Living on the edge: Cruising Passport-less

[julieanddanny]

Looking for feedback from someone who has lately - on a cruise longer than a 3/4 Dream. What happens at a foreign port - like Cozumel, Mexico?

No lectures please! Thanks!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

On the closed-loop cruises out of a US port (like DCL's Western Caribbean cruise which stops in Cozumel, not Cancun), you only need a birth certificate and a government issued picture ID. No passport is needed. However, I always still recommend cruising with a passport in case an emergency happens and you have to leave the cruise early and fly home from a foreign port. In that case, you have to have a passport. If you don't have one, you will have to obtain an emergency one. The State Department will help you, but I prefer not to have to worry about the "what ifs".

If your cruise is not a closed loop cruise or not departing from a US port, you will be required to have a passport to board the cruise.

 

[Ofinn]

Our first 9 cruises were without a passport. We went to Caribbean several times. It's was never an issue at any port, getting on the ship or returning through customs. You will be probably have a bunch of people pop on here and lecture you....even though you said no lectures LOL.

 

[msb578]

You'll just show your non-passport documentation.

Odds are you'll be fine. If something "weird" happens to you, you'd have to get a passport at an embassy, which would have a certain cost. No lecture

 

[bumbershoot]

What happens at a foreign port

You get off the ship, enjoy the port, and get back on?

If the cruise is a closed loop from the US and you're a US citizen, then it means you can get off the shop no problem. Bring what the Navigator says to bring to get back onto the ship.

I personally bring my citizenship stuff on any port stop except for Castaway and Coco Cay (depending on what line I'm on). I don't want to be without what I need should something happen and I need the info now. So if I traveled with a BC that would mean the BCs are in a ziptop bag hidden at the bottom of my bag. With passports it means they are in a ziptop bag at the bottom of my bag. Others choose to not bring that, worrying more about theft at the port than being left behind without important paperwork. It's a personal decision.

No lectures please!

You've seen lectures? Hmm. I've seen people giving a sentence or two about the time (that you might not want to spend in an emergency) and (extra) money spent IF something should happen. Just as a reminder (or info to someone who hasn't thought about it, and there are plenty of those out there). I've never once seen a lecture about it. I've also seen very positive posts about how awesome it is to have a passport, because it opens up the world to the bearer, but that's definitely not a lecture. That's an advertisement about the fabulousness of world travel and having the gold standard of IDs.

 

[turtle27]

Only time this will be an issue is if there is an emergency. In that case, it will take extra time and probably $$ to get home. Otherwise, you will be fine and be able to enjoy your trip! The US State Department should be able to help in the event of an emergency, or if you miss the ship. You will have ID's and birth certificates, correct?

 

[professorandmom]

My adult daughter has a passport, I do not. Our boarding, port calls, and debarkation (3 cruises: 4,5 and 7 days) have been handled the same. I know the risks...

 

[silverwolfe2003]

This will be our 4th cruise with our passports....i had one but it expired. Just use our birth certificates and drivers licenses and all is good. I know the risks but choose to do without for now

 

[Hundredacre]

No passports for us!!! We are provincial americans and like it that way!!
We've never had a problem, and we are not particularly lucky people either.
(Okay, so we were not always provincial. Lived abroad for a few years but so glad to be back that we let the passports expire ten years ago and haven't looked back).

 

[MunFam]

What happens in a port like Cozumel? In a port like Cozumel, especially, you make sure you get back to the ship on time. If it sails without you, you are pretty much screwed because you will need a passport to fly home or to the next port of call. And being that it can take 3-10 days to get a passport through the embassy, you will most likely be flying home and it will be on your dime and not catching up to the cruise...and that is after you paid for your expedited emergency passport and hotel stay on the island.

If you make it back on time and you are healthy...you are good to go.

 

[wilma-bride]

For me, the main thing about a passport is what would happen if we got sick. On the PC cruise in May last year, a family was taken off the ship at Guatemala. Now obviously this is an extreme case and a cruise that wen much further afield than the Caribbean but, essentially, at any non-US port, if you were sick, you would need a passport to return home.

We have to travel with paassports as we are from the UK but, even if we didn't I think I would still want to have them for my own peace of mind.

 

[ShannonAbby]

I personally would rather be safe, than sorry. You never know! My SO won't go apply for him and stepdaughter, so I can't say we are adequately prepared either. Does help because my dad had an expired Drivers license and was just able to use his passport

 

[MUN]

You'll be fine without a passport. It sounds like some of the other posters are trying to scare you. Don't listen to them, if you are buying a passport just for this cruise, it is an unnecessary expense.

MUN

 

[love__goofy]

Is the same true for Grand Cayman Islands? Truly, I have no idea. We were thinking of doing a last minute trip and no one in our family has passports.

 

[NurseDave]

You'll be fine without a passport. It sounds like some of the other posters are trying to scare you. Don't listen to them, if you are buying a passport just for this cruise, it is an unnecessary expense.

MUN

Well neither one of those are true, people are pointing out the facts. Yes, you can sail without one. Yes, if something happens you'll wish you had one. Same with insurance right? 99% of the time it's "wasted money", that other 1% it's priceless.

 

[MunFam]

For me, the main thing about a passport is what would happen if we got sick. On the PC cruise in May last year, a family was taken off the ship at Guatemala. Now obviously this is an extreme case and a cruise that wen much further afield than the Caribbean but, essentially, at any non-US port, if you were sick, you would need a passport to return home.

AND...Guatemala was not a planned stop on our itinerary. The passenger fell ill, and the ship changed its course to get the person to the closest land based hospital. We did not pull in to the port. The ship stopped off shore and a tug boat came out to meet them. They went down the ladder and in to the tug boat (luggage, kids, everything). It was so sad to watch but they had no choice as their family member needed medical attention. So in that case, even if the passenger that fell ill had a passport, but the children did not...they would be stuck in Guatemala until they got passports.

Its totally fine to sail without a passport. I simply chose not to because I work in the travel industry and this type of stuff happens way too often.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Is the same true for Grand Cayman Islands? Truly, I have no idea. We were thinking of doing a last minute trip and no one in our family has passports.

Yes, the Western Caribbean cruise does not require a passport. You can board this cruise and get off in all ports without a passport. If there is one port on a cruise that requires a passport, you would not be allowed to board the cruise without having a passport.

You are able to travel with just a birth certificate and government issued ID. The only issue is if there is an emergency that would cause you to have to leave the cruise before returning to Port Canaveral. For that reason, I always recommend cruising with a passport, but it is not required.

 

[Dom262]

One thing that is now required is a photo ID for Castaway Cay. If you don't bring it, no big deal, you just have to wait in a longer line to verify that you are really a passenger on the ship.