Passport card or book

[sumismommy]

Hi.
We are taking a cruise out of NYC to Castaway Cay and WDW. Do my children need a passport book or card?

 

[jdb in AZ]

The book. The card can't help you if you need an emergency flight home.

 

[bumbershoot]

Book.

 

[clten]

Do they need either? If you are doing the round-trip cruise, no, they don't need either. Their birth certificate would be sufficient (assuming the children are under 16; if older their birth certificate along with a government issued photo id like a drivers license). However, if you needed to fly home from the Bahamas (Castaway Cay), you would need a passport book. The card gives you nothing that the birth certificate wouldn't on a cruise.

 

[Geomom]

If your kids are 13 or older, I'd recommend getting both. Once they're 18, the passport card could be used as their form of ID to fly within the US, and just as an official US ID. Not all kids who turn 18 have drivers licenses. We got our first set of passports in 2016, when my oldest turned 16...I wish I got her both...she's 18 now and her passport book is her only form of official ID. (I don't want to pay for a state id and then have to pay for the drivers license...she has a learner's permit...with 11 months left on it...ug)

But to answer the question, if you needed to fly from another country (even in an emergency situation), everyone needs the passport book. If you're just going to another country by land or sea, a passport card will work.

 

[chrisnb]

I was wondering same thing we are also on this cruise and it would be nice just to use the cards on port Canaveral day, and use actual passport for boarding in new york, I really don't want to hassle of having passports at the parks.
chris

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

If your kids are 13 or older, I'd recommend getting both. Once they're 18, the passport card could be used as their form of ID to fly within the US, and just as an official US ID. Not all kids who turn 18 have drivers licenses. We got our first set of passports in 2016, when my oldest turned 16...I wish I got her both...she's 18 now and her passport book is her only form of official ID. (I don't want to pay for a state id and then have to pay for the drivers license...she has a learner's permit...with 11 months left on it...ug)

But to answer the question, if you needed to fly from another country (even in an emergency situation), everyone needs the passport book. If you're just going to another country by land or sea, a passport card will work.

I'd second this. In that time between 16 and driver's license, there can be a number of times when your child might need a photo ID and the school ID won't cut it, but they don't have a DL yet. And you never know when they are 13 or 14 what they will need or when they will get their licence. My son got his DL at about 17 and a half and used his passport card many times before that has his official ID. On a plane, at a convention/conference, etc. He also used it instead of his student ID for SATs, since he had it.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I agree with previous posters that passports aren't just for travel anymore! We actually used DD's passport as ID to get her driver's permit before she got her license just weeks before turning 18. Think of a passport as an investment. Especially if you have a teen. After 16, they can get an adult passport that will last 10 years.

 

[jimmymc]

Get the book. Book does everything a card will do and allows you to fly internationally.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

The book is definitely the best option especially with all that REAL ID nonsense coming to airports. I believe it's only certain states but pretty soon my state will no longer accept a driver's license as valid ID to fly. One thing to keep in mind is the passport is only good for 5 years if they are under 16 so if they're really close to that age maybe get the card first to save some money.

 

[lanejudy]

I was wondering same thing we are also on this cruise and it would be nice just to use the cards on port Canaveral day, and use actual passport for boarding in new york, I really don't want to hassle of having passports at the parks.
chris

I don’t believe you will need to take passports at all on the WDW day. Everbody’s KTTW Card from the ship and drivers license for adults. You can lock the passports in the stateroom safe.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[DisneyGirlMI]

We have always had the books for everyone, including my kids when they were small. Just the peace of mind when you’re out of the country and never knowing what could happen. I’m of the thinking better to have and not use than not have and need. In the grand scheme of things it’s a small cost investment in security.

 

[Numtini]

Book. The card is an add-on if you're going across the Mexico or Canada border constantly.

 

[apathetic]

Card only. Probably

 

[chrisnb]

I don’t believe you will need to take passports at all on the WDW day. Everbody’s KTTW Card from the ship and drivers license for adults. You can lock the passports in the stateroom safe.

Enjoy your cruise!

I hope so, But I was told that last year you had to clear customs in port Canaveral before going to the park, and then customs again in New York which would really be stupid since you go straight to New York after Port Canaveral
chris

 

[bumbershoot]

Card only. Probably

If you're doing an American doing a roundtrip cruise that allows you to board with just the card, you don't need the card. Kids can board with just birth certificates. The card gives you nothing that the BC (plus ID for an adult) does, and costs money.

If you're on a cruise that requires a passport, the card won't help. Only the book will help.

So there's really just NO reason to get the card for a cruise. You either need the book OR a BC/ID combo will work just fine.



Now, when I first read the post, since the OP doesn't mention going BACK to NY I figured it was a one-way trip, and therefore they needed the passport. But I just checked for NY departures, and all the ones including WDW seem to be roundtrips. So I'm not actually sure if they need it. But IMO if you're going to get a form of passport for cruising, get the book. It's the only one that will easily let you fly home from abroad in case of emergency.