Passport or Other Documents?

I'd try to get a new one, you have a little bit of time and it should arrive well before then if you go soon. Then if something happened you have your license and birth certificate as a backup.

I agree - there should still be time to get it, and (IMO) a passport is a travel essential.

Even if it doesn't get to you in time, you have your DL and BC as backup - just don't get left behind in port!

Do u think I should wait to do my online check in? Not only is my passport expired I also have a different last name and address.. stressing!

Wellll...and don't take this the wrong way...quit asking questions in here that you probably already know the answer to. a DL isn't enough, and an expired passport is worthless, except for the number when you apply for the renewal. Lots of people change names...no stress over that.. Yes you can do it online, you have more than enough time, and theres an option for rush delivery for an additional fee. (of course)...you can reserve the cruise but you cant download your edocs until its all filled in, (and paid for) including the space for a valid passport.GET CRACKING! Like right now...online is good 24/7...if you happen to live near one of their centers, (they were listed on their website, I think they take appointments) you can even speed it up that way. How far behind they are because of the shutdown is anybodys guess..GET MOVING! you'll feel better...online psychiatric services...no charge!! good luck...let us know. ps...when dealing with SAM, bring money...and be nice. The people that issue passports ARE stressed...I wonder why..hehehe

I agree with all that has been said. If you check in for the cruise using you DL and birth certificate (you have that for sure) you can always edit and change it to you passport when it arrives. Don't print your boarding pass until your final edit. Good luck!

By all means, get your passport renewed. Passports are one of the most discussed topics on this forum. Here is a link to a recent thread---https://cruiseline.com/forum/post/passports-77173?page=2#answers

I said then "If I'm in a country where things could get dicey if authorities challenged us for some reason or another, I always carry my passport.

I previously mentioned that situation in Singapore. We got off the vessel after being checked in and all, but decided to go back into the terminal to do some more shopping. Basically, we had to reenter the country to do that, then when getting back on board had to leave the country again.

Trying to get back on the ship was where the problem began. They would not let us do that, instead took us to a small immigrations office near the port for questioning. We had one officer question us then the top dog stepped in. We weren't sure what was going on, they appeared to believe we were making a story up as to even being on a ship. Turned out, that when we entered Singapore at the airport three days before we were suppose to receive a coupon or something that we should have turned in when leaving. The cruise line went ahead and put us on board and somehow missed asking us for the so called coupon. What Singapore immigrations was running into was that their records showed us as having exited the country illegally. They were actually pretty nice about it all when they eventually got it straightened out. They told us we could go ahead and shop and then get back on board. I said, you know, you have just scared the h__l out of us, no thanks.

I'm sure glad we had our passports on us when this happened. I hate to imagine how hard it would have been to get back on board if we had left our passports in the cabin in our safe."

I really appreciate all your advice. I will be ordering a new passport this week..Thanks again

Sorry, didn't mean to go overboard, but all you need to fix this is calm down and go to work on it. You have the time. Being stressed leads to mistakes, oftentimes putting off the process to fix the problem for a variety of reasons (which usually leads to it getting worse and certainly not going away), and then getting into arguments with the people you encounter who have the skills to fix it. Just get going! you and skeighty-eight gazillion people have had and are having the same exact problems you describe...…. good luck! and enjoy your cruise!!

I understand this is my first cruise so just trying to weight out all my options. I just don't want to get there and have the hassle of missing or incorrect documents. Thank u for your advice.

Great advise. And definitely wait to do your online checkin until you have the new passport. You might be able to start it but you will need the number from the new passport in order to do the checkin. Good luck, Bon voyage, and welcome to cruising and the welcome aboard.