Birth certificates??

[minivan3]

I hope I have the right type of birth certificates for my family's cruise in Dec. I know they need to have a raised seal-- I think mine is OK. It is , however, not a golden seal. On each corner of the certificate there is a seal, one in blue and white and one in red and white. If you turn the certificate over, you can see the indentions where it is raised a very tiny bit. Will this be acceptable, or do I need to order a longer form birth certificate? I would hate to get held up over this.
Thanks,
Kim

 

[traycie2201]

I'd check with DCl or your TA to be sure.

 

[hydster]

Birth Certificates do NOT need to have raised seals any longer! The only thing is it MUST be is a certified copy of your birth certificate! Raised seals do NOT matter!!!!! If it is a certified copy of your birth certificate and says that somewhere on the paper you will be just fine! As long as it doesn't say birth record or something simliar it will work.

From Disney Cruiseline website:

All U.S. and Canadian citizens must travel with proof of citizenship, which is a valid passport, original, state-certified birth certificate and picture identification, or a certified naturalization certificate with a picture identification. Acceptable forms of picture identification are state or provincial driver's license, or federal, state, province or local government photo I.D. card. Guests age 17 and under who are U.S. or Canadian citizens are only required to have proof of citizenship, excluding picture identification.


HTH
Heidi

 

[lilo62]

As long as it's not a "copy" then everything should be ok. I went a step further and ended up getting a passport just because I'm married and wanted 2 photo ID's to reflect the same last name. It made my travelling much easier and I got a cool stamp from the Bahamas! Now I'm all set when I travel to the Western Carribean next year!

 

[Drcell01]

In anticipation of our cruise in September I sent for an original birth certificate from the bureau of vital statistics in Pennsylvania. I received the certificate with the state seal on the lower right corner but it was not a "raised" seal.

I was also told that this is acceptable for passage on DCL.

 

[RClarkofNC]

Also note that the birth certificate has to be from the government. Hospital-issued birth certificates don't count, even if they have a raised seal.

 

[cindalu]

Hi
i am also from PA. where do you live or were you just born in Pa.

 

[minivan3]

Thanks for all the useful info. I received mine from the TN Vital Records building. So, I guess we are set to go. Only thing is, like one previous poster, my birth certificate and my photo ID will not have the same last name since I am married. Will that cause problems?

 

[jrabbit]

my birth certificate and my photo ID will not have the same last name since I am married. Will that cause problems?

Nope.
We decided to "Bite the Bullet" and purchased passports. I think that they are easier to travel with since they were designed for travel and a BC is "just a piece of paper" that is more easily damaged.

Yea, passports carry a significant cost (not bad for one person, but for a family of 4 quite a bit more), but its portability and it's proof of identity offsets those costs in my mind.

 

[tvguy]

You've got plenty of time, I'd strongly recommend passports. Just easier to deal with for everything from school, to travel to little league to soccer, all those folks who what proof of the date of birth. Then you can lock up the birth certificates in the bank safe deposit box and forget them.
When my DS (now 17, and currently on a school trip to France) was 2, we had a hassle with Canadian Immigration with just a birth certificate. They said a photo ID is always better because there is less chance they will delay someone with a passport, but with a birth certificate, they may delay you while they verify the birth of your child.
We even use he passports when traveling domestically by air, seems to speed things up.
I

 

[Jillpie]

Just curious, what would happen if you boarded with your family, and forgot one of your child's bc? Would they literally turn your whole family away and make you go home or do they give you a chance and try something else? Not that I am planning on forgetting, but I'm just curious.

 

[lovepuzzles]

Jillpie,

Funny you should ask that question! My sister is on a RCCL cruise right now. She sent me an email saying that she had forgotten my niece's birth certificate at home. She was in a frenzy about it! She had a friend go to her house, get the certificate, and FAX it to them. I couldn't believe it. I didn't know they would accept fax copies. I can't wait for her to get back so that I can get the whole story!

 

[lilo62]

Originally posted by Drcell01
In anticipation of our cruise in September I sent for an original birth certificate from the bureau of vital statistics in Pennsylvania. I received the certificate with the state seal on the lower right corner but it was not a "raised" seal.

I was also told that this is acceptable for passage on DCL.

It is. My husband was born in PA and got his from the Bureau of VS and had no problems.

 

[lilo62]

Originally posted by jrabbit
Nope.
We decided to "Bite the Bullet" and purchased passports. I think that they are easier to travel with since they were designed for travel and a BC is "just a piece of paper" that is more easily damaged.

Yea, passports carry a significant cost (not bad for one person, but for a family of 4 quite a bit more), but its portability and it's proof of identity offsets those costs in my mind.

I completely agree! And I made my decision to get a passport "last minute" with 3 weeks to spare before leaving on my cruise. I got it in time though. Whew!

 

[madoug]

My birth certificate and my photo ID will not have the same last name since I am married. Will that cause problems?

Last year, my sisters and I were advised to also have a copy of our marriage licenses along with our birth certificates.

 

[lilo62]

That's why for us married girls, I think a passport is worth the investment!

 

[minivan3]

OK, you guys have me thinking on getting a passport now. This may be a really silly question, but how do I go about getting one? Do I write the same place that I got our birth certificates from? ALso, what kind of price range do passports cost?

 

[TheWog]

Go to this site. Print off the application.

http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html

You can take it to your local post office or sometimes town/city hall. There is a list of places to go.

Costs are $85 for adults each and $70.00 for children under 16. They are only valid for 5 years for minors. 10 years for adults. When applying for children, both parents need to be there. As well as having BCs.

I am a strong passport proponent so I think it is a good idea for you or anyone traveling outside the country, but let's not get that started again.

Where is MikeyMars??????

 

[Memaw2Wm]

Originally posted by TheWog
Go to this site. Print off the application.

http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html

You can take it to your local post office or sometimes town/city hall. There is a list of places to go.

Costs are $85 for adults each and $70.00 for children under 16. They are only valid for 5 years for minors. 10 years for adults. When applying for children, both parents need to be there. As well as having BCs.

I am a strong passport proponent so I think it is a good idea for you or anyone traveling outside the country, but let's not get that started again.

Where is MikeyMars??????

Don't forget the cost of the photo ... we were charged $15 at the post office (where we applied) ... so total cost was $100 for adults and $75 for kids.

I decided that getting passports was easier than attempting to keep track of 6 birth certificates and 3 photo ids (adults). And after jumping thru hoops to get them (I have custody of my grandkids) I plan on keeping them renewed.

 

[Fire14]

I got my passport photos done at Walgreens, Waltmart with photo studios can do them, CVS.

I took my passport app. to county court to do mine, I couldn't do it at post office as none in area do it. It's been the best money I spent.
Easy getting on flights, in and out of Canada while traveling for pleasure. I haven't even done cruise yet