Passport advice for NY Cruise!

[Macr]

Im considering doing the Bahamian Cruise out of NY Nov 2018. The itinerary includes sea days, one day Castaway, and one day at Cape Canaveral for Disney.

We are traveling with what will be a 4 year old and 2 year old. I understand passports are suggested for everyone, my husband and I are covered. I just really don't want to hassle with the kids getting one.

Is it really necessary?! I understand we could have an emergency but with the itinerary I'm just seeing it so unlikely, and would likely be closest to US anyways?! Advice please?!

 

[MUN]

Im considering doing the Bahamian Cruise out of NY Nov 2018. The itinerary includes sea days, one day Castaway, and one day at Cape Canaveral for Disney.

We are traveling with what will be a 4 year old and 2 year old. I understand passports are suggested for everyone, my husband and I are covered. I just really don't want to hassle with the kids getting one.

Is it really necessary?! I understand we could have an emergency but with the itinerary I'm just seeing it so unlikely, and would likely be closest to US anyways?! Advice please?!

No, I don't think they are necessary for your children.

 

[MaleficentRN]

I agree. There's an incredibly slim chance you'd need passports on this itinerary.

 

[hanscarlet]

If this was to Canada I would say yes, absolutely get one, we just received our note about it from DCL.... but to the Bahamas and PC, no, I don't think you need one, they don't check when you get to the Bahamas

 

[2015Cruiser]

We did a similar route last year with just birth certificates OK for our children, 3 and 6 at the time.. you might be looking at the next one we're on as well, Nov 4-11, won't need passports.

 

[IrishEye]

At the Minnesota border crossing and the airport a birth certificate is easily accepted by both the Canadian and US customs. However they do require proof.

 

[Weedy]

We did a 3 day cruise on the Wonder in February. We had to do an emergency stop in Freeport for a woman to be medically evacuated. You need a passport to fly home from the Bahamas.
Passports are like insurance you don't need it until you do.
I took this photo right before they brought her out on a stretcher with a medical team from the ship.

 

[darnheather]

It really isn't a hassle. Photos can be made at the Post Office. Both parents do need to be present or you need a certified letter from the absent parent giving consent. Who knows you may want to go again soon and get more use out of them.

 

[lanejudy]

An injury or illness at/near Nassau or Castaway Cay would require a flight to get to the US. You may be correct that most of the rest of your cruise could well be closest to US land if something arose. As long as you understand and accept the risk, the kids are fine with birth certificates. As others have said - the Passport is a form of insurance that nay never be needed but can be extremely valuable if the situation arises.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[kiford]

they don't check when you get to the Bahamas

Not necessarily relevant to this particular situation, but just because passports aren't requested or checked at a port doesn't mean you don't need one. If you need a passport for a particular port, it is checked before you board the ship and the information is provided by the cruise line to the port authorities before the ship is cleared at that port. Sometimes you may also need to show it but just because you aren't doesn't mean it's not required. And it's also irrelevant whether you disembark at a particular port or not if you require a passport. As long as you're in their waters, you need the appropriate documentation and that all is checked before embarkation.

Also, I'm assuming that the OP is an American citizen. The ability to use a birth certificate for a closed loop cruise from a US port only applies in that case. While it is possible for a Canadian citizen to cross the border by land using an enhanced driver's license or approved photocard, I'm not entirely sure if it's possible to do a closed loop cruise from a US port subsequently using that. I know it can be used at water borders between US and Canada but I'm not sure about Caribbean or Bahamian ports. And a birth certificate obviously won't even get you into the US from Canada.