Passport Requirements for U.S. Citizens

[MSPeeler]

I know Passports are highly recommended in case of emergency, but I just need to know if they are required or not. I can not seem to find an answer that my brain can comprehend.

Closed-Loop Western Caribbean from Port Canaveral all are U.S. Citizens.

Are passports Required or not?

Thanks

 

[KristiMc]

No - they are not required. All you need to cruise would be an official birth certificate and a photo id.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I know Passports are highly recommended in case of emergency, but I just need to know if they are required or not. I can not seem to find an answer that my brain can comprehend.

Closed-Loop Western Caribbean from Port Canaveral all are U.S. Citizens.

Are passports Required or not?

Thanks

Legally, to cruise on a closed loop cruise from a US port in the western hemisphere, the minimum requirement for US citizens is a birth certificate plus (for those 16 and over) a government-issued photo ID.

That being said, if something were to happen and you needed to fly home from a foreign port, you must have a passport. There would be a delay (a day or more) while you got one, but you wouldn't be stranded in a foreign country in that instance.

 

[MSPeeler]

Thank you Shmoo & Kristi. I understand

 

[PrincessShmoo]

would be an official birth certificate with raised seal and a photo id.

Actually the requirement on the DCL website says:

Original or copy of their state-issued birth certificate

Nothing about a raised seal (or other identifying manner). I've read that people have just used a photo copy of their birth certificate.

 

[KristiMc]

Actually the requirement on the DCL website say:

Original or copy of their state-issued birth certificate

Nothing about a raised seal (or other identifying manner). I've read that people have just used a photo copy of their birth certificate.

For some reason I thought that was a requirement - maybe because my PA birth certificate has the raised seal. Good to know.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

For some reason I thought that was a requirement - maybe because my PA birth certificate has the raised seal. Good to know.

Not all birth certificates have a raised seal. Some government entities use a watermark to make it official. In our county, it's just a printed statement on the birth certificate stating it's an official copy of the original and signed by the registrar.

 

[bumbershoot]

Original or copy of their state-issued birth certificate

Nothing about a raised seal (or other identifying manner). I've read that people have just used a photo copy of their birth certificate.

And by their wording (and that of the govt) you could get a NON-certified BC, which states do allow you to order, and use that.

Certified BC is easy enough (that means it's watermarked, swirly-color-sealed, raised seal, or whatever YOUR county/state uses to denote" certified"), so I would just use that, but legally you don't have to. (but nothing I've said here means you can use your hospital-issued BC...it's gotta be from the state, even if you're making a copy of that)

 

[MSPeeler]

We all have our BC's and ID's. I don't think MIL's BC has a watermark, and they took it just fine last May. We're planning on getting the Passport Cards (good for Caribbean, but not international travel). Just needed to know if it was a deal-breaker for my MIL.

 

[disneylove69]

If you can get a passport. They are easy to do and depending on your state you may need to use it to travel on flights in the US soon anyways due to the Real ID act.

 

[MSPeeler]

If you can get a passport. They are easy to do and depending on your state you may need to use it to travel on flights in the US soon anyways due to the Real ID act.

We never fly, anywhere...but that is interesting to think about.... hmm

 

[lanejudy]

We're planning on getting the Passport Cards

We never fly, anywhere...but that is interesting to think about.... hmm

If you are only getting the Passport Cards for cruising, I recommend you save your money. The reason for having a Passport on a closed-loop cruise is as "insurance" so you are able to fly in an emergency (home, to the next port). You cannot do that with the Passport Cards.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[olookasquirrel]

We got away with using a faxed-in birth certificate on our last one. One person decided that "you don't *need* a passport, license and BC is fine" meant "2 forms of ID". Well, she brought her ss card and license, that was good enough, right? And her BC was locked in a safe. At the bank. On a Saturday afternoon. Thank Thor the DCL supervisors are allowed to bend the rules and allowed her have her husband fax in the certificate before we returned to port.

 

[Pandafamily]

Passports are good for 10 years so you won't have to worry about BC every time you cruise or decide to go abroad. Also consider if you missed getting back on the boat while in a foreign port. Having a passport would just make things easier.

 

[kittyklawz]

I would get a regular passport because you can not use the passport card for flying.

 

[DPRincess81]

Is a photocopy of a Birth Certificate ok to use? (Daughter is 2 and I would LOVE to not bring her actual birth certificate.) Can I make a copy on my home scanner/printer? Or does it need to be an official copy?

 

[Pandafamily]

Is a photocopy of a Birth Certificate ok to use? (Daughter is 2 and I would LOVE to not bring her actual birth certificate.) Can I make a copy on my home scanner/printer? Or does it need to be an official copy?

It has to be a state certified birth certificate. Official copy.

 

[DPRincess81]

It has to be a state certified birth certificate. Official copy.

Okay thanks!

 

[Pandafamily]

On the US Customs and Border Website under documents needed for a cruise, it states:

"A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 will be able to present either an original, notarized or certified copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issues by Department of State, (DOS) and/or Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services."

Hope this helps.

 

[SteveMouse]

And the link to the FAQ on the US Customs and Border website which the PP quoted: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1139/~/documents-needed-to-take-a-cruise.

I
Stay safe!