Passports for Castaway Cay??

[jenhelgren]

I know their is a ton of opinions on the boards and that DCL recommends passports but we will be on our first DCL cruise this fall and I am tempted to go without passports. We are a family of 4 and the cost is $400+ for the passports which is quite a bit in our vacation budget. Our ports of call will be Key West, Castaway Cay, and Nassau but we will not be getting off the ship in Nassau, so the only "foreign" territory will be Castaway Cay. I know if there were a medical emergency we would have to be flown somewhere but I am having trouble justifying the cost this trip until we know the kids like cruising. Any thoughts???

 

[Minnie321]

We got them - I read too many stories of people stranded because they did not have passports. We just looked at it in two ways - it was like insurance and to make it worth the money we spent we decided we would just have to cruise more often!

 

[sarah_carter]

You dont need passports for castway cay. If you are starting in key west and coming back to keywest you dont need passports. For any closed loop cruise passports arent required. Dont need a passport for Nassau either just a driver's license and your key to the world card

Went on a dream cruise and used my bc and driver's license

 

[LWQuestie]

It's a personal decision based on your level of risk tolerance.

 

[WicketsMom]

Get the passports. It doesn't matter if you are getting off the ship or not, you are still out if the country. If you or anyone in your party has an emergency or misses the ship you cannot fly home without them. Look at it as an investment for future international travel!

 

[EPCOTatNight]

Not much risk involved. You have a 99.9% chance of no emergency happening. If that's not high enough, get them. If you will worry and be uncomfortable, get them. If not, save the money. Do what you feel is best. Enjoy your cruise.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I know their is a ton of opinions on the boards and that DCL recommends passports but we will be on our first DCL cruise this fall and I am tempted to go without passports. We are a family of 4 and the cost is $400+ for the passports which is quite a bit in our vacation budget. Our ports of call will be Key West, Castaway Cay, and Nassau but we will not be getting off the ship in Nassau, so the only "foreign" territory will be Castaway Cay. I know if there were a medical emergency we would have to be flown somewhere but I am having trouble justifying the cost this trip until we know the kids like cruising. Any thoughts???

The minimum requirement for US citizens on a closed loop cruise (beginning and ending in the same US port) is a CERTIFIED birth certificate and (for those 16 and over ) a government issued photo ID.

As noted, you will not be able to fly from anywhere out of the country without a passport. It's up to you what your risk level is.

 

[clten]

Just so you know, it doesn't matter if you plan to get off the ship at a foreign port or not, the requirements are the same. A cruising mis-conception is that you personally clear customs as you get off in a port. On a cruise that doesn't happen (with an occasional exception to the rule). The customs agents at each port call clear the ship as a whole. DCL is required to make sure you have the correct documentation to arrive in each of their ports calls and the port of debarkation regardless of your plans.

As others have said, on a closed loop cruise a passport is not required. If you are comfortable traveling with just photo id and BC is your choice as long as you are aware of the consequences if something doesn't go according to plan while you are out of the country.

 

[Kat in GA]

As others have said, it's not required that you have a passport to cruise. And you have to look at your tolerance to gamble

In 2009, we had a steal of a deal of a 3 day cruise. Less than $1000 for the four of us. The week before we were to cruise, my 39 year old husband (great health and an non smoker) had a brain bleed and was in the ICU for 3 weeks - and on short term disability from work for the next 6 months while we did cognitive therapy. He's completely recovered now - it was just a freak - congenital thing. We had no travel insurance but the cruise line graciously gave us back 50% of our booking (offered actually to just move the date to that year - but with 6 months of half pay looming, we took the cash).

BUT - all I could think of then - and all I can think of now is what would have happened if it had happened on the ship? We didn't have passports at the time. We were a good risk. And I look at that now - even all these years later, I am still paying the helicopter copay as he was flown from one local hospital to another local hospital. And if was out of the country? Or life flight from the ship? Gives me some massive anxiety.

I so know where you are coming from on the $400. You spend $400 - and you have nothing to show for it - and you've gone no where!

I encourage you to get those passports. I don't recall when you are cruising - but could you do one a month and spread it out?

Have fun on your cruise - and I truly wish you happy and safe travels!!

 

[I❤MICKEY]

DH and I have passports but DS don't. We had a similar itinerary to yours. We didn't get them passports. It never worried me.

 

[bumbershoot]

Not much risk involved. You have a 99.9% chance of no emergency happening.

That's a pretty strong statement of (no) risk without knowing anything about the OP's family, IMO.

 

[lizabu]

I would get the passports too. If something happens and you have to fly back to US you're going to be screwed without passports

 

[bitlerzx4]

Our 1st cruise (Dream) we did not have them. Because we loved the cruise and realized that we wanted to travel more we got passports, and booked our next cruise.

 

[hrhdhd]

Our ports of call will be Key West, Castaway Cay, and Nassau but we will not be getting off the ship in Nassau, so the only "foreign" territory will be Castaway Cay.

Just a clarification: whether you get off at a port or not doesn't affect whether you'd need a passport. If passports were required, you'd have to present one when you boarded the ship at the start of the cruise. Whether or not you actually put a foot on land, you're still in another country and would need to abide by its rules.

As others have said, passports aren't required for this cruise. But it has nothing to do with whether you're getting off at ports or not.

 

[rcchello]

Since you are on a closed loop cruise you will not need a passport even if you get off in the Bahamas. If you get gravely sick or injured while in port, even if you do not leave the ship, you may wish you had your passport.

From the U.S. in The Bahass website:
Those traveling by sea on an officially-designated “closed-loop cruise”, meaning that the port of entry is the same port as the port of re-entry upon return to the U.S., may enter using a passport, passport card, or other Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document, however, it is prudent to obtain a passport before travel in case of an unforeseen emergency that requires a cruise passenger to disembark and return by air.


At the very least you should consider some travel medical insurance to provide for possible medical evacuation, also you insurance may not be valid outside the country.

 

[darkwing818]

It's a personal decision based on your level of risk tolerance.

Absolutely your choice . We are a family of 4 & have had passports since our 1st cruise in 2001. But that's just us, guess our risk tolerance is low. We also trip insurance.

 

[jahber]

I would get the passports too. If something happens and you have to fly back to US you're going to be screwed without passports

Screwed? On a trip to Nassau? Most likely not. You can still get an emergency passport. It's not like you're stuck there forever. We did our first 4-night with only BCs for the kids. We didn't know if we would like cruising and had no plans to fly internationally. It made sense for us to try a cruise first. We have them now because we fell in love with cruising and we'll use them in 2 months for Alaska.

But on a 3-night, by the time you reach Nassau, you only have 1 or 2 days until your cruise is over anyway. IF you have a family member that experiences an emergency, and IF you are even able to get a flight out that day, at most you'd gain a day. There are very, very few circumstances that would compel me to leave a vacation early. Especially if it requires me to forfeit the remainder of my cruise AND pay last-minute airfare. Now, that said, I would hesitate to book a 7-day cruise with BCs only. But again, that's just me. As a PP said, it's about risk tolerance. Considering the odds, it was a risk I was willing to take.

ETA: I realize the OP wasn't referring to a 3-night. But since Key West is part of the US, I don't consider that part of the cruise in the risk assessment.

 

[mrsklamc]

If you truly have an emergency need to get back to the US the consulate will make it happen, it just won't happen as fast. Up to you if it's worth that risk. We did it once; probably wouldn't do it again, and wouldn't do it with kids, but that's just us.

 

[jenniy]

How long are passports good for once you get them?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

How long are passports good for once you get them?

Adult passports - 10 years. Child passport - 5 years. That's US passports.