Thread: Passport +

We will be sailing on april 5th from nj. It is a 12 nighter in the caribbean. My son just turned 16 and he does have a passport but i thought i read somewhere that he would need some gov issued photo id plus his passport, he doesn't have a permit yet to drive. I know that would be considered a photo id. In my thoughts are that a passport would be enough but i want to make sure before we get to the port. Called rcci and the lady i talked to said to get one just in case. But if i don't have to i won't.

You need one of two things; 1) a government issued photo id (i.e. driver license) and an original birth certificate, or 2) a passport.

With a passport, you do not need any other form of ID. In order to get a passport, you have to provide two forms of acceptable ID, so it's redundant to provide a passport and a photo ID. The person at RCCL has no idea what they're talking about.

Although we highly recommend passports for everyone, you don't have to have one to travel in the Caribbean. Even after June 1, 2009, you don't need one provided you're on a "closed loop" cruise (leaving and returning to the same U.S. port).

Pete

Thanks. I thought thats how it is but i wanted to make sure before we leave and its too late.

Pete is correct, he only needs a passport, The picture id is required if he did not have a passport.

Here is the coast guard requirement

passengers 16+ need ID to cruise
Coast Guard and Immigration and Naturalization Service regulations require that cruise passengers 16 or older show a passport or birth certificate (original or certified copy) PLUS a photo ID issued by a federal, state or local government agency. Voter registration and Social Security cards are no longer accepted as proof of citizenship. Most foreigners living and working in the United States are required to have an Alien Registration Card (the so-called green card), which serves as proof of legal residence.

This says BOTH. The ID can be proccessed wherever you get a drivers license and is around $20 and you can make an appointment and it doesn't take long at all. So I guess I was wrong. Better safe than sorry.

I went on the coast guard and immigration site and couldn't find anything about 16. They mentioned 19 and over and 18 and under. For 18 and under it said just a passport,

I went and looked too, that was here about a year ago. Couldn't find it on the dept of state either. Maybe they took it off for minors. Couldn't understand why they needed it if they had a passport. But I would take the birth cerificate and maybe a SS card with you. Better safe than sorry. Have a great cruise

[or older show a passport or birth certificate (original or certified copy) PLUS a photo ID issued by a federal, state or local government agency.]

Due to the lack of commas... this could be read:

1) you need a passport OR
2) birth certificate plus the other form of ID

One thing I will say is this... if you get off in port, typically most people don't take their passports with them - whether this is a good idea or not, I won't debate - I will just say that when we went to Nassau, adults (age 16+) had to have their driver's license to re-board the ship in addition to their cruise card. So, if you don't want to lug his passport all over the Caribbean, you might want to get the other government ID as it may be needed to re-board the ship - if you don't take his passport into port.

Due to the lack of commas... this could be read:

1) you need a passport OR
2) birth certificate plus the other form of ID

One thing I will say is this... if you get off in port, typically most people don't take their passports with them - whether this is a good idea or not, I won't debate - I will just say that when we went to Nassau, adults (age 16+) had to have their driver's license to re-board the ship in addition to their cruise card. So, if you don't want to lug his passport all over the Caribbean, you might want to get the other government ID as it may be needed to re-board the ship - if you don't take his passport into port.

Good advice on the picture ID. Many ports require that before they let you into the dock area.

ALWAYS carry your passport when in any port