Travel ID

[katmigordon]

I know all the reasons why a passport is awesome, we have still decided against them if at all possible.

I have a non drivers license ID from Arizona that says "not for federal identification" so I think that means that I need to get a travel ID from the DMV for Arizona - can I still use that and a birth certificate to sail on the western 7 day out of port Canaveral?

 

[Mommb]

Yes, for a cruise departing from and returning to the same US port, US residents can sail with an original or copy of a state-issued birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I know all the reasons why a passport is awesome, we have still decided against them if at all possible.

I have a non drivers license ID from Arizona that says "not for federal identification" so I think that means that I need to get a travel ID from the DMV for Arizona - can I still use that and a birth certificate to sail on the western 7 day out of port Canaveral?

Curious what you use to fly.

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

It depends when your cruise is. Real ID requirements have been delayed until May 2023. If your cruise is after that then you would have to get a Real ID for flying. I think the cruise lines will accept a regular state ID and a birth certificate.

 

[dcassetta]

You have mentioned that you and your wife have health issues. Please be aware if you need to be medically evacuated that not having passports will add much additional stress to that situation.

 

[katmigordon]

We have health issues, but not of the we need emergency Evac variety, more of the walking hurts variety.

You have mentioned that you and your wife have health issues. Please be aware if you need to be medically evacuated that not having passports will add much additional stress to that situation.

 

[katmigordon]

So would I be able to use my ID even if it says "Not federal form of identity?"

It depends when your cruise is. Real ID requirements have been delayed until May 2023. If your cruise is after that then you would have to get a Real ID for flying. I think the cruise lines will accept a regular state ID and a birth certificate.

 

[randumb0]

So would I be able to use my ID even if it says "Not federal form of identity?"

You need to go to the DMV and get an id

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

So would I be able to use my ID even if it says "Not federal form of identity?"

If you’re asking about flying, yes—until May 2023. I have a state ID with similar verbiage because there were no Real ID appts available before my old ID expired (plus I have a passport so it didn’t seem that necessary). I’ve used my non-Real ID to fly domestically with no problems.

If you’re asking about ID for cruises, they say you need a government issued ID (not specifically federal) so they should accept your current ID even after Real ID takes effect (but then of course you couldn’t fly to the port using that ID).

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

Also found this on the DCL website (because I was curious):


Q:
What is a REAL ID and do I need it for my Disney cruise?
A:
While you do not need a REAL ID to board the ship, beginning May 3, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will require every resident of a U.S. state or territory who is 18 years of age and older to present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of identification (such as a passport or enhanced driver’s license) to go through airport security and board a flight within the United States. If you or a member of your family will be flying to one of our cruise homeports within the United States on or after May 3, 2023, please ensure you have an acceptable document for your air travel. REAL IDs are marked by a star on the top of the card. For more information, please visit the Transportation Security Administration. Please keep in mind that all Guests must still have Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative-compliant travel documents (proof of citizenship and/or appropriate visas) in order to cruise.

Just don’t ask me what the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is because I have no idea!

 

[lanejudy]

Just don’t ask me what the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is because I have no idea!

The WHTI allows U.S. citizens to travel internationally within the Western hemisphere by land and sea with a birth certificate plus government-issued ID or a passport card instead of a passport book. Unless the foreign destination requires a passport book.

 

[mousefan73]

Curious why you guys are against getting a passport. It’s easy to get and covers you for everything.

 

[Dug720]

Curious why you guys are against getting a passport. It’s easy to get and covers you for everything.

This. And "just hurts walking" doesn't preclude emergencies happening.

 

[Sykes]

No one ever plans to have a medical emergency … that’s not how emergencies work. But if you hit a step wrong while walking in Nassau or have an unplanned stingray encounter you could find yourself in a bind. Plus, without a passport it’s much harder to end the trip early if you have some sort of family emergency back home as well.

Your drivers license should be valid for travel until May 3, 2023, but if you have time to get one then it’s really nice to have a passport available.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Here's an example why getting a passport isn't such a bad idea,. I think it was a Carnival ship, sailing to and from the US, that ran aground in the Dominican Republic just a couple weeks ago. Carnival discontinued the cruise and all passengers had to get home from the Dominican Republic. I'm sure those without Passports had a more difficult time of it. You just never know. Passports are kind of like insurance policies, a REALID DL wouldn't have worked.

I live in AZ and have had passports for years. I went in and got a federally approved AZ DL because I had to retake my picture anyway. It was a pain in the butt, it was like getting a passport anyway because you had to provide like 3 documents to prove citizenship and residency, one of the choices being a PASSPORT. If the federal government gave me a passport, why did I have to jump through more hoops just to get a star on my DL. Just my little rant about AZ MVD.

 

[Dug720]

Here's an example why getting a passport isn't such a bad idea,. I think it was Carnival ship that ran a ground in the Dominican Republic just a couple weeks ago. Carnival discontinued the cruise and all passengers had to get home from the Dominican Republic. I'm sure those without Passports had a more difficult time of it. You just never know. Passports are kind of like insurance policies.

Excellent point! It's not always emergency medical evacuations. It could be ship issues. It could be you getting back too late and the ship has sailed if you've gone off on your own. I'd never think of traveling outside of the US without my passport - even if it's not technically required. Plus having one opens up so many other options for traveling and exploring the world.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Here's an example why getting a passport isn't such a bad idea,. I think it was a Carnival ship, sailing to and from the US, that ran aground in the Dominican Republic just a couple weeks ago. Carnival discontinued the cruise and all passengers had to get home from the Dominican Republic. I'm sure those without Passports had a more difficult time of it. You just never know. Passports are kind of like insurance policies, a REALID DL wouldn't have worked.

It was the NCL Escape but your example is very timely. Another example: the cruisers on the Crystal sailings were all just ushered off the ships at the ports and the company shut down. Medical isn't the only reason to get a passport. If something happens to the ship or the company or if you are detained by local authorities (traffic accident, robbery, etc) and miss the ship, you have a bigger problem that was never planned. Having a passport should be Plan A.

 

[Girl of the South]

The Passport Card is more limited than a passport book. It's for traveling easily to and from NEARBY countries by land and sea. It is primarily for Americans living near our borders with Canada and Mexico. You can also use it to visit Bermuda and 17 islands in the Caribbean. Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, British Virgin-Islands, Caribbean Netherlands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Turks and Caico. The Passport Card can NOT be used for international AIR travel. If you cruise or drive to Mexico, you are OK. But you can't FLY from any of those countries with a US Passport Card.

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

ITA that OP should get a passport if traveling internationally, but I figure they already know all the reasons why and if they’ve already decided against it for some reason I doubt we will change their mind. Maybe they are a fugitive living under an assumed identity and can’t get a passport lol.

I just watched a video where a vlogger slipped and fell in the bathroom at Coco Cay and broke her leg in 3 places. (No, she wasn’t filming at the time!) Luckily they were going back to FL the next day so they let them get back on the ship and go to the hospital there. But if the cruise had more port stops I’m sure they would have been debarked at the next port. You just never know what can happen.

 

[FigmentSpark]

It was the NCL Escape but your example is very timely. Another example: the cruisers on the Crystal sailings were all just ushered off the ships at the ports and the company shut down. Medical isn't the only reason to get a passport. If something happens to the ship or the company or if you are detained by local authorities (traffic accident, robbery, etc) and miss the ship, you have a bigger problem that was never planned. Having a passport should be Plan A.

Funny you mention this. They were docked in Port Canaveral when we were getting on the Fantasy on March 12. The Fantasy left port before the Escape, all to the very loud deck party they were having. People on that ship were waving to us, all happily oblivious to what was about to happen. When we returned to Port Canaveral on the 19th, the NCL berth was empty. We had heard, by then, what had happened, so it was a little sobering and sad for them.