Passports vs. Birth Certificates

[dtuleya]

Is there any advantage to using a passport. My FIL (who travels alot) thinks we should get them. We don't usually travel out of the country, but we're thinking of going to Europe when DS graduates from HS in 3 years, so we might get two uses out of them. That is unless we love cruising and start a new tradition!

Is it worth the $$ to use them just on the cruise?

 

[traycie2201]

They really are the best form of ID , they include the photo so mean you don't have to take birth certs and photo id. you definately need them to visit europe so may as well get them ordered.

 

[DrCavin]

I don't think they are worth it for just the cruise. I would wait for your Europe vacation & get them then.

 

[TheWog]

I am in the they are great to have camp and once you have them, you have them. I suggest getting them if you can build it into your budget. I have them for our family, including our 7 year old son.

 

[ericamanda01]

My vote is for the passports. I personally feel that they are a more valid and accepted form of ID. Not only are they good for the cruise, but they can be helpful if ever your purse/wallet or ID is stolen. It is much eaiser to replace the others when you have that. You need to think of it this way. You have a state ID or state DL. Well a passport is your United States ID. And they last for 10 years, so you'll still have them when or if you travel to Europe.

 

[mmouse37]

Go for the passports if you can.....they are much sturdier than BC's which can tear easily and as others have said is a much preferred type of I.D.

More and more countries and islands (which now accept BC's) will be requiring passports exclusively in the future due to heightened security...it is easier to forge a BC than a Passport.

They last for 10 years....5 years for kids....

We have had them since our first trip on the Magic back in 1998 and I even bring my Passport for id even if I am travelling within the U.S.

Plus....I am always ready to go if a great travel deal pops up somewhere in the world!!!

MJ

 

[KLH 1973]

A few of you have mentioned the cost of a passport being pricey. How much does one cost?

Kristin

 

[crisi]

Cool souvienier as well.

And if your birth certificate isn't proof of US Citizenship or is difficult to replace, a passport may be a better bet.

$85

http://travel.state.gov/passport/index.html

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

Passports are faster (even in airports), sturdier, and IMO, all adults should have one if you travel at all. Plus, if you're out of the country and need to get into a U.S. Embassy, it's the only thing that's going to get you in the door quickly.

(And yes, I'm a drama queen who thinks about all possible adverse situations. )

 

[jrabbit]

Passports are designed with travel in mind (sturdy) and birth certificates are designed to be filed away and rarely seen again (not strudy, prone to damage - like spilling water on it or ripping it). We have cruised in the past with just the BC. Now we have our passports and use them.

Many years ago (pre 9/11) getting my family into Canada was no problem, but bringing the kids back into the US was a problem - "Is the child a US citizen?", "Are they YOUR children", etc. Passports for us!!

 

[Itinkso]

We recently applied for our Passports and received them in less than 3 weeks. If your DS isn't quite yet 16, you may want to wait until he turns 16 and then the passport he receives will be valid for 10 years rather than for 5 years for those under 16. I could have waited a few months for DD to turn 16 but that would have put up into summer when passport processing gets backlogged. Good luck whichever you decide to do!

 

[dtuleya]

Unfortunately that's not an option for us since our DS turns 16 ON the cruise.

 

[Itinkso]

Because you are cruising in about 11 weeks, you do have time to get the passports now. I feel much better about using passports for our next cruise rather than making sure I keep track of our 4 BCs as I did on our first cruise. AAA offices and Costco take passport pictures at a discounted price compared to a post office.

 

[amymouse]

I prefer the convenience of my passport. I got mine for my first cruise in 2001. Even though the only travel I've done since then has just been more cruises, the convenience has been worth the initial money out of my pocket. It was about $60 at the time.

I also feel a little more secure knowing I have it with me. I figure if I got into any kind of unforseen bind (legal, travel problems, illness) while traveling out of the country, I'd be better off with my passport.

 

[TheWog]

Here's the State Dept. link for passports.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/index.html

 

[Aisling]

Question:

when you go off the ships on excursions, do you bring your passports with you? I bought those credit card-size dry boxes to put our KTTW cards and driver's licenses in when we're off the ship, but should I buy the bigger dry boxes to hold passports?

 

[mmouse37]

We do not....I keep the original passports locked in the cabin safe but I do have a color copy of the passport that I keep folded up and take with us when we leave the ship. Just in case!!!

MJ

 

[tvguy]

We did take our passports with us. I wore a fanny pack and kept the passports in a ziplock sandwich bag.

 

[kellib36]

I read on one thread that even if you aren't obligated to have a passport on your specific cruise, you might want to look into one. Hurricane Frances gave us a good example: what if your cruise is altered and another port is substituted, how do you know where you end up will allow you off without a passport? What if someone in your party gets sick or injured while at sea and the closest port is in a country that requires a passport? Just because your PLANNED trip doesn't require a passport, it doesn't mean you're in the clear.

My problem is when you have an entire family that is traveling with old birth certs, new ones, hospital certs, state certs, official seal....ARGH!!! I always worry that one may not look "official" enough for whoever gets to decide that. A Passport IS official, period.

 

[amymouse]

I leave my passport in my stateroom safe. I don't want to take any chances on it getting lost.

Kelli, I know how you feel about wanting the whole family to have passports. I'm taking my sisters and a friend on this next cruise. They are all traveling with their birth certificates, and I'm actually having nightmares that we get to the port and their documents aren't right. Intellectually, I know that their docs will be fine, but apparently my subconscious didn't get the memo.

My friend Tracy, who KNOWS how mental I can be, actually GAVE me her birth certificate to hold on to until the cruise. She thought it might cut down on the nightmares! Now THAT'S a true friend!! LOL