Passport Renewal...is there enough time?

[mershell]

I'm ready to send my passport renewal forms in now. We sail 12/14. I'm now getting nervous that I may have waited too long. Should I be worried? Can you get expedited renewals, or is that just for new passports?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm ready to send my passport renewal forms in now. We sail 12/14. I'm now getting nervous that I may have waited too long. Should I be worried? Can you get expedited renewals, or is that just for new passports?

You can get expedited passports (new or renewal) you just have to pay extra for it. Passport processing typically takes 6-8 weeks (according to the passport website), but can be as quick as a couple of weeks (especially for a renewal).

 

[Saamh]

We got ours back in 10 business days and I recall another poster commented recently they also received theirs quickly. I think you'd probably be fine with a 12/14 departure.

 

[SuperCalGal]

We got ours three weeks after we applied.

 

[mershell]

Ok, I guess I'll just have to trust it'll come in time. Worst comes to worst, we can still sail with birth certificates, right?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Ok, I guess I'll just have to trust it'll come in time. Worst comes to worst, we can still sail with birth certificates, right?

As long as you are all US citizens, and the cruise is a closed loop cruise (beginning and ending in the same US port), yes.

Also, those 16 and over need a government-issued photo ID, if just using birth certificates.

 

[mershell]

Ok, we're good, Just me and my mom. Thanks all

 

[m3owbox]

I just submitted mine this July and didn't get it until Sept. It was a renewal. My husband on the other hand needed a passport because he never had one and it only took him 3 weeks to get it.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

We submitted our kids renewal on 10/5 and they were in our mailbox on 10/20 b

 

[mevelandry]

I don't know if it works in the same way in the US than in Canada but here, you can send it by mail, or go to the Passport office.

If you go directly to the office, you receive your passport way faster than if you send it by mail. It's also useful because if there is a problem with your demand, the agent will tell you right away... By mail they will send the demand back to you (it can take up to two weeks to receive it) and then you have to start the process all over again.

So if there is an office you can go to, to get it done faster, I suggest you do that.

 

[jahber]

Personally, I would just sail with a birth certificate and bring the expired passport. In the very rare incidence that you needed to fly home, an expired passport will make the process of obtaining an emergency passport easier. Unless you have the money to spare for an expedited passport and will be using again in the near future. It's all about risk assessment, and personally I'll take the odds that you won't even need to use your passport.

 

[mershell]

Personally, I would just sail with a birth certificate and bring the expired passport. In the very rare incidence that you needed to fly home, an expired passport will make the process of obtaining an emergency passport easier. Unless you have the money to spare for an expedited passport and will be using again in the near future. It's all about risk assessment, and personally I'll take the odds that you won't even need to use your passport.

This is exactly what we've decided to do. I didn't think about bringing the expired passport...great idea, just in case. Are they fussy about the birth certificates? For instance, do they require it have a seal or anything like that?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

This is exactly what we've decided to do. I didn't think about bringing the expired passport...great idea, just in case. Are they fussy about the birth certificates? For instance, do they require it have a seal or anything like that?

From the US State Department website:

U.S. Citizens on closed-loop cruises will be able to enter or depart the country on the cruise with proof of citizenship, such as an original or copy of his or her birth certificate (issued by the Vital Records Department in the state where he or she was born) and, if 16 or older, a government issued photo ID.
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1139/~/documents-needed-to-take-a-cruise

 

[mershell]

Thanks so much