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While some cruises departing from and returning to the U.S. may indicate that a birth certificate and driver's license are acceptable identification, we strongly advise all guests to travel with a valid passport book. I'm still trying to figure out why some cruise lines say you can use a birth certificate and driver's license for closed-loop cruises, but I advise you to only travel with a valid passport and make sure that it's valid for six months after your return date. The Risks of Using Only Birth Certificates and Driver's Licenses Guests who miss allaboard time in a Mexican port and wish to rejoin the ship in the next Mexican port will be required to present a passport. In addition, the guest will be required to pay a visa fee and a possible fine and cover the cost of transportation to the following port. Furthermore, if the guest fails to present a passport, the guest must obtain permission from the Immigration department to travel to the next port of call without a passport. Guests who miss all-aboard time at the ship’s scheduled U.S. departure port and need to travel outside the U.S. to embark the ship at the next scheduled port of call will be required to present a passport to leave and/or re-enter the U.S. by air. Guests who unexpectedly need to disembark the ship from a foreign port before the end of sailing due to an emergency must present a passport to leave and/or re-enter the U.S. by air. The same applies to all foreign cruise ports, not just those in Mexico. A Passport Should Be Considered Essential and not an option. While a cruise line may indicate birth certificates or driver's licenses are okay, situations can pop up where a passport becomes mandatory. Rather than risk major inconveniences and expenses, we recommend treating a valid passport as an essential document for all cruises with international ports. The relative hassle of getting one is minor compared to the hassles you may face without one.

For adventure, wellness, and family fun, make the town of Davos your home base. Every winter, travelers from all over the world venture to Graubünden – Switzerland’s largest and easternmost canton – to take advantage of the Swiss Alps’ iconic ski resorts, snowcapped peaks, and decadent, fondue-laden après-ski scene. And while the region and its alpine villages – including Chur, Saint Moritz, and Davos, a town nestled sky-high in the Landwasser Valley – sparkle in winter, that’s not the only season worth planning a trip around. “While I love its winter activities, travelers shouldn’t skip Davos in the summer,” says LTTravel Connection. “The town has charming hotels and great restaurants and cafés. And the surrounding Graubünden area is truly a fairy-tale land, with dramatic landscapes and storybook villages.” For a centrally located home base, settle in the charming and friendly town of Davos to soak up the best of Graubünden. Here, summertime teems with activities for travelers seeking exhilarating adventures, serene wellness, or all-ages amusement. Before you go: “Be sure to learn the word Grüezi," Williamson says. “It’s the informal greeting given to everyone you meet in Graubünden.”