Passport question

[Kruise2013]

We are traveling in June on the Carnival Freedom and have renewed my son's passport for the trip (He is 5 and a half.) We are traveling with another couple and their 12 year old son and they have insisted that they do not need passports and are planning to bring birth certificates instead. If I am reading correctly on Carnival's web site, this is all they need. Is this correct? I guess I am surprised because when we cruised in 2007 I thought the rules had changed and everyone traveling on a cruise ship needed a passport.

[BeachChik]

Passports are not required for US citizens sailing from and returning to the same US port. Birth certificates and government issued Ids are all that is needed.

[NLuvWthCruisn]

We are traveling in June on the Carnival Freedom and have renewed my son's passport for the trip (He is 5 and a half.) We are traveling with another couple and their 12 year old son and they have insisted that they do not need passports and are planning to bring birth certificates instead. If I am reading correctly on Carnival's web site, this is all they need. Is this correct? I guess I am surprised because when we cruised in 2007 I thought the rules had changed and everyone traveling on a cruise ship needed a passport.

 

 

They will be fine with just a BC. The passport is just a better thing to have for possible emergencies.

[Mom2TwinGirls]

My husband and I have sailed twice with Carnival and have used our birth certificates both times. We will be using them again for our 3rd cruise in May.

[big_duck]

Passports are not required for US citizens sailing from and returning to the same US port. Birth certificates and government issued Ids are all that is needed.

 

Key phrase.

[Havingfun2010]

We are traveling in June on the Carnival Freedom and have renewed my son's passport for the trip (He is 5 and a half.) We are traveling with another couple and their 12 year old son and they have insisted that they do not need passports and are planning to bring birth certificates instead. If I am reading correctly on Carnival's web site, this is all they need. Is this correct? I guess I am surprised because when we cruised in 2007 I thought the rules had changed and everyone traveling on a cruise ship needed a passport.

 

Others answered you question, but many might forget that for a period of time, homeland security, the cruise lines, and other agencies were confused and not sure what they were going to require. So you are partialy right. Having one is a good thing, however, for your friends, it's their risk, not yours