Does my 9 year old need a passport for the Alaska cruise?

[adSimba]

He doesn't have one yet, and they are pretty expensive, can I avoid it for now? what about a short loop from San Diego to Mexico?

 

[Weedy]

Alaska yes if it leaves from Vancouver. Also for some of the Alaska excursions.
For Mexico if you are sailing from and returning to the same U.S. port you don't need one but it's a good idea to have one.

 

[GoofyLovingFamily]

It is worth it especially if you plan to cruise more than once. To be able to fly home in case of emergency.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

He doesn't have one yet, and they are pretty expensive, can I avoid it for now? what about a short loop from San Diego to Mexico?

Yes, he has to have one for the Alaska cruises. They leave from Vancouver.

 

[kendall]

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/ships-cruises/required-documents/

Get a passport. You/Your child would need it for international air travel, and really any port of entry into the US.
In case of an emergency in a foreign county and you need to travel, having the passport will make it easier to fly.
And, be sure to have at least 6 months left before the passport expiration date when travelling.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

He doesn't have one yet, and they are pretty expensive, can I avoid it for now? what about a short loop from San Diego to Mexico?

I don't understand the specifics of a 9 year old traveling to Canada (not flying), so I won't address that.

But, for a Mexico cruise, the minimum requirement for a closed loop cruise is a birth certificate for a 9 year old.

As noted, if you find it necessary to fly between the US and a foreign port (or vice versa) a passport is required.

 

[anricat]

As others have said, if you are flying into Vancouver to embark, you'll need one. I think, but I'm not 100% sure, that if you're driving across the border to Canada, you don't, however, you should double check those requirements.

Yes, they are expensive, but less expensive than if something happens and you have an emergency and you need to get home. On our last cruise, a young girl had an unexpected medical situation and they had to debark in Nassau and get home. They had no passports so in addition to the stress of dealing with a serious medical crisis, leaving the ship and trying to arrange transport home, they had to work through the embassy to get paperwork situated to get home which isn't fast, easy or cheap. They were lucky that a friend of a friend knew someone at the embassy and they pushed things through quickly for them and guided them through the process. It sounded like it was a nightmare.

 

[chaseg03]

He doesn't have one yet, and they are pretty expensive, can I avoid it for now? what about a short loop from San Diego to Mexico?

Pretty much a repeat of what others said. Yes for Alaska. It leaves out of Canada, for Mexico not necessary but would be smart to.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Actually - if you are travelling by land or by sea, children under 16 do not require passports.

Children: U.S. citizen children ages 15 and under arriving by land or sea from a contiguous territory may present 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), a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Naturalization Certificate. If the child is a newborn and the actual birth certificate has not arrived from the Vital Records Department, we will accept a Hospital issued birth certificate.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/3618/related/1

If you are travelling by air - everyone (even infants) require a passport.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Actually - if you are travelling by land or by sea, children under 16 do not require passports.

Children: U.S. citizen children ages 15 and under arriving by land or sea from a contiguous territory may present 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), a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Naturalization Certificate. If the child is a newborn and the actual birth certificate has not arrived from the Vital Records Department, we will accept a Hospital issued birth certificate.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/3618/related/1

If you are travelling by air - everyone (even infants) require a passport.

That's why I'm confused. I've read that, while under 16 only requires a birth certificate to enter Canada, you need a passport to get back into the US.

Apparently that person had an agent that was uniformed.

 

[Prose]

If you are taking the White Pass Scenic Railway in Ketchikan, they literally stop and inspect passports. The train crosses the border into Canada and they will not let you proceed without a passport OR a passport card.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If you are taking the White Pass Scenic Railway in Ketchikan, they literally stop and inspect passports. The train crosses the border into Canada and they will not let you proceed without a passport OR a passport card.

Actually the White Pass railroad is in Skagway. But, yes, if you're on an excursion that crosses the border there, you must have a passport.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

That's why I'm confused. I've read that, while under 16 only requires a birth certificate to enter Canada, you need a passport to get back into the US.

Apparently that person had an agent that was uniformed.

Children under the age of 16 do not require a passport to enter the USA by land or by sea - only by air.

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative

Its right on the CBP.GOV website.

 

[jrabbit]

Required - I think is NO. But there are a plethora of issues that could easily change this to a YES.

Here is a link to DCL's "FAQ" about Sailing out of Vancouver .... (and other ports as well - but Alaska is first!)

I am FIRMLY in the YES - Get the Passport Camp!!
"They are so Expensive" --- NOT Really!! How much are you paying for your cruise? Let say $1,750 (minimum) per person (2A1C), plus excursions, plus "every thing else". For a family of 3 that easily works out to 8,000 for the cruise. How much is it costing to travel to Vancouver plus one night hotel? Add $180 for the passport - that increases the cost by 2.25%. Which leads me to my final point ... if the last $180 breaks the budget, then this is probably not the vacation for you (since there would not be any room for any unexpected issues). And for the 9yo, the passport is good for 5 years. And the world opens up and is ready to be explored.

 

[jliehr]

A passport card (good for land and sea Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and Caribbean) is $15, a Passport book is $80 for kids.

Passports for adults are $110

When spending thousands upon thousands of dollars for a cruise why not just get the passport?

 

[cedricandsophie]

My daughters have had passports since they were babies. I would never leave the US without one particularly during these times.

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

A passport card (good for land and sea Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and Caribbean) is $15, a Passport book is $80 for kids.

Passports for adults are $110

When spending thousands upon thousands of dollars for a cruise why not just get the passport?

From the US Dept of State Bureau of Consular Affairs https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/information/card.html for passport cards:

• $55 - applicants 16 and older
• $40 - applicants under 16
• $30 - renewals by mail

passport books:

• $135 - applicants 16 and older
• $105 - applicants under 16
• $110 - renewals by mail

 

[jliehr]

From the US Dept of State Bureau of Consular Affairs https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/information/card.html for passport cards:

• $55 - applicants 16 and older
• $40 - applicants under 16
• $30 - renewals by mail

passport books:

• $135 - applicants 16 and older
• $105 - applicants under 16
• $110 - renewals by mail

Huh, there's an Execution fee that they didn't show on their calculator until you clicked all the way through of $25, still, compared to the trip cost it's peanuts.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

For Alaska, from the DCL website:

Required Documents for U.S Citizens
U.S. Citizens Traveling To or Returning From Canada (Vancouver) by Air
All Guests claiming U.S. Citizenship, including children, must provide:

• A valid U.S. Passport

Photocopies of passports are not acceptable.

U.S. Citizens Traveling to Canada (Vancouver) by Land or Sea
All Guests claiming U.S. citizenship, including children, must present one of the following documents:

• 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 state-issued birth certificate
    • Puerto Rico birth certificates issued prior to 7/1/2010 are not accepted
  • Original Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State,
  • Original Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
• Guests under the age of 16 may present one of the following:
  • Original or copy of their state-issued birth certificate
  • Original Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State
  • Original Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

*U.S citizens returning to the U.S. from Canada via land borders must either present a U.S. passport, passport card, or NEXUS card. The only exception to this requirement is for U.S. citizens under the age of 16 (or under 19, if traveling with a school, religious, or other youth group) who need only present a birth certificate (original, photocopy or certified copy), Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or Certificate of Naturalization.

With the exception of the state-issued birth certificate, photocopies of the above documents are not acceptable. Hospital-issued birth certificates are not acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship for purposes of traveling outside of the U.S.

 

[bcwife76]

My daughters have had passports since they were babies. I would never leave the US without one particularly during these times.

Same here. My kids have had passports since they were both very young and we would not leave Canada for any country (including the US) without their passports.