Does my 6 year old need a passport for cruise to bahamas?

[fairytalelover]

Just wondering if we have to get a passport for my 6 year old for our cruise and what's the easiest and cheapest way to get one?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Just wondering if we have to get a passport for my 6 year old for our cruise and what's the easiest and cheapest way to get one?

"Have to"? "Need"?

Technically, all anyone "has" to have for a closed-loop cruise (begins and ends in the same US port, on the same ship) is a certifed birth certificate and (for those 16 & over) a government issued ID (ie drivers license).

Personally, any travel I do out of the US, I have a passport.

Easiest way, check the website for passport applications, they walk you through it. Cheapest? It costs the same, no matter where you do it. If you have some other person (company) assist you by submitting for you, that will cost additional for their processing "expertise".

 

[Tink rules]

Yes.. you have to have one for everyone that travels.

I don't think they will even let you on the ship without one.

Not only to get back into the country...

BUT they always tell you that IF something happens, an emergency, etc.. you will have to fly home from the port you are in.. including the bahamas.

 

[Tink rules]

Just wondering if we have to get a passport for my 6 year old for our cruise and what's the easiest and cheapest way to get one?

By the way.. there is only one way to get a passport... through the US Government.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/

Your daughter will only have one that is good for 5 years because children's appearances change as they grow.

 

[MTmomma]

Yes.. you have to have one for everyone that travels.

I don't think they will even let you on the ship without one.

Not only to get back into the country...

BUT they always tell you that IF something happens, an emergency, etc.. you will have to fly home from the port you are in.. including the bahamas.

Wrong info here. Closed loop cruises do NOT require a passport. This means the ship starts and ends in the same U.S. port. Alaska cruises are the exception because of some of the excursions travel into Canada.
Me, personally, I would get the passport because of the extra red tape involved in getting an emergency passport in what would be an already stressful situation.

 

[Tink rules]

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_989.html

 

[RedxPanda]

From: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_989.html#entry_requirements

Travel by Sea: Americans may enter the Unites States from The Bahamas by sea using a passport, passport card, or other Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document. Travelers arriving via private watercraft are charged docking fees.


From: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)

Children: Beginning June 1, 2009, U.S. and Canadian citizen children under age 16 arriving by land or sea from contiguous territory may also present an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Naturalization Certificate, or a Canadian Citizenship Card.

"Closed Loop" Cruises: U.S. citizens who board a cruise ship at a port within the United States, travel only within the Western Hemisphere, and return to the same U.S. port on the same ship may present a government issued photo identification, along with proof of citizenship (an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization). Please be aware that you may still be required to present a passport to enter the foreign countries your cruise ship is visiting. Check with your cruise line to ensure you have the appropriate documents.


My DD is 15 months at the time of our cruise and I checked and double checked all these official sites. We already have an extra copy of her BC and I wasn't about to add another $40 onto our 2 adult renewals if I didn't have to. We'll hold off on her passport card until we know are taking a Western Caribbean cruise!

 

[MTmomma]

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...lIDrCA&usg=AFQjCNG6ee7GBknbxyb2i16BLt_q0I33TQ


You can also search out this file yourself by looking for this file: whti_landseafinalrule-1.pdf from the department of homeland security website: www.dhs.gov

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Final Rule. It is a .pdf file from the department of homeland security. Read page 29 section 5. Yes I have read the whole bloody thing. This is the final ruling document justifying every change to the department of homeland security handling of entry into the US. I think we can all agree that the department of homeland security is kind of current on its policies about closed loop cruise ship travel for US citizens in the Western Hemisphere.

 

[Veectoor]

Just be aware that if anything was to happen that would require you to fly back, you will need a passport BOOK (not the card) to get back in the US.

 

[mickeynut1]

Technically, all anyone "has" to have for a closed-loop cruise (begins and ends in the same US port, on the same ship) is a certifed birth certificate and (for those 16 & over) a government issued ID (ie drivers license).

What age is considered to be an adult for a passport? From reading the gov site, it seems to be age 16, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something (I would have thought it was 18). We are looking to take our first Disney cruise next year. My DH and I have cruised before (although it's been awhile), and our DSs have never cruised. I am pretty much sold on getting passports for the ease of it. Our DSs are now 16 & 18, but will be 18 and (almost) 20 come cruise time. My concern is if an adult passport is 18+, my youngest will turn 18 just three months before the cruise. I was hoping to get him an adult passport that was good for 10 yrs instead of a child one that would only be good for 5 yrs. Do I have anything to worry about or am I good with an adult passport for him? As I understand it from reading the website, I can pay a fee and have his passport expedited, but as I am a planner, waiting until just a few months before cruising would really stress me out wondering if I'd get his passport in time. TIA .

you will need a passport BOOK (not the card) to get back in the US.

I'm new to passports as we've never had them before, so when I saw on the gov website that you could get a passport or a passport and "card", I was wondering what a passport "card" was .

 

[KristiMc]

What age is considered to be an adult for a passport? From reading the gov site, it seems to be age 16, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something (I would have thought it was 18). We are looking to take our first Disney cruise next year. My DH and I have cruised before (although it's been awhile), and our DSs have never cruised. I am pretty much sold on getting passports for the ease of it. Our DSs are now 16 & 18, but will be 18 and (almost) 20 come cruise time. My concern is if an adult passport is 18+, my youngest will turn 18 just three months before the cruise. I was hoping to get him an adult passport that was good for 10 yrs instead of a child one that would only be good for 5 yrs. Do I have anything to worry about or am I good with an adult passport for him? As I understand it from reading the website, I can pay a fee and have his passport expedited, but as I am a planner, waiting until just a few months before cruising would really stress me out wondering if I'd get his passport in time. TIA .



I'm new to passports as we've never had them before, so when I saw on the gov website that you could get a passport or a passport and "card", I was wondering what a passport "card" was .

Anyone 16+ will be issued an adult passport that is good for 10 years. The passport card is good for land crossings (Canada, Mexico) and for cruises. The card would not be valid to use to fly back into the US if you needed to while you were on a cruise. I would not spend the money to just get the card if you are going on a closed-loop cruise since you technically could just use your birth certificate. Either get the full passport or use the birth certificate.

 

[mickeynut1]

Anyone 16+ will be issued an adult passport that is good for 10 years. The passport card is good for land crossings (Canada, Mexico) and for cruises. The card would not be valid to use to fly back into the US if you needed to while you were on a cruise. I would not spend the money to just get the card if you are going on a closed-loop cruise since you technically could just use your birth certificate. Either get the full passport or use the birth certificate.

Thank you . That is a relief as my DS will be 17 next month, turning 18 right before the cruise next year and I was hoping I could get him an adult passport since they are valid longer (and I could get it early and not wait until right before). That is good to know about the card. I wasn't even sure what it was, but I saw on the gov website that you could pay a little more and get the passport w/a card. Since it doesn't seem necessary, I won't bother with the card...thanks again .

 

[MTmomma]

I got the books and card for myself and my son. I did this for a couple of reasons. One, being a small sized ID for my child. The second is, I need 2 forms of ID often enough that is far more convenient to carry around the card. Third, while traveling, we "swap" our cards. One adult carries all passport books, the other carries all the cards, just in case.

 

[Anal Annie]

Just wondering if we have to get a passport for my 6 year old for our cruise and what's the easiest and cheapest way to get one?

"Have to" is different from "should I". Personally, I would. We don't like to leave the country without a passport. It's just a precaution in case something would go wrong and you'd need to fly home.

The cost will be the same regardless of where you go. Some (but not all) post offices accept applications. Some only take them on certain days or by appointment.

 

[kcashner]

Annie above has it right.

Ways to save money:
Passport cost is the same at any post office, but you can save money on the photos...and don't wait till the last minute so you don't need to pay for expedited service.

Don't waste money on the card/book combination--the card isn't good for air travel, and you wouldn't be asking if you did routine border crossings...you don't need both documents. The book costs more, but will do everything you need for the next 10 years.

 

[Anal Annie]

Annie above has it right.

Ways to save money:
Passport cost is the same at any post office, but you can save money on the photos...and don't wait till the last minute so you don't need to pay for expedited service.

Don't waste money on the card/book combination--the card isn't good for air travel, and you wouldn't be asking if you did routine border crossings...you don't need both documents. The book costs more, but will do everything you need for the next 10 years.

Actually, kids passports if under the age of 16 are only good for 5 years. I had a hard time with the idea of renewing my DS's for our cruise in 2008 because of when I had to do it - the expiration on the timing falls just a couple of months shy of his 16th birthday. This means if I renew it again before he's 16 it will still only be good for 5 years rather than 10. Although renewals are cheaper than starting over I will have to see when the time comes if it might be better to let it expire & just start over again once he's 16. If we don't have any trips planned when it's approaching I'll have to make a decision then on what to do. But I WILL make sure he has a valid passport even for the Bahamas.

 

[wmharley]

Annie above has it right.

Ways to save money:
Passport cost is the same at any post office, but you can save money on the photos...and don't wait till the last minute so you don't need to pay for expedited service.

Don't waste money on the card/book combination--the card isn't good for air travel, and you wouldn't be asking if you did routine border crossings...you don't need both documents. The book costs more, but will do everything you need for the next 10 years.

As the PP stated, the kids are valid for 5 yrs only.

We got the cards. We aren't travelling out of the country in the next 5 yrs except this, and the cost was too much to deal on our Family.

Are we taking a risk? sure, but so do we when I go to work driving with the crazies.

 

[sissy_ib]

As the PP stated, the kids are valid for 5 yrs only.

We got the cards. We aren't travelling out of the country in the next 5 yrs except this, and the cost was too much to deal on our Family.

Are we taking a risk? sure, but so do we when I go to work driving with the crazies.

The cards are a complete waste of money for a cruise. You should have saved yourself the time and money and just used your birth certificates.

 

[wmharley]

The cards are a complete waste of money for a cruise. You should have saved yourself the time and money and just used your birth certificates.

Yes, but I'd rather walk around with just the card than a BC. I don't like bringing that BC on trips if I don't have too.

 

[sissy_ib]

Yes, but I'd rather walk around with just the card than a BC. I don't like bringing that BC on trips if I don't have too.

You would leave it in the room safe.

It is up to the individual but the argument, "we aren't leaving the country again" is not a good one for not getting a passport. You are leaving the country now. It's like if you leave on a cruise ship it doesn't count as leaving the country.
I really thing some people don't know The Bahamas and other Caribbean islands as different countries.

Yes, the passport card is good for travel by cruise ship, but it is no more useful than a birth certificate and much less useful than a passport book.