Updated: July 1, 2007 Passport/Documentation For Zydeco Cruise 2007 As you may know, due to the giant backlog for processing passport applications at the US. Department of State the rules are being adjusted; and my be further adjusted during the near term. Carnival Cruise Lines currently tells us (See their Passport Requirements Page) that for identification OF US CITIZENS for the Zydeco Cruise 2007: (1) Carnival strongly recommends that all guests travel with a VALID PASSPORT during their cruise. This will enable guests to fly from the U.S. to meet their ship at the first port should they miss their scheduled embarkation; and allow guests that must debark the ship before their cruise ends to fly back to the U.S. without significant delays and complications. Additionally, it will greatly help to expedite their debark process. (2) OR - an expired US Passport of less than 10 years. (3) OR - an original Birth Certificate (4) OR - state-issued Certified Copy of a Birth Certificate from the Department of Health and Vital Statistics (5) OR - original Naturalization papers (6) AND - all guests 16 years of age or older must provide an official photo IDs. [Non-US citizens and US Alien Residents should read the Carnival Cruise Line’s Passport Requirements page for further important information.] The US State Department has been behind with issuing new passports to applicants and has announced: U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or countries in the Caribbean region who have applied for, but not yet received passports, can re-enter the United States by air by presentation of a government issued photo identification and Department of State official proof of application for a passport through September 30, 2007. The federal government is making this accommodation for air travel due to longer than expected processing times for passport applications in the face of record-breaking demand. See their WEB page at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html Of course we will be re-entering the US via sea -- BUT, in case of an emergency and you have to leave the Caribbean via air to the US -- you MUST keep this in mind. Important WEB pages to read Carnival Cruise Line’s Passports Requirement Page http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/New_Passport_Requirements.aspx US Department of State's Passport Page http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html US Department of State’s Traveling to Caribbean, Bermuda, Mexico or Canada Page http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html US Department of State's Main Page http://travel.state.gov/