Raze Posted June 2, 2010 #1 Share Posted June 2, 2010 Hi, My family is going on the Sapphire out of Seattle in August. My wife and I have passports, but our toddlers don't (3 and 4); nor does my mother-in-law. Princess says they will be ok with the birth certificate (+ID for my mother-in-law). I was wondering what past experience has to say about this. Anyone have any thoughts or experience that I should be concerned with? Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted June 2, 2010 #2 Share Posted June 2, 2010 If it's a closed-loop cruise, the BC's are all that's needed....+ ID for the adult without a passport. It's fine. No worries! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cherylandtk Posted June 2, 2010 #3 Share Posted June 2, 2010 Not only is it perfectly fine, this itinerary is one where the chance that you will have an emergency need for a passport is extremely tiny, practically zero. All your ports save the last one are US ports, so in an emergency you just hop on the plane and fly home. And if you have an emergency call while in Victoria, just get off the ship 6 hours later in Seattle and deal with it from there. Just make sure that everyone's BC is a certified copy issued by the US state or county where they were born, NOT the hospital. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisinKLB Posted June 3, 2010 #4 Share Posted June 3, 2010 Hi, My family is going on the Sapphire out of Seattle in August. My wife and I have passports, but our toddlers don't (3 and 4); nor does my mother-in-law. Princess says they will be ok with the birth certificate (+ID for my mother-in-law). I was wondering what past experience has to say about this. Anyone have any thoughts or experience that I should be concerned with? Brian Hi Brian, We just came back from our Alaska trip two days ago. While we both have passports, the only time we REALLY needed them was when we did the "Experience the Yukon" excursion in Skagway. The tour operator would not let us on the bus without them. One couple left theirs on the ship and they had to go back and get them. The border agents checked them on the bus at the border patrol as well. They did ask for our passports at embarktion as well, but not sure what they would have done if we did not have them. Good luck and have a wonderful time! Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robgvic Posted June 3, 2010 #5 Share Posted June 3, 2010 If for some reason you had to return early you would need a passport to fly. Besides, if I am required to have a passport to enter the US, so should you to enter Canada Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putterdude Posted June 3, 2010 #6 Share Posted June 3, 2010 Besides, if I am required to have a passport to enter the US, so should you to enter Canada This not the issue, the Canadian goverment, at least to this point, does not require an Amercian citizen to have a passport. However as pointed out previously to re-enter the Alaska from BC or the Yukon a person, even an American citizen does require a passport or another from of approved ID which includes an Enhanced DL, a NEXUS card or military ID. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandmato4 Posted June 3, 2010 #7 Share Posted June 3, 2010 This really is a good itinerary for not having passports as the chance of needing one to expedite flying home from Canada because of an emergency is excessively low. Although as already mentioned it does eliminate a few excursions but as long as that is not a problem for you you're fine. Enjoy your cruise- Alaska is absolutely beautiful!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
satxdiver Posted June 3, 2010 #8 Share Posted June 3, 2010 Hi Brian,We just came back from our Alaska trip two days ago. While we both have passports, the only time we REALLY needed them was when we did the "Experience the Yukon" excursion in Skagway. The tour operator would not let us on the bus without them. One couple left theirs on the ship and they had to go back and get them. The border agents checked them on the bus at the border patrol as well. They did ask for our passports at embarktion as well, but not sure what they would have done if we did not have them. Good luck and have a wonderful time! Kim Did they show them the photocopy of their passports? That should have sufficed according the the "authorities" here on CC! lol If for some reason you had to return early you would need a passport to fly.Besides, if I am required to have a passport to enter the US, so should you to enter Canada I agree. If the US demands passports, the Canadians should do the same. I always have mine when outside the US. It fits in my pocket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cactusrose Posted June 3, 2010 #9 Share Posted June 3, 2010 We are doing a round trip out of San Francisco and I found this information in the Important Notices section under Travel Summary on My Personalizer. WHTI-COMPLIANT DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS The U.S. Department of Homeland Security enforces secure document requirements. Only passports or Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-compliant documents are accepted to embark your cruise. U.S. and Canadian passport holders must present one of the following valid documents: * Passport Book (RECOMMENDED) * U.S. Passport Card * U.S. or Canadian issued Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) * U.S. or Canadian issued Enhanced "Non-Driver" Identification Card * NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST card For information regarding WHTI compliant documents, visit www.getyouhome.gov U.S. citizens ages 16 and above may present a Certified Birth Certificate together with valid photo identification. U.S. and Canadian citizens aged 15 years and younger may sail with a Birth Certificate. U.S. Permanent Residents must present a valid Permanent Resident Card. Canadian Permanent Residents must present a valid passport and Permanent Resident Card. CANADA TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA (TRV) REQUIREMENT U.S. and Canadian passport holders and U.S. resident aliens and Canadian permanent residents (presenting a valid Alien Resident Card (U.S.) / Permanent Resident Card (CANADA) do not require a visa to visit Canada. All other nationalities must verify their visa requirements for each port on this itinerary. Passengers will be embarking, disembarking and/or visiting the Canadian ports of Vancouver or Victoria, British Columbia during the cruise. Non-U.S. and Non-Canadian passport holders may require a TRV for Canada. This visa must be obtained in advance. This visa requirement applies regardless if the passenger chooses to remain onboard or go ashore. To obtain the TRV, please contact your local Canadian consulate or visit www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/apply-how.asp. Passengers without the proper documentation required for this cruise will be denied boarding without refund of the cruise or cruisetour fare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribill Posted June 3, 2010 #10 Share Posted June 3, 2010 If for some reason you had to return early you would need a passport to fly. To have to fly back home to the lower 48 from Alaska would not require a passport, no more than flying from NYC to Fort Lauderdale would. As was pointed out in another post, there would be a problem if the need was to fly back from Vancouver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raze Posted June 3, 2010 Author #11 Share Posted June 3, 2010 Thank you everyone. The cruise critic boards are great and the members are wonderful. Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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