DCL Questions - Passports

[mellymel]

I'm trying to do my own research, but maybe someone with recent DCL experience can help me on this topic?

We are cruising in November out of Port Canaveral on DCL. We will go to Nassau and Castaway Cay. 

Do my kids, age 3 & 5, need passports for this cruise? What did you do?

Thanks!

[egishere]

They don't need passports. Just birth certificates. We are doing the same cruise in October. DH and me will bring our passports and the kids BCs. Only issue is if something were to happen in the Bahamas (medical issue or whatever) it will be trickier to take a flight from there to the US with no passport.

[tacokick]

Anyone leaving the country needs passports.

disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/ships-cruises/required-documents/

[was5]

Aug 2, 2016 12:33:53 GMT -5 tacokick said:

Anyone leaving the country needs passports.

disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/ships-cruises/required-documents/

Q.


What documents will be required when I check in for my cruise?


A.

•At check-in, all Guests must present valid passports or other acceptable proof of citizenship.
•All travelers are required to have a valid passport to enter or re-enter the United States by air.

This is only saying a passport is required for all people when traveling by air. I think birth certificates are the other acceptable proof of citizenship for children. I live near the Canadian border and kids can re-enter with their BC.

[egishere]

if its a closed loop cruise meaning leaving from and returning to the US you dont need a passport - a BC is acceptable.

[egishere]

this is from royal carribeans site-don't know why it is different on Disney's (or not as clear) but my Disney travel agent specifically told me you do not have to have a passport if you have valid raised seal BCs.

U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same port in the U.S.) will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as a government-issued birth certificate and laminated government issued picture ID, denoting photo, name and date of birth. A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 will be able to present either an original, notarized or certified copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issues by DOS, or Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

[countthestars]

We did passports but Disney's website says that you don't need them for children under 16 (see bold below)

Caribbean – Roundtrip Itineraries

Sailing from: Port Canaveral, Miami, Galveston and San Juan

The following guidelines are based on government regulations, which are subject to change at any time. It is your responsibility to check with your travel agent, government agency, embassy or consulate to ensure that you have all the proper documentation to board the ship and enter each of the countries on the ship's itinerary.

If you're visiting any country other than the U.S., remember to contact the consulate of that country to ensure you have the documentation required to visit. Travelers can visit the U.S. State Department's website. Guests without proper documentation will be denied boarding.

Adults who are not the parent or legal guardian of a minor traveling with them must present a Minor Authorization Form signed by the child’s parent(s) or legal guardian.

The following information pertains to all Guests, including children, who board a cruise ship within the United States, travel only within the Western Hemisphere, and return to the same U.S. port on the same ship.
Required Documents for U.S. Citizens

All Guests claiming U.S. citizenship must present one of the following as proof of U.S. citizenship:

A valid U.S. Passport
A valid U.S. Passport Card
A valid Trusted Traveler Card (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
Government-issued photo ID along with one of the following:
Original or copy of their state-issued birth certificate
Puerto Rico birth certificates issued prior to 7/1/2010 are not accepted
Original Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State
Original Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Guests under the age of 16 may present one of the following:
Original or copy of their state-issued birth certificate
Original Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State
Original Certificate of Naturalization issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

With the exception of the state-issued birth certificate, photocopies of the above documents are not acceptable. Hospital-issued birth certificates are not acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship for purposes of traveling outside of the U.S.

disneycruise.disney.go.com/guest-services/passport-travel-documentation/

[vamoose]

We are getting them for our kids for our cruise just as a precaution. We would only need them if we ended up having to fly for some emergency (death in the family, miss the ship, etc). This is obviously very unlikely, but we figure we may use them in coming years anyway.

[tacokick]

Aug 2, 2016 13:58:31 GMT -5 was5 said:

Aug 2, 2016 12:33:53 GMT -5 tacokick said:

Anyone leaving the country needs passports.

disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/ships-cruises/required-documents/

Q.


What documents will be required when I check in for my cruise?


A.

•At check-in, all Guests must present valid passports or other acceptable proof of citizenship.
•All travelers are required to have a valid passport to enter or re-enter the United States by air.

This is only saying a passport is required for all people when traveling by air. I think birth certificates are the other acceptable proof of citizenship for children. I live near the Canadian border and kids can re-enter with their BC.

If there is any sort of problem, you will need a passport. It isn't as easy as just driving home.

[miss1180]

I would get them for the kids. You never know what's gonna happen when you might need to fly home from one of the foreign ports or whatever. Passports would make that a lot easier I think...
Side note- you'll love the Disney cruise!!! DS is 5 and we've been on 2 already- such a great family vacation!

[mellymel]

Thanks everyone!

DH and I decided to get the kids passports just in case and for future trips