When NOT having a passport to cruise, what to use

First and foremost, I say you need a passport, but with that being said, my wife, my son and myself found ourselves in the similar situation, our passports would have been less than 6 months before renewal while we would be on our September cruise. We sent them off for renewal to have a few extra weeks before the processing time was up.... then it went to 12 weeks processing... We both checked every day for ours to be reapproved, but it never was approved. We saw that our sons ID was out of date, so I got him a real ID (he has special needs - does not drive). We used our birth certificates and id's on a closed loop US cruise from Galveston to Mahony (sp?) Bay, Belize and Cozumel. We did not have any issues, but we made dang sure we were not late and did not get off the ship in Cozumel. Again, make every single effort to have your passport and like others have said, call you Congress person and get them offa their rectums to do something.

Best wishes on an awesome cruise!

Brian

If it comes down to the wire (say around December) and you still don't have it, call your Congressman. I did that years ago when my wife got hers and I was waiting for over a week after before I called. I got it express 4 days later.

Thank you for your responses. Yes I hope to let you know my passport HAS arrived before January! With my 3 sons/3 d-i-l's, I'm hoping I won't have to give MORE proof, if I did not have my passport.

[quote=brneyes]

CruiseQueenNH, Yes, I am am USA Citizen, as I was born here years ago in Missouri. My agent DID check with RCL, and they did say as long as I had a birth certificate and new new type of drivers license with the STAR (I just got this), then I should be OK. I am still hoping for the passport to arrive. :)

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Key words here are: "SHOULD BE OK". All you need do is come across a PB (petty bureaucrat) who didn't get the word, or wants to show how important they are, or just plain don't know and won't admit it. To me, that is the risk you must be aware of. They are out there!

Therefore, a passport is the safest option and we hope and pray you can have yours in hand

when you're ready to cruise.

Please keep us posted on your passport status.

Correct as usual MARYRED.............now THERES boondoggle "in progress" for you...MIllions of folks haven't a clue what that DL thing is about, millions more probably never heard of it, despite the fact the FED and some states keep splashing it against the wall every so often. ...the FED keeps granting extensions and waivers....signs go up signs come down...the rules keep changing...........hmmmmmm...sounds like this covid thing doesn't it???

Just so you and others know that the DL with the star in the right hand corner is not a requirement, until May of 2023. Until then any government issued driver's license is acceptable as your proof of ID.

The DL with the star is known as a Real ID compliant driver's license, and it will be required to enter any federally controlled building after May 3rd 2023. This will included airports for domestic travel, courthouses, and some state level institutions. As of right now cruise ports are not specifically listed as they are controlled by state level port authorities.

Yes it is true on most closed loop USA homeport cruises that a US citizen does not need a passport book and can instead use what is considered WHTI compliant alternative forms of ID and proof of nationality. Another key element is the passenger can only disembark in ports that participate in the WHTI agreement if they do not have their passport book (some ports non-agreement nations like Martinique will allow passengers without a passport book to visit, but only within the secured port area).

Photo Identification is required of all passengers 16 years of age and older. Must include given and surname, date of birth, and a clear expiration date, The following are acceptable:

Note: The name on the Photo ID must match the given and surname on the booking/passenger manifest

Plus

A U.S. citizen, of any age, will need to be able to present either of these as proof of citizenship:

Note: If the name on the proof of citizenship does not match the name on the photo ID legal name change document may also be asked for to show a clear linkage from birth name to current name. These may include marriage licenses, divorce decrees, adoption papers, and court vetted name changes filings. Also religious paperwork like Baptismal certificates and hospital certificates of birth are not acceptable. Voter registration cards or Social Security are not considered proof of citizenship.

Here is the list of the preferred documents:

U.S. citizen adult travelers can present a valid:

Canadian citizen adult travelers can present a valid:

Note: The Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) allows you to re-enter the U.S. from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. The EDL is only accepted at land and sea border crossings, not for air travel.

CruiseQueenNH, Yes, I am am USA Citizen, as I was born here years ago in Missouri. My agent DID check with RCL, and they did say as long as I had a birth certificate and new new type of drivers license with the STAR (I just got this), then I should be OK. I am still hoping for the passport to arrive. :)

In my case as I am not a US resident but reside in the great white north a passport is a must just to enter the states in order to get to the ship.

It depends on where you're going. In Puerto Rico, for example, you wouldn't need a passport to cruise there (assuming you're from the US) since Puerto Rico is a US territory. By rights, they are US citizens. By the same token, they wouldn't need passports to travel here to the US either.

However, in some places, this may not be the case and you will need to check with the cruise line to find this out.