Do you need a passport...

[WeLoveLilo05]

to go on the DCL cruise to the Bahamas? What do you need at check in?
Thanks!

 

[nenner1]

No.

A certified copy of birth certificate for each person and photo id (no id necessary for children).

This question usually starts up heated debates but the answer is simple-you are not required to have a passport for a closed loop cruise that begins and ends at the same US port.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

No.

A certified copy of birth certificate for each person and photo id (no id necessary for children).

This question usually starts up heated debates but the answer is simple-you are not required to have a passport for a closed loop cruise that begins and ends at the same US port.

Thanks! Sorry, didn't mean to start a debate lol, didn't think this topic would
....now if I mentioned pool hopping @ WDW resorts, I could see the debate

 

[Donald_Quackers]

The only reason you would need a passport would be if you had to fly back to the states from there -- but there are ways to get a passport in an emergency if needed.

I personally got one for my peace of mind, but as the previous poster mentioned, it is not required (right now) for closed loop cruises.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

If you have a passport do you still need BC's?

 

[Duck Addict]

If you have a passport do you still need BC's?

No .
You provided a birth certificate to get your passport. Passports are all you need (other than your DL to drive to and from any airport taking you to your ship)

 

[MelissaE1]

to go on the DCL cruise to the Bahamas? What do you need at check in?
Thanks!

If your fiance isn't DD's dad, it's also a good idea to bring a notarized letter from the other parent authorizing you to take her out of the country. Also if you don't share the same last name as your daughter, documents showing the connection (birth certificate listing you as mom will do). I've heard of people being asked for them, and better safe than sorry!

 

[myworldisjam]

I have called THREE times now to make sure I get the same answer....and it's always been....Birth Cert. and photo ID. I guess I'll take the chance because I'm not spending the money on a passport I won't need again anytime soon.

 

[eelderm1]

I was always told just need BC. I am taking the chance too. I do not want to pay for passports. That is a lot of money for something I will probably never use.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

DH's birth certificate is pretty damaged, kind of looks like it went through the wash at some point. Would they still take it, or should we get passports?

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I actually have a huge issue with my birth cert.that bothers me to no end.

A few years ago someone broke into the county's building that holds the vital statistics and stole and sold some birth certificates (yeah, don't know how this was accomplished). But, when I go to renew my license or anything I get the run around, one day the Birth Certificate is valid, the next, its not. One day its valid if you were born AFTER 1965 (which I am) the next day its not valid at all.

I really have to get a new one b/c its just annoying.

And it says non of the birth certificates from that county can be used when applying for a passport, so I need a new one if I ever decide to go anywhere out of this country.

 

[P.Leilani]

I just got back from 4-day DCL, with DD3. I used both of or original BC's (I ordered a copy of mine as I could not find the one at home)

Now I will say this...THIS IS NOT A RULE, BUT MY EXPERIENCE....
When we got to the port, the line to check in was long (printer had gone down, so everything was moving slow)
anyway when we finally got to the counter, the CM asked for the documents you needed to have signed and then he asked for BC's I handed them both to him in my handy dandy "important cruise paper folder". Now here is the funny part, both of the BC's were in the plastic sheet protectors, my DD BC is half the size of mine (IDK why maybe because we were born in 2diff states) anyway, her BC was in front of mine so you could only see the top half of mine. Well the Cast member took the handy dandy folder and just looked at the names on both BC's, he didn't want me to take them out of the sheet protectors, now mind you in order to see or feel the raised seal on both of them they needed to be removed from the sheet protectors. Anyway, i thought this was odd.

But remembered this I am sure is an exception and not the rule

So as of to day you can use your BC as long as it is original with a raised seal. Enjoy and have fun.

 

[eelderm1]

DH's birth certificate is pretty damaged, kind of looks like it went through the wash at some point. Would they still take it, or should we get passports?

If BC is damaged I would get a new one. When I went to get my BC they looked at my son's BC and it was damaged and the people at vital records said the port may not take it damaged so I got a new one for him too.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

So as of to day you can use your BC as long as it is original with a raised seal. Enjoy and have fun.

Both of my children's original BC do not have raised seals! DD was born in 2007, DS in 2010, same county. I just saw that you have to have raised seals to get passports too, so I am going to have to call the vital statistics office.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

Both of my children's original BC do not have raised seals! DD was born in 2007, DS in 2010, same county. I just saw that you have to have raised seals to get passports too, so I am going to have to call the vital statistics office.

I don't think my DD's BC has a raised seal either, she was born in 05. Now I will have to check.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

I just got back from 4-day DCL, with DD3. I used both of or original BC's (I ordered a copy of mine as I could not find the one at home)

Now I will say this...THIS IS NOT A RULE, BUT MY EXPERIENCE....
When we got to the port, the line to check in was long (printer had gone down, so everything was moving slow)
anyway when we finally got to the counter, the CM asked for the documents you needed to have signed and then he asked for BC's I handed them both to him in my handy dandy "important cruise paper folder". Now here is the funny part, both of the BC's were in the plastic sheet protectors, my DD BC is half the size of mine (IDK why maybe because we were born in 2diff states) anyway, her BC was in front of mine so you could only see the top half of mine. Well the Cast member took the handy dandy folder and just looked at the names on both BC's, he didn't want me to take them out of the sheet protectors, now mind you in order to see or feel the raised seal on both of them they needed to be removed from the sheet protectors. Anyway, i thought this was odd.

But remembered this I am sure is an exception and not the rule

So as of to day you can use your BC as long as it is original with a raised seal. Enjoy and have fun.

FYI not all states/ counties use the "raised seal"

Rob

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Passport website says, "A certified birth certificate has a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar's signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office, which must be within 1 year of your birth. Some short (abstract) versions of birth certificates may not be acceptable for passport purposes."

My kids' BCs have a tiny multicolored embossed seal (FL), so I hope it counts. I'll call the county office anyway.

 

[DW2010]

Both of my children's original BC do not have raised seals! DD was born in 2007, DS in 2010, same county. I just saw that you have to have raised seals to get passports too, so I am going to have to call the vital statistics office.

This was my issue back in December 2005. I was told mine and Dh's BC needed raised seals, but mine does not have one. So I decided to get a passport just in case and had no issues getting a passport with my BC.

 

[jilljill]

Many states are not using the raised seal anymore. BC's need to be certified and the acceptable forms of certified BC's was posted by Conservative Hippie as taken from the Passport website.

 

[MrShiny]

I've found it pretty easy to get new BC's - of course we live in the same area we all were born, but it is pretty painless. If you are going to get one, I suggest getting a few copies. At our local offices, the second+ copies are cheaper, and it makes it easier should they go missing (or if one is tied up such as being sent to the passport office).

The idea is an official BC will have some element you can't photocopy (at least on a b&w copier).

I love having passports - makes it much easier even flying domestically (especially with the kids). It is nice to have positive photo ID's for the kids too.

If you really think you'll never leave the country, there is also a cheaper passport card, but not sure if that would supplant the need for a BC (it should, as the only real difference is there is no place for visa like in a passport book, but you won't be getting any visas on the cruise).

I know passports are expensive, but they are good for 5-10 years (depending on your age - we waited until my oldest turned 16 to renew hers since that will last her until she's 26).

And besides, the new passport books are pretty cool looking!