goaties Posted August 25, 2014 #1 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Am i correct in saying birth certificates are ok to sail from LA to Hawaii??? leaving and returning from LA.... the rules say transpacific cruises require passport. LA to Hawaii is not considered transpacific? Anyone know for sure. I called carnival and there was a long wait. thanks this is what site says: Sailings from Hawaii and Transpacific Cruises U.S. citizens must have a valid passport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rednose83 Posted August 25, 2014 #2 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Doesn't this cruise technically sail from Ensenada? Like you board a bus in LA, and then cross to Ensenada and board the cruise ship? If so, you'd need a passport (book or card) to cross the Mexican border. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bookbug53 Posted August 25, 2014 #3 Share Posted August 25, 2014 (edited) Am i correct in saying birth certificates are ok to sail from LA to Hawaii???leaving and returning from LA.... the rules say transpacific cruises require passport. LA to Hawaii is not considered transpacific? Anyone know for sure. I called carnival and there was a long wait. thanks this is what site says: Sailings from Hawaii and Transpacific Cruises U.S. citizens must have a valid passport. http://www.passportsandvisas.com/passport-requirements/cruise/passportsforcarnivalcruises.asp Edited August 25, 2014 by Bookbug53 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donray Posted August 25, 2014 #4 Share Posted August 25, 2014 No, sails from Long Beach. But stops in Mexico or it could not cruise under a foreign flag. Only one cruise ship is registered in the USA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmoo here Posted August 25, 2014 #5 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Am i correct in saying birth certificates are ok to sail from LA to Hawaii???leaving and returning from LA.... the rules say transpacific cruises require passport. LA to Hawaii is not considered transpacific? Anyone know for sure. I called carnival and there was a long wait. thanks this is what site says: Sailings from Hawaii and Transpacific Cruises U.S. citizens must have a valid passport. I read that as a cruise that departs from Hawaii requires a passport (one way cruise to somewhere else), as well as any cruise that crosses the Pacific one-way requires a passport. Technically, a closed loop cruise beginning and ending in Long Beach, stopping only at Western Hemisphere ports, only requires a birth certificate plus (for those 16 and over) a government-issued photo ID. That's the law, anyway. That being said, cruise lines can (and do ) have stricter requirements than the law. It's best to call Carnival for a confirmation as to what will be required for your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisinfanatic Posted August 25, 2014 #6 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Am i correct in saying birth certificates are ok to sail from LA to Hawaii???leaving and returning from LA.... the rules say transpacific cruises require passport. LA to Hawaii is not considered transpacific? Anyone know for sure. I called carnival and there was a long wait. thanks this is what site says: Sailings from Hawaii and Transpacific Cruises U.S. citizens must have a valid passport. not a closed loop cruise! You need a passport Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goaties Posted August 25, 2014 Author #7 Share Posted August 25, 2014 yes, thanks. we will be ok with birth certificate only then. we start and end in Long Beach.. We do stop in Mexico so we can end at Long Beach. Jones Act. etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmoo here Posted August 25, 2014 #8 Share Posted August 25, 2014 yes, thanks. we will be ok with birth certificate only then. we start and end in Long Beach.. We do stop in Mexico so we can end at Long Beach. Jones Act. etc... Actually it's the PVSA (Passenger Vessel Services Act). Jones Act has to do with cargo, not passengers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goaties Posted August 25, 2014 Author #9 Share Posted August 25, 2014 ok. i will research that. lol.. i was told Jones Act... i know nothing about it. i have a passport , but two going with us only have birth certificates.. we do leave and return to LA so we should be fine. Hawaii is US, but i was wondering about the mexico stop. It would be closed loop because we do end where we start. Right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theodorable Posted August 25, 2014 #10 Share Posted August 25, 2014 (edited) think your friends would be nuts going on a cruise like that without a passport. I would double and quadruple check with the cruiseline rather than here as it will be pretty sad you getting on the ship and leaving them behind just because you read it on Cruise Critic! But that's only my view. Edited August 25, 2014 by Theodorable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmoo here Posted August 25, 2014 #11 Share Posted August 25, 2014 ok. i will research that. lol.. i was told Jones Act... i know nothing about it.i have a passport , but two going with us only have birth certificates.. we do leave and return to LA so we should be fine. Hawaii is US, but i was wondering about the mexico stop. It would be closed loop because we do end where we start. Right? Yes, as long as where you depart the ship is the same port that you boarded, it's a closed-loop cruise. And, according to the law, the minimum requirement for those is a birth certificate plus (for those 16 and over) a government-issued photo ID. However, as I pointed out, there are cruise lines whose requirements are stricter than the law, and do require passports even on closed-loop cruises. Jones Act/PVSA - many people (even those in the travel industry) mix them up. Basically they say the same thing, but one is about transporting cargo and the other about transporting passengers. Not really about passports, but about the fact that they can't transport between different US ports without a stop in a distant foreign port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SadieN Posted August 25, 2014 #12 Share Posted August 25, 2014 They need to make sure their BCs are government issued. The cute ones from the hospital won't work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.S.Oceanlover Posted August 26, 2014 #13 Share Posted August 26, 2014 think your friends would be nuts going on a cruise like that without a passport. I would double and quadruple check with the cruiseline rather than here as it will be pretty sad you getting on the ship and leaving them behind just because you read it on Cruise Critic! But that's only my view. Just curious as to why you think they would be nuts without passports? I'd be a nit more concerned if they had a lot of stops in foreign countries. Bill Sent from Iphone 4S using Cruise Critic App Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
losijon Posted August 26, 2014 #14 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Just curious as to why you think they would be nuts without passports? I'd be a nit more concerned if they had a lot of stops in foreign countries. Bill Sent from Iphone 4S using Cruise Critic App In guessing that statement was made because what if something happens while in Ensenada? And they get left behind in port or need to get back to the US pronto. ..................................................... Carnival Pride 7 day Mexican Riviera: September 2008 Carnival Inspiration 4 day Mexican Riviera: September 2013 Carnival Miracle 15 day Hawaii: coming October 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdGuyMG Posted August 26, 2014 #15 Share Posted August 26, 2014 In guessing that statement was made because what if something happens while in Ensenada? And they get left behind in port or need to get back to the US pronto. That's right. That 5 hour service stop the Miracle makes in Ensenada would be the only time a passport would come in handy for the reasons you stated. And you never know what kind of emergency could possibly pop up. Legally, however, this closed loop voyage can be done by US citizens with only a government issued Birth Certificate and a photo ID. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pulledporky Posted August 26, 2014 #16 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Just need a drivers license to drive or walk across at Tijuana. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdGuyMG Posted August 26, 2014 #17 Share Posted August 26, 2014 (edited) there are cruise lines whose requirements are stricter than the law, and do require passports even on closed-loop cruises. I have a passport, but am curious as to which cruise lines you've either sailed or considered sailing with that impose stricter citizenship documentation that would exceed US Homeland Security / Customs Border Patrol requirements for US citizens on closed loop sailings from and back to US ports? I am not doubting you, but I've been on a decent mix of cruise lines, and certainly not every one, and haven't encountered this. Edited August 26, 2014 by AdGuyMG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.S.Oceanlover Posted August 26, 2014 #18 Share Posted August 26, 2014 I have a passport, but am curious as to which cruise lines you've either sailed or considered sailing with that impose stricter citizenship documentation that would exceed US Homeland Security / Customs Border Patrol requirements for US citizens on closed loop sailings from and back to US ports? I am not doubting you, but I've been on a decent mix of cruise lines, and certainly not every one, and haven't encountered this. I was thinking that myself but was afraid to ask. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.S.Oceanlover Posted August 26, 2014 #19 Share Posted August 26, 2014 In guessing that statement was made because what if something happens while in Ensenada? And they get left behind in port or need to get back to the US pronto. ..................................................... Carnival Pride 7 day Mexican Riviera: September 2008 Carnival Inspiration 4 day Mexican Riviera: September 2013 Carnival Miracle 15 day Hawaii: coming October 2015 That's all I could come up with too, but calling someone nuts because they are traveling without a passport on the off chance something might happen in a 5 hour span during a 2 week cruise seems a bit over the top. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SadieN Posted August 26, 2014 #20 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Ensenada is just over a three hour drive to Long Beach. (Of course that's not taking into account the wait at the border. ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawksFan74 Posted August 26, 2014 #21 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Just need a drivers license to drive or walk across at Tijuana. If it's an enhanced driver's license, yes. Otherwise, no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sparks1093 Posted August 26, 2014 #22 Share Posted August 26, 2014 not a closed loop cruise! You need a passport Why would you say that it's not a closed loop cruise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sparks1093 Posted August 26, 2014 #23 Share Posted August 26, 2014 I have a passport, but am curious as to which cruise lines you've either sailed or considered sailing with that impose stricter citizenship documentation that would exceed US Homeland Security / Customs Border Patrol requirements for US citizens on closed loop sailings from and back to US ports? I am not doubting you, but I've been on a decent mix of cruise lines, and certainly not every one, and haven't encountered this. The luxury lines seem to be the ones that require a passport of all passengers on all itineraries, I know of no main stream line that requires it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goaties Posted August 26, 2014 Author #24 Share Posted August 26, 2014 I got this answer message from Carnival. Birth Certificates are ok on closed loop cruises. Thank you for contacting us. We appreciate the opportunity to be of assistance. I have included below identification options for U.S. citizens: Carnival highly recommends that all guests travel with a passport. Cruises that begin and end in the same U.S. port (referred to as a closed-loop cruise) For cruises that begin and end in the same U.S. port, ALL Guests are required to carry proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate) and guests 16 years of age and older are required to have a government-issued photo ID. Any of the WHTI-Compliant Documents listed below are also acceptable. Birth Certificate Information An original Birth Certificate issued by the Department of Health and Vital Statistics A suitable, quality copy of a Birth Certificate issued by the Department of Health and Vital Statisticso A clear and readable Xerox copy is acceptable (document does not need to be notarized or certified)o Birth Certificate Card is acceptable Photo Identification A Government-Issued Photo ID. is required of all guests 16 years of age and older. Sources of Photo ID: Driver's License Driver's Permit School/Student I.D. (acceptable for guests 16/17/18 years of age) Government-Issued identification card (city/state/federal) WHTI-Compliant Documents Valid U.S. Passport The Passport Card Consular Report of Birth Abroad State Enhanced Driver's Licenses (EDL) Certificate of U.S. Naturalization and a Government-Issued Photo ID. Trusted Traveler Program Membership Card - NEXUS Card, SENTRI Card or FAST Card Native American Indian Tribal Documents with affixed Photo ID If you need further clarification please contact U.S. Immigration at 800 375 5283. Yes, this cruise is classified as a closed loop. Thank you for choosing Carnival Cruise Lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donray Posted August 28, 2014 #25 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Just need a drivers license to drive or walk across at Tijuana. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Getting into Tijuana you need nothing. To come back into the USA you need a Passport, Passport card or enhanced driver license. They will most likely let in with a Birth Certificate and other government ID. Don't understand all the misinformation given on this site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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