As a general rule, passports should have at least six months of validity when traveling internationally. Most countries will not permit a traveler to enter their country unless the passport is set to expire at least six months after the final day of travel. This means if your passport has less than six months remaining until the expiration date, you should renew it right away! Adult passports (16 and older) for U.S. citizens are valid for ten years, while minor passports (15 and younger) for U.S. citizens are valid for 5 years. Passport processing can take 4-6 weeks or longer so you may need to consider expediting your passport. 

What is the six months validity passport rule ? It is not a requirement of the U.S. government. The six-month validity passport rule is a requirement of other countries accepting foreign travelers. The six- month passport validity rule is enforced because nations do not want to risk having travelers and tourists overstaying their passport validity. Six months is now the standard validity requirement for many countries. Most visitors to the United States are also now required to have six months validity of their passports.

6 Months Validity Passport Rule Exceptions : Some countries are more relaxed about the 6-month passport validity rule. Canada and Mexico are the two most commonly traveled countries that now often enforce the passport validity rule (only 3 months validity needed for Canada and Mexico). Again, please be sure to check with each countries entry and exit travel requirements before you go as the requirements are subject to change. As a general rule, you should have at least six months validity on your passport before you travel.

Renew Your Passport Before Your Upcoming Trip: One of the most common mistakes travelers make is not renewing their passport before they travel. You will only make it as far as the airport if you do not have enough validity on your passport. We receive hundreds of phone calls every month from travelers at the airport that are being denied entry on the plane. Don't let this happen to you. Renew your passport before your upcoming trip! Some States and Counties offer passport expediting services as quickly as 24 hours.

Passport requirements often differ from nation to nation so again, be sure to check the entry and exit requirements for each country you plan to travel as these requirements can change regularly.

International travel requires a PASSPORT to FLY back into the USA.

Yes, you can use a drivers license and legible copy of your birth certificate - if you are cruising, (TO AND FROM A US PORT) to get on and off the ship. However, if you miss your ship for ANY reason - you cannot FLY back to the USA without a passport book. 

The difference between a PASSPORT CARD and a PASSPORT BOOK : The most important difference between U.S. passport book and passport cards is that passport cards are not valid for international air travel; they're only acceptable for land and sea border crossings between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. Pass port cards are not valid for CUBA.

Regarding Cruises : In general, cruise or no cruise, there are several U.S. territories and commonwealths with the luxurious feel of a faraway land that allow passport-free entry for U.S. citizens. Puerto Rico is a United States commonwealth and all U.S. citizens can travel there and to its surrounding islands, Vieques and Culebra, without a passport. The same is true for lesser known (and lesser populated) commonwealth, the Northern Mariana Islands, comprising 15 islands in the northwest Pacific Ocean. If you’ve got your sights set on the US Virgin Islands, Guam, or American Samoa, all three U.S. territories are also all fair game for passport-less American citizens. Take note though; just because you don’t need a passport to visit these destinations doesn’t mean you won’t need any official documentation. Make sure you have a government-issued photo ID, naturalization paperwork, and/or birth certificate.

Not all cruises have the same passport requirements. If you’ve heard about a cruise where a passport isn’t required, you’re most likely being told about a “closed-loop” cruise. A closed-loop cruise is one that starts and finishes at the same U.S. port and only sails to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, the Bahamas or Bermuda. For these cruises, you do not need a passport for re-entry into the U.S., but it’s possible that some of the countries along your journey will require a passport for entry. It’s best to check the specific entry requirements for each foreign port you’ll be visiting before leaving your passport at home.

If for some reason your cruise ship needs to alter course, it is possible that they will need to dock in a foreign country (that wasn’t on the original itinerary) that plays by a different set of rules. In other words, even if your cruise line states that you do not need a passport for their particular journey, it is always a good idea to pack it just in case. And as a reminder, to enter or depart the United States, at minimum you will need proof of citizenship and government issued ID. Attempting to do so without the necessary paperwork is always a losing proposition, no matter how polite or friendly you act.

 

If a cruise begins at one port and ends in another port, even if they’re both in the United States, passengers are required to have a valid passport. Similarly, if a cruise starts or finishes in a foreign port, travelers must come prepared with a current passport. You will also need a passport for cruises traveling through the British Virgin Islands or Cuba. And of course, a valid passport is required for any cruise touring Europe, traveling across the Atlantic Ocean, or originating in other continents — where you won’t even make it onto the plane that will get you there without a valid passport. And if you miss your debarkation and need to fly to the next port to meet the ship? You’ll need your passport to board the flight. Or, if you fall ill and need to fly home? You’ll need your passport in that case, too.

Passport requirements often differ from nation to nation. Be sure to check the entry and exit requirements for each country you plan to travel as these requirements can change regularly.

Please see the following sites :

Expedited passports :