passport to Canada?

[sprint180]

I hope someone can clarify for me.  I have looked on the Canadian website and I think I understand the answer but there are so many different answers on the web.  Anyway,  If you are going to Canada on a cruise with a birth certificate (a passport may not be possible) You will not be able to get off in Canada, is that correct?  Just asking for those with experience.  Some things I read say absolutely need a passport, others say not necessarily.  Thank you in advance for your kind answers.

[njhorseman]

34 minutes ago, sprint180 said:

I hope someone can clarify for me.  I have looked on the Canadian website and I think I understand the answer but there are so many different answers on the web.  Anyway,  If you are going to Canada on a cruise with a birth certificate (a passport may not be possible) You will not be able to get off in Canada, is that correct?  Just asking for those with experience.  Some things I read say absolutely need a passport, others say not necessarily.  Thank you in advance for your kind answers.

I assume you're a US citizen who is planning to take a closed loop cruise using an official birth certificate and driver's license or other government-issued photo ID. 

 

Yes, you will be able to get off the ship in Canada. You would not even be allowed to board the ship for the cruise if you didn't have documentation that allowed you to disembark in ports of call.

[sprint180]

7 hours ago, njhorseman said:

I assume you're a US citizen who is planning to take a closed loop cruise using an official birth certificate and driver's license or other government-issued photo ID. 

 

Yes, you will be able to get off the ship in Canada. You would not even be allowed to board the ship for the cruise if you didn't have documentation that allowed you to disembark in ports of call.

Thank you

[Ferry_Watcher]

If you leave from a US port, and just stopping in Canada (usually Victoria), whatever citizenship document was accepted when you checked-in, that document will allow you to leave the ship at the Canadian port-of-call.  If this is the case, please make sure that the birth certificate is gov't issued (city, county, state), and not a hospital certificate.

 

If you are embarking from a Canadian port (starting your cruise in Canada), then you would need a passport. (There are some other forms of documents, like an Enhanced DL, or Nexus Card, but that's a different discussion thread).