According to the http:// travel.state.gov web site you can re-enter the U.S. using an official birth certificate and gov't issued ID even after 1 Jun 2009 as long as you leave and return via the same port.. My question is what does Mexico require to get into the ports for excursions there?

You won't need to show anything to get OFF the ship in Mexico, you'll just need your S & S card and a photo ID to get back ON the ship!

newbie:

According to the http:// travel.state.gov web site you can re-enter the U.S. using an official birth certificate and gov't issued ID even after 1 Jun 2009 as long as you leave and return via the same port.. My question is what does Mexico require to get into the ports for excursions there?

While that is true you better pray that nothing happens while on shore please see the story below.

I have to support most of the cruisers and say get your passports. If something would happen and you have to fly back, you are out of luck. Plus the passport is good for ten years and no worries. It is and always was the best form of indentification that the US gov. has so get one. The expense should not be the only factor because again if something would happen that you have no control over, then its going to cost more than the price of two passports. I just got my daughter her passport so we have no issues when we travel. Do not count on it getting pushed back again and then it does not happen. Once in place you will need a passport so just get one and get it over with. If you average it out, it might cost you let say 10-15 dollars a year per person over ten years to have a passport. Cheap investment to have peace of mind. Our 9-31-08 Inspiration cruise, some family had a wreck with scooters in Grand Cayman and after finding out about the rest of the story, they had no passports, were in the hospital, the boat left port and they could not fly back to the US until they had passports through the US consulate in Cayman. This took a few days at their expense for food, lodging etc. I found out about this after we returned home through fellow cruisers. This is not meant to scare you but look at what happened to this poor family and the expense they had to go through. Guess they should have listened about not renting scooters. Please reconsider. I know that their will be posts here after mine that say you do not need one, but again you will need one in the future so get it over and done and have peace on mind on your cruise. I have had a passport for over forty years and always felt safe traveling with it. Like they say, do not leave home without it. Lisen to the people that have numerous cruises under their belts.

newbie:

According to the http:// travel.state.gov web site you can re-enter the U.S. using an official birth certificate and gov't issued ID even after 1 Jun 2009 as long as you leave and return via the same port.. My question is what does Mexico require to get into the ports for excursions there?

Thatt may be true but pray that nothing happens to you while on shore.  read the story below.

I have to support most of the cruisers and say get your passports. If something would happen and you have to fly back, you are out of luck. Plus the passport is good for ten years and no worries. It is and always was the best form of indentification that the US gov. has so get one. The expense should not be the only factor because again if something would happen that you have no control over, then its going to cost more than the price of two passports. I just got my daughter her passport so we have no issues when we travel. Do not count on it getting pushed back again and then it does not happen. Once in place you will need a passport so just get one and get it over with. If you average it out, it might cost you let say 10-15 dollars a year per person over ten years to have a passport. Cheap investment to have peace of mind. Our 9-31-08 Inspiration cruise, some family had a wreck with scooters in Grand Cayman and after finding out about the rest of the story, they had no passports, were in the hospital, the boat left port and they could not fly back to the US until they had passports through the US consulate in Cayman. This took a few days at their expense for food, lodging etc. I found out about this after we returned home through fellow cruisers. This is not meant to scare you but look at what happened to this poor family and the expense they had to go through. Guess they should have listened about not renting scooters. Please reconsider. I know that their will be posts here after mine that say you do not need one, but again you will need one in the future so get it over and done and have peace on mind on your cruise. I have had a passport for over forty years and always felt safe traveling with it. Like they say, do not leave home without it. Lisen to the people that have numerous cruises under their belts.