Birth Certificates etc ???

[Tu917]

I was told that birth certificates would be fine for our family on the Mariner Western Carr. Can they be a copy or a copy with a seal or original? I'm confused on the differences. Also, do I need to take my marriage license too? Do you have to shoe these at every port? Thanks.

[csteinhauser]

The birth certificate has to have the raised seal. It can be an "official" copy but not one you ran through the copier. You need it at embarkation and again to go through immigration at any foreign ports. Personally, I think a passport is much easier and worth the expense.

Cindy & Jonathan

Explorer of the Seas 9/21/02
Mariner of the Seas 11/23/03
Enchantment of the Seas 11/22/04
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[BaumD]

You will show your BC to a RCCL check-in rep when you get ready to board the ship. You will then show it to an immigration agent when you return to the US (or a US port like St. Thomas). Have never had to show BC or passport on any non-US Caribbean port stop.

[TheWog]

You need to have a raised seal. The seal shows that it was issued by a governmental agency. I would also bring your marriage certificate in case your license does not show your maiden name. There are stories of people being denied boarding because there name did not match that on the BC without proof of the change.

Passports are the way to go. If you can.

Disney Magic 01/10/04
Enchantment of the Seas 01/22/05

[the_psycho]

Save yourself all the hassles and stress, just go down to the post office and get yourself a passport. Its quick, painless, and easy.

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<color=#8b0000>until Serenade of the Seas Spring Break 2004!!

[kbt2]

Just a birth certificate is fine, but it cannot be a copier copy. has to have seal on it. Have fun.

Kim
Dawn Princess
Regal Princess
Grand Princess
Mercury - Celebrity
Windward - NCL
Monarch of the Seas
Voyager of the Seas

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[nieciez]

I agree, the passport is the best and easiest way. But before I had the passport I never had to show my marriage license, more did my daughter on her past two cruises, the last of which was a few months ago (both were post 9/11). Most married women change their names when married and they realize that. As long as the birth date on the BC and picture id match up you are fine. But I realize this has been a running controversy on the boards.
<img src=http://a6.cpimg.com/image/48/75/17145416-14e1-00A00078-.jpg>
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[vacation elaine]

you need raised seal, as said, birth certificate. You can obtain on line or if you are close to your county seat, at their vital stats office. [url="http://www.vitalchek.com/?clicked=1"]birth certificates on line[/url]
You need your photo ID/driver's license. I've never been asked for my marriage license at any time. We ran out of time to get a passport but finally did get one for our next trip.. but, if you don't have the raised seal birth certificate, you'll need that anyway to get a passport. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]


Norway, 2000
Adventure of the Seas, Augst, 2003
Voyager of the Seas, February 29,2004
Brilliance of the Seas, July 25, 2004 !

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[ccletzgo]

IT has to be stamped. Only my husbands very old cert. has a raised seal. The stamp has to be original. No copies. NOt always raised.

I sent for a wallet size, laminated and official birth certificate. Easy to keep in wallet. they are $15.00.

Lets Go!

Royal's Viking Seranade 1/94
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Celebrity, Millennium 12/00
Royal's Vision 2/02
Royal's Vision 12/02
Royal's Monarch 6/03
Celebrity Galaxy 9/17/04 !!

[snowman1]

A word to the wise " Get a passport"

Brilliance of the Seas
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[gene624]

Amen to Snowman's advice. Some places are now beginning to require PASSPORTS . So much easier and more certain.
Gene in Birmingham

[bibb]

If you have to send off to get your birth certificate, why not send off to get your passport and set yourself up for world-wide travel?

Bibb

From the North banks of the Piscataqua.

[B][I]<font color="red>Test</font>[/I][/B]

[PhoenixCruiser]

I knew this would turn into a passport thread [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img]

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Navigator of the Seas 6/26/04

[miketam520]

You need a copy with a raised seal or they wouldn't except it. Hope that this information helps. I know that you have heard it about a hundred times by now. Huh?

4/25/05 Sovereign Rocks!
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09/14/03 Sovereign of the Seas

[vio219]

fyi... not every state has a raised seal on the birth certificates. mine is from okla. and has a three colored stamp. i called a travel agency in ok, they said thats what okla.s b.c looks like. i called royal caribbean cust. svcs, and she told me that it doesnt have to have a raised seal... i also contaced my attorney and he verified that my b.c was offical and would be just fine. i got it from the dpt of vital statics in okla city. if u send off to your states dpt of vital statics or health dpt. then id say your good to go.


( i freaked out when i got my b.c back and it didnt have a raised seal, i was about to drive down to the airport to ask if it was ok, haha)

4/17 serenade of the seas
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[ccletzgo]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bibb:
If you have to send off to get your birth certificate, why not send off to get your passport and set yourself up for world-wide travel?



Until I absolutely can not cruise without a passport, I would rather spend the $80 on a shore excursion. The day I can not cruise unless I have a passport, I will get one.

[jkrislc]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by bibb:
If you have to send off to get your birth certificate, why not send off to get your passport and set yourself up for world-wide travel?

Bibb

From the North banks of the Piscataqua.

__<font color="red>Test</font>__<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If you have to send off for your birth certificate, you can't apply for a passport b/c you wont have the birth certificate to prove citizenship until after you get the birth certificate back.

To be honest, I have always travelled with a birth certificate and have never had a problem. It's a credit card sized, laminated document with the state seal. Until I am required to get a passport or until I travel to a local where it is required, I will continue to use my birth certificate. And given my birth certificate's size, it is actually easier to carry than a passport.

KLC
UPCOMING CRUISES:
---------------------
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[meredith]

Does anyone know how long it actualyy takes to get the passport once applied for? I filled out the appl. a few weeks ago, but then we wnet away on vacation, so I kinda put it aside, now I realize we only have 5 weeks til our cruise. I can easily go get a pic made and the P.O. is right down the street, but what are the chances of us getting them in time?

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[smeyer418]

for non expedited passports it takes about 3 weeks(they say it will take about 6). Once submitted you can check on line where they are at this site
[url="http://travel.state.gov/emailppt.html"]http://travel.state.gov/emailppt.html[/url]


you can expedite them for an additional fee and have them back easily in 10 daysnot all post offices take applications you can also shcek that at the passport site
[url="http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html"]http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html[/url]


Proud charter member of the PPS-Passport Pusher Society

Mother's Day on the Dawn
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[email]smeyer418@yahoo.com[/email]
Celebrity, NCL, Overnight Ferry, hydrofoil between countries, car ferries and river cruise and of course the Staten Island Ferry

[meredith]

Thanx! We'll go to Walgreens and get our pix today! I have already checked and our P.O. does them!!

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=9400d3&cdt=2004;5;16;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img] 'til we sail away on the Vision