Do you have a wedding in your near future? Congratulations! Have you started planning your honeymoon yet? Many couples want to start their new life together by going somewhere new and exotic. However, the inevitable hassles involved in international travel can be stressful for newlyweds….or anyone else for that matter!

After all the stress involved in planning a wedding, you and your new spouse will probably want to relax. A honeymoon cruise may be just what the doctor ordered-you still get to go somewhere new and exciting, but the cruise line takes care of all the logistics for you.  Cruises are also a cheaper way to travel outside of the country, especially right now, when there are so many sales going on.

Destinations For Leisure has a post with some great recommendations for couples planning a honeymoon cruise. First, make sure to look for cruises that offer complimentary services to honeymooners. Also, if you’ve never been on a cruise before, choose a short cruise with a lot of time in port-nothing ruins a honeymoon like seasickness!

When you plan a honeymoon cruise, you also need to make arrangements for obtaining a passport if the cruise will take you outside of the US. Starting June 1st,2009, land and sea travelers to Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean will need passports to reenter the US in many cases.

Obtaining a passport involves filling out the appropriate application forms, submitting proof of identification and proof of citizenship, and paying the appropriate government fees. Fees vary depending on whether you are applying for a new passport or a renewal-you can view current fees here.

Obtaining a passport does take some time-at least 2 to 3 months for the government’s regular service, and at least 3 weeks for their expedited service. To ensure your honeymoon goes smoothly, use a private passport expediting company if you are short on time. An expediting company can have your passport application processed in as little as 24 hours, depending on how fast you need it.

International cruise coming up? Visit our website and find out just how easy obtaining a passport can be!