Passports for family of four

[theostwalts]

Would you guys spend the money for passports for a family of four? We will be doing a four day cruise and will probably not go ashore in Nassau. Three adults and one child.

 

[Pkltm]

I would, just in case of medical emergency.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Would you guys spend the money for passports for a family of four? We will be doing a four day cruise and will probably not go ashore in Nassau. Three adults and one child.

Yes.

 

[rcchello]

Going ashore has nothing to do with your need for passports. You need identify documents that prove you have the right to re-enter the United States.
If you are going on a closed loop cruise (starting and ending in the same U.S. Port) you can use a Passport or some other document as specified in this website https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1139/~/documents-needed-to-take-a-cruise.

If you get sick or injured (even Onboard) and are left or evacuated to a foreign hospital you may have difficulties returning without a passport. If you create enough of a disturbance while onboard, you can also be ejected into police custody at the next available port. These things are rare but do happen.

It is your choice whether to take the risk. If it does happen, it will be a hassle but you will get back to the U.S.

 

[MUN]

Would you guys spend the money for passports for a family of four? We will be doing a four day cruise and will probably not go ashore in Nassau. Three adults and one child.

No, I wouldn't, just for the cruise. Many on here will try to scare you and/or guilt you into getting them, but they are simply not necessary. However, that being said, having a valid passport opens up the world (or much of the world) to travel. So if you have plans/interest in other international travel they are must haves.

MUN

I just saw that you have no plans on going ashore in Nassau, so I doubt you have plans on other international travel other than this cruise.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Yes. I know numerous people who have had medical emergencies on cruises including one who had to be medivaced off the Fantasy. If you don't have a passport, flying back to the US in an emergency is incredibly difficult.

 

[OKW Lover]

Would you guys spend the money for passports for a family of four? We will be doing a four day cruise and will probably not go ashore in Nassau. Three adults and one child.

Sorry we need more info. After this cruise, where are you going to travel for the next 10 years?

 

[rawdata]

We've had them for our kids for a long time and all we've done is cruises. It looks like getting the passport cards would be enough, based on this website. That might be a less expensive alternative for you, if price is the concern.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/de...2LzEvdGltZS8xNTE3MDkxODQ4L3NpZC8qSzEzWlFEbg==

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We've had them for our kids for a long time and all we've done is cruises. It looks like getting the passport cards would be enough, based on this website. That might be a less expensive alternative for you, if price is the concern.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/999/related/1/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xNTE3MDkxODQ4L3NpZC8qSzEzWlFEbg==

I'll just point out that the passport cards give you no advantage over just using the birth certificates and photo IDs. And it costs you money.

A passport book can be used for more than just travel. It's excellent for providing ID at anytime (school registration, for example).

 

[ladyofthetramp]

We always had them. Budgeted for in our expenses for the trip. It was our piece of mind if something came up.

 

[MUN]

Sorry we need more info. After this cruise, where are you going to travel for the next 10 years?

Children's passports are only good for 5 years. So we just need to know their travel plans for 5 years. However, if they do plan on traveling internationally in the near future, which I doubt, they can wait and get the passports closer to their trip when they REALLY need them. Because they don't need them for this closed-loop 4 day cruise.

Just make sure you allow enough time for your passport. I understand passport processing time is slowing down.

MUN

 

[kiford]

Going ashore has nothing to do with your need for passports. You need identify documents that prove you have the right to re-enter the United States.

A passport isn't required for American citizens going on a closed loop cruise to the Bahamas. However, if you're required to have a passport to visit a country on a cruise, that includes when you enter their waters and is independent of whether or not you go ashore. In those cases, you can't even board the ship at the start without the proper documents. And, of course, as has been pointed out if you get stuck in one of the countries for any reason (including evacuation off the ship due to a medical emergency even if you never intended to go ashore), you definitely need a passport for re-entry into your own country.

I personally would never travel anywhere without a passport (I even use it travelling domestically). It's the most trusted piece of identification you have and it trumps all other ID.

 

[aggiedog]

I'd absolutely get one. As mentioned, if you have an emergency, it will make things much, much easier. Also, it's good for 10 years for the adults, and 5 for a child under 15. You never know when you might want one in the next decade.

 

[mmmears]

Yes. I think it's good to have current passports just in case. We renewed ours a few years ago with no new plans to book the cruise we are planning to go on this summer and it's great not needing to scramble to get them now that we have decided to travel abroad again.

 

[dcassetta]

Would you guys spend the money for passports for a family of four? We will be doing a four day cruise and will probably not go ashore in Nassau. Three adults and one child.

Consider it an additional form of trip insurance. Most people never need to use their trip insurance, but when they do need it it's very very useful. Most people on a closed loop cruise never need to use their passport, but if they ever do need it it would be very very useful.

 

[tvguy]

We always had them. Budgeted for in our expenses for the trip. It was our piece of mind if something came up.

My kids have had Passports since age 2. Actually, most of the uses for them with the kids had nothing to do with travel. Proof of ID for school, youth sports, getting jobs, getting a driver's license.
And when kids hit Junior High and High School, you never know when an international trip with the band, choir, sports team, foreign language class is going to come up.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Yes, without hesitation. You will never regret having them.

 

[Barbamama]

Yes. It’s always better to have a passport.

 

[bumbershoot]

As a family of three we have passports. If we’d had another, assuming we liked that kid, we would get a passport for him or her too. Although actually we still don’t have anyone healthy or sane enough at home to watch a kid while we traveled, so even if we didn’t like the next kid I’d still get them a passport and take them with us.

If I travel internationally, I have a passport.

Many on here will try to scare you and/or guilt you into getting them

Do you feel that anyone has tried to *scare* or *guilt* the OP? Or do you just feel that facts and how we do risk-benefit analysis to be scary or guilt-inducing?

People are answering the question. And explaining their reasons.

I just saw that you have no plans on going ashore in Nassau, so I doubt you have plans on other international travel other than this cruise.

Uh, I have ZERO interest in going ashore in Nassau, and believe me, I have other international travel plans.

 

[gotomu212]

No. We have them because we travel with our kids, but I wouldn’t get them for one cruise.

It’s true that you’ll need a passport to fly back in a medical emergency, BUT you can always apply for them while abroad in a true emergency. You aren’t going to be stranded indefinitely in a foreign country.