Cruise ID question - I don't have a passport

[disykat]

I'm going on a cruise ship tour (not DCL) and need ID to get on the ship. They say passport or birth certificate & driver's license. I was going to take my marriage certificate just in case since my name has changed since the birth certificate - but I CAN'T FIND IT! I'm going nuts looking for it - we are highly organized but it is not where it should be.

Do I need the marriage certificate? Thanks!

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

No marriage certificate needed. We've sailed both DCL and RCL. Neither needed it. Just birth certificate and drivers liscence

 

[mickeyboat]

On DCL, they didn't ask for mine - although I brought it anyway.

Denae

 

[TheWog]

It's the old better to be safe than sorry, I wouldn't worry too much, but if they ask for it, it's good to have. You should be fine.

 

[jrabbit]

If you are on one of the repositioning criuses will we need a passport if you go on shore excursion

 

[disykat]

Thanks. I'll keep looking for it (it's driving me crazy that I can't find it. Dh and I are normally very organized)but it's nice to know they probably won't ask. Worst case scenario I won't be able to go, but since we aren't leaving the dock and I'll be with my sister who has my maiden name maybe they'll let it slide.

 

[FredS]

From what I understand, they look at your name and date of birth on your id to make sure that there is no conflict with your birth certificate.

For instance, if you were born on January 1, 1960, and named Mary Louise Smith, and you show up with a driver's license with a photo that looks like you and has the name Mary Smith Jones (or Mary Louise Jones, perhaps) with a date of birth of January 1, 1960, then it is easy to follow.

I guess it is not impossible for a problem if your birth certificate is incorrect, or your name changed in some way not typical after marriage or something, but I don't think I have heard of anyone actually needing to show their marriage certificate when checking in.

 

[natdencro]

Just a note: we needed TWO picture IDs for the cruise.Anyone other than USA citizens should check ahead. Its not unknown for guests to arrive without the necessary ID. Certainly, European guests will need passport/photo driving license. They are very strict on security - and rightly so!Nat

 

[WDWLVR]

The first two cruises we took on DCL I didn't have a passport and while I brought my marriage certificate every time they never asked for it. You should be fine. As long as the birthdate on your drivers liscense matches the birth date on your birth certificate you should be good.

 

[traycie2201]

Hi , we;ll be travelling from the uk so will have passports however i understand that these are taken from you on boarding and not given back until disembarkation at the end of the week , but don't they need passport id for each time you get on and off the ship ? we don't have photo drivers licences , any thoughts ?

 

[skyhawk]

Went on a RCCL cruise last year. My wife had birth certificate and license, not a marriage certificate. They let us on, but at check-in, they could have denied us boarding, and suggested that the next time we go on a cruise, she should have the marriage certificate. One other idea which might make things easier, get you cruise documents (if it's not too late) in a hyphenated name - like Mary Smith-Jones (if Jones is your married name), this way, all names are matched.

Good luck.

 

[toot2]

I think it depends on the individual checking your id.

I'm married and I had no problem using just my certified birth certificate and photo id EXCEPT for Key West. Guests 18 yrs and over need a photo id along with the KTTW card to leave and board the ship at port.

I don't have a photo id drivers license so I used a resident photo id issued by our police dept. Well the guy checking my id gave me a hard time about it but he did let me get back onboard! The funny thing is, my husband's photo id consisted of an expired id from the county golf course and our town pool id and he didn't have a problem at all!!! Go figure!!

Sue

 

[Rence]

I am very pro-passport. The times are changing and passports will be needed more and more in the future.

With a passport, you know that you have all the documentation that you need to board.

The rules are getting stricter and being enforced more carefully.

The downside of a passport is the money, but it is good for ten years

 

[toot2]

I had applied for a passport but ran in to a problem with my birth certificate. By the time I received my new certified birth certificate it was just a few weeks before my cruise and I couldn't take the chance of being without the bc or a passport. I'm completing the passort app process now that we're back fom the cruise (it was great!).

If you have the time and money to apply before traveling I think passports are the way to go.

Sue

 

[TheWog]

Passports are the best and easiest way to go. One ID is all you need. $8.50 per year for ten years. Then less to renew. We also have one for our DS7. He loves presenting it to any who will look at it.

 

[mandymouse]

Hi Traycie2201

We too are from the U.K. and on our 1st Disney Cruise they kept our passports but gave us a photocopy for when we got off the ship. On our 2nd cruise we bought the new photo i.d. drivers licences for myself and DH and we were able to use them instead of the photocopies. On your last morning of your cruise you have to be at immigration for 6am where they return your passports to you.

mandymouse