Is a passport required when traveling to Mexico and Western Carribean by Sea?

I have heard so many different answers to this from friends!!!! I understand that if by air, I will need one as on Jan.2007. If By SEA, (cruise), I will not need one until Jan. 2008. I am traveling in April 2007 so I am under the impression that I will not need one. Can anyone out there clarify this for me???????? Thanks so much!!

I have gone on two Western Caribbean Cruises. One in November of 2004 and one in March of 2006. I needed a passport for both cruises so YES! Apply right away because this is a busy time of year for the passport people!

Yes

Yes, new passport requirements beginning this week require passports to Mexico and th Caribbean.

New Passport Requirement

As part of U.S. Department of State's Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, all travelers will be required to present a valid passport or other accepted document(s) to enter or re-enter the U.S. (visitors and U.S. residents) as early as January 23, 2007, from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

* January 23, 2007: All persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document (MMDs).

Yeap.

My advice just get one now. But to answer your question according to the US State Department January 1, 2008 you will need a passport via sea or land.

Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)

The proposed implementation timeline has two phases:

Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.

As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

YOU MAY NOT LEAVE THE CONTINENTAL US WITHOUT A PASSPORT UNLESS YOU WANT A HUGE HEADACHE
it only takes a few days an a hundred bucks

......YES you will need one. plain and simple...ask your travel agent for more details they are trained to explain the ins and outs on this...and if you aren't using a travel agent that won't matter just call one up. Happy Sailing...

You will need one. I advise do it tomorrow or ASAP, very seriously. They do not arrive until about 6 weeks after your application has been recieved. You can take pictures at Wal*Mart, Walgreens or the DMV, do that before you apply so you can give the application place your picture on the spot. There are so many people getting their passport right now, so once again, get one as soon as you possibly can to receive it by your travel date.