TravelTalkOnline Forums Thread Like Summary - Passport renewal times

We will be renewing our passports toward the end of August after we return from our Anniversary Cruise. We have another cruise in November to Panama which requires a passport and it cannot expire within 6 months of the last day of the cruise, so that necessitates us renewing before then. I don't think we are cutting it too close from the end of August to November when we need the passports again, but can anyone provide the amount of time it took for their renewal that has done it recently? Should we opt for the expedited service (costs more but supposed to be quicker)?
Also, we don't currently have the passport card only the book. Is there any real advantage to spending the extra $$ to get the card in addition to the book??

Thanks.

Carol if you need to move this to a more appropriate Forum, please do so.

We renewed our passports online a few months back and the new passport book was delivered by mail less than 3 weeks later. We DID NOT opt for expedited service.

The passport card is only valid for land and sea border crossings entry to the US, not for international air travel. It’s useful if you travel frequently by land or sea to the US from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. You can also use it as a Real ID when traveling domestically in the US by air.