Passports for Children

[FigmentSpark]

Yeah. We've even had agents open the back doors and speak directly to the kids when both of us were there. They'd ask who they were travelling with, watching their expressions closely to be sure they weren't coached or coerced.

 

[Aerin75]

With kids, you have to apply in person every time, every 5 years.

Thanks for this; I will need to renew my daughter's before our cruise and I just assumed (insert joke here) that I could do hers by mail just like I did mine.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks for this; I will need to renew my daughter's before our cruise and I just assumed (insert joke here) that I could do hers by mail just like I did mine.

Unlike an adult passport (which can be renewed by mail), a child's passport is a new passport every 5 years and must be done in person.

 

[Aerin75]

Unlike an adult passport (which can be renewed by mail), a child's passport is a new passport every 5 years and must be done in person.

That was what I had missed concentrating on my own. Thanks Shmoo!

 

[darnheather]

My oldest is 15. She is on her third passport. Her first was the most difficult as we lived in a foreign country and had to obtain many translated documents and travel 5 hours by bus to the nearest consulate. Making an appointment and going to your nearest post office is nothing to feel burdened by.

 

[Starwind]

I get that but I also know with some agencies they can use some sense. Like certified birth certificates with the parents name and cruise documents and whatever paperwork from said emergency should be enough with some questioning.

Even is US Customs was willing to let the child "in", you would not be allowed to board the plane in the foreign country to bring you back (well, the children without passport would not be).

Passports are required for international air travel. The airlines have strict rules they have to follow AND they are liable (fines, costs) if a person without proper documentation is allowed on their flight and then is turned back by customs/immigration at the destination.

SW

 

[MeliMel702]

I've had a passport since I was 3 and always found it weird that my school friends never had one. Every time I go renew my state ID/ DL it makes the process a lot faster. I got one for my daughters the first time they went to Guatemala ( 2 1/2 & 1yr). The first time both my husband and I went to the post office and had to sign in front of them, show proper identification, etc. My husband passed away 5 years ago in another country. I thought I would have trouble since it was a Foreign Death Certificate. I was able to renew it by taking it in along with all the other documents they ask for and received it within 6 weeks. By the way I'm in Nevada and you can go to a Post Office to have your picture taken there, notarized and then mailed directly to the Passport Acceptance Facility. I don't remember if they still keep all original documents such as Birth Certificate and then mail it back to you with your passports or if they now make copies of everything. By the way I'm not sure if you are aware that to take any kind of flights international or domestic within the next couple years you will be required to have a passport if you haven't updated received your REAL ID yet. Not sure how that law is going to affect children traveling since they won't be allowing anyone travel or enter a federal building without a Real ID. The only other form of identification they will accept is a passport.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I don't remember if they still keep all original documents such as Birth Certificate and then mail it back to you with your passports or if they now make copies of everything. By the way I'm not sure if you are aware that to take any kind of flights international or domestic within the next couple years you will be required to have a passport if you haven't updated received your REAL ID yet. Not sure how that law is going to affect children traveling since they won't be allowing anyone travel or enter a federal building without a Real ID. The only other form of identification they will accept is a passport.

They keep the birth certificate and will mail it back to you in a separate envelope from the passport. As for the REAL ID issues, I believe some states that haven't made the switch yet have received waivers thus far but you are right that there could come a point where the federal government will refuse to continue granting waivers and a passport will be needed. Since children don't need an ID to travel domestically, the REAL ID issue won't affect them as long as their parents have acceptable ID.

 

[Hundredacre]

I would not bother getting a passport. And we have taken many cruises with our children and not gotten them passports. A couple of our children used to have passports (we used to live abroad), but we let them expire years ago. But we also do not get trip insurance. So we just are comfortable with any potential chaos. I agree that in an emergency, you could probably work it out. I think we are in the minority on disboards, as people on disboards are very pro passport and trip insurance (although I think we are in the majority in the general population). We do not think the cost is worth it. But we also have traveled a lot and are comfortable with bearing risk. We like adventure. Everyone's different.

 

[Alicatt]

Why is it so hard to just get a passport? I don't understand Americans and their unwillingness to do this. It's super easy and not that expensive. Plus for children it's good for five years.

It's not an unwillingness, my husband and I have passports because we have to travel for business occasionally, but it cost nearly as much a my total travel insurance and we both have to take a day off of work or at least a half day, since we don't work in the township. We know that it is unlikely that we will use it again in 5 years and the only chance we'll use it if there is some really serious medical emergency where we have to be taken to a hospital during a 5 day cruise, really 4 because I'm guessing that the first and last we'd get sent to the US anyway. We are only getting off the ship at Castaway Cay and even if we did get off at Nassau, the kids wouldn't. Any minor illness would be take care of on the ship so it seems like a really, really slim chance that would need them. I guess I just feel like I'm missing something.

 

[TrySomethingNew]

It's not an unwillingness, my husband and I have passports because we have to travel for business occasionally, but it cost nearly as much a my total travel insurance and we both have to take a day off of work or at least a half day, since we don't work in the township. We know that it is unlikely that we will use it again in 5 years and the only chance we'll use it if there is some really serious medical emergency where we have to be taken to a hospital during a 5 day cruise, really 4 because I'm guessing that the first and last we'd get sent to the US anyway. We are only getting off the ship at Castaway Cay and even if we did get off at Nassau, the kids wouldn't. Any minor illness would be take care of on the ship so it seems like a really, really slim chance that would need them. I guess I just feel like I'm missing something.

Given your reasons and being presented with a range of thoughts, then you should probably go with your inclination to pass on the passport this time. Your risk seems low. I agree that the cost of passports can be a large chunk of money - especially when translated into a percent of trip cost when you know you will only use them 1x in 5 years. Since you have travel insurance taken care of, I would file this in the "low risk/low priority" category. Move on to the fun aspects of trip planning and enjoy your cruise!

 

[FigmentSpark]

Totally your choice and your decision, obviously. I always jump to worst case scenario, myself. Appendicitis is going through my head.

 

[Steelers0854]

I would not bother getting a passport. And we have taken many cruises with our children and not gotten them passports. A couple of our children used to have passports (we used to live abroad), but we let them expire years ago. But we also do not get trip insurance. So we just are comfortable with any potential chaos. I agree that in an emergency, you could probably work it out. I think we are in the minority on disboards, as people on disboards are very pro passport and trip insurance (although I think we are in the majority in the general population). We do not think the cost is worth it. But we also have traveled a lot and are comfortable with bearing risk. We like adventure. Everyone's different.

I respect your decision and for your situation it appears fits your needs, but I don't know many people that can afford to pay $50,000+ if something happens to you while in a foreign country, I certainly could not. A lot of stateside health insurance doesn't cover international travel and even if you don't do anything overly adventurous in port something like a car accident can cost quite a bit. Also, a lot of foreign hospitals also require payment upfront so it's always a good idea to travel with a credit card with a high available limit and wide acceptance like a Visa. I for one am happy to build $250-$300 into the cost of my cruise to ensure that I'm not bankrupt upon my return, IMHO this isn't an adventure it's about protecting my family.

On the passport side your right this would be the adventure. For us though there are too many variables involved that make it prohibitive to not have one. As posted earlier once you are over 18 passports are renewed via mail and only done once every 10 years. It basically costs about $12 a year to have a passport. If your ship becomes stuck in a foreign port or you become stuck in a foreign port you will need to locate the nearest consulate which in some cases can be several hours away from your port. You will then go through a lengthy process at the consulate to obtain the appropriate paperwork to travel back to the US. All of this will be done at your own cost, especially if you don't have trip insurance. So I agree this is more of the fact that you have a lot of steps to go through and can be a "fun" adventure to some or a nerve wracking nightmare to others. I think you have the right attitude about this possible scenario but for us, it's just not worth the inconvenience and cost.

You are probably right on trip insurance, I think many people overlook this. As for the passports I think these days you are probably in the minority, I know a lot more people have them now than used to, and would say that DCL probably has a higher number of passports given their demographic (higher cost, mostly families).

Just my 2 cents.

 

[aidtrismommy]

I may be making an assumption but I feel like nobody is excited about spending a few hundred dollars on passports for children, or even for themselves. I have no immediate plans for international travel via airplane and we have only done closed-loop cruises (several). Having a passport is like a PP stated, an additional form of insurance.
It is completely the OP's decision, weigh out the pros and cons and choose what is best for your family. Personally, I would rather have everything I need in case of an emergency. That's just how I roll so while I don't love forking over a bunch of money for passports, it makes me feel better. It's much the same with travel insurance. I buy it because it makes me feel better.
You can google what types of emergencies happen while at sea and read some horror stories. That may help you determine the type of risk you may be taking to travel without a passport (or insurance). I, for one would never forgive myself if one of my children needed emergency surgery (for whatever) at some crappy foreign hospital because I didn't have a passport to fly back to the states or because I didn't have $30,000 for a helicopter ride off the ship (or however much it costs).

 

[darnheather]

Well you heard the opinions and seem to have made up your mind before you asked. For me peace of mind is worth the "struggle" of passports.

 

[lanejudy]

@Alicatt As you stated, your children aren't required to have passports for your cruise. Hundreds of people cruise without passports. Only you know your personal situation -- health of those traveling as well as any potential issues at home -- but for the average family the likelihood of an "emergency" arising causing you to leave the cruise and fly home are rather slim. If you really don't want to get passports for the kids, don't. Chances are you will be fine. However, I would not take that route under the assumption of a customs official allowing someone to slip through. Do it knowing the risk and accepting the risk. The risk being that you would have to deal with getting emergency passports issued for the children which could take time and money. My family has passport cards which puts us into that same risk. We have cruised without passport books, but we didn't do it expecting any favors in an emergency, we accepted the risk that we would have to deal with it if the situation arose.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[lbus42]

My daughter has had a passport since she was 1 and she just turned 31. Having one gives you much more security and flexibility. Decide to go to Canada on a whim? No problem. Win a free trip to Mexico? No problem. Need another form of id for school application? No problem. I just don't understand the hesitancy some people have in getting a passport for every member of the family.

They probably see it as an unnecessary expense, especially if they believe that they will never go out of the country again. I look at it from the point of view of how much time and expense will it cost to get back to the United States, if one of my party misses the boat. Vehicles break down, people get hurt or sick. What happens if you go on an excursion and the vehicle breaks down and you miss the boat? If it is a Disney Cruise excursion, they will fly you to the next port, but they cannot if you do not have a passport.

 

[bumbershoot]

I agree that in an emergency, you could probably work it out.

Working it out would be *getting emergency passports* for those without them. Big expense and they have much shorter expiration times, from what I learned on cruisecritic recently. You won't be making some back room deal; you'll be spending time and money on bureaucracy rather than just being on a plane.

we both have to take a day off of work or at least a half day, since we don't work in the township.

As stated earlier, both parents do NOT have to be there. Have the parent with the harder-to-get-off-work job fill out the form and go to your bank to have it notarized, then the parent with the easier schedule take that form and the other forms in to get the passports.

Not sure what the township has to do with anything; you don't have to get a passport in your town.

and even if we did get off at Nassau, the kids wouldn't.

If you got off the ship and someone broke their femur (nasty bone to break) and the kids didn't have passports, it would be a serious problem. You couldn't fly home with them until they got passports and you couldn't even all stay there legally.

As posted earlier once you are over 18 passports are renewed via mail and only done once every 10 years.

At 16 you start getting an adult passport. DS's next passport will be such a passport!

I may be making an assumption but I feel like nobody is excited about spending a few hundred dollars on passports for children, or even for themselves.

Who is ever excited to spend money? I hate spending money on vacation, even! But I like vacation. And I like that everyone in my family has a passport, because it puts the world in our hands. If DH is sent to Ireland for work, if we can find a good flight, we can go. I can hop on an Alaska Air flight to Vancouver if I wish and if I find a good fare. etc etc. And if we're in Sint Maarten and I get appendicitis, we have all the options b/c we can all be there in the country legally and we can take a flight home without spending any time in the consulate etc.

 

[RACHEL_GB]

I just think that even when you think you have worked out the risks, there is some stuff you can't even imagine.

Maybe I am unlucky! But in the short time I have been travelling with kids we have been nearly stranded twice - once due to the Icelandic volcano eruption that covered Europe in ash clouds and most recently due to the terrorist attack on the Russian airliner in the Sinai. Actually we are very lucky to have just missed getting stranded. Stuff happens!

For what it's worth I wouldn't want to have my (generally nervous) kids put through any kind of extra stress so it would be worth it for my peace of mind. but that's just us.

 

[tvguy]

I would add there are a whole lot of uses for a Passport right at home that make them worth the cost.
Proof of citizenship for youth sports, enrollment in school, that first after school job.
And when DD as 15 and got her learners permit, the DMV clerk almost kissed me when she saw we brought both a certified copy of her birth certificate and her Passport. There is a three step process, 15 minute with birth certificates that they have to go through to verify that it isn't a forged document. With the passport, they just looked at it and entered the number, and they got back an instant response from the State Department confirming it was valid.