Latest passport rules

[live4christp1]

Our last cruise was back in 2009, a passport was not required back then. Do we have to have one now for a three night Disney cruise to the Bahamas or is it still optional?

 

[kamik86]

Still optional for closed loop cruises.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Passports are still optional on the closed loop cruises. They are highly recommended though.

 

[live4christp1]

Thank you!

 

[live4christp1]

My 19 year old son is doing an African tour next year and will have to update his too so I guess we should all just go ahead and update.

 

[mevelandry]

Our last cruise was back in 2009, a passport was not required back then. Do we have to have one now for a three night Disney cruise to the Bahamas or is it still optional?

Optional... but I would recommend having one in case you need (for medical reason or other) to fly back home.

 

[jrabbit]

if you have passports, DON'T let them lapse. Keep renewing them (every 9.5 years for adults, every 4.5 years for children under age xx?). Much easier and less expensive to renew than to start the process over.

 

[jahber]

if you have passports, DON'T let them lapse. Keep renewing them (every 9.5 years for adults, every 4.5 years for children under age xx?). Much easier and less expensive to renew than to start the process over.

But just to clarify, a child's passport is always a new passport every time until they are 16. You can't renew a child passport by mail--you always have to go in and it always costs the same. Adults can renew an expired passport for the regular renewal fee--and they can do it by mail-- if their passport (expired or not) is less than 15 years old.
The only time you have to start all over as an adult is if you don't have your passport, it's more than 15 years old, or it's damaged.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

if you have passports, DON'T let them lapse. Keep renewing them (every 9.5 years for adults, every 4.5 years for children under age xx?). Much easier and less expensive to renew than to start the process over.

Actually, for adult passports (not child's, as noted by jahber) you can renew a passport as long as it's been issued within the last 15 years. So a 4 year expired passport renewal is the same as a 9 1/2 year old passport renewal.

From the US state department website:
You can renew by mail using Form DS-82 if your most recent passport:

• Is submitted with your application
• Is undamaged (other than normal "wear and tear")
• Was issued when you were age 16 or older
• Was issued within the last 15 years
• Was issued in your current name (or you can document your name change with an original or certified copy of your marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order)

If any of the above statements do not apply to you, you must Apply in Person using form DS-11.

 

[bumbershoot]

Agreeing with jahber and Schmoo! If you truly have no travel plans it's OK to let them lapse up to that 5 year mark, because it's still a renewal for an adult. And kids aren't actually renewed anyway.



OP, for the cruise itself you don't need a passport assuming you're a US citizen. It's the pesky *flying home from a foreign country in case of emergency* issue that would, if it were to happen, require a passport. And if you suddenly need one, it will be more expensive and, I have read, be good for less time than a normal passport. It will also take some time. Work out how you feel about that chance for your own family!

 

[CesD]

here's a tip: if you must go in person, ck if your city hall can do it. At the end of July, I made an appointment at the city registrar's office and we did 3 applications in 20 min. we also got them 2.5 weeks later with the standard processing time quoted at 6 weeks.

photos were done at costco for $5 / person

 

[puffkin]

My husband and I already have passports but we opted not to get them for our kids for our Bahamas Cruise next month. If they were good for 10 years we would have, but with the 5 year expiration and no plans for any international travel anytime soon after this cruise we decided not to get them. There is a small risk, but we are ok with that. But then again we are also the people who never buy travel insurance.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

I give another vote for passports. This April I went on a cruise to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We left the kids home so the night before the cruise we decided to go to Disney Springs to take in a movie before going to bed. In the morning at the hotel I realized that I had lost my wallet!! I remembered reclining in the seats at the theatre and figure it must have came out of my sweat pants while watching the movie. The Disney AMC doesn't open until 11:00 a.m. and we had already turned in the rental car in order to take DCL Transportation from MCO. Since I had my passport, I was able to check in at the terminal and was able to used the credit card info that I submitted during online check in

While waiting to board the ship, I was able to contact the manager at Disney Springs AMC and they found my wallet at my seat They mailed it to my residence and I got it when I got home from the cruise. I was able to use my passport for the ports on the cruise and the airport on the way home.