Why bother with a passport?

[cadburysmom]

For security reasons, I feel better having a picture ID of all travelers, including children. You just never know when you might need it. It's worth the money just for "peace of mind".

 

[Serena6010]

Just wanted to add a quick note.....Costco sells passport photos for only $5 a person

 

[LoveMyBaby]

I can either carry and keep track of 1 passport, or I can carry and keep track of a birth certificate, driver's license, and marriage certificate to show my name change. I would rather have just the one document. In the event it gets lost,in the long run it would be less hassle to replace than the other 3 documents which need to be reissued in specific states and counties.

 

[njdrumrun]

Just a couple of more points:


2. The delays at immigrations. Some immigritions officers can make life a bit miserable. Had it happen in some islands in the carribean(not on DCL's itinirary) but you never know who you can get. Mostly children they question because of child trafficking!!! I know we don't think about it here, but it scared me when it was brought up.

my daughters security was my first reason..the second was that i hear they hassle you less when you have passports.

what personal information does your BC have?? can you connect it to a certain child? NOPE. any girl 5-7 years could use my daughter's birth certificate.

a passport has the child's info on it and most importantly a picture. considering she is my "mini me" you just tell by looking at the picture on the passport that she belongs with me.

i am spending $4,500.00 on a cruise..add the cost of passports...it is minimal.

 

[tksbaskets]

I think this thread has posted some valid reasons why a passport is a 'good thing'. Having had my wallet stolen in the past, I always worry about identity theft and would never carry a social security card or a birth certificate anywhere. With those two pieces of ID (like was mentioned, are easy to fake) anyone could start over with your name. I like having official picture ID for your children also.

On the positive side for the passport, I couldn't believe how nice it was to check-in for our flight. Just zipped the passport through the reader and we had our boarding passes.

 

[minniemoms]

I would cost a fortune if eveyone in my family had to get one for our west coast cruise, did they say that we Have to have on for the Mexico cruise?

 

[dbond]

I guarantee you having a passport will make your entry and exit easier. Passports are much more difficult to duplicate and forge, birth certificates all look different. Customs agents know what they are looking at when looking at passports. Since we have begun to travel & cruise with passports for all it's been amazing to us how much easier a time we have had. I know it is an expense, roughly $100 for each. It is a little cheaper for the little ones, but it's been a worthy expense to us.

 

[LissafromSJ]

I was the same way - my husband had one, and I declined getting one on our last trip to Nassau because I knew it was necessary. Plus, I had just had my driver's license renewed and made the requesite three copies of every document, and am pretty anal retentive. That said, after going through Security at Philly International and waiting to board, I was stopped at the gate. Although I had checked my license, somehow I had missed that when they issued my new one, they were off on my birthdate by two days. The year and month were correct. My husband checked his and his was wrong too.
Long story short, my children flew on without me, and I had to go to MVA to get a new license (happy picture with tears AND a straw hat in freezing November weather!!!). So, I was the joke of the whole trip. Oh, and by the way, it didn't matter about my husband's license because he had a passport. So obviously, for our cruise next November, I will have a passport. Maybe two. Just thought it might help...Melissa

 

[HooKooDooKu]

Again, some great answers. Keep them comming.


tksbaskets, you have perhaps (indirectly) posted the best reason to get passports... What if you lose your wallet?

Since 9/11, I seem to recall that you must carry your KTTW card AND a photo ID with you off the ship (security requires these to admit you back on the docs upon your return). That means you can't keep it securely stored in your stateroom. And if you should lose, you've lost a major piece of your documenation for return to the U.S.

Normally, this isn't a big issue when returning to Port Canaveral since MOST people don't have their ID verified upon return to port. But from what I'm hearing, that's not going to be the case in L.A.

 

[myfairygodmother]

I am also on the westbound Panama crossing and I applied for a passport last week. The fee was $55.00 + a $30.00 processing fee. I had the pictures done at the local AAA office for free--this is included with AAA Plus membership.

My main reason for getting a passport is to make sure that I have the needed identification if I were to have to get off the ship unexpectedly or were to miss getting back on the ship at a non-US port of call. Either of these "what if" situations would be 10X worse without a passport!

 

[tksbaskets]

Again, some great answers. Keep them comming.


tksbaskets, you have perhaps (indirectly) posted the best reason to get passports... What if you lose your wallet?

Since 9/11, I seem to recall that you must carry your KTTW card AND a photo ID with you off the ship (security requires these to admit you back on the docs upon your return). That means you can't keep it securely stored in your stateroom. And if you should lose, you've lost a major piece of your documenation for return to the U.S.

Normally, this isn't a big issue when returning to Port Canaveral since MOST people don't have their ID verified upon return to port. But from what I'm hearing, that's not going to be the case in L.A.

But no our passports were not at risk. DH and I brought our drivers licenses also and used those for going on and off the ship. That way our passports were safely stored in the safe in our cabin. If we were ripped off, we only lost a drivers license and our proof of citizenship was safe in our room. The only time they left the safe was when we had to go through immigration in St. Thomas, then back into the safe. Great point to make though!

 

[scrapperjill]

Just wanted to add that although we had passports for our 7night Western cruise...we did take our DL also as ID for getting on/off the ships at ports...Like other posters have mentioned...keeping the passports safe in the statroom.

I also wanted to add that as a previous poster had mentioned taking their own digital photos for their passport....If you decided to do this to save a few $$ just be warned that the passport department is very strict on what the photos look like, size of head...and even the space it must fit into. The office has a template they go by...and although the office will send them off to be processed.....they may be rejected due to improper photos....with out return of the $$$ you sent in. Places that do passport photos know the rules and regulations and will redo your photos if there questioned at the office.

 

[ivanova]

I would cost a fortune if eveyone in my family had to get one for our west coast cruise, did they say that we Have to have on for the Mexico cruise?

No, they are not required for Mexico.....

 

[RickW]

Here's a reason (see the part that I have italicized below):

What documentation do I need to bring?
All U.S. and Canadian citizens must travel with proof of citizenship, which is a valid passport, original, state-certified birth certificate and picture identification, or a certified naturalization certificate with a picture identification. Acceptable forms of picture identification are state or provincial driver's license, or federal, state, province or local government photo I.D. card. Guests age 17 and under who are U.S. or Canadian citizens are only required to have proof of citizenship, excluding picture identification. These guidelines are based on U.S. government regulations which are subject to change at any time. It is the Guest's responsibility to check with their Travel Agent, government agencies, embassies or consulates prior to their vacation to ensure that they have proper documentation. Any Guest traveling without proper documentation will not be allowed to board the vessel and no refund of cruise fare will be issued.

So, even if it isn't needed now, regulations could change between now and the cruise. You never know, and I, for one, would rather be prepared for possible last minute changes.

 

[jlima]

My FIL lost his ID. He needed several documents notarized when he sold his condo, and he used his passport with the notary and all was fine.

Does anyone know if a child has to be present to apply for a passport, or can a parent just show up and do the paperwork?

 

[njdrumrun]

anyone applying for a first time passport must go in person...including children.

if you are taking that child and the other parent is not going...there is a form the other parent must fill out giving permission for their child to be given a passport.

just did it.

 

[Lynderella]

You can pre-print and fill out the forms before you go to the post office passport office. Instructions and forms can be found at

http://trahttp://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_832.html

 

[dbond]

If the child is under 14, both parents also have to be present.

 

[Lynderella]

Both parents don't have to be present. There is a form the absentee parent can complete and then take it with you to the passport facility.

 

[ericamanda01]

Our reason for the passport is simple. If your drivers licenes is for your state, then your passport is for your country. It's just nice to have if you ever need it.