Short notice cruise and no time for passport!

[J2E1]

The cruise is leaving at the end of September and my wife and 9 year old will be going. From what I understand, reading documentation requirements are a government issued photo ID and birth certificate for DW and birth certificate for DD. They are stopping in Nasau then Castaway Cay and a day at sea. I know some locations require you to have a passport so I wanted to see what others experience has been and if you think we're totally wrecked.

 

[fredandkell]

You're fine. The only reason to have a passport for that cruise if if there's an emergency and you have to fly home from an island instead of taking the boat home. Very rare/tiny chance. I would get a passport for future cruises, however, just because it opens up a whole new world of Disney Cruises, e.g. Europe!

 

[Spiffy MacSpiff]

Yes, get passports!! But, for a closed-loop cruise you should be fine with with Photo ID and birth certificates... though the birth certificates should be real, state-issued birth certificates with the raised/embossed seal, not the paper that they give you at the hospital when your child is born.

 

[Wmuflyguy]

Go to a passport office near you. They can have them done in a day. You’ll need proof of imminent international travel within 14 days.


https://travel.state.gov/content/tr...rements/where-to-apply/passport-agencies.html
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/hurry.html

 

[MomOTwins]

I think Dorian is a good reminder that when you cruise, unexpected things can happen. A passport allows you to travel by air in the case of a medical emergency, missing the ship departure at a foreign port, or have a family emergency at home you need to return for.

 

[allison0523]

You do not need passports to go on this cruise. But if you want to get them, you have to send in asap. We got ours in about 2 weeks. You would only need a passport to fly internationally if there is an emergency. It's a personal preference based on your risk tolerance so I don't understand why people seem to insist you need them to go on the cruise when in fact you do not if it's a closed loop cruise originating and ending in the U.S.

 

[allison0523]

You do not need passports to go on this cruise. But if you want to get them, you have to send in asap. We got ours in about 2 weeks. You would only need a passport to fly internationally if there is an emergency. It's a personal preference based on your risk tolerance so I don't understand why people seem to insist you need them to go on the cruise when in fact you do not if it's a closed loop cruise originating and ending in the U.S.

 

[Mommb]

You do not need passports to go on this cruise. But if you want to get them, you have to send in asap. We got ours in about 2 weeks.

Ordering a passport by mail would be risky unless you have additional copies of the birth certificates you would need to send in for the passport.

As mentioned above, it is possible (in some areas) to get a rush passport. However, if you don't live near a passport office, if you can't get an immediate appointment, or if you don't want to pay the additional fees to expedite the application, your family should be fine without a passport on a short cruise near the US.

 

[mmouse37]

Just went this afternoon to apply for our granddaughter's passport. She is 5 months old. We buy all our grandkids first Passport as we want them to travel in life!! Anyway we cruise at the end of October but I still expedited it. Without expediting it they told us it would take six or seven weeks. I did not want to chance it so expedited it. Supposed to get the Passport back in less than two weeks. This was at the Post Office.

MJ

 

[ahain]

I believe DW should also bring her marriage license if the last name on her BC doesn't match the last name on her drivers' license

 

[Lisa F]

Just went this afternoon to apply for our granddaughter's passport. She is 5 months old. We buy all our grandkids first Passport as we want them to travel in life!! Anyway we cruise at the end of October but I still expedited it. Without expediting it they told us it would take six or seven weeks. I did not want to chance it so expedited it. Supposed to get the Passport back in less than two weeks. This was at the Post Office.

MJ

I just renewed my passport and it took about a month to get it, but that is a renewal and not sure if they are faster than new ones.

I sent it out end of July and got the notice it was received august 1st and it was issued august 27th and was back in my hands august 30th.

 

[bumbershoot]

not the paper that they give you at the hospital when your child is born.

Do hospitals even do that? I know it was a thing when my mom was born in 1944, but it wasn’t for me 25 years later and definitely wasn’t for my son.

Go to a passport office near you. They can have them done in a day. You’ll need proof of imminent international travel within 14 days.


https://travel.state.gov/content/tr...rements/where-to-apply/passport-agencies.html
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/hurry.html

I’m a big passport person, but that isn’t something I would do for a short closed loop cruise coming up so soon. In this case I’d take the chance, and IF something happened I’d pay the high cost for the emergency limited passport sitting in Nassau waiting to go home, rather than pay the same day fees for something I might not need.

Supposed to get the Passport back in less than two weeks.

Fwiw I’ve never had a passport take even that long doing it normally, and that’s with the P.O. saying the same silly things as they told you.

I believe DW should also bring her marriage license if the last name on her BC doesn't match the last name on her drivers' license

Agreed. They likely won’t care, but they should, so take it.

And it sounds like you aren’t going, so create a note with permission to take the child out of the country and have it notarized.

 

[Wmuflyguy]

I’m a big passport person, but that isn’t something I would do for a short closed loop cruise coming up so soon. In this case I’d take the chance, and IF something happened I’d pay the high cost for the emergency limited passport sitting in Nassau waiting to go home, rather than pay the same day fees for something I might not need.

To each their own and situationally dependent.

Also, the government budget fight will occur in September into October. Current funding runs out September 30th. So if the government shuts down October 1st, and you need an emergency passport I’m not sure how easy that will be to get.

Everyone’s risk appetite is different.

If anyone even thinks they’ll need passport in the coming months I’d send it in ASAP just in case. Passport offices usually stay open (they are funded by passport fees) but can close and wait times generally increase

 

[disneylove69]

If you dont have the REAL state ID you will need a passport starting 10/2020.

 

[Dug720]

If you dont have the REAL state ID you will need a passport starting 10/2020.

I know that is for flying. I had not seen it mentioned for cruising. (Of course the ultimate irony is a passport will work if you don’t have the “RealiD” but a passport is not enough to actually get the stupid “RealID” - you need more crap than just the passport!

 

[Spiffy MacSpiff]

Do hospitals even do that? I know it was a thing when my mom was born in 1944, but it wasn’t for me 25 years later and definitely wasn’t for my son.

IDK, maybe it depends on the state? You're about the same age as Mr. MacSpiff and I, and our parents received a certificate of live birth when we were born. We also got them for the young Spiffs in 2003 and 2006. We had to request real-deal certified, embossed birth certificates for all of us when we applied for our passports.

 

[smiths02]

You do not need passports to go on this cruise. But if you want to get them, you have to send in asap. We got ours in about 2 weeks. You would only need a passport to fly internationally if there is an emergency. It's a personal preference based on your risk tolerance so I don't understand why people seem to insist you need them to go on the cruise when in fact you do not if it's a closed loop cruise originating and ending in the U.S.

I agree. You actually do not need them, they are not required.
The marriage certificate for your wife and the notarized form saying that your wife can leave the country with your daughter are good ideas.

 

[Jack_Sparrow_NJ]

If you are traveling out of the United States, even if you are on a ship, you should have a passport. What if for some reason you had to get off the ship? Passports can be expedited for an additional fee and even sent by courier if need be. Check out
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/hurry.html

 

[daedelus]

Traveling without a passport is highly unadvised. You should call DCL and ask specifically about that. I've heard of people being denied boarding for not having passports in similar instances.

Better safe than sorry when you're talking about your cruise! Pick up the phone and call DCL.

Cheers!

 

[Lisa F]

Traveling without a passport is highly unadvised. You should call DCL and ask specifically about that. I've heard of people being denied boarding for not having passports in similar instances.

Better safe than sorry when you're talking about your cruise! Pick up the phone and call DCL.

Cheers!

Not on a closed loop cruise beginning and ending in the USA.

You don't need to call, it is spelled out on the website clear as day.