Passport Needed to take the Ferry?

[VgsBby]

Taking a cruise to St. Thomas. We are looking to take a Ferry to Tortola for the Dolphin Swim. For the Cruise we only need a birth certificate for proof of citizenship. Wonder if we need a passport book or card to go to Tortola or re-enter St. Thomas. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Ben

[Betsy's Mom]

You will have to go through Immigration both in Tortola and also on the way back in St. John. You must have a passport. If you take the regular ferry you are chancing missing the ship. Good Luck. Enjoy:) The card will not do, it is for Mexico and Canada only!

B.

[Fourseventeen]

I think Betsy may be wrong about the passport card. The passport card is good for land and sea travel only. If your sure I am wrong about this please let me know. I was told this by the postal worker/passport dept at the post office.

[cherylandtk]

The passport card will work for land or sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean; it will work for Tortola via ferry. The BC/ID will work for the cruise, but is not acceptable for a ferry or private boat sea crossing as this would be.

[Fourseventeen]

You 100% sure about this Chery? If so I am gonna be upset with my Postal passport clerk for telling me differently. I have both the card and the book but I dont ever get off the ship with my book in fear of it getting wet or damaged.

[nabby]

Because you are travelling by sea, you can use the passport card. Here is a link to the U.S. Dept. of State website http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1079.html

 

You do need to have either a passport or a passport card. Have fun!

[cherylandtk]

Yeah, I'm sure. See link provided by Nabby. Postal clerks are just acceptance agents; they are trained to know what you need to apply for a passport/passport card. They are not CBP agents, and are not trained to know what documents can be used where and when or by whom.

[Fourseventeen]

Chery, it appears that the link is saying you CAN use a passport card if traveling to and from by sea. Hmmmm.