dleahy4444 Posted April 20, 2023 #1 Share Posted April 20, 2023 We are leaving NJ for the Bahamas in about 2 weeks. Someone in our group has an expired passport and has been unable to renew it. Since it is a closed loop sailing, he plans to travel with his birth certificate and driver’s license, but his surname on those documents don’t match. He will also bring his original paperwork with government seal reflecting the official name change. Is this going to be a problem? He called Royal Carribean, and was told it would be ok, but he felt the representative was not firm on that. Does anyone have any experience with this scenario? I wouldn’t think it would be a problem since a married women would have her maiden name on her birth certificate but her married name on her driver’s license. We just want to make sure he doesn’t get turned away at the port. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare S.A.M.J.R. Posted April 20, 2023 #2 Share Posted April 20, 2023 Based solely on reading here (I have no first hand experience), if he has whatever official document showing the name change, that's what he needs (BC, DL, and "bridging document" to explain the difference in names). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthStarStateCruiser Posted April 20, 2023 #3 Share Posted April 20, 2023 10 minutes ago, dleahy4444 said: We are leaving NJ for the Bahamas in about 2 weeks. Someone in our group has an expired passport and has been unable to renew it. Since it is a closed loop sailing, he plans to travel with his birth certificate and driver’s license, but his surname on those documents don’t match. He will also bring his original paperwork with government seal reflecting the official name change. Is this going to be a problem? He called Royal Carribean, and was told it would be ok, but he felt the representative was not firm on that. Does anyone have any experience with this scenario? I wouldn’t think it would be a problem since a married women would have her maiden name on her birth certificate but her married name on her driver’s license. We just want to make sure he doesn’t get turned away at the port. Thanks I'd recommend him scheduling an appointment at a passport center for "Urgent Travel" if he can. Otherwise, with all the documentation you said he's bringing with, he should be covered. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmberMurmer Posted April 20, 2023 #4 Share Posted April 20, 2023 I just traveled with someone who also has a similar name change experience, they brought their birth certificate and the certified (notarized) court document of name change and it all went just fine. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SG65CB Posted April 20, 2023 #5 Share Posted April 20, 2023 The birth certificate and driver's license will have the same date of birth, helping validate the identity as the same person. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taglovestocruise Posted April 20, 2023 #6 Share Posted April 20, 2023 48 minutes ago, SG65CB said: The birth certificate and driver's license will have the same date of birth, helping validate the identity as the same person. Factual oddities, 21 million people have the exact same birthdate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dleahy4444 Posted April 20, 2023 Author #7 Share Posted April 20, 2023 1 hour ago, AmberMurmer said: I just traveled with someone who also has a similar name change experience, they brought their birth certificate and the certified (notarized) court document of name change and it all went just fine. That’s a relief thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine3601 Posted April 20, 2023 #8 Share Posted April 20, 2023 (edited) IMO, he should be just fine with bringing his US birth certificate and proof of legal name change with original sealed document you mention as long as they matches his valid DL. If your sailing stops in Colombian, every passenger must have a valid passport or they will be denied boarding. From Royal's FAQ page: Edited April 20, 2023 by Sunshine3601 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merion_Mom Posted April 20, 2023 #9 Share Posted April 20, 2023 The name change paperwork is what is known as a "bridge document" that explains the difference in names, and should resolve any problems. 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudithLynne Posted April 20, 2023 #10 Share Posted April 20, 2023 I am in the same position for an upcoming loop cruise. I have my certified birth certificate, but my current last name is different due to marriage. I have my original marriage certificate with my maiden name on it (same as birth name.) Will that work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTO-Girl Posted April 20, 2023 #11 Share Posted April 20, 2023 13 minutes ago, JudithLynne said: I am in the same position for an upcoming loop cruise. I have my certified birth certificate, but my current last name is different due to marriage. I have my original marriage certificate with my maiden name on it (same as birth name.) Will that work? yes that will work just fine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BennyandBo Posted April 20, 2023 #12 Share Posted April 20, 2023 2 hours ago, NorthStarStateCruiser said: I'd recommend him scheduling an appointment at a passport center for "Urgent Travel" if he can. Otherwise, with all the documentation you said he's bringing with, he should be covered. They won't consider that urgent travel and will not grant the request. Someone has to be sick, dying, or dead and proof would need to be shown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SG65CB Posted April 21, 2023 #13 Share Posted April 21, 2023 2 hours ago, taglovestocruise said: Factual oddities, 21 million people have the exact same birthdate. Yes, but how many have the exact same first and middle name? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthStarStateCruiser Posted April 21, 2023 #14 Share Posted April 21, 2023 1 hour ago, BennyandBo said: They won't consider that urgent travel and will not grant the request. Someone has to be sick, dying, or dead and proof would need to be shown. I don't know if it's a new thing, but they have appointments available for urgent travel. This is different than emergency travel. Check this page: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now