Can you modify online check-in?

[CrawfordMomof2]

Hi Everyone!

We are planning our May 2016 cruise and we will be ordering passports sometime between now and then. My question is, If we don't have the passports until after we complete online check in at 75 days before sailing, can we go back and update the changes later? As of right now we planned on getting them in January which is pretty close to the March 13th PIF/Online check in date. We don't want to order them too early and just have them sit, but I'm worried if we wait until after online check in we won't be able to use them. Any information you have would be a huge help!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Hi Everyone!

We are planning our May 2016 cruise and we will be ordering passports sometime between now and then. My question is, If we don't have the passports until after we complete online check in at 75 days before sailing, can we go back and update the changes later? As of right now we planned on getting them in January which is pretty close to the March 13th PIF/Online check in date. We don't want to order them too early and just have them sit, but I'm worried if we wait until after online check in we won't be able to use them. Any information you have would be a huge help!

Yes, you can do this, as long as it is an itinerary where a passport is not required. A closed loop Caribbean or Bahamas cruise would be fine. A European cruise would not.

In fact, a lot of people recommend just checking the birth certificate/id option instead of passport so that you can skip ahead faster to the part where you pick your PAT. I didn't have my niece's passport info when I checked us in online, so I had her down as using the birth certificate/id option and the other two of us having passports.

 

[CrawfordMomof2]

Thanks Maggie's Mom! It is a closed loop cruise to the Bahamas, and since it will be our first one I'm over planning a year in advance to make sure everything goes OK.

 

[mousestellar]

We cruise in 22 days and I just received my new passport. Changed the number and expiration date with no problem.

 

[southerngirl528]

Great question, CrawfordMomof2!

Along these same lines, in my case my DD#2, who is now going to be going with me on the 9/17 Hawaii/Vancouver, (which requires a passport), has never had a passport. I just added her a week or so ago to the rez, and requested a birth certificate copy online for her just today to be sent directly to her as she lives out of state, so that she can get her passport as requested as soon as that arrives. I have told her how important it is that she get her passport as quickly as she can. She cannot find her birth certificate copy she has.

My check-in date is the first week of June, which is only 3 weeks away. Since our Itin is NOT one where a birth certificate will do, is this going to mess me up on selecting our excursions, Palo, spa, etc., on the first date possible??? If so, AUGH!!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Great question, CrawfordMomof2!

Along these same lines, in my case my DD#2, who is now going to be going with me on the 9/17 Hawaii/Vancouver, (which requires a passport), has never had a passport. I just added her a week or so ago to the rez, and requested a birth certificate copy online for her just today to be sent directly to her as she lives out of state, so that she can get her passport as requested as soon as that arrives. I have told her how important it is that she get her passport as quickly as she can. She cannot find her birth certificate copy she has.

My check-in date is the first week of June, which is only 3 weeks away. Since our Itin is NOT one where a birth certificate will do, is this going to mess me up on selecting our excursions, Palo, spa, etc., on the first date possible??? If so, AUGH!!

I could be wrong, but I was thinking you are still able to book excursions, spa appointments, and adult dining reservations without the passport information entered. You just aren't able to select a PAT until that's entered. But hopefully someone who knows for sure can chime in.

 

[southerngirl528]

Mahalo, Maggie'sMom. But boy! That PAT is important too! Sure hope daughter can get it all together and FAST so I don't have to worry...

 

[ASchwa]

Mahalo, Maggie'sMom. But boy! That PAT is important too! Sure hope daughter can get it all together and FAST so I don't have to worry...

I think you can put in any numbers for the online check in, doesn't have to be the correct ones and get to the PAT page. Then later you can correct it. The most important time to have your passport is embarkation day. If you don't have it, they can deny boarding.

 

[southerngirl528]

Thanks much, ASchwa! Okay, so the online entry isn't programmed to "read" or accept the Passport # as legit then? That would be helpful, if so. I expedited the birth certificate and she lives in a large metro area where there are a large number of passport acceptance locations, per the gov'ts website. I will just feel SO much better when she has it in hand, and I have the numbers from that passport!

 

[gilsan]

On our last cruise our passports were going to expire just before we cruised. When I did online checkin I used the numbers on my soon to be expired passport and adjusted the expiry date. When our new ones arrived I was able to modify the checkin with the correct numbers and expiry date.

 

[southerngirl528]

Thanks, Gilsan. That's good to know, but my DD has never had a passport so we have no number to input.

 

[gilsan]

Thanks, Gilsan. That's good to know, but my DD has never had a passport so we have no number to input.

I would just make up a number based on the others and see if it works, I am sure it will.

 

[southerngirl528]

Thanks much, Gilsan! I am trying to expedite things so that we can get this done soon.