Dillon Pyron wrote:
Thus spake Ray Goldenberg :
Hi Everyone,
ICCL Statement: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
snip
The International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) has serious concerns
with these timelines as it does not allow sufficient time for
travelers to comply with the requirements, and treats the Caribbean,
Bermuda and Central and South America unfairly. The Caribbean is the
most heavily visited cruise destination in the world, accounting for
approximately 45% of all cruise ship visits. In many instances, cruise
passengers traveling to the Caribbean have already booked their
cruises for 2006. Currently, the State Department estimates that only
20% or less of all Americans have passports.

People have over six months to get off their duffs and get a passport.
And they've already had almost 3 months.

The ICCL’s highest priority is the safety and security of our
passengers and crew, and we clearly understand that the government has
a legitimate need to enhance the security at the borders. Requiring a
standardized identification document, (e.g. passport) is an important
aspect of that effort and it simplifies the process of border
crossings to have a single recognized document in place. The cruise
industry supported the inclusion of the provision as a policy, but
asked that when the government proposed regulations to implement the
program, sufficient time be allotted to allow for the public to
understand the new rules, and for the industry to be able to
communicate the new requirements to their customers, and most
importantly, for the public to obtain their passports.

As if this hasn't been in the news for months. Not that the average
American watches anything other than the sports coverage.
I always ask my clients if they have a passport. And I carry passport
applications with me when I visit.

There is no basis for treating travelers to the Caribbean, Bermuda,
and Central and South Americans any differently from others.
Implementation of all phases of the WHTI should be delayed until
January 2008. Delaying the implementation date will give much needed
time to the federal government, the travel industry, and most
importantly, the traveling public, to adapt to the new passport
program.

I agree. Make the provisions apply to all travel as of December 31,
2005.

Ditto all that. According to the ICCL, we need 2 1/2 *years* to tell
cruise travelers they need passports? Give me a break. This is 2005,
not 1905. Take air travel. You call to make a a reservation to most
international destinations, they ask if you have a passport, that's it.
Why can't the cruise industry do the same?

How B