passport question

[dja31705]

Have the law changed now concerning passports. can you still board the ship with your a certified copy of your birth certificate or is a passport required.

[cherylandtk]

You may still board a round-trip cruise from the US with a certified US birth certificate and government issued picture ID. You did not state which cruise you are taking, so your itinerary may or may not qualify.

 

There have been no changes to the law since June 2009, and none are planned or anticipated. The reasons for using a passport for emergencies are well-documented and numerous on this board.

[dja31705]

Carnival Liberty on March 31, 2012 seven day Eastern Caribbean cruise porting out of Miami to Half Cay Moon Cay, Bahamas, St. Thomas, USVI, San Juan, PR, and Grand Turk.

[bcs819]

you don't need a passport to take the cruise, but if you have an emergency and need to fly home, or miss the ship somewhere you are S.O.L.

[dja31705]

What about the passport cards? Do they cover this area

[cherylandtk]

Carnival Liberty on March 31, 2012 seven day Eastern Caribbean cruise porting out of Miami to Half Cay Moon Cay, Bahamas, St. Thomas, USVI, San Juan, PR, and Grand Turk.

This itinerry is fine with just BC/ID. Two of your ports are US, so even in an emergency you can fly home from there.

[woodey]

this is from Carnival Faq

I hope it helps you

 

http://www.carnival.com/cms/faq/default.aspx?faq=passport

 

 

 

CRUISE TRAVEL

U.S. Citizens

Carnival highly recommends all guests travel with a passport (valid for at least six months beyond completion of travel). Although a passport is not required for U.S. citizens taking cruises that begin & end in the same U.S. port, travelling with a passport enhances your disembarkation experience, as delays may be expected upon your return to the U.S. if you do not have one. Additionally, passports make it easier for you to fly from the U.S. to a foreign port should you miss your scheduled port of embarkation, or need to fly back to the U.S. for emergency reasons.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) allows U.S. citizens (including children) sailing on cruises that begin and end in the same U.S. port to travel with one of the following WHTI compliant document:

• Valid U.S. Passport
  
• Passport Card
  
• Original or suitable quality copy of a Birth Certificate (Issued by the department of vital statistics)
  
• Certificate of Naturalization
  
• Trusted Traveler Program Membership Card, e.g., Nexus Card, Sentri Card or Fast Card
  
• Enhanced Tribal Card
  
• A Consular Report of Birth Abroad
  
• Enhanced Driver's License (EDL)
  

Note: Enhanced Driver's Licenses can be used as proof of citizenship at land and sea ports of entry. However, it cannot be used to travel by air outside the United States.

[Warm Breezes]

you don't need a passport to take the cruise, but if you have an emergency and need to fly home, or miss the ship somewhere you are S.O.L.

 

You won't be S.O.L. There are also documented cases where people have had emergencies with DL and BC and were able (with the help of Carnival and/or US Embassies) to get emergency/expedited passports to get home. The government created this loop-hole...they will not leave you stranded. I have not read of any scenerios where someone was left S.O.L. The chances of anything happening to begin with are extremely slim, for the short time you are on foreign soil. OP you are fine sailing with your BC and DL.

[Warm Breezes]

What about the passport cards? Do they cover this area

 

They would work the same as DL and BC.