Your hopes for a beautiful Caribbean vacation sank right into the ocean the moment you check your passport’s expiration date. Your ship sails in less than a week. Are you going to have to leave this cruise on the shore?

If you need a passport in a hurry, don’t jump ship. Expedited passports can be had in as little as 24 hours, although it’s always best to try leave at least a week for the best affordable options. 24 hour passports can be readily had, although there are extra fees for the convenience.

Choosing the right service depends on your time frame. If you have at least 7 to 10 days, standard services work fine. Rush service can provide passports in 4 to 6 business days, while urgent services deliver a passport to your hands within 24 hours.

Aside from the prompt service, passport companies also offer immense convenience. Processing forms get pretty complicated and are best left to professionals, simplifying your headaches. With all the packing you have to do, the last thing you need is complicated forms to worry about.

You’ll need to provide proper documentation for any name changes, of course. For most cases, though, you don’t have to visit the agency and can simply apply online. Check with the agency ahead of time on how to best handle your situation.

Government agencies may be cheaper, but you pay in bureaucracy and delays, which are common. Even expedited passports can take as long as two weeks, sometimes even longer.

With a professional passport agency, expedited passports can be had whenever you need them. 24 hour passports are standard fare, sometimes even provided to you by the end of the day in some cases.

With a professional service, you get your passport when you need it without the worries. Then you can get back to packing. You’ve got ocean sunrises ahead of you in a land of tropical paradise.