Passport debate, please help

[kiford]

Passports are not needed on a closed loop cruise, but we still purchased one for our son when he was seven and renewed it when it expired.

If you are a US citizen, leaving from and returning to a US port.

 

[bumbershoot]

it's easy to get a passport but not to easy to get a legal birth certificate replaced.

If you were born in the US it's ridiculously easy to get a certified birth certificate. Some states require you to go through vitalchek, in which case you'll be charged more money than you would in other states. In WA I can walk into the vital record's office at the dept of health in my town, or call them, or use vitalchek, or do it by mail order. Other states are different, but it's easy to look up for your state.

Depends on your/your kids citizenship.

Good catch. I tend to assume people asking that question know that already.

 

[longboard55]

What an I missing, they told me no passport, no cruise. Are the rules different for children.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

What an I missing, they told me no passport, no cruise. Are the rules different for children.

For US citizens on a closed loop cruise, beginning and ending in the same US port, the minimum legal requirement is a birth certificate, plus, for those 16 and over, a government issued photo ID. That said, a passport is typically a "better" document to have.

Also, cruise lines can implement stricter requirements than the legal ones. There are cruise lines that require that everyone have passports, regardless of what the law says.

Who told you "no passport, no cruise"?

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Very simple: You will NEVER regret getting passports for each family member.

Have a fun time!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

If you live in a state in the US that doesn't have the REAL ID stuff yet, just get the passports. If you don't get a REAL ID (that's what it's actually called), you'll be required to have a passport to fly domestically starting I think sometime next year.

Technically that depends on the state itself.

Missouri finally passed a law where they will offer 2 versions of the DLs: 1 that is Real ID compliant and 1 that is not.

*ETA: Sorry I just re-read your comment and my comment-we are in agreement that no REAL ID compliant ID=no flying. My mind was thinking you were mentioning something else sorry lol.

 

[mousehockey37]

Technically that depends on the state itself.

Missouri finally passed a law where they will offer 2 versions of the DLs: 1 that is Real ID compliant and 1 that is not.

*ETA: Sorry I just re-read your comment and my comment-we are in agreement that no REAL ID compliant ID=no flying. My mind was thinking you were mentioning something else sorry lol.

It's all good. A bunch of states are starting to get on board with it. Ours is going to keep regular licenses and then have drivers licenses that are REAL ID compliant.

But yeah, the overall of my post was that if you want to fly, sooner than later you'll need the REAL ID or a passport. So it'd just be easier to get the passport and have it for international travel as well as domestic.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

It's all good. A bunch of states are starting to get on board with it. Ours is going to keep regular licenses and then have drivers licenses that are REAL ID compliant.

But yeah, the overall of my post was that if you want to fly, sooner than later you'll need the REAL ID or a passport. So it'd just be easier to get the passport and have it for international travel as well as domestic.

I was thinking the same thing. My state currently does not provide driver's licenses in compliance with REAL ID, so technically next year, I'll need my passport to fly. I suspect with so much pushback bc passports are so much more expensive and harder to obtain than DLs are, our state will change our licenses so that they comply or that there will be an extension to REAL ID compliance, but stranger things have happened, who knows.

 

[mousehockey37]

I was thinking the same thing. My state currently does not provide driver's licenses in compliance with REAL ID, so technically next year, I'll need my passport to fly. I suspect with so much pushback bc passports are so much more expensive and harder to obtain than DLs are, our state will change our licenses so that they comply or that there will be an extension to REAL ID compliance, but stranger things have happened, who knows.

Our state is being weird about it. They're using it as a cash cow. You can continue to get a regular license (for now) or pay X extra for a REAL ID compliant one. They claim it's the tech they need to do it, but I think it's just them being lazy and looking for extra money. Sure, licenses are easier, but who knows, it might actually be less hassle for a passport, lol.

 

[HopperFan]

Another vote for getting them. Just remember that passports for those under 16 only last 5 years. We were caught off guard when DD was traveling to Colombia just out of high school and we saw hers had expired.

 

[Oregongram]

US passport is a golden piece of identification. Very useful in everyday situations where ID is required plus travel.

Comment about it being easy to get a certified birth certificate. I gifted my sister a trip outside of the US. Sister needed a birth certificate to get a passport. We are seniors and both have memory gaps. Parents and older siblings are deceased. Neither one of us could remember our parents birth dates, middle names and other significant information required to get a birth certificate. In desperation I paid a person to do a family ancestry search which gave us the information needed.

Our state is going through the REAL ID process and requires supportive documents when renewing drivers license. I've talked to several people who were unable to renew their drivers license because they needed a certified birth certificate - weren't able to get birth certificate because unable to answer questions or other reasons. Sometimes it isn't easy to get a birth certificate.

 

[Heard02]

You do not need them, but I suggest getting them. What if you have an emergency and need them on the island you are on?
I would not leave the US without one personally.

 

[Racer X]

You will never regret Having them... don't be Penny Wise and Dollar Foolish!

 

[MrsD78]

Thank you everyone. Looks like we will be getting passports for the kiddos and the debate will end in a draw. My husband and I discussed by it and although we are looking US citizens and technically don't need them for the kids, better to be safe than sorry. Now I just need to factor getting the passports into my travel timeline.

 

[sbridgeman]

Totally agree with getting passports - while not required they are a nice safety net and provide an extra piece of mind.

 

[arielmomma]

We cruised multiple times on closed-loop cruises without passports. My children are under 16, so they only needed to show birth certificates. Legally, that is all you need. Personally, I wasn't remotely concerned about not having passports. That is entirely a personal decision.

 

[mathgeek]

I was on the 6/30 Dream sailing which had a medical emergency stop at Nassau on the evening of a Castaway Cay day. I would never travel out of the country without one just in case something like that happens.

 

[RllngRckBrw]

I don't mean to hijack the post but I understand the motivation for having passports if one were to get "stuck" by either a medical emergency or by missing the boat. We plan to get passports for our first cruise. What do we do with them while in port? Is it recommended to carry them off the ship with you or to keep them secured in your stateroom?

 

[cmwade77]

I don't mean to hijack the post but I understand the motivation for having passports if one were to get "stuck" by either a medical emergency or by missing the boat. We plan to get passports for our first cruise. What do we do with them while in port? Is it recommended to carry them off the ship with you or to keep them secured in your stateroom?

I've seen both, but my thought is you would want them with you in case something happens and you miss the boat.

 

[bumbershoot]

Comment about it being easy to get a certified birth certificate. I gifted my sister a trip outside of the US. Sister needed a birth certificate to get a passport. We are seniors and both have memory gaps. Parents and older siblings are deceased. Neither one of us could remember our parents birth dates, middle names and other significant information required to get a birth certificate. In desperation I paid a person to do a family ancestry search which gave us the information needed.

Our state is going through the REAL ID process and requires supportive documents when renewing drivers license. I've talked to several people who were unable to renew their drivers license because they needed a certified birth certificate - weren't able to get birth certificate because unable to answer questions or other reasons. Sometimes it isn't easy to get a birth certificate.

I'm 47 and am on my 3rd certified birth certificate. I'm sorry that I didn't realize there are people who don't have copies of their BCs. I've had one since birth. (I also have my mom and dad's marriage certificate. A brother was given my dad's middle name and another brother was given dad's mom's maiden name as his middle, so that's also a nice memory sparker)

From years of BC questions here, on cruisecritic, and in the past on wedding planning boards (the number of American women who book their honeymoons using a name that can't be proven to be legally theirs yet is astonishing...ladies, an immediate international honeymoon needs to be booked in your maiden name) has shown me that things are not as scary as they seem. (Except for the honeymoon thing)

I go to the passport application form. There are all sorts of ways to not actually show a BC when applying for a passport. (You dont have to have a photo ID either).

It's more complicated, but it can be done.

If no birth record exists: Submit a registrar's notice to that effect. Also, submit a combination of the evidence listed below, which should include your given name and surname, date and/or place of birth, and the seal or other certification of the office (if customary), and the signature of the issuing official.

 A hospital birth record;
 An early baptismal or circumcision certificate;

 Early census, school, medical, or family Bible records;
 Insurance files or published birth announcements (such as a newspaper article); and
 Notarized affidavits (or DS-10, Birth Affidavit) of older blood relatives having knowledge of your birth may be submitted in addition to some of the records listed above.

So you jump through those hoops and you get a passport. There's your ID for flying and cruising and other border crossings.

Then you take that passport to the DMV. I looked at FL's real ID page because from what I've read it's seriously hard to get that in FL. For citizenship/identity, it says to bring in ONE of the following. First two listed are BC or passport. Well you've got your passport. Then you need proof of SS and proof of residence.

And you have your real ID with no BC. Complications and hard work for that passport, yes. But it isn't impossible.



That said, the person I was responding to was talking in context of having a BC already. But being afraid to take it anywhere for fear of having to replace it. It wasn't sparked from a discussion of not having one at all.