HELP ASAP! Need passport for Grand Cayman or Jamaica?

[EMom]

I do not cruise and always have a passport. A relative who has never left the country is cruising in a week or so and assumed a bc was enough and that they didn't need passports. Closed loop cruise. They are going to Mexico, and I think a bc is fine for that. But they also go to Grand Cayman and Jamaica. I think GC needs a passport. Does it? What about Jamaica?

I'm sorry to ask, but I figured you would know in a heartbeat.

Thanks!

 

[KristiMc]

A passport is recommended but is not needed on a closed loop cruise. She will be able to cruise with a birth certificate and photo id.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

They are fine with just the birth certificate since it is a closed loop cruise leaving from the US. If a passport was needed for any of the ports, then it would be required to board the cruise.

 

[EMom]

But can she get off the ship at the ports of call?

 

[EMom]

Oh crud....Another concern. Let's say her birth certificate says Amy Sue Jones, but her DL says Amy Sue Smith. Is that an issue?

This is why I like passports.

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

Oh crud....Another concern. Let's say her birth certificate says Amy Sue Jones, but her DL says Amy Sue Smith. Is that an issue?

This is why I like passports.

I can't imagine how that can be an issue - names often change due to marriage, etc from that on the BC. I think that's where the official photo ID (license or state ID) comes in.

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

But can she get off the ship at the ports of call?

Yes she can.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'll just point out, this is only true if said traveler is a US citizen. The minimum requirement for a closed loop beginning and ending in a US port (and sailing to Western Hemisphere ports) is a birth certificate PLUS (for those 16 and over) a government-issued photo ID.

Once onboard the ship, you may get off at the ports, or not, as you wish.

 

[GioCruise]

I would say passport for everything to be safe. But call DCL and have them give you the confirmed guidelines. You can call a local passport agency & for a pretty decent fee and as long as you have ticketed proof they can turn the passport around in 24 hours for you at locations that provide this service. Again, just my preference and opinion to err on the side of caution. I can't imagine you can get off the ship in Jamaica or Grand Cayman without a passport to enter their country?..

 

[GioCruise]

Yes she can.

Really? I would never have thunk it

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I would say passport for everything to be safe. But call DCL and have them give you the confirmed guidelines. You can call a local passport agency & for a pretty decent fee and as long as you have ticketed proof they can turn the passport around in 24 hours for you at locations that provide this service. Again, just my preference and opinion to err on the side of caution. I can't imagine you can get off the ship in Jamaica or Grand Cayman without a passport to enter their country?..

From the US Customs and Border Protection website:
U.S. Citizens on closed-loop cruises will be able to enter or depart the country on the cruise with proof of citizenship, such as 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) and, if 16 or older, a government issued photo ID. 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. The United States does not require you to have a passport. (A Consular report of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State or a Certificate of Naturalization is also acceptable.)

HOWEVER, it is possible that one or more of the Caribbean Islands on your itinerary, does require you to have a passport to enter their country. In that case, it is very possible that the cruise line will require you to have a passport to board, even if it is not a U.S. requirement. You should always check with your cruise ship, travel agent and or destination country to confirm the requirements for entry into the foreign countries you will be visiting. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provides document requirements for entry into the United States only.
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1139/~/documents-needed-to-take-a-cruise

 

[over50visits]

Really? I would never have thunk it

Really!

 

[bumbershoot]

I'll just point out, this is only true if said traveler is a US citizen.

The minimum requirement for a closed loop beginning and ending in a US port (and sailing to Western Hemisphere ports) is a birth certificate PLUS (for those 16 and over) a government-issued photo ID.

Once onboard the ship, you may get off at the ports, or not, as you wish.

Yes. I like your thoroughness.


Regarding the name change, bring your bridging document. If it was marriage, bring the marriage certificate. If it was a legal name change without marriage, bring those documents. You will almost certainly not need to show the proof, but if you are asked, you'll have it. (and IMO everyone *should* have to prove it!)

 

[Jk125]

The only way to know for sure is check with the board agency's of each country. As there are country's that set their own regulations and don't nessecary care what the USA does.
The bc and ressie in different names maybe another issue as how do you provide that you are the person on the bc.

 

[EMom]

Thanks, cruisers. Here is the update. The family did try to get passports, which were approved for all but one member. That one member's application was rejected due to a birth cert issue and they had to submit additional paperwork. (Yes, it is a certified bc.) Problem is, the passport office won't tell them what WILL make them happy, so they just keep sending in documents, affidavits, etc. and none of it has proved sufficient. They have no idea what will do the trick. So they will just take the cruise and that one family member will travel with a DL and a certified bc. They are all US citizens and it's a closed loop cruise. It turns out, they have been working on this for months, with no resolution. I'd have probably called a Congressman/woman by now in their shoes. Thanks for all the help.

 

[NoodlesMom]

We've sailed on the same itinerary many times with DCL and other cruise lines with a DL and birth certificate. They'll be fine.

 

[stitchfan75]

When you run into issues like that the best thing to do is to find the nearest "US Passport Agency", not the post office but the actual office (every state capital/major city has one). They have you make an appointment and bring in as much identifying information as you can (for example, your last name is different then your DL...bring in your marriage certificate AND divorce decree if needed), with appointments they are usually pretty clear over the phone because most people have to travel to get to one. Best part is you walk away with your passport by the end of the day (at least in 1989).
When I was a freshman in HS and traveling over seas my dad and I had to drive from Long Island into the city for an appointment since I was leaving in less than a month.
If your in a real pinch you can get the passport card, good for everywhere but traveling by air.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The website states "proof of citizenship, such as 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)", is sort of ambiguous. Since you will not be given the actual ORIGINAL of your birth certificate, in most cases, what you get is an "original" copy. And the "issued by the Vital Records Department" thing isn't real clear whether that means the original AND/OR the copy must be the one that actually comes from the records department.

Personally, I interpret it as you must have an original copy from the Vital Records Department. In CA, we don't have a raised seal any longer, but there is a signed (by the registrar) statement on the certificate that you get that says it's a copy of the original birth certificate on file.

Yes, I know people have sailed just using a photocopy of this copy from the Vital Records Department, but that would fall outside my comfort zone. For me it's moot, anyway, I have a passport.

 

[EMom]

The website states "proof of citizenship, such as 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)", is sort of ambiguous. Since you will not be given the actual ORIGINAL of your birth certificate, in most cases, what you get is an "original" copy. And the "issued by the Vital Records Department" thing isn't real clear whether that means the original AND/OR the copy must be the one that actually comes from the records department.

Personally, I interpret it as you must have an original copy from the Vital Records Department. In CA, we don't have a raised seal any longer, but there is a signed (by the registrar) statement on the certificate that you get that says it's a copy of the original birth certificate on file.

Yes, I know people have sailed just using a photocopy of this copy from the Vital Records Department, but that would fall outside my comfort zone. For me it's moot, anyway, I have a passport.

It is much more twisted than that. Much.

The person was born at home, but the birth was not registered with the county (and a birth cert obtained) until the age of 5-6. At age 5-6, they got a bc with no trouble. There has never been any trouble going to school, college, getting a job, with the IRS, etc. But when they sent in the certified raised seal bc to the passport office, someone noticed that the DOB and the date the birth was registered are 5-6 years apart and rejected it.

So they sent in notarized affidavits from those present at the birth, school documents, date stamped photos, etc. Nothing has been sufficient. They simply don't know what else to send and no one will tell them.

My opinion is that no one who checks these docs on a cruise will notice the difference between the DOB and registration date. They want a certified BC and they'll be happy. But this does need to be settled when they get back. It will mean a 5 hour roundtrip to a passport office, but it must be addressed.