Has Anyone Been Denied Boarding Because of Birth Certificate

[camdensmom]

Hi,
We booked a last minute cruise (leaves within the month) and were very excited about it.

I did ask if we would need a passport prior to booking. The Disney booking agent assured me we did not and that a driver's license and birth certificate are all we need because it is a "closed loop" cruise (3 nights only visiting Castaway Cay 2x).

I'm kicking myself for taking him at his word and not doing more research ahead of time.

I knew it would be unlikely that we could get passports in time, but wasn't stressed about it because I do have birth certificates for all 5 of us (myself, husband and 3 children under 12).

After learning we can't get back in the country in the event of an emergency I decided to try for expedited passports.

I was told we needed state-issued birth certificates and not just the ones from the town with the raised seal. I was also told that if we apply for the birth certificate they will take them and mail them back to us. This puts us at risk for not getting them back in time and having nothing to board with.

At this point I'm thinking it would be best to just skip the passport, hope for no need to fly back to the states (it's only 3 nights and only docking at Castaway Cay) while we are on the cruise and just bring our birth certificates and license like we were told to do by Disney when I books.

BUT I am now worried that they will require a "state-issued" certificate to board.

Has anyone had (or heard of) any problems boarding with the certificates only? Thanks in advance.

 

[wilkeliza]

Hi,
We booked a last minute cruise (leaves within the month) and were very excited about it.

I did ask if we would need a passport prior to booking. The Disney booking agent assured me we did not and that a driver's license and birth certificate are all we need because it is a "closed loop" cruise (3 nights only visiting Castaway Cay 2x).

I'm kicking myself for taking him at his word and not doing more research ahead of time.

I knew it would be unlikely that we could get passports in time, but wasn't stressed about it because I do have birth certificates for all 5 of us (myself, husband and 3 children under 12).

After learning we can't get back in the country in the event of an emergency I decided to try for expedited passports.

I was told we needed state-issued birth certificates and not just the ones from the town with the raised seal. I was also told that if we apply for the birth certificate they will take them and mail them back to us. This puts us at risk for not getting them back in time and having nothing to board with.

At this point I'm thinking it would be best to just skip the passport, hope for no need to fly back to the states (it's only 3 nights and only docking at Castaway Cay) while we are on the cruise and just bring our birth certificates and license like we were told to do by Disney when I books.

BUT I am now worried that they will require a "state-issued" certificate to board.

Has anyone had (or heard of) any problems boarding with the certificates only? Thanks in advance.

You still need a state issued birth certificate that has the raise seal not one issued by the hospital (I imagine that's what you mean by city BC?).

Here is a link to the office Customs website on this topic. https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1139/~/documents-needed-to-take-a-cruise

 

[camdensmom]

Thank you. The ones we have are not issued by the hospital but by the towns we were living in at the time of birth. They are from the respective town/city clerk's office and have the raised seal. But, my understanding is there are also "state-issued" certificates which we don't have nor do I believe we have time to get since we are living in Florida and they would need to come from Massachusetts.

 

[wilkeliza]

Thank you. The ones we have are not issued by the hospital but by the towns we were living in at the time of birth. They are from the respective town/city clerk's office and have the raised seal. But, my understanding is there are also "state-issued" certificates which we don't have nor do I believe we have time to get since we are living in Florida and they would need to come from Massachusetts.

Ah. Just did a quick search on cruise critic and it seems to be that the city BCs are sometimes not taken. I would file for the State BC now and hope that it comes in time so there are no issues on cruise day.

 

[gotomu212]

Thank you. The ones we have are not issued by the hospital but by the towns we were living in at the time of birth. They are from the respective town/city clerk's office and have the raised seal. But, my understanding is there are also "state-issued" certificates which we don't have nor do I believe we have time to get since we are living in Florida and they would need to come from Massachusetts.

That's fine. "State" in this case means the government not one of the 50 US states. As long as it is a raised seal and issued by your city's government clerk (register/vital records/some states have different terms for these offices) you are fine. They won't take hospital or religious certificates.

 

[mhorgan65]

Hi,
We booked a last minute cruise (leaves within the month) and were very excited about it.

I did ask if we would need a passport prior to booking. The Disney booking agent assured me we did not and that a driver's license and birth certificate are all we need because it is a "closed loop" cruise (3 nights only visiting Castaway Cay 2x).

I'm kicking myself for taking him at his word and not doing more research ahead of time.

I knew it would be unlikely that we could get passports in time, but wasn't stressed about it because I do have birth certificates for all 5 of us (myself, husband and 3 children under 12).

After learning we can't get back in the country in the event of an emergency I decided to try for expedited passports.

I was told we needed state-issued birth certificates and not just the ones from the town with the raised seal. I was also told that if we apply for the birth certificate they will take them and mail them back to us. This puts us at risk for not getting them back in time and having nothing to board with.

At this point I'm thinking it would be best to just skip the passport, hope for no need to fly back to the states (it's only 3 nights and only docking at Castaway Cay) while we are on the cruise and just bring our birth certificates and license like we were told to do by Disney when I books.

BUT I am now worried that they will require a "state-issued" certificate to board.

Has anyone had (or heard of) any problems boarding with the certificates only? Thanks in advance.

Raised seal worked for my passport. I used the birth certificate that I got from when I was born at the hospital from the 80's and even though my state and city have made changes to the birth certificate, it was still accepted. As long as it has a valid seal and has not been photocopied, you should be good, unless they are being stupid and want only the latest and greatest version of that birth certificate.

 

[mhorgan65]

Just bring the birth certificates and you should be ok, barring any issues. There are consulates in the caribbean that should be able to get you back home to the US, should such issues occur.

 

[KristiMc]

I thought all official birth certificates are issued by the Stat, Mine is from the State of PA Vital Records department. Are not all bc's the same?

 

[SandraDee]

Fellow MA native. We just applied for passports for our kiddos and they were issued by the city w/the raised seal. It's true that you have to mail this, along with a photocopy, however you can always buy more official copies.

 

[tnkrbell]

Thank you. The ones we have are not issued by the hospital but by the towns we were living in at the time of birth. They are from the respective town/city clerk's office and have the raised seal. But, my understanding is there are also "state-issued" certificates which we don't have nor do I believe we have time to get since we are living in Florida and they would need to come from Massachusetts.

I'm from Ma. Also I went online and had a raised seal birth to get sent to me in Ma.

 

[DLgal]

You will be fine on a Bahamas cruise. Worst case scenario, you have to fly home from Nassau...You WILL be able to get home. That is what Embassies are for. It takes some paperwork and time but you won't be stranded forever.

Just go with your birth certificates and enjoy your trip. Apply for passports when you return.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

That's fine. "State" in this case means the government not one of the 50 US states. As long as it is a raised seal and issued by your city's government clerk (register/vital records/some states have different terms for these offices) you are fine. They won't take hospital or religious certificates.

Exactly. The "state" issued birth certificate does not mean "issued by whatever state you were born in", but by a governmental entity (not the pretty, hospital issued birth certificate).

As long as the birth certificate has an official stamp, raised seal, or signed statement from the Registrar, it's official, and issued by the "state".

 

[mhorgan65]

Fellow MA native. We just applied for passports for our kiddos and they were issued by the city w/the raised seal. It's true that you have to mail this, along with a photocopy, however you can always buy more official copies.

I believe only certified copies are accepted.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I believe only certified copies are accepted.

Photocopies work. Seen it firsthand when my friend forgot her passport. She presented a printout of her scanned BC with government ID at the terminal. No problem. If you read carefully it says "or copy".

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Thank you. The ones we have are not issued by the hospital but by the towns we were living in at the time of birth. They are from the respective town/city clerk's office and have the raised seal. But, my understanding is there are also "state-issued" certificates which we don't have nor do I believe we have time to get since we are living in Florida and they would need to come from Massachusetts.

The birth certificates needed are from Vital Records. I'm on your same cruise next month. Seriously, if you don't have them already, get on vitalchek.com. They can get the certificates for you within days. I ordered my boys' from Alabama while we lived in Texas. Used expedited services. I had state-issued official copies in my hand in under 2 days. It's not as expensive as passports. Once you have the BCs you'll have them forever.

 

[diznymom]

I thought all official birth certificates are issued by the Stat, Mine is from the State of PA Vital Records department. Are not all bc's the same?

In some states, they are issued by the County Vital Records. We had to get birth certificates from 3 different states ( Nevada, Illinois and Texas ) in order to get our passports.

 

[bumbershoot]

After learning we can't get back in the country in the event of an emergency I decided to try for expedited passports.

If you have an emergency, you'll be getting the expedited passports from whatever country you're in at the time. You're not just stuck.

I'm kicking myself for taking him at his word and not doing more research ahead of time.

He said nothing wrong. For the cruise you don't need them (as an American doing a closed loop cruise).

I was told we needed state-issued birth certificates and not just the ones from the town with the raised seal.

Thank you. The ones we have are not issued by the hospital but by the towns we were living in at the time of birth. They are from the respective town/city clerk's office and have the raised seal. But, my understanding is there are also "state-issued" certificates which we don't have nor do I believe we have time to get since we are living in Florida and they would need to come from Massachusetts.

I feel like either Massachusetts does something I've never heard of OR there's a misunderstanding somewhere. I got my (third official) birth certificate from the county registrar where I was born, but it's still a state issued BC. We got our son's BC from the registrar's office in the town where he was born, but it's a state-issued BC.

As for raised seal...WA state has a flat, swirly-colored seal but it's still a certified BC.

I believe only certified copies are accepted.

Happily, not true.

From DCL...

Required Documents for U.S. Citizens
All Guests claiming U.S. citizenship must present one of the following as proof of U.S. citizenship:

• 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 their state-issued birth certificate

If they mean certified copy they'd say that.


Currently both getyouhome and cbp just say a birth certificate...if they meant "certified" they would say it. (I say "currently" because they continuously change the way they word things. Last time I checked a month or so they said it differently from each other, and one of themsaid it more like DCL's page. This changing-it-up thing has been going on for ages.)

 

[Bettyscruise]

I thought all official birth certificates are issued by the Stat, Mine is from the State of PA Vital Records department. Are not all bc's the same?

Also depends on when, not where. Older folks may have different "official" documents that are no longer accepted. My MIL presented her official BC when she applied for a passport and was told it was unacceptable. She had to apply to the PA vital records for a new BC. Best to be prepared and vetted long before you cruise.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Also depends on when, not where. Older folks may have different "official" documents that are no longer accepted. My MIL presented her official BC when she applied for a passport and was told it was unacceptable. She had to apply to the PA vital records for a new BC. Best to be prepared and vetted long before you cruise.

My parents ran into this when they applied for passports last fall. They are both in their 70s and had to request new birth certificates because the ones they had no longer met the requirements for being "official". The only time they had been out of the country was a driving trip to Canada many years back, before the documentation requirements were changed.

But in answer to the OP's question, as long as you have government issued birth certificates with the official seal, you will be fine. I am one who usually urges people to go ahead and get passports "just in case" , but for a cruise this close, don't stress yourself and go with your birth certificates.

 

[lanejudy]

In addition to being "official" (or a copy of the official document) -- I believe a key component is that the birth certificates must name the parents. Many older and/or hospital-issued documents only named the baby, the date, the location. Much like the super-duper certificates of participation handed out to kids for every little activity. Those don't cut it. The parents' names must be stated in addition to the other relevant info.

OP -- your kids are young enough that unless it's more of a ceremonial-type certificate, their BCs with a raised seal from a government entity should be fine regardless of which level of government (local, county, state). Yours and your husbands may want to double-check that it has the vital information required. You could go to the post office or another local passport acceptance location and ask. Another option for the adults is to get an enhanced driver's license -- if your BC is adequate for that, it has the right info to be accepted on the cruise.

If you apply for a Passport, it is correct they will take the birth certificates and mail them back to you. There are occasionally reports of people who kept their BC, but I wouldn't expect that to be the norm. Either order an extra copy of the BCs to send with the Passport applications, apply for expedited Passports, or sail the closed-loop US-based cruise as US residents with just the birth certificates. Then don't fret about having to fly home; if something happens you'll get help to get home, but the likelihood is low. Then when you get home, get passports so you can take another cruise without worries.

Enjoy your cruise!