Disney cruise and ID for ports

[Lynda Silk]

Hi,
My DD's partner is coming with us on a Disney Cruies but doesn't drive. Can she use her health card as photo ID when she gets off the ship in Tortola and St. Thomas?

Thanks for your help in advance!

 

[Lesverts]

Passport.

It is very unlikely that she will need to show identification beyond your Key to the World card.

 

[Lynda Silk]

Thanks Lesverts! I was trying to think of an alternative to her passport...just prefer to keep those in the stateroom safe. Didn't realize that we would only need our KTTW card; I thought we needed an additional piece of ID and that it had to have a photo. Thanks again!

 

[kuhltiffany]

No, you DO need picture ID. We always keep passports in the safe and use our DL, hopefully Health Card will suffice… Does she have time to apply for an Age of Majority Card before you go?

It's the officials from the country you are visiting who require it, they do not have access to the photos/information on the KTTW card.

 

[MarieLightning]

^^ Yep, typically photo ID is required. It's not the cruiseline requirement, it's the cruise port security.

But typically it can be any photo ID. Definitely do not bring out your Passport. My mom's coworker did and then lost it. She had to pay a hefty fine upon her return in the US, because it is of course illegal to enter the country without proper documentation.

I sell cruises and usually advise to bring driver's license or health card, if the health card has a photo on it (not every province's does).

 

[Lesverts]

Thanks Lesverts! I was trying to think of an alternative to her passport...just prefer to keep those in the stateroom safe. Didn't realize that we would only need our KTTW card; I thought we needed an additional piece of ID and that it had to have a photo. Thanks again!

You misunderstand. You need to bring ID, but the likelihood of actually needing it is remote. Internal ID's like a health card or age of majority card are not advisable. A lot of places don't accept them because they tend to have or are assumed to have less stringent security.

 

[darwinsrule]

You will need photo ID for getting back on the ship in ports. Lock the passport up in the safe. I don't drive. I have used Health Card in Nassau during our first couple of cruises. Grabbed an Ontario Photo ID card when I renewed my Health Card back around 2011. Used that in other ports without an issue. Took about 3 weeks to get one so there should still be time.

 

[Sprockie]

We missed our ship in St. Thomas one year - about 15 years ago and all we had was a ship card and a Visa. I will never get off the ship without our passports if I am doing anything independently. I might consider it if I was doing a ship excursion, but never on our own. You never know what can happen. The pier office had to verify that we said we were who we said we were and wrote us a letter so we could fly back to Miami. I don't think it would be that easy now. Also, that was a U.S. island. Tortola is British.

 

[SaraMc]

Health cards are not considered valid photo id, because its not something everyone can get. My sister does not drive and she used her passport as did we. Just incase its always best to carry those when you leave the ship.

 

[Lesverts]

To those saying no to passport, think of it this way. The cruise ships generally take a photo of you on embarkation that is tied to your ship card. The Port Authorities clear the enter ship at once, not on an individual basis and generally you only have prove connection to a ship to be let back into the port. The reason that the ships tell you to take photo ID is so that you can prove to island authorities/your local embassy/consulate and airlines of your identity in case you miss the boat.