BillHoo Posted June 6, 2022 #1 Share Posted June 6, 2022 (edited) Embarkation day was OK, aside from confusion with Royal Staff over my Enhanced Drivers License from Virginia. Virginia's REAL ID is different from the regular drivers license because they have a STAR within a circle on it. The Royal Staffer insisted it had to have the word "ENHANCED" on it to be valid. This was out of Cape Liberty NJ, last week boarding Adventure of the Seas, 31 May thru 4 June to Halifax, NS. Luckily, I also had my passport! Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/drivers/#real_id.asp Edited June 6, 2022 by BillHoo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cigar King Posted June 6, 2022 #2 Share Posted June 6, 2022 Perhaps they, like you, are unaware that "enhanced" and "real" ID's are two different ID's. Real ID's have extra verification steps, whereas the enhanced ID's also verify citizenship. I don't believe the enhanced ID's have the star, real ID's do. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jkaczanowski Posted June 6, 2022 #3 Share Posted June 6, 2022 I think you are confused. A real ID is not the same as an enhanced ID and may not be used for citizenship verification. Since Virginia does not participate in enhanced ID, your ID is only a “real” license and not an “enhanced” license. https://www.dhs.gov/enhanced-drivers-licenses-what-are-they 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tree_skier Posted June 6, 2022 #4 Share Posted June 6, 2022 (edited) Enhanced licenses cannot be used as a replacement for a passport except crossing at land borders. Real ID and enhanced licenses are different programs. For a closed loop cruise you would still need a birth certificate. Real ID isn't required for flights until May 2023. Were you trying to board with your Real ID without a BC? Edited June 6, 2022 by Tree_skier 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsKMB Posted June 6, 2022 #5 Share Posted June 6, 2022 This might help you as to why you also needed a passport: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id/real-id-faqs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doppelganger2621 Posted June 6, 2022 #6 Share Posted June 6, 2022 (edited) 23 minutes ago, Tree_skier said: Enhanced licenses cannot be used as a replacement for a passport except crossing at land borders. Real ID and enhanced licenses are different programs. For a closed loop cruise you would still need a birth certificate. Real ID isn't required for flights until May 2023. Were you trying to board with your Real ID without a BC? For US citizens, you can use any WTHI or trusted travel documents, which includes “enhanced” driver’s licenses. HOWEVER, only five states have what are considered enhanced driver’s licenses: Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington Edited June 6, 2022 by doppelganger2621 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcgrumpy Posted June 6, 2022 #7 Share Posted June 6, 2022 Probably because it doesn't exist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcgrumpy Posted June 6, 2022 #8 Share Posted June 6, 2022 15 minutes ago, Tree_skier said: Enhanced licenses cannot be used as a replacement for a passport except crossing at land borders. Real ID and enhanced licenses are different programs. For a closed loop cruise you would still need a birth certificate. Real ID isn't required for flights until May 2023. Were you trying to board with your Real ID without a BC? You can use an Enhanced License for a closed loop cruise. However the OP doesn't have an Enhanced License 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillHoo Posted June 6, 2022 Author #9 Share Posted June 6, 2022 (edited) Yes. Until now, I had not realized there are two different kinds of "extra" ID. Virginia has been pushing hard for their REAL ID as a passport alternative. Most of the validating documents are citizenship related. Did not know there was an ENHANCED ID out there. So when I did the check in and and it asked what ID I would use, I selected Enhanced Drivers License assuming that is what I had. Though I had my passport handy, it's easier for me to just flash my drivers license. The REAL ID is the only enhanced option for getting on a plane offered by Virginia and is accepted in all 50 states. So I assumed that to be the Enhanced ID. They should make the clarification on the registration. Do they care that 1/50th of their passengers may not have the appropriate ID? Edited June 6, 2022 by BillHoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tree_skier Posted June 6, 2022 #10 Share Posted June 6, 2022 5 minutes ago, doppelganger2621 said: For US citizens, you can use any WTHI or trusted travel documents, which includes “enhanced” driver’s licenses. HOWEVER, only five states have what are considered enhanced driver’s licenses: Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Virginia. Real ID is not the same as an enhanced license. OP has Real ID not the enhanced license program. Also, I think you are mistaken, Virginia does not offer an enhanced license, at least according to Wikipedia they don't. Real ID has no border crossing privilege. I have licenses in both BC Canada, and CA USA. My BC license is an enhanced. My CA license is Real ID. I'm pretty familiar with both programs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillHoo Posted June 6, 2022 Author #11 Share Posted June 6, 2022 13 minutes ago, doppelganger2621 said: For US citizens, you can use any WTHI or trusted travel documents, which includes “enhanced” driver’s licenses. HOWEVER, only five states have what are considered enhanced driver’s licenses: Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Virginia. I've search and Virginia only offers REAL ID which, as I found out, is not considered an Enahance Drivers License with their definition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doppelganger2621 Posted June 6, 2022 #12 Share Posted June 6, 2022 1 minute ago, Tree_skier said: Real ID is not the same as an enhanced license. OP has Real ID not the enhanced license program. Also, I think you are mistaken, Virginia does not offer an enhanced license, at least according to Wikipedia they don't. Real ID has no border crossing privilege. I have licenses in both BC Canada, and CA USA. My BC license is an enhanced. My CA license is Real ID. I'm pretty familiar with both programs. I totally didn’t mean VA—I meant Washington haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tree_skier Posted June 6, 2022 #13 Share Posted June 6, 2022 4 minutes ago, dcgrumpy said: You can use an Enhanced License for a closed loop cruise. However the OP doesn't have an Enhanced License You are right, I meant to write Real ID can't be used for a closed loop cruise. Not without an BC anyways. I just just mistyped. Mea cupla 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcgrumpy Posted June 6, 2022 #14 Share Posted June 6, 2022 15 minutes ago, doppelganger2621 said: For US citizens, you can use any WTHI or trusted travel documents, which includes “enhanced” driver’s licenses. HOWEVER, only five states have what are considered enhanced driver’s licenses: Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Virginia. Virginia does not offer Enhanced Licenses. Only Michigan, Minnesota, NY, Vermont and Washington Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doppelganger2621 Posted June 6, 2022 #15 Share Posted June 6, 2022 1 minute ago, BillHoo said: I've search and Virginia only offers REAL ID which, as I found out, is not considered an Enahance Drivers License with their definition. Yeah, I totally meant Washington but had Virginia on the brain when I was typing 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tree_skier Posted June 6, 2022 #16 Share Posted June 6, 2022 1 minute ago, doppelganger2621 said: I totally didn’t mean VA—I meant Washington haha No worries. We both mis-typed LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillHoo Posted June 6, 2022 Author #17 Share Posted June 6, 2022 I checked in my wife, online with her passport info. Although I had my passport, I figured "Oh Cool! I can use the REAL ID instead!" Not knowing Enhanced was something else. Pity other travelers who may not have had any other forms of ID. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ONECRUISER Posted June 6, 2022 #18 Share Posted June 6, 2022 (edited) 35 minutes ago, Cigar King said: Perhaps they, like you, are unaware that "enhanced" and "real" ID's are two different ID's. Real ID's have extra verification steps, whereas the enhanced ID's also verify citizenship. I don't believe the enhanced ID's have the star, real ID's do. Agree. Mine was opposite. Had Michigan Enhanced for 10yrs Said ENHANCED but no Star. Used it for my Open Circuit Repo Cruises. 18 Months ago went and got Both on them. Edited June 6, 2022 by ONECRUISER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cigar King Posted June 6, 2022 #19 Share Posted June 6, 2022 13 minutes ago, BillHoo said: They should make the clarification on the registration. Do they care that 1/50th of their passengers may not have the appropriate ID? Why? Is it too much to expect you to know what kind of ID you have? 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcgrumpy Posted June 6, 2022 #20 Share Posted June 6, 2022 Stating "Enhanced License" is clarification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillHoo Posted June 6, 2022 Author #21 Share Posted June 6, 2022 (edited) 8 minutes ago, Cigar King said: Why? Is it too much to expect you to know what kind of ID you have? Because the State of Virginia tells me REAL ID is the alternative to the passport and they have no other alternatives. Look up "Enhanced Drivers License Virginia" and you get Virginia DMV REAL ID. Edited June 6, 2022 by BillHoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcgrumpy Posted June 6, 2022 #22 Share Posted June 6, 2022 2 minutes ago, BillHoo said: Because the State of Virginia tells me REAL ID is the alternative to the passport and they have no other alternatives. Look up "Enhanced Drivers License Virginia" and you get Virginia DMV REAL ID. Virginia says that you can use REAL ID in place of a passport? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillHoo Posted June 6, 2022 Author #23 Share Posted June 6, 2022 From the Virginia DMV, their text implies REAL ID is an alternative to a passport. "If you do not get a REAL ID, you must have an alternate form of federally accepted identification (valid U. S. passport, U.S. Department of Defense ID, Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), etc.) to board a domestic flight or enter a secure federal facility beginning May 3, 2023. " 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reallyitsmema Posted June 6, 2022 #24 Share Posted June 6, 2022 1 minute ago, BillHoo said: From the Virginia DMV, their text implies REAL ID is an alternative to a passport. "If you do not get a REAL ID, you must have an alternate form of federally accepted identification (valid U. S. passport, U.S. Department of Defense ID, Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), etc.) to board a domestic flight or enter a secure federal facility beginning May 3, 2023. " It does not say anything about it being valid for a cruise. It does not imply that it is an alternative to a passport either, you are reading more into it than is there. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcgrumpy Posted June 6, 2022 #25 Share Posted June 6, 2022 5 minutes ago, BillHoo said: From the Virginia DMV, their text implies REAL ID is an alternative to a passport. "If you do not get a REAL ID, you must have an alternate form of federally accepted identification (valid U. S. passport, U.S. Department of Defense ID, Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), etc.) to board a domestic flight or enter a secure federal facility beginning May 3, 2023. " All that mentions is being able to board a domestic flight. No mention of cruises or being an alternative to a passport. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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