don’t have to spend every waking hour with everyone else. No familial overload.

Make memories this summer or make plans for next year. The earlier you start to plan, the better the choices that you will have available. If you can dream it, you can make it happen. Don’t wait for the next funeral or wedding to see the extended family – Relationships are far too valuable.

PASSPORT RULES FOR U.S. LAND AND SEA BORDERS

On March 27, 2008, the Departments of Homeland Security and of State issued the final rulemaking concerning the requirements of passports for land and sea border crossings under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

After years of development following 9/11, this ruling is the end of the process and is considered FINAL. This information is posted here to help ensure that you have the proper identification when traveling.

Effective June 1, 2009, the following rules take effect for cruise passengers:

U.S. citizens on cruise voyages that begin and end at the same U.S. port (closed-loop itineraries) must show proof of citizenship and government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license). These documents include: Original or certified copy of birth certificate; Naturalization papers; Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by Department of State. A passport will not be required for passengers that fall into this category. Please note that if, for any unanticipated reason, you must cut your trip short and return to the United States by air from a foreign country you must have a passport.

All other passengers and/or itineraries (such as cruises which begin in one U.S. port and return to a different U.S. port or any cruise that begins or ends in a foreign port) will require a passport or other recognized document. For a list of accepted documents, see www.travel.state.gov.

The good news for a majority of cruise passengers – American citizens that leave and return on their cruise from the same U.S. port – is that the travel document requirements will remain largely unchanged from how the industry is operating today.

We continue to encourage travelers to obtain passports to enable the broadest travel opportunities. Please visit www.travel.state.gov to obtain information on how to apply at more than 9,000 passport acceptance facilities in the United States.