Passports for kids?

[Sunseeker20]

Hi Friends!

I'm just wondering, if we are going on a closed loop cruise to Alaska, leaving from Vancouver and returning to Vancouver, do my kids need passports? (We are Canadian) Or would birth certificates work? What is best? Just trying to make sure I have all my bases covered!

[LHT28]

You will be entering the USA  so check the rules of entry

https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-states#entryexit

 

A passport is the best I.D.

[broberts]

https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1280?language=en_US

 

Birth certificate is allowed for under 16 arriving by sea or land. Air requires passports all age groups. Also school & religious group exception as noted below.

Edited July 25, 2022 by broberts

[Fouremco]

From the Homeland Security WHTI webpage https://www.dhs.gov/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative. So if your kids are under the age of 16, a birth certificate will suffice

 

[Sunseeker20]

This helps greatly, thank you everyone!

[sami99]

Check with the cruise line.  We are going on Holland America and they state "all" passengers require a passport.  When i phoned to inquire if a birth certificate will suffice for my 4 & 7 year olds I was told no, they require passports.  I double checked by phoning HAL twice and got the same answer.

 

[broberts]

16 minutes ago, sami99 said:

Check with the cruise line.  We are going on Holland America and they state "all" passengers require a passport.  When i phoned to inquire if a birth certificate will suffice for my 4 & 7 year olds I was told no, they require passports.  I double checked by phoning HAL twice and got the same answer.

 

 

Good point.

[Fouremco]

12 hours ago, sami99 said:

Check with the cruise line.  We are going on Holland America and they state "all" passengers require a passport.  When i phoned to inquire if a birth certificate will suffice for my 4 & 7 year olds I was told no, they require passports.  I double checked by phoning HAL twice and got the same answer.

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic and to the Canadian Cruisers forum.

 

One of the difficulties when dealing with cruise lines is that you will frequently receive conflicting information. While there is no doubt that HAL recommends that all passengers have passports, it is not an outright requirement as you were told, and there are variations on what a passenger may use depending upon the cruise and its itinerary. You might want to take a look at the Identification Requirements section of this HAL webpage: https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/faq/know-before-you-go.html 

[Sunseeker20]

Thanks everyone! 

I think I will call Royal Caribbean to check, that's a great idea

[3Shelaghs]

Don’t forget, if both parents not travelling with kids, the missing parent must provide letter of permission for them to travel with you.