I think I'm going to cry (Cruise Doc/B.C Related)

[IBRelaxin2]

Well, I've sailed twice before with Carnival before. I just starting working with for Disney Cruise Lines in the Terminal and noticed that they do not accept Hospital Issued Birth Certificates. This is always what I've sailed with. I've gone to St. Thomas, Nassau, DR, Cozumel, Belize, etc... and not once had a problem with this. Even w/ immigration in/out of the U.S and in St. Thomas, not once has anyone questioned my hospital issued b.c.

 

Well I call Carnival tonight and they confirm my worst fear that no they DO NOT take hospital issued Birth Certs, even w/ a raised seal from the county. Not sure why I haven't been stopped before.

 

Well here is the kicker, I leave in 9 days for our cruise. I was born in MA and live in FL. Help!

 

I know at Disney we can do whats called an affirmation, it's a form you sign saying yes I am a citizen and if I am found not to be I get in trouble, etc. But not sure if Carnival does this as well.

 

Can anyone help me with this, has anyone else used a Hospital cert before.

[mosel]

I hope this helps....I think you can pay for fast shipping.

http://www.vitalchek.com/provider_overview.asp?provider_id=15021&Massachusetts_Birth_Certificate

 

Good luck,

[bigtrigger]

I am going on Carnival Liberty Jan 06 and when filling out my fun pass online it asked what you will be using , birth cert, passport, etc. I put down birth cert. This will be good for another year then you will have to use only a passport. Starting Dec 31 06. Hope everything works out, Personally, during my years of crusing I have got alot of wrong info from Carnival employees.

[DigiPix71]

You can get it. You'll pay dearly for it, but you can have it in your hands by the time you sail.

 

http://www.mass.gov/portal/site/massgovportal/menuitem.307e4dfc1e5731c14db4a11030468a0c/?pageID=eohhs2terminal&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Consumer&L2=Basic+Needs&L3=Vital+Records&sid=Eeohhs2&b=terminalcontent&f=dph_vital_records_c_obtaining_copies&csid=Eeohhs2

[kimcruiser]

Ibrelaxin, this is off topic I guess but you mentioned it;) . you moved to florida now you work for the cruise line....sigh. yes I think I am jealous:p have a great cruise I hope everything works out. let us know.

[zqvol]

Not that it will help for this cruise, but why not just get a passport? In this day and age it is a smart thing and with the proposed imigration rule changes you are going to have to have one anyway.

[caprcorn28]

not once had a problem with this. Even w/ immigration in/out of the U.S and in St. Thomas, not once has anyone questioned my hospital issued b.c.

 

Well I call Carnival tonight and they confirm my worst fear that no they DO NOT take hospital issued Birth Certs, even w/ a raised seal from the county. Not sure why I haven't been stopped before.

 

I am guessing that you haven't had a problem because your "hospital" bc has that raised seal. That is usually what is considered a certified copy. Good luck ~ I am sure that it will all work out!!!

[Kittybork]

I would take the advice of those who posted ways to get a new one in quickly. If you live near a passport office, why don't you got there too. Bring your cruise docs, the bc that you have, and any other ID that might help. They might be able to help you. I once got a passport the same day that I applied. This was pre 911, but it's worth a shot.

[MEOWSMURPHY]

I was also born in MA..I needed a certified copy of my BC and called the Clerk of Courts in the city inwhich I was born. They were very helpfuland offered me several ways to get the BC. I paid $8 for the copy and $20 to have it Fed Ex'd overnight. (by credit card) got it in 2 days...it is doable since you leave in 9 days..do it first thing..good luck

[MrPete]

For those suggesting the OP get a passport, if Carnival is no longer accepting hospital issued BC's, will/does the Passport agency? :confused:

 

I highly recommend get MA is issue a new one. It's worth the cost!

[Kittybork]

I don't know. That's why I suggested that she bring along other forms of identification. I think she should get another b/c also. I just think that at this point, I'd try to do everything I could to make sure I could get on that ship. As I said, it's worth a shot.

[breenw]

As long as your copy of the birth certificate has a raised seal - they will accept it - I don't care what you were told on the phone.

 

I just sailed recently on Carnival, have sailed several times with them in fact, and I have always used my copy that has the raised seal.

 

I think you were given misinformation about this.

[Luanne21]

I think the info is wrong too. As long as it has raised seal, if is all that is needed.

 

Luanne

[Sablerose]

A hospital birth certificate is not the same thing as a certified copy from the city or county where you were born.

 

There is information on a "certified" birth certificate that isn't found on a hospital copy. And that's why they want an official one.

 

In this day and age it's worth it to have an official birth record IMHO ... I'd go thru vitalchek and just get one expedited to you for about $40. We've had to do it two or three times with hubby's birth certificate becuase the military's always needing it for something-or-other, and they aren't always done with using it in one place before they need another. We have 3 copies of his birth certificate.

[GoinCruisin]

A hospital issued birth certificate is NOT the same as a state issued certified copy... to be safe, you should have the state certified BC... the hospital will most likely work since it has a raised seal, but if you have the time, go ahead and order one from Vital Chek, just to be safe...

[tef43]

http://www.carnival.com/CMS/Static_Templates/EMB_travel_document.aspx

 

It's pretty obvious from the above link that hospital-issued bc's, raised seal or not, are not acceptable travel documents.

[tkubi7]

I would take the advice of those who posted ways to get a new one in quickly. If you live near a passport office, why don't you got there too. Bring your cruise docs, the bc that you have, and any other ID that might help. They might be able to help you. I once got a passport the same day that I applied. This was pre 911, but it's worth a shot.

 

 

 

How did you get a passport the same day that you applied? They are not issued locally.

[GoinCruisin]

How did you get a passport the same day that you applied? They are not issued locally.

 

Still trying to figure that one out myself. I've gotten a Visa within 24 hours after pulling some strings... but even the rush "same day" service takes about 5 days... I didn't think the passport offices around the country had "walk in" service??? :confused:

[polsons]

Can someone correct me if I'm mistaken, I thought we needed a passport this Jan. 1 for traveling. Am I wrong?

 

Thanks,

Jen

[IBRelaxin2]

http://www.carnival.com/CMS/Static_Templates/EMB_travel_document.aspx

 

It's pretty obvious from the above link that hospital-issued bc's, raised seal or not, are not acceptable travel documents.

 

I assumed this: original birth certificate, state-issued certified copy of a birth certificate from the Department of Health and Vital Statistics, or original Naturalization papers.

 

from their site, meant Hospital was ok, it is my original and has a seal.

[IBRelaxin2]

Anyhow will a certified copy from the local city's office where I was born work? My fiance has an uncle in Plymouth who can overnight us a certified copy from the Clerk's office tomorrow.

[tkubi7]

Anyhow will a certified copy from the local city's office where I was born work? My fiance has an uncle in Plymouth who can overnight us a certified copy from the Clerk's office tomorrow.

 

 

Yes. As long as it has the official raised seal

[tef43]

Anyhow will a certified copy from the local city's office where I was born work? My fiance has an uncle in Plymouth who can overnight us a certified copy from the Clerk's office tomorrow.

That would work fine.

 

Certain localities do not used a de-facto raised seal, but have other mechanisms in place to ensure "sertified copy"status, such as holograms or colored paper.

[Kittybork]

How did you get a passport the same day that you applied? They are not issued locally.

 

I went to the passport office in New Orleans. It was printed there. I got it that afternoon.

 

As I said before, this was pre 911. I don't know if it's still possible, but it might be worth a try.

[GoinCruisin]

Thinking, just thinking, that it might be easier to have the BC overnighted rather than fly to one of the agencies for the chance to get a passport same day, which probably wouldn't happen ;) Here are the agencies, and you can get one expedited... probably not same day, but you can get one quickly... I'd still say just order a copy of your BC, it will get there sooner and be less expensive. Good luck!!!!

 

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