Traveling these days is a little more complicated ever since 911. In years past U.S. Citizens could cruise to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean using a birth certificate as proof of citizenship. Unfortunately those days are gone.

Cruisers today will need a valid passport to board their cruise ship. Depending upon what destinations you are visiting you may also require additional documents including a Tourist Visa. Travel Agents, Cruise Lines and Gay Group Operators are not responsible for attaining the legal documentation that you will need to travel, however they are great resources for information and help. Depending upon your citizenship Visa regulations may vary. 

U.S. Passports

To get a U.S. Passport you can go to the Department of State’s website:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html and apply for a passport. 

For first time Passports you must:

1) Complete the form: DS-11-Application for a U.S. Passport. DO NOT sign the application until instructed to do so my the Acceptance Agent

2) Have your picture taken, in normal street attire, by an authorized Passport Photographer – COSTCO, Wal-Mart, Target, Kinko’s Fed Ex and other store’s photo centers provide this service for around $5.00. You will receive two identical 2’ x 2’, color photos of yourself formatted to fit the passport

3) You must take the form, the photos, social security number and a identification Document; one of the following
- Previously issued, undamaged U.S. Passport
- Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
- Naturalization Certificate
- Certificate of Citizenship
- If you do not have these documents visit the section Secondary Evidence of U.S. Citizenship on the Department of State’s Website
You must apply in person at an Acceptance Facility, usually in a government building or US Post Office or a Passport Agency. The Department of State’s website will provide you with the closest facility or agency to take your application to.

4) A Photocopy of the Identification Document on plain white paper (8 ½ x 11”, standard paper stock) showing the front and back of your ID

5) Pay the Applicable Fees to the Acceptance Agent

As of February 2010 the average time for a routine service passport is between 4-6 weeks. Passport applications are prioritized by date of departure so purchase your cruise passage and provide the date with documentation of your pending departure to push your application to the front of the line.

Note: if your cruise is less than 8 weeks out it is highly recommended that you pay the $60 Expediting Fee (plus overnight delivery costs) to expedite your passport processing and delivery. See How To get Your Passport in a Hurry on the Department of State’s website. You may chose to use a personal Passport Expeditor to deliver and track your passport processing. They are more expensive and highly reliable.

Here’s a list of a few or you can Google more using search term: passport expediter-

www.PassportsandVisas.com/Expedite
www.RushMyPassport.com/ExpeditePassport
www.USPassportNow.com/expediter

Tourist Visas

Once you have learned whether the destinations that you will be visiting will need a Tourist Visa you are going to need to secure one. Even if you do not plan to exit the ship at a port that requires a Visa, you will have to secure one in order to embark on your cruise.  When working with a Travel Agent, Cruise Line or Gay Cruise Operator, find out if part of their service includes securing or helping to secure a Tourist Visa for your trip. In very least they should be able to direct you to the proper agency where you can obtain it. If your Travel Agent is unable to do this then you may want to find another Travel Agent who can provide you with this service or information.

Medical Power of Attorney

Though we never plan on a medical emergency during our vacation they do occasionally happen. For gay couples traveling together it is important to protect yourself by filling out a Medical Power of Attorney so in the case of a medical emergency your partner will have the legal right to make medical decisions for you in case you are incapable of making them yourself. Because you most likely will be cruising to international destinations the Medical Power of Attorney may not be recognized but it is better to have this legal document going into negotiations with a hospital than without it. Most cruise lines’ medical facilities will honor a Medical Power of Attorney.