I don't know what to title this but hard lesson learned by 1st time cruiser

[sft429]

2 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

Yes, copies are acceptable under the DHS regulations which says an original or copy may be used. While it is best to bring the original knowing that a copy is acceptable has saved many cruises. (When we boarded Pride in 2012 I presented a copy of my birth certificate and no one batted an eye at it.)

 

"WARNING: IT IS ILLEGAL TO DUPLICATE THIS COPY"

That is printed on the copy of my birth certificate that I got from the County Courthouse. 

Creates a bit of a dilemma :)

I travel with a passport but thought this was interesting.

Edited August 1, 2019 by sft429

[Countrygurl]

37 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

Typical 2019 victimhood. It's not my fault. It's the TA. It's Carnival. Just not me! Sure the policies are posted, and I didn't care to read them. Someone else should know what I don't know, then at that point, I'll listen!

Yes!!!!!

[sparks1093]

12 minutes ago, sft429 said:

 

"WARNING: IT IS ILLEGAL TO DUPLICATE THIS COPY"

That is printed on the copy of my birth certificate that I got from the County Courthouse. 

Creates a bit of a dilemma 🙂

I travel with a passport but thought this was interesting.

My birth cert doesn't have that language but people make copies of their birth certificate all of the time (including personnel at the DMV when they keep a copy for their file).

[2wheelin]

1 hour ago, Joebucks said:

Typical 2019 victimhood. It's not my fault. It's the TA. It's Carnival. Just not me! Sure the policies are posted, and I didn't care to read them. Someone else should know what I don't know, then at that point, I'll still not listen, but I will blame them later listen!

 

[CruiseGal999]

6 hours ago, sft429 said:

 

"WARNING: IT IS ILLEGAL TO DUPLICATE THIS COPY"

That is printed on the copy of my birth certificate that I got from the County Courthouse. 

Creates a bit of a dilemma :)

I travel with a passport but thought this was interesting.

 

And I'm waiting for the police to knock on my door because I've pulled the tags off of my pillows and mattress!

[amyotravel]

50 minutes ago, CruiseGal999 said:

 

And I'm waiting for the police to knock on my door because I've pulled the tags off of my pillows and mattress!

Off topic, but those warnings are not for the consumer/end user. You are free to remove them.

 

...unlawful to “remove or mutilate, or cause or participate in the removal or mutilation of, prior to the time any textile fiber product is sold and delivered to the ultimate consumer, any stamp, tag, label, or other identification required” on them. “Any person violating this section,” the regulation continues, “shall be guilty of an unfair method of competition, and an unfair or deceptive act or practice, under the Federal Trade Commission Act.”

[Doggielover68]

8 hours ago, Purvis1231 said:

We cruise with passports since we  occasionally do other international travel but most people who cruise do not use a passport. For most is not that they cannot afford it but they do not want to pay the expense for a one time trip. I do wish people would buy new birth certificates before their cruises. I have notice some people present BC that are falling apart. Others who have to have their mother fax a copy of the BC to the port on the day of departure. 

 

According to Forbes, 42% of Americans now have passports. That's approximately 137.4 Million people that have passports. As of 2018, there were around 12 million US cruise passengers. I think it is safe to say that the majority of them have passports.

[Purvis1231]

2 hours ago, Doggielover68 said:

 

According to Forbes, 42% of Americans now have passports. That's approximately 137.4 Million people that have passports. As of 2018, there were around 12 million US cruise passengers. I think it is safe to say that the majority of them have passports.

I was speaking from my observations, talking to other cruisers, and travel professionals. 

 

[DebJ14]

On 7/31/2019 at 3:18 PM, Doggielover68 said:

Millions? I doubt that. 

 

Just thinking about the time an employee at the car dealership accidentally checked the wrong box on a dmv form, saying that my husband was not a US citizen, which went to the DMV and then to the county who then revoked his voter's registration. He needed his passport to prove his citizenship to get it all straightened out, which took months all because of one idiot. Shi(p) happens!

 

Just saying, if you are leaving the country, I think the adults at least should have a passport. I understand not getting it for the kids. 

 

We didn't have much money for our first cruise either, so we got our passports in lieu of buying excursions or drinks. Still had an amazing time though. 

 

Princess has stricter document rules for single parents traveling with children.  

 

PASSPORT REQUIREMENT WHEN MINORS TRAVEL WITH ONE ADULT ON VOYAGES GOVERNED BY THE U.S. WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRAVEL INITIATIVE (includes travel within BERMUDA, CANADA, CARIBBEAN, HAWAII, MEXICO, UNITED STATES) When minors are traveling with only one adult 21 years of age or older, Princess requires that all guests must be in possession of a valid passport. We have implemented this requirement because we want to ensure that your party remains together should an emergency arise that requires one or more in your party to be disembarked in a non-U.S. port. We cannot guarantee that all members of your party will be allowed to disembark with just a WHTI-compliant document or birth certificate. Failure to present a valid passport for all guests traveling together will result in denial of boarding without refund of the cruise or cruisetour fare.

[2wheelin]

2 hours ago, Doggielover68 said:

 

According to Forbes, 42% of Americans now have passports. That's approximately 137.4 Million people that have passports. As of 2018, there were around 12 million US cruise passengers. I think it is safe to say that the majority of them have passports.

While it may or may not be correct, you cannot draw that conclusion based on the facts you gave. Those 12 million could all belong to the 58%. I know, many cruise passengers have passports but it is not safe to say from your data that the majority do.

[siestakeys04]

You did all you could. That’s on her for being petty.

[CruiseGal999]

5 hours ago, amyotravel said:

Off topic, but those warnings are not for the consumer/end user. You are free to remove them.

 

...unlawful to “remove or mutilate, or cause or participate in the removal or mutilation of, prior to the time any textile fiber product is sold and delivered to the ultimate consumer, any stamp, tag, label, or other identification required” on them. “Any person violating this section,” the regulation continues, “shall be guilty of an unfair method of competition, and an unfair or deceptive act or practice, under the Federal Trade Commission Act.”

OMG!  It was a joke!!!    SMHV

[LUVINMYHUBS]

On 7/28/2019 at 8:14 PM, Organized Chaos said:

Cynt, you told CC what they needed, but she wouldn't pass it on. You did your part, there wasn't much more you could do. I get it...GG thought she knew better so CC said to heck with her. But after the DIL got denied, I'm sure CC felt like crap for not making sure everyone knew what documentation they needed. And if the rest of them ever find out that CC knew, but decided not to pass it on, things are going to get even uglier.

Truth!

[LUVINMYHUBS]

On 7/29/2019 at 8:40 AM, Djptcp said:

If you insist on thinking you need a TA to book a cruise (we never use them and book all our cruises online unless it's a specific casino cruise promo where you need to book with a HAL agent), use one that is a cruise expert and has cruised before. The TA these people used obviously was a loser.

I booked my very 1st cruise by myself online, and have ever since...and I've found us some amazing deals. I agree it is something everyone can easily do themselves.

[mikenbon]

I'm Canadian, and having a valid passport is a requirement for us to even travel into the USA. In my opinion, it's the best form of identification, and we always carry ours off the ship when we are in the ports. If one of us had an emergency or took ill and had to leave a port, having our passports on hand could really save time, stress and money to fly us to wherever we needed to go . I think of carrying our passports to be like insurance - better to have it and not need it. A passport may seem pricey, but worth the cost since it is the only form of identification accepted in every country and supersedes all other id.

[ed01106]

IMHO, the cruiser is NOT at fault.  The travel agent bears 100% responsible for this.

 

The travel agent is being paid to be an expert on these things, not some forum on the internet.

 

Blaming the traveler in this case, is the equivalent of blaming a patient for following faulty advice from their doctor rather than listening to what some random folks said on the internet.

 

 

[suzycruiser2]

On ‎7‎/‎31‎/‎2019 at 9:39 PM, motheroftwocats814 said:

You mean a copy, as in from a copy machine?

No, I actually have a certified copy that we used before we got our Passports.

[NOLALADY]

On 7/29/2019 at 6:58 PM, VentureMan_2000 said:

Oh... and a 3rd HUGE got-cha is when you only have 3 months left on your Passport... they may not let you board.  Happened to my BIL.  So make sure you are not trying to squeeze every last day out of your passport before renewing.    

 

Actually, some countries it has to be valid for 6 months after you arrive.  For mediterranean cruise even though ours didn't expire for 4 months after the cruise, we had to renew.  Same was true when we flew to Mexico.  Good idea to check before you travel, there is a whole list of countries that follow the 6 month rule, even if you are visiting via a cruise ship.

 

[sw33twif3]

The simple answer to all of this...Get a US passport.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport.html

[sw33twif3]

My DW and I are 90 days out of a Carnival Glory cruise. Our current passports are good until June 2020.

 

As soon as we get back I am applying for renewal as our next trip is to London in September 2020 to board the Mardi Gras.

[daisymay1960]

Curious as to how you can cruise without a passport ? How does it work when visiting other countries ?

 

Coming from the UK , where  even visiting a cruise ship for a day requires  a passport

[Organized Chaos]

27 minutes ago, daisymay1960 said:

Curious as to how you can cruise without a passport ? How does it work when visiting other countries ?

 

Coming from the UK , where  even visiting a cruise ship for a day requires  a passport

 

Here in the U.S., you aren't required to have a passport for what are called "closed-loop" cruises. Those are cruises that leave from and return to the same U.S. port. You can cruise with a government ID and a birth certificate. With that said, Carnival still recommends traveling with a passport.

[spiritkat090909]

On 8/1/2019 at 5:47 AM, sparks1093 said:

Yes, copies are acceptable under the DHS regulations which says an original or copy may be used. While it is best to bring the original knowing that a copy is acceptable has saved many cruises. (When we boarded Pride in 2012 I presented a copy of my birth certificate and no one batted an eye at it.)

FWIW...it isn't boarding that is the issue. 

 

For future cruisers the TECHNICAL detail: 

The birth certificate "copy" must be a STATE issued copy with the current seal (be it raised or colored).  Getting on the ship, you are dealing with cruise line employees.  Getting OFF the ship, you are going through Department of Homeland Security & CUSTOMS officials with the power of a real badge.

 

Just because someone can slip by once, doesn't mean everyone else will every time. That also goes for the previously mentioned bridging docs of marriage license with the driver license and certified birth certificate. Legality has a specific black and white rule.  The agent you luck out to go through may be a gray kinda person and ready to go to lunch!

 

When I first started cruising, I didn't use a passport.  I knew I wouldn't be going 'across the pond' and didn't see a need for the expense and TIME required to get said document. Although I have one now, I only got it because I could go through the shorter & faster line at disembarkation. I keep a pic of it on my phone in the event that I were to miss the ship, it would speed up re-issue at the nearest embassy.  If I leave my phone on the ship, I take a paper non-legal photo copy in my beach bag and my drivers license (as required by the ship with my ship card to re-board).

 

My experience suggests... get the passport if you intend to go on more than 2 cruises in your lifetime. It's just easier.

 

[TNcruising02]

It appears that Carnival will accept a photocopy of a birth certificate:

This is from Carnival's website:

 

Traveling with a Birth Certificate AND Photo Identification

 

Birth Certificate Information 

The following are acceptable: 

• An original or copy of a birth certificate issued by a government agency (state/county/city) or the Department of Health and Vital Statistics 
• A clear, legible copy (photocopy) of a birth certificate that was originally issued by a government agency (state/county/city) or the Department of Health and Vital Statistics. The copy does not need to be notarized or certified.
  
  https://www.carnival.com/help
  
  I saved a copy of my birth certificate as a pdf on my phone.  I can print it anywhere, if needed.

Edited August 20, 2019 by TNcruising02

[Crusingdiva62]

Why leave the country without a passport makes no sense at all. Some people who use travel agents are lazy and the agents make them that way. Book your own travel do your own research and become an informed traveler. Alot of these so called agents are nothing more than MLM scams anyway. I know a "travel agent" without a passport and trust and believe there is nothing she could tell me I would not triple check. smh