passports???

[ganurse]

i havent received my papers yet but am going on a cruise in april. do i need to bring a passport or will a birth certificate and marriage certificate be ok? i just to be able to get to it before hand if i need it....also some family members dont have one..does anyone know how long it takes to get one?..amy

[dianepentz]

Hi There,

We received our packets and it said you need a certified copy of your birth certificate (with a raised seal), and a photo ID such as a driver's license). I suppose if you use a passport, you wouldn't need the birth certificate or the driver's license. I would check to be sure though.
Can't wait till the 20th.

Diane

[ganurse]

thanks aunt dianne......heehee

[wilmywood]

We had passports for ourselves and the kids and found that the birth certificates and drivers licences were what most people had were accepted as easily as our passports. It was one expense I wish I hadn't made!

[Dave_from_Marietta]

If you have a <b><i>CERTIFIED</i></b> birth certificate and a driver's license, you'll be fine without a passport. And you don't need to bring your marriage certificate.

[Otisp]

Something I just heard today is that they might not accept "Certified Abstracts of Birth" from California (and maybe Texas). These are often issued by counties as replacements for original birth certificates, and in the case of adopted children don't give the actual location of birth (so I'm told).

[cruisenewbie]

The certified copy of my birth certificate looks like it was printed from microfiche and there is no raised seal on the copy itself. Stapled to it is a brief document stating the the attached is an authentic copy. The attachment has the raised seal. Is this going to be adequate proof of citizenship? I sail in 2 weeks and just relaized this. Help!

[Dave_from_Marietta]

cruisenewbie, you might want to stop by your nearest passport office and see if they'd accept your documentation for the application for a passport. If they say what you have is sufficient, then you should be able to use it to go on your cruise.

You can use this site to find your nearest passport office:

iafdb.travel.state.gov

[WendyandGoofy]

Although I love Louisiana's relaxed atmosphere and great food, my husband had to sail without a certified birth cert. because they never sent the one he paid for and requested over a month before our trip. Mine took about two weeks to come from Dallas county. Also, we STILL have not received my husband's, and we've been back a few weeks.

Although they looked at all four certificates when I alone checked us in (my husband was returning the rental car), they did not bat an eye that his wasn't certified. It may have helped that the children's certs listed him as the father.

If you have the document attached that you described, I think you will be fine - have fun!