Passport Card

[Mic]

The search function hates me! Can anyone confirm that the new Passport card will be sufficient for Disney cruises? My husband and I received our passports in December for our Jan.31 Disney cruise, but now want to take our 4 teenagers on a cruise either this summer or next. We have no need for a passport other than the cruise, so I was wondering if the Bahamas will accept the card. I read on the Gov. site that the Caribbean, Mexico, and Canada accepted the cards for land and sea travel(not air), but I didn't see the Bahamas listed. Next summer will definitely be a Caribbean cruise(7-day), but I may try to add a 3-day this summer to a short WDW vacation if the card is acceptable in Nassau.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

I just checked the State Dept website to confirm that Bahamas is listed as one of the regions covered by the Passport Card.

However, if you travel this summer, a Passport isn't (legally) required, only a Photo ID (for adults) and a Birth Certificate.

Sometime next summer (after June 1), they may start requiring Passports for cruising.

 

[Mic]

Tom---Where did you find the information about no passports needed for this summer(2008). The only thing I found was "beginning summer of 2008" passports would be required for all passengers. We are looking at cruising in July(I know, hot as Hades). When I looked up information about the passport card, it reads something like "will be required by a date to be determined later"???. All the cruise boards are saying no passport needed for Spring of 2008 travel, but I can't find anything about Summer 2008 travel.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

The State Department's website still give the very vague "at a date to be determined later. But the Customs & Border Protection website and the Department of Homeland Security website both state that the requirement won't be implemented until June 1, 2009 at the earliest.

From http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1200669485238.shtm:

Although DHS was on schedule to begin implementation of the new requirements as early as summer 2008, the fiscal year 2008 Appropriations Bill passed by Congress last month restricts the department from implementing these new requirements until June 2009.

 

[Mic]

THANK YOU!! Now I can get back into planning mode!

 

[NJBILL]

No passport or cards needed until July 2009,and after that as long as you are leaving and returning from a US port,they will not be needed after 2009 most likely. Only if you have to FLY for any reason do you need one. Passport CArd is not valid for Air travel, so save your $$$ or get a full passport

 

[mrsmoore]

I was told by our TA that DCL is requiring passports starting this summer. I asked her about the passport card, she said DCL said they are acceptable. However, if for any reason you have to fly from anywhere, the passport card will not work if traveling by air. We decided to go ahead and get passports. I would hate to be stuck in St Martin with an emergency and not able to fly home.

 

[jonesing]

We have no need for a passport other than the cruise, so I was wondering if the Bahamas will accept the card. I read on the Gov. site that the Caribbean, Mexico, and Canada accepted the cards for land and sea travel(not air), but I didn't see the Bahamas listed.

Remember too, it's not that Bahamas would require a passport (book or card)...they're perfectly happy taking a DL+b/c...it's the United States that is mandating a passport (book or card) when you return to the US and want to get back in.

 

[CraftyMouse]

The search function hates me! Can anyone confirm that the new Passport card will be sufficient for Disney cruises? My husband and I received our passports in December for our Jan.31 Disney cruise, but now want to take our 4 teenagers on a cruise either this summer or next. We have no need for a passport other than the cruise, so I was wondering if the Bahamas will accept the card. I read on the Gov. site that the Caribbean, Mexico, and Canada accepted the cards for land and sea travel(not air), but I didn't see the Bahamas listed. Next summer will definitely be a Caribbean cruise(7-day), but I may try to add a 3-day this summer to a short WDW vacation if the card is acceptable in Nassau.

As long as a birth certificate is still acceptable the cards are worthless. They do nothing more than the birth certificates do.

Also, keep in mind that if the teens do any overseas trips with their schools or will fly out of/into the country in the next 5 years they will need the passport. Also, if you need to leave the cruise and fly home the passport card will be no good. You will need a passport for any flights from any foreign country.

 

[ga9497]

The cards were really set up for those people that cross the border in a car to Canada and Mexico often. That is who will get the most benefit out of them. I think they are a waste of money for cruises