Passport Requirements

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

From http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/ready_set_go/land_travel/qa_travel_docs.xml

Q: What documents will travelers be asked to present after January 31st?
A: U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 19 and older will be asked to present documentation from a specified list. Please see the Fact Sheet for document options. ( Travelers Reminded of New Document Requirements Beginning January 31, 2008 )
U.S. and Canadian children ages 18 and under will only be asked to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.
Bermudians should present a passport issued by the Government of Bermuda or the United Kingdom, or a government-issued photo ID along with proof of citizenship.

Q: What happens if I don’t have any documents when I cross the border at a land or sea port of entry?
A: Travelers who do not have the appropriate documents may be delayed while CBP officers attempt to verify their citizenship and identity. They will also be given the informational tear sheet explaining the new procedures. The intent of this transition is to raise awareness of the change, educate travelers, and allow ample time for travelers to obtain the necessary documents.

Q: How long will the transition period last? What will happen when it ends?
A: The transition period will last for approximately 18 months at which time the Departments of Homeland Security and State will implement the requirement for secure travel documents, under the congressionally mandated Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).

Q: When will implementation of the new requirements occur?
A: Implementation will occur as early as June 1, 2009. At that time, only secure documents meeting identity and citizenship requirements under WHTI will be accepted for cross-border travel through land and sea ports of entry. The public will be given considerable advance notice of the full implementation of new document requirements.

Q: What documents will be acceptable after implementation?
A: The final land and sea rule for WHTI will describe which documents will be accepted after implementation. Upon publication, a list of those documents will be found on the CBP website. We anticipate that U.S. and Canadian passports; the U.S. passport card; NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST cards; and enhanced driver’s licenses and tribal cards designated by the Secretary will be accepted.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Sorry, that was way too much information.

The point I was trying to get accross is that they are transitioning the ID & Birth Certificate requirement for 18 months before they even TRY to require Passports.

 

[Keather]

Thanks guys! Your the best! You have been so helpful! I have wanted to do this since the first ship sailed the year we got married. I told my husband right then that I wanted to do this for our 10th anniversary and here we are. I am just going to keep my fingers and toes crossed and make that reservation! Hugsss to you!

 

[PeterandTink]

Thanks guys! Your the best! You have been so helpful! I have wanted to do this since the first ship sailed the year we got married. I told my husband right then that I wanted to do this for our 10th anniversary and here we are. I am just going to keep my fingers and toes crossed and make that reservation! Hugsss to you!

I called Disney alittle after this thread was started..To see what they would tell me. We are going in Dec. and as of now have no plans of getting passports for the kids. The person I spoke said they were not required..only rec... I was curious to know if you had tried calling again and perhaps get another agent.

 

[bertalander]

Disney reps I spoke with prior to cruising were a bit... confused. The lady I spoke with commented 'wow, you've really done your research!' Well, yeh! Anyways, I got confirmation via email eventually stating that they were not currently required, but they strongly suggested them.

Have a wonderful time!

 

[Miss Poppins]

We booked our May 2008 double dip in March of 2007.
There's six of us and I've been doing our passports piecemeal. It will have taken me a year, but I have all of them. I'm not taking any chances with any emergencies requiring a flight home.

 

[Keather]

Yes, I do believe they are confused. I spoke with 2 different agents and after the first one was so adament that I have to have one, I called and asked for a supervisor. Of course the young lady I spoke to was very sweet and explained their side of it. I also am in customer service and know that these agents are encouraged to deal with an issue before passing it on to a supervisor. As I said before, she basically told me they are going to do whatever they have to to cover there rearends. Understood, but they totally mislead me and really upset me to the point where I almost just gave up on this cruise. I do totally understand where everyone is coming from with the whole passport thing but there are just some circumstances that prevent some people from getting them right now. The worst part is, my husband would rather die than skip out on the USA and never see his kids and grandkids again.
Blah, I ramble, sorry. You have all been so incredibly awsome and have made me so excited again!

 

[becca-becca]

1. We are going on a cruise this fall (just me and DH) and in 2010 (whole family). I am wondering how much are passports? Mine is still good, my DH has to renew his before the cruise this fall. How much for a child passport?

2. What is a Double Dip Cruise? Both Atlantic and Pacific Oceans?

 

[n2mm]

Keather -- so the bottom line is right now you need a passport if you cruise and there is an emergency and you have to fly back to the US. If you don't have a passport you can not enter the US?

You can still cruise with a certified birth certificate with a raised seal and a your state ID for adults and just a certified birth certificate for the kids -- is this for all ages (grandson is 14).

I think I would recommend my daughter and SIL get their passports for themselves and hold off for the kids until later, that way they can absorb the cost slowly.

 

[n2mm]

1. We are going on a cruise this fall (just me and DH) and in 2010 (whole family). I am wondering how much are passports? Mine is still good, my DH has to renew his before the cruise this fall. How much for a child passport?

2. What is a Double Dip Cruise? Both Atlantic and Pacific Oceans?

Renewals are $75. New adult passports are $100 and minors are $85. Plus the cost of photos (we had ours done at CVS for $7.99).

The double dip is a 4 day cruise that stops at Castaway Cay twice and not Nassau.

 

[goofyforlife]

The double dip is a 4 day cruise that stops at Castaway Cay twice and not Nassau.

Actually a double dip is ANY cruise stopping at cc twice..

Our 7 day last dec stopped at cc on the first day and on the last day.

I think there are DD 7 day trips again this year on the Magic and some shorter Wonder trips also.


And for those applying for passports this week....

I went to our Post office and applied on 2/2... I did not pay for expedited but my passports got here in Saturdays mail on 2/9. WOW that was service.

 

[DAD AT DISNEY]

Renewals are $75. New adult passports are $100 and minors are $85. Plus the cost of photos (we had ours done at CVS for $7.99).

The double dip is a 4 day cruise that stops at Castaway Cay twice and not Nassau.

The 4 day double dip does make a stop in Nassau.

 

[CraftyMouse]

The 4 day double dip does make a stop in Nassau.

This is correct. You give up the sea day on the double dip cruises, not the Nassau day.

 

[jonesing]

Renewals are $75. New adult passports are $100 and minors are $85. Plus the cost of photos (we had ours done at CVS for $7.99).

The double dip is a 4 day cruise that stops at Castaway Cay twice and not Nassau.

I'm jazzed because I took DD's passport photo myself and then used the Kodak instant-print machine at Wal-Mart to make the prints. The machine has an "ID photo" setting that will take a regular digital photo and extract a 2"x2" area to use as the passport photo.

Took about 17 seconds to print.

Cost was 30 cents!

 

[Pansy]

Great idea and cheap

I'm jazzed because I took DD's passport photo myself and then used the Kodak instant-print machine at Wal-Mart to make the prints. The machine has an "ID photo" setting that will take a regular digital photo and extract a 2"x2" area to use as the passport photo.

Took about 17 seconds to print.

Cost was 30 cents!

 

[DisneyDudet]

I am not going to chime into the who passport deal, but just wanted people to make copies of all their ID stuff (DL, B/C, Passports, Passport cards). While in port (especially ports other than CC), take your copy of your PP and B/C, not your original. Keep the original in the stateroom safe. You do not want to walk around and have them go missing!

Also, the state department recommends keeping copies at home with someone, just in case there is an issue.

We did this for Paris, and it was nice not to have to carry it all around! I felt safer!

 

[goofyforlife]

While in port (especially ports other than CC), take your copy of your PP and B/C, not your original.

And what if something happens while off the ship? Such as an emergency while on an excursion or god forbid you miss the boat.....

Try explaining to the US government why they should let you back in with just paper copies.

Since passport is becoming your id they might not even let you off the ship with just paper copies either. (Like now they don't let you off without your drivers licenses.) It also may vary by port as to what you need to get back on the boat. (ie passport needed for Columbia)

 

[CraftyMouse]

And what if something happens while off the ship? Such as an emergency while on an excursion or god forbid you miss the boat.....

Try explaining to the US government why they should let you back in with just paper copies.

Actually, this is what we do as well. If you have the paper copies you can go to your embassy and get a new passport printed. Make sure the copies are color copies and include a copy of your driver's license on the sheet.

Since passport is becoming your id they might not even let you off the ship with just paper copies either. (Like now they don't let you off without your drivers licenses.) It also may vary by port as to what you need to get back on the boat. (ie passport needed for Columbia)

You do not need to show any ID to get off of the ship. You only need it to get back on. It must be photo ID but it can be a passport, driver's license, military ID, etc. We always take our color copies of our passports/licenses and our driver's license when we go into port and have never had an issue. Until requirements change (which I have not seen mention of anywhere official) we will continue to do so.

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