can you use just a drivers license

[erionm]

Our 16 year old has a passport. So we need to bring a passport and his birth certificate?

Birth certificate is not needed if using a passport.

 

[jetskigrl]

Our 16 year old has a passport. So we need to bring a passport and his birth certificate? Whereas the passport serves as the only government-issued photo he has because he doesn't have his driver's license yet. Just keying on the Birth Certificate 'PLUS' a government issued photo ID. Thanks.

If you have the passport, you will not need the birth certificate. The passport proves citizenship and identity both. My DD was 16 on our Alaska cruise last year and only used her passport.

This year, her passport has expired. I don't want to purchase a new one for her until she is 18 (so it will last 10 years) so since she still does not have a driver's license, we got her a State Issued ID card. So this year she will cruise with the ID card and birth certificate.

 

[awilliams4]

Birth certificate is not needed if using a passport.

If you have the passport, you will not need the birth certificate. The passport proves citizenship and identity both. My DD was 16 on our Alaska cruise last year and only used her passport.

This year, her passport has expired. I don't want to purchase a new one for her until she is 18 (so it will last 10 years) so since she still does not have a driver's license, we got her a State Issued ID card. So this year she will cruise with the ID card and birth certificate.

Thanks for the responses!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

If you have the passport, you will not need the birth certificate. The passport proves citizenship and identity both. My DD was 16 on our Alaska cruise last year and only used her passport.

This year, her passport has expired. I don't want to purchase a new one for her until she is 18 (so it will last 10 years) so since she still does not have a driver's license, we got her a State Issued ID card. So this year she will cruise with the ID card and birth certificate.

Passports issued to 16 and 17 year olds are valid for 10 years.

 

[jetskigrl]

Passports issued to 16 and 17 year olds are valid for 10 years.

Oh - that is good to know, thanks I hadn't even looked into it since she won't need one until August 2016 anyway. So I'll probably wait until closer to the the time she will be using it before we get it. But that is good that I don't have to wait for her 18th birthday

 

[jrabbit]

any word on OP's friend an going on the cruise?

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

any word on OP's friend an going on the cruise?

Yes, I've been wondering the same and crossing my fingers the birth certs were found. I was in a somewhat similar situation once years ago. I knew I needed the documents for my kids but left them in the safe box at home. I was already in Orlando when I discovered it that night and had a family member fly from Chicago to meet me at MCO the morning of the cruise to get me the certs so we could sail! NIGHTMARE. I don't wish it in anyone and certainly learned my lesson!

 

[phinz]

Yes, I've been wondering the same and crossing my fingers the birth certs were found. I was in a somewhat similar situation once years ago. I knew I needed the documents for my kids but left them in the safe box at home. I was already in Orlando when I discovered it that night and had a family member fly from Chicago to meet me at MCO the morning of the cruise to get me the certs so we could sail! NIGHTMARE. I don't wish it in anyone and certainly learned my lesson!

I hope you put the Chicago relative up at the World for a couple of days so they didn't have to turn right back and leave the Happiest Place on Earth.

 

[MousseauMob]

Yes, I've been wondering the same and crossing my fingers the birth certs were found. I was in a somewhat similar situation once years ago. I knew I needed the documents for my kids but left them in the safe box at home. I was already in Orlando when I discovered it that night and had a family member fly from Chicago to meet me at MCO the morning of the cruise to get me the certs so we could sail! NIGHTMARE. I don't wish it in anyone and certainly learned my lesson!

I have at least 1 nightmare (sometimes more than 1) right before every cruise that I forget our passports at home. I've already had it for our upcoming cruise in November. Fortunately, it hasn't happened, but I still have the nightmares.

I'm hoping the OP's friends worked things out.

 

[perditax]

Prediction: we will never hear how this story turned out.

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

I hope you put the Chicago relative up at the World for a couple of days so they didn't have to turn right back and leave the Happiest Place on Earth.

Luckily this person works for a major airline and was able to fly free on a few hours notice. I was so relieved to see him at the airport with the BCs - I literally sobbed all the way to the B side to the DCL bus area! He did not want to stay, but I would have gladly paid for a little baca for him at that point, I was so grateful. Life saver!!!

 

[KYDad]

WOW! Not too many people would do that for someone! Thank God for family!

 

[bringmethathorizon]

passport trumps all.

 

[jtba]

any word on OP's friend an going on the cruise?

paging @disneylover428 ...

 

[Missyrose]

Prediction: we will never hear how this story turned out.

This. Yup.

 

[tvguy]

Raised seal for those places that use a raised seal (like CA). Swirly stamp seals for places that use those (like WA). Other seals for other places.

It has to be a "Certified Copy" of a birth certificate. California switched from using a seal to using engraved paper (similar to what money is printed on) at least 10 years ago. The key is, it has to say Certified Copy on it. So my birth certificate from the 1950's has a raised seal, but if I went to go get a new copy today, it will have no seal and be on engraved paper. Lord only knows what other states are doing.
Which is why have a Passport is an advantage.

 

[smadath]

Lesson Three: if heading to the Caribbean - sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen - sunburns are not fun and the sun is more intense that you are used to (usually)

... and more sunscreen. I went to the Galapagos when I was in college, and brought about a case of sunscreen with me. All my friends pointed and laughed until their "base tans" (from the tanning salon) did nothing and they fried. Then I was suddenly everyone's best friend.

 

[bumbershoot]

It has to be a "Certified Copy" of a birth certificate. California switched from using a seal to using engraved paper (similar to what money is printed on) at least 10 years ago. The key is, it has to say Certified Copy on it. So my birth certificate from the 1950's has a raised seal, but if I went to go get a new copy today, it will have no seal and be on engraved paper. Lord only knows what other states are doing.
Which is why have a Passport is an advantage.

If you look at the wording...


https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1139/~/documents-needed-to-take-a-cruise

"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."

If they meant "certified copy" they would SAY certified copy. They don't.

And people have gotten onto the ships with faxed BCs when they forgot them at home.

Would I travel with a photocopy of mine? Nope. I'm a passport person all the way. But official wording is official wording.



http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/whti-program-background/docs-land-sea

"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)."


Even Disney. https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/.../caribbean-passport-and-travel-documentation/

"All Guests claiming U.S. citizenship must present one of the following as proof of U.S. citizenship:

• A valid U.S. Passport
• A valid U.S. Passport Card
• A valid Trusted Traveler Card (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• Government-issued photo ID along with one of the following:
  • Original or copy of their state issued birth certificate"

Now I WILL state that the State Department used to have the same wording, and has now added "certified" before copy. So things might be changing, or they are wrong (given that people have gotten on with copies). But it's been about a year since they changed their wording, and the other official site (and Disney) doesn't match.

Like I said, I'm a passport person. But I'm also a "what does the official stuff say?" person.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Yes, I've been wondering the same and crossing my fingers the birth certs were found. I was in a somewhat similar situation once years ago. I knew I needed the documents for my kids but left them in the safe box at home. I was already in Orlando when I discovered it that night and had a family member fly from Chicago to meet me at MCO the morning of the cruise to get me the certs so we could sail! NIGHTMARE. I don't wish it in anyone and certainly learned my lesson!

That was so sweet of your relative to do! But, you do know. They could've scanned & emailed the certificates to you and you could've printed at your hotel, right? If you look at @bumbershoot 's post, it says copy. My friend discovered the night before we were sailing that she forgot her passport at home. Panic! She had her husband scan & email her official birth certificate, printed it at the hotel, and crossed her fingers when we checked in at the terminal the next day. No problem. We cruised!

But man, that was so very sweet of your relative to do. Sincerely!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

It has to be a "Certified Copy" of a birth certificate. California switched from using a seal to using engraved paper (similar to what money is printed on) at least 10 years ago. The key is, it has to say Certified Copy on it. So my birth certificate from the 1950's has a raised seal, but if I went to go get a new copy today, it will have no seal and be on engraved paper. Lord only knows what other states are doing.
Which is why have a Passport is an advantage.

It can be a photo copy of a certified original copy. I know it for fact. My friend who shared a room with me last September did it. (See my last post.) Goes against everything ya thought ya knew, right? Believe me, in the moment I was like "Whaaa?!" But yep. Not what I recommend. I'm a straight passport girl myself.