Spouse traveling with a birth certficate

[CJLoerwald]

My wife's passport has expired and while we have an appointed scheduled to have a new one issued for our cruise in 2 weeks I was wondering if any of you married women had any experience cruising with just your birth certificate and state issued drivers license. My concern being my wife's last name on her birth certificate and her drivers license don't match since we are married and she now has my last name. Do you need to also bring a copy of the marriage certificate?

We should have her a new passport by then but just in case I was wondering if any of you have had a similar experience.

Thanks,

Collin

 

[ericalynn1979]

Bring a copy of the marriage certificate. She'll be fine if she has it and her birth certificate.

 

[sissy_ib]

They compare her birth date and middle name on the photo ID to the B/C. They understand most women changer their names when married. If it makes you feel better you can bring the marriage certificate but it's not needed.

 

[lanejudy]

Not a problem. They understand that most married women have a different last name now than at birth. It won't be an issue for her to cruise with a DL and birth certificate - as long as it is the "official" birth certificate and not a copy or hospital-issue version.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[wendyoconnor]

The marriage certificate is really only needed if there is a difference between the name the trip is booked under and the name on the ids like what can happen on a honeymoon.

 

[mmouse37]

If you have not ordered the passport yet I would hold off unitl next after this trip. with only 2 weeks left until the cruise if you sent away for the passport now you would have to send the BC along with the passport application and I would hate to think of not having either back in time for the cruise.

Unless, of course, if you are doing same day passport at a passport office.

MJ

 

[sissy_ib]

The marriage certificate is really only needed if there is a difference between the name the trip is booked under and the name on the ids like what can happen on a honeymoon.

Just as an FYI for everyone, NEVER do this! Book your honeymoon under the name that will be on your ID at the time of the trip! I don't know it works other places, but I imagine it is the same or similar, when I got married I was given a photo copy of my signed marriage licence then two weeks later we got the actual document in the mail.

 

[jilljill]

If you have not ordered the passport yet I would hold off unitl next after this trip. with only 2 weeks left until the cruise if you sent away for the passport now you would have to send the BC along with the passport application and I would hate to think of not having either back in time for the cruise.

Unless, of course, if you are doing same day passport at a passport office.

MJ

Actually if the passport has expired within the last 5 years the BC doesn't need to be sent in to process a renewal passport.

 

[kcashner]

If you have not ordered the passport yet I would hold off unitl next after this trip. with only 2 weeks left until the cruise if you sent away for the passport now you would have to send the BC along with the passport application and I would hate to think of not having either back in time for the cruise.

Unless, of course, if you are doing same day passport at a passport office.

MJ

For a recently expired adult passport you don't need to submit all the original documentation again. You submit only the expired passport, the application form and the check.

 

[seven2go]

I had an experience in December on a DCL Holiday Cruise, where I was given some trouble. While I was allowed "back in" to Los Angeles ...lol... the agent I dealt with made a huge to do about me not having my marriage cetificate. I had my DL and a certified Birth Certificate, as well as my five kids and my husband in tow, and he wanted to know why I didn't have my marriage license.
Cruising in a few weeks out of World Cruise Center in LA on DCL ..... I will bring my marriage certificate "just in case"!!!

 

[mmouse37]

For a recently expired adult passport you don't need to submit all the original documentation again. You submit only the expired passport, the application form and the check.

Actually if the passport has expired within the last 5 years the BC doesn't need to be sent in to process a renewal passport.

See...you do learn something new everyday on the Disboard!!! Thanks for the clarification....I did not know that (probably because I renew right away!!)

MJ

 

[CJLoerwald]

thanks for all the info. She is going to go to the passport office for same day service but it is good to know it will work out anyway if for some reason she can't get in to get a new one.

Thanks again.

 

[*Flower*]

Here's something to think about-
We did the NYC 'cruise to nowhere' in July and almost didn't bring our passports with us.
We got nailed as we were coming into the terminal- the security checker asked for a picture ID AND our passports. I said something to the effect of "I thought that as the ship isn't stopping at any port this cruise, that passports wouldn't be necessary". I was informed that passports were required- so it's a good thing that we had ours with us!

HTH-

 

[ravensilverlight]

Here's something to think about-
We did the NYC 'cruise to nowhere' in July and almost didn't bring our passports with us.
We got nailed as we were coming into the terminal- the security checker asked for a picture ID AND our passports. I said something to the effect of "I thought that as the ship isn't stopping at any port this cruise, that passports wouldn't be necessary". I was informed that passports were required- so it's a good thing that we had ours with us!

HTH-

That's actually not supposed to be the case. Straight from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, "U.S. Citizens on closed-loop cruises will be able to enter or depart the country on the cruise with proof of citizenship, such as an original or copy of his or her birth certificate (issued by the Vital Records Department in the state where he or she was born) and, if 16 or older, a government issued photo ID." (updated 5/2012)
source: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1139/~/documents-needed-to-take-a-cruise

Don't know why they would tell you differently!

 

[*Flower*]

I don't know either- as it was a 'closed loop' cruise, but the fellow was really insistent, so I had to stop and hold the line up to fish our passports out of my belly bag and present them to him.

Nobody behind me was happy about it either- because that meant that they ALL had to go fishing for theirs too!!

 

[ravensilverlight]

I don't know either- as it was a 'closed loop' cruise, but the fellow was really insistent, so I had to stop and hold the line up to fish our passports out of my belly bag and present them to him.

Nobody behind me was happy about it either- because that meant that they ALL had to go fishing for theirs too!!

Sounds like misunderstanding on the part of the agent. Or just jealousy over being at work and not just coming home from an awesome cruise!

 

[sissy_ib]

I don't know either- as it was a 'closed loop' cruise, but the fellow was really insistent, so I had to stop and hold the line up to fish our passports out of my belly bag and present them to him.

Nobody behind me was happy about it either- because that meant that they ALL had to go fishing for theirs too!!

I think the confusion is not everyone uses a passport for a cruise. You can use a photo ID and a B/C.
Did you bring your B/Cs with you? If not, then yes you needed a passport.

 

[*Flower*]

Actually, we were boarding the Magic- not returning! So it was really wacky. But we couldn't convince him, so we produced them and passed on through.

Yet another Disney adventure!

 

[*Flower*]

I guess passports are easier to carry than birth certificates, so it's a good thing that we had them!
I couldn't even tell anyone where my b/c is! I'd probably have to send to CA for it.

 

[sissy_ib]

Actually, we were boarding the Magic- not returning! So it was really wacky. But we couldn't convince him, so we produced them and passed on through.

Yet another Disney adventure!

Yes, it is required to show photo ID and proof of citizenship when boarding and debarking a cruise. I'm pretty sure we had to show passports to get in the terminal at Port Canaveral and we absolutely had to show them when we checked in.