Advantages of passport/passport card

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I sail with a passport and usually out of Galveston - I travel on a scooter so I always get a porter to help with bags (a wonderful $10 investment) - he takes me and the luggage directly to a passport only line - which is general 1/10th the length of the line of those without a passport - I just zip right through.

 

While I have never cruised from Galveston I have never seen passport only lines in the Florida ports I have cruised from.

 

Maybe I just wasn't paying attention.

 

Bill

[easyboy]

Aside from the passport book, we also bring the passport card. We use the card, instead of the DL, as gov't. issued photo ID, in port. In case our card gets misplaced or lost, we can still drive at home with our DL while waiting for a replacement passport card.

[Havingfun2010]

Not paranoid, prepared. A friend of ours ended up at the hospital while on a cruise, he would have had a great time trying to fly home without his passport. Just because it hasn't happened to you or your friends in the past certainly doesn't mean it will never happen. Good luck if it happens to you though.

 

It's not that hard to get home from the Bahamas without a passport. Think of the thousands every week that sails without a passports

[sparks1093]

We've sailed with birth certificate and gov't ID with no issues. You have to determine what you are willing to return home for, how much risk you face of that happening during the short time you are gone and how comfortable you are accepting that risk. Yes, accidents can and do happen but to me that is a better argument for good travel insurance than for a passport (for example a private medevac flight can set you back $25k). As for passport cards they will get you onboard both closed loop cruises and open jaw sailings to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean and may be used for land border crossings. It's one document to carry and should you need assistance from the State Department your information is already in their system.

[Pyrate13]

It's not that hard to get home from the Bahamas without a passport. Think of the thousands every week that sails without a passports

 

 

And all cruises only go to the Bahamas right? You want to cruise without a passport that's fine, go for it, I'd rather be prepared.

[sparks1093]

And all cruises only go to the Bahamas right? You want to cruise without a passport that's fine, go for it, I'd rather be prepared.

 

Of course they don't, but that is where the OP is going.

[Pyrate13]

Of course they don't, but that is where the OP is going.

 

Yeah, but all the replies in this thread do not necessarily refer just to the Bahamas.

[sparks1093]

Yeah, but all the replies in this thread do not necessarily refer just to the Bahamas.

 

I know, but the PP was simply answering the OP's question and there's nothing wrong with that.

[Havingfun2010]

And all cruises only go to the Bahamas right? You want to cruise without a passport that's fine, go for it, I'd rather be prepared.

 

Just to clear things up. I have a passport, and a passport card. Been sailing and traveling out of the country for at least 40 years. The Caribbean Islands are friendly to the US, and they do not require a passport to enter them when on a ship. Thousands of people sail weekly from Florida without a passport. Out of those thousands, some for various reasons, like missing the ship, sickness, or emergencies will find themselves in a situation where they need to fly back. Being a US citizen, and having proof that you are, will get you back. Yes, there are some additional things you must do, but if you are a family of 4, going to the Bahamas, and find out that you must shell out $560.00 or more to get passports, and the risk is slim to none, than they could easily go with very minimal risk.

 

The USA has never denied entry to a Citizen. They just make it a little difficult if you don't have the right documents.

 

I know many people, including my family members that go on cruises without a passport. I look at it this way. I play the lottery and know that $5 is just being tossed aside for a chance to win that is very unlikely. Some people feel tossing $140.00 into a passport is the same thing. A gamble that will never pay off.

 

So although I think everyone should get a passport, It certainly is not needed, and very unlikely that it will be needed for the extreme reasons, so many people are worried about.

[summersigh]

Since there are replies for destinations other than the Bahamas .....

 

For COSTA RICA ... you MUST have a passport. You cannot even board the cruise ship on embarkation day without one.:ship::ship:

[Doggielover68]

I know many people, including my family members that go on cruises without a passport. I look at it this way. I play the lottery and know that $5 is just being tossed aside for a chance to win that is very unlikely. Some people feel tossing $140.00 into a passport is the same thing. A gamble that will never pay off.

 

 

 

So although I think everyone should get a passport, It certainly is not needed, and very unlikely that it will be needed for the extreme reasons, so many people are worried about.

 

 

Keep in mind that passports are valid for 10 years. An adult passport book is $110. Divide that by 10 years and you're paying $11 per year. I'm sure you are spending much more than that on your "throw away" lottery tickets.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[sparks1093]

Keep in mind that passports are valid for 10 years. An adult passport book is $110. Divide that by 10 years and you're paying $11 per year. I'm sure you are spending much more than that on your "throw away" lottery tickets.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

The person you quoted has a passport:). Had the State Department allowed me to pay $11 per year back in the day I would have gotten passports then, but dang them, they wanted the full amount for the family so we decided to wait until the day came that we actually needed them for the travel we were undertaking.

[TyBaby]

Well....My husband and I got pulled off our very first cruise by the port authorities (armed escort) when we docked back in Jacksonville. After a scary 20 minutes of them reviewing my documentation, they let us go. Apparently, some of my info matched some info of a person they were looking for. They told me that if I had a passport, it would not have happened. Oh and yes, I now have my passport.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Well....My husband and I got pulled off our very first cruise by the port authorities (armed escort) when we docked back in Jacksonville. After a scary 20 minutes of them reviewing my documentation, they let us go. Apparently, some of my info matched some info of a person they were looking for. They told me that if I had a passport, it would not have happened. Oh and yes, I now have my passport.

 

I've had that happen to me twice. Got a call in my cabin the morning of disembarkation about 7am. Told to come to guest services. Would not tell me what it was about. Didn't get to eat breakfast or anything. They whisked us off the ship where they handed me off to some other guy who looked at my passport, shook his head no to the other guy and told me I'm free to go.No explanation, no sorry for the inconvenience. Both times I had a passport.

 

Bill

[TyBaby]

I've had that happen to me twice. Got a call in my cabin the morning of disembarkation about 7am. Told to come to guest services. Would not tell me what it was about. Didn't get to eat breakfast or anything. They whisked us off the ship where they handed me off to some other guy who looked at my passport, shook his head no to the other guy and told me I'm free to go.No explanation, no sorry for the inconvenience. Both times I had a passport.

 

Bill

I had a letter slipped under my door the last night of the cruise. No one could tell me what was going on. It just said report to Deck 3 with all luggage at 6:00 am. Scary stuff!

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I had a letter slipped under my door the last night of the cruise. No one could tell me what was going on. It just said report to Deck 3 with all luggage at 6:00 am. Scary stuff!

 

Yep sure was. Both times it was on a CCL cruise. Never happened on any other cruise lines but I don't think that really had a bearing on the situation. Just a coincidence I would venture to guess.

 

Bill

[TyBaby]

Yep sure was. Both times it was on a CCL cruise. Never happened on any other cruise lines but I don't think that really had a bearing on the situation. Just a coincidence I would venture to guess.

 

Bill

Earlier that year my husband had renewed his drivers license and they had marked him as deceased. Funny story how I found that out that I wont bore you with. Took us months to get him declared "alive" again. I really thought their issue had something to do with him "being temporarily deceased" but no.....it was me who was bad. :rolleyes:

[ultrafighter]

My wife and I both have passport books, but we got passport cards for our three kids. $105x3 is a hefty chunk of change for a passport that's only good for five years.

 

This is exactly why our toddlers only have passport cards. Sure, it's a gamble in terms of having to fly home, but we'll cross that bridge if/when we get to it.

[Moonarino]

... The Caribbean Islands are friendly to the US, and they do not require a passport to enter them when on a ship. Thousands of people sail weekly from Florida without a passport. ...

 

True enough. You reminded me I haven't had to show my passport card to clear the island in at least 2-3 years. I always keep it handy, but my ship card is all they ever ask for any more.

 

 

The USA has never denied entry to a Citizen. They just make it a little difficult if you don't have the right documents.

 

 

And if you happen to have a military ID (including retired, dependent or otherwise) it's made even less difficult. Ask me how I know. At any rate, these days I dread the odds of clearing airport TSA checkpoints more than I do island-hopping. And I mean for domestic-only flights.

[dreadpirate3]

My birth certificate has a different name than my Driver's License. So I had to carry my marriage certificate too. It was too much to deal with, I got a passport when the rules changed.

Passengers from states that do not comply with the enhanced DL rules will be required to have a passport or passport card. This begins January 2018. Article

The states where residents will need identification other than driver’s licenses to fly on Jan. 22, 2018, are: Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Washington.

[Drazil65]

but we got passport cards for our three kids. $105x3 is a hefty chunk of change for a passport that's only good for five years.

 

FYI...passport books for kids (under 16) are only good for 5 yrs as well...once they reach 16 you can get them for 10 yrs...

 

 

We have all had passports since DS was 16 months old and we took him to Europe with us the first time, DH and I have always traveled abroad so always needed a passport and it just made cruising easier. We would not leave the country without a passport, better safe than sorry, if something happens we are prepared (yes, we purchase travel insurance as well).

[apcci2]

Not paranoid, prepared. A friend of ours ended up at the hospital while on a cruise, he would have had a great time trying to fly home without his passport. Just because it hasn't happened to you or your friends in the past certainly doesn't mean it will never happen. Good luck if it happens to you though.

 

better safe than sorry

[sparks1093]

My birth certificate has a different name than my Driver's License. So I had to carry my marriage certificate too. It was too much to deal with, I got a passport when the rules changed.

Passengers from states that do not comply with the enhanced DL rules will be required to have a passport or passport card. This begins January 2018. Article

 

There are no indications that cruise passengers will be affected by the REAL ID act, that applies only to property under Federal jurisdiction (of course it would affect them if they had to fly to the port).

[Havingfun2010]

Keep in mind that passports are valid for 10 years. An adult passport book is $110. Divide that by 10 years and you're paying $11 per year. I'm sure you are spending much more than that on your "throw away" lottery tickets.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

Sorry, but do you work for CNN by chance? You took out some quotes, to rearrange them for some Fake news. It cost more than $110.00 per passport. You also need to supply photos and shipping. It comes to about $140.00 per person. If you are under 16, it is only 5 years. For many families, on their first cruise, putting out an additional $560.00 all at the same time, for an item that is marginally needed for a bad event, and is not required by any country visiting (Bahamas) is an additional make or break hardship. My wife and kids sailed for the first 10 years of marriage without a passport and when we were able, traveled beyond the Caribbean to Europe, Asia, and down under is when my wife got her passport. It was a money thing. Just like playing the lottery, the chance of winning (or in the case of a cruise mishap loosing) is extremely minimal.

 

To be clear, a passport is not required, but is recommended for any travel.

[Yvonne]

The first few times we cruised we just used our driver's licenses and birth certificates, but then decided it would just be easier to get passports. And as we get older (we both turn 60 this year) we realize that "anything can happen" when we're in a foreign port and we may need to immediately fly home (as in death of a parent or child) or one of us could have a heart attack, fall and break and hip, etc. and need to be hospitalized or flown home so it would just be easier, and give us peace of mind, to have passports. They're good for 10 years, we just renewed ours for our Dream cruise.