Do we need passports for this trip?

[riu girl]

1. Driving to BUF from Ontario
2. Flying BUF-MCO
3. Carnival Caribbean cruise
4. Flying MCO-BUF
5. Driving home from BUF.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. We were planning on getting two adult passports for this trip (kids already have theirs) but with Southwest flights being alot more expensive then I had originally planned, am trying to decrease vacation budget in other areas.

Any info. would be really appreciated.

Thank you

 

[Luhts]

I got this off of Disney's website:

"Guests are responsible for obtaining proper documentation to board the ship. U.S. Government passport requirements continue to change; therefore, we strongly encourage Guests of all ages to have a valid U.S. passport for all cruises. Having a passport allows you to always be prepared to travel wherever you wish, and offers an added measure of security when you're traveling.

For air travel, however, the deadline was January 23, 2007. This means that all travelers, including U.S. Citizens and all foreign nationals, traveling to the United States by air, such as Guests flying to Orlando, Florida from Canada, are required to carry a valid passport after the effective date."

 

[roxrox]

I'm not a 100% for the flight but for the cruise you will need it.

 

[disneyfan2]

I think you will not need the passport for flights but you defintely need a passport for the cruises i think, especially that you will be visiting all the other ports.

 

[PanamaMike]

I got this off of Disney's website:

For air travel, however, the deadline was January 23, 2007. This means that all travelers, including U.S. Citizens and all foreign nationals, traveling to the United States by air, such as Guests flying to Orlando, Florida from Canada, are required to carry a valid passport after the effective date."

However, as the OP stated, they are not flying from Canada. They are flying from Buffalo to Orlando, and at the moment, US domestic flights do not require a passport for boarding, nor is a passport required for entrance into the US when driving from Canada, a birth certificate & driver's license will do.

Princess Cruiselines states on their website:

Although U.S. and Canadian citizens are not currently required to travel with a passport on domestic itineraries including Alaska, Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean, Hawaii and Mexico, Princess highly recommends they are carried. For itineraries for which a passport is not required, U.S. and Canadian citizens who do not have a valid passport must provide the following proof of citizenship: Naturalization certificate or an original certified birth certificate from the state/province of their birth (a hospital certificate will not suffice) together with a current and valid government issued photo identification, such as a driver's license.

 

[Luhts]

However, as the OP stated, they are not flying from Canada. They are flying from Buffalo to Orlando, and at the moment, US domestic flights do not require a passport for boarding, nor is a passport required for entrance into the US when driving from Canada, a birth certificate & driver's license will do.

Princess Cruiselines states on their website:

Although U.S. and Canadian citizens are not currently required to travel with a passport on domestic itineraries including Alaska, Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean, Hawaii and Mexico, Princess highly recommends they are carried. For itineraries for which a passport is not required, U.S. and Canadian citizens who do not have a valid passport must provide the following proof of citizenship: Naturalization certificate or an original certified birth certificate from the state/province of their birth (a hospital certificate will not suffice) together with a current and valid government issued photo identification, such as a driver's license.

Well, I think you just made my point anyway...both the Disney and Princess websites "highly recommend" passports be carried. Plus the Caribbean cruise will be docking at countries other than the US...if they want to get off the ship, they may fully require a passport for that, haven't looked into it that far.
And what if something happens to the ship and they need to fly into the US from some foreign port? I know, we can play the "what if" game all day, but I still say Better Safe than Sorry!

 

[tricia]

You are fine for the flights, but I was told that I needed a passport for my last Caribbean Cruise. Could be cause we visited different ports, but they even collected the Canadian passports and then gave them back at a later date.

 

[Sheribo]

Took a Disney Cruise last year and a passport was required in Nassau. You can still drive across the border without one but that will change soon too.

 

[Ham Ham]

Is it worth you time lost if customs or TSA personnel misinterprets what is or isn't required?
He had one. Get a passport folks.

 

[mc'smommy]

1. Driving to BUF from Ontario
2. Flying BUF-MCO
3. Carnival Caribbean cruise
4. Flying MCO-BUF
5. Driving home from BUF.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. We were planning on getting two adult passports for this trip (kids already have theirs) but with Southwest flights being alot more expensive then I had originally planned, am trying to decrease vacation budget in other areas.

Any info. would be really appreciated.

Thank you

Please get a passport, you do not need it for airfare or for entry into the USA, BUT should you need to be air lifted off the ship, or flown back from one of the caribbean islands you will NEED a passport.... Also Please read the fine print in your Carnival documents, Carnival has the right to refuse you boarding if they dont feel the documents you provide is enough....
You wont be sorry !!

 

[momto1disneyfan]

Two years ago we flew out of Buffalo and a passport was required before they would let you pass through security.

 

[jmann]

I think it makes life much easier to have your passport. When we cross in our car I always take them, again it makes things easier. At the airport although technically you don't need them it is easier to hand over our passports. It is also the only photo ID we have for our 5yr old.

 

[Step]

I just went on a Bahamas cruise in June and a passport was required for the cruise portion of the trip. The issue was exiting/entering the US to/from the cruise ship. I could have crossed the border and flown without it.