Passport and/or Birth Certificate

[bennett]

If we all have a passport do we need to take along our birth cert.---should we to play it safe?

 

[albiats]

You don't need anything other than your passport and a separate photo id, like a state issued driver's license or id card. Although as I type this, I recall that a few states do no have photos on their Dls.

Assuming you are a US Citizen:
Having the passport issued means that the Department of State is convinced that you are a US Citizen and have the birth date that is listed. It means that the burden of proving your citizenship has been assumed by them and that the person at the checkin counter doesn't have to worry if the raised seal on your birth certificate is authentic or not. They don't have to try to read something that is blurred because it was in a fold of the paper or whatever.

I applied for Passports for my DW and myself in February so that we could carry just the passports and a separate photo id. I believe that it gives more security for ourselves and also for the person that is reading it, such as the customs personnel or even the DCL checkin agents. The person reading it can presume that it's valid if it looks unaltered. I though that I read somewhere of a database that has info about where a person has been by having their passport stamped and the barcode scanned, but it must just be for countries that require a visa or something like that.

Anyway, that's why I paid the fee to get them, so that I could prove citizenship and identification more easily and to remove the guesswork from reading my birth certificate.

To play it safe with our passports, I'm going to make two copies of the first pages and put them in different suitcases. I also read an excellent idea from another poster that said she scanned the first pages of her family's passports into her pc. Then she sent an email to herself with an attachment of the scanned image so that she could retrieve the info by printing it out, from anywhere in the world. You just need to make sure it is an email address that can be accessed using the Web and not application software. Hotmail and Yahoo mail are examples of web based email systems, and there are many others.

If you aren't a US Citizen, then a corresponding department in your country would have the same responsibilities as the Department of State does here.

hope that helps

 

[LarryC]

Unless you are going to be driving a car, you don't need the drivers license if you have a passport.

You may want to use a drivers license instead of your passport when re-boarding the ship, but you do not need it in addition to a passport.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Just picked up the forms to apply for passports for myself and DD's. I have not had one since I was 16 years old, lol. Of course, once I have these I may consider some foreign travel such as Europe. Good idea to be prepared.

 

[StaceyA]

For those of us without a passport......a birth certificate and photo Id is enough right?
Thanks

 

[lespaul55]

Birth certificate and photo id are enough if you don't have a passport.

And take the time right now to check your driver's license and make sure it is current! My brother found out at the airline counter that his driver's license had expired!!!! Luckily, he's a firefighter and the airline accepted his Chicago firefighter's photo id. Especially if you have moved, the expiration notice of your driver's license may not find you.

Check it now!!!

Leslie

 

[Señor Ferrari]

From the FAQ section of Disney Cruise Lines' website:

What documentation do I need to bring?

All U.S. and Canadian citizens must travel with proof of citizenship, which is a valid passport, or certified birth certificate with a picture identification, or a certified naturalization certificate with a picture identification. Acceptable forms of picture identification are state or provincial driver's license with a picture, or federal, state, province, or local government photo I.D. card. Children 17 and under who are U.S. or Canadian citizens are only required to have proof of citizenship, excluding picture identification.

All Guests who are non-U.S. citizens residing in the United States will be required to travel with their Alien Registration Card (Green Card) and valid passports. All other Guests must have valid passports and necessary visas at time of embarkation. Travel documents required throughout the vacation are the responsibility of the Guest. Please consult with your travel agent, government agencies, embassies, or consulates to determine documentary requirements.

Any Guest traveling without proper documentation will not be allowed to board the vessel and no refund of cruise fare will be issued.

For all non-U.S. citizens, including Canadian citizens, travel documents will be collected at check-in by a Disney Cruise Line representative and a passport/Alien Resident Card receipt will be issued for presentation to Immigration Inspectors upon return to Port Canaveral.

 

[Cheryl-Lynne]

All Canadian citizens (yes, including children), have to travel with a passport. We used to be able to travel with a drivers licence, and a birth certificate, but now everyone must have a passport. We were told this by our travel agent, as we are booked on the Dec. 7/03 Western cruise.

 

[vllygrrl]

Here's a tricky question - I am sailing in September and do not have a passport. However, if I were to bring my birth certificate and driver's license, the names will not match because when I got married a year and a half ago, I took my husband's name. What happens in this situation?

 

[Señor Ferrari]

Good question, vllygrrl, I think it would be OK, as I'm sure this is the case for many people, but I'm sure someone on this board could tell you for sure.

In any case, if you're sailing in September, you should have plenty of time to get a passport. I find that it's much easier to travel with one, as it's proof of citizenship and photo ID all in one.

 

[Carrieberry]

We were told by a different cruise line a couple of years ago, to bring a ceritfied copy of our marriage certificate as well, just in case. Better safe than sorry!

 

[prymsu]

don't worry about it. I normally take my driver's license and not my passport when we cruise. I have never been told to bring a copy of a marriage certificate, or even questioned about why my last name doesn't match with that listed on the birth certificate.

 

[lespaul55]

I just cruised May 19 this year using my birth certificate and driver's license. And just like the previous four times I've cruised, no one asked why the names don't match. Honestly, cruise lines expect married women NOT to have their present ID match their birth certificates since most married women change their names.

And passport applications ask about marital status, date of marriage, spouses name and birthplace [I have an application with me.] But the application doesn't ask for any proof of marriage.

Leslie

 

[vllygrrl]

Thanks for all the responses! Ideally, I guess I should get a passport, but it might not be feasable....NJ makes it difficult. I'd have to take time off work and drive out to the county courthouse, about an hour away, to complete all the paperwork.

 

[motherhen17404]

Just some updated info:

We went to get our passports last week. And the clerk at the courthouse told us that it was a good thing that we were getting our passports now and not waiting. She said that sometime in August the price was going up by about $15.00 plus the service charge was going up $15.00 also.

 

[disneyvacationmom]

I was questioned at the airport in Orlando in Aug. 2001 about my ID. My birth certificate name didn't match the airline ticket name. I tried to explain that one was my maiden name. Not good enough. Luckily I had picture ID with me.

 

[Señor Ferrari]

vllygrrl,

You shouldn't have to go to the county courthouse to do it. You should be able to do it locally. I did mine at the local post office. The State Department website has a site finder at:

http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/

If you get your photo and fill out the application ahead of time, you should be able to do it fairly quickly. You can download the application from the website as well.

The finder lists two locations in Old Bridge, NJ, one appears to be open evenings.

Good luck!

 

[OurDogCisco]

Now, I am concerned. Do I need a photo id for 1 year old. My 4 year old has a passport but it might have expired by now. I'll have to look. Thank goodness I am looking at this web site. I totally forgot about the passport issue.

If anyone can answer my question that would be great.

Thanks,
Tina

 

[lespaul55]

Minors are different, they just need a birth certificate. No picture ID. As for your 4 year old's passport, I thought they were valid for 5 years for a minor's passport and 10 years for an adult.

Be careful about non driving 18 year olds, my son just got a State ID so he can get on the plane and cruise!

Leslie

 

[LarryC]

Originally posted by lespaul55
.....As for your 4 year old's passport, I thought they were valid for 5 years for a minor's passport and 10 years for an adult.....

Correct - it is imposible for a 4 year old's passport to have expired since passports are valid for 5 years if issued before age 16.

As for NJ and the courthouse - you can probably do everything at the local Post Office.

Anyone who has more than 2-3 months until their cruise should get a passport. It's so easy to do.