Q. Do I need Trip Insurance?
A. Absolutely. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip insurance. Trip insurance offers protection if you cancel due to injury, sickness, or death (to you, a traveling companion, or immediate family member), and in many cases, should an act of terrorism occur. If purchased when making your cruise reservation, it may also cover pre-existing health conditions.

Additionally, trip insurance provides emergency assistance while you are on vacation, and a 24/7 support line. In such a case, you would need to pay at the time of treatment and then file for reimbursement. If you have specific questions about trip insurance and coverage, please call your CI Travel Consultant.

Q. Why do I need a Passport?
A. A passport is a formal identity document or certification issued by a national government that identifies the holder as a national of a particular state, and requests permission, in the name of the sovereign or government of the issuing country, for the bearer to be permitted to enter and pass through other countries.

Passports are connected with the right of legal protection abroad and the right to enter one's country of nationality. Passports usually contain the holder's photograph, signature, date of birth, nationality, and sometimes other means of individual identification. Many countries are in the process of developing biometric properties for their passports in order to further confirm that the person presenting the passport is the legitimate holder.

Also, some countries require that your U.S. passport be valid at least 6 months or longer beyond the dates of your trip. If your passport expires before the required validity, you will have to apply for a new one. Please check with the Embassy or nearest Consulate of the country that you plan to visit for their requirements.

Q.How do I get a passport?
A. For information on obtaining or renewing a passport, visit the State Department’s Web site at: http://travel.state.gov/passport

You should allow yourself a sufficient amount of time to apply and receive your passport in advance of travel. Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing of U.S. passport applications. Peak U.S. passport processing is between January and July. For faster service, we recommend applying between August and December.

Q. What is the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative?
A. All travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Canada or Mexico will be required to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States. This is a change from prior travel requirements. The goal is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors

Certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States, namely most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and Mexican citizens will also be affected.

• January 8, 2007 - Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.



• January 1, 2008 - Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.

A. For information about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiativeon, visit the State Department’s Web site at: http://travel.state.gov/passport

You should allow yourself a sufficient amount of time to apply and receive your passport in advance of travel. Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing of U.S. passport applications. Peak U.S. passport processing is between January and July. For faster service, we recommend applying between August and December.

Q. When do I need a VISA?
A. Visit the State Department’s Web site at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips to check which countries require a VISA for entry. If a visa is required, obtain it from the appropriate foreign consular representative before proceeding abroad. Allow sufficient time for processing your visa application, especially if you are applying by mail. Most foreign consular representatives are located in principal cities, and in many instances, a traveler may be required to obtain visas from the consular office in the area of his/her residence.

NOTE: It is the responsibility of the Traveler to obtain VISAs, where required, from the appropriate embassy or the nearest consulate of the country you are planning to visit.

Q. Do I need to get vaccinated?
A. While it’s always a good idea to have a current Tetanus vaccination before traveling abroad, not all countries require vaccinations for entry and no immunizations are required to return to the United States. For a complete list of all the countries which require vaccinations contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention toll free at 877-394-8747 or visit: www.cdc.gov.