children's passports

[gal40]

Friend just booked a cruise for September. Departing from Miami - a carribbean cruise - will her children need passports or can they just use birth certificates? The parents have passports.

[reallyitsmema]

They will not need passports, just certified birth certificates. If any of the kids are 16 or over, they will also need a picture ID.

[gal40]

Thanks for your quick reply. Do you know when the rule is going to change - where the children will need passports for the caribbean?

[reallyitsmema]

They have moved the deadline multiple times. I would check out this link http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/crossingborders/

 

I have not been keeping up with the current deadline as we got our passports last year.

[vickiw0318]

It does not look like these will be required in the near future. See this from the Travel Documentation site of the Royal Caribbean website.

 

"Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)

 

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) when fully implemented on June 1, 2009 will require all travelers to and from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda to present a valid passport or other approved document that establishes the bearer's identity and citizenship in order to enter or reenter the United States.

 

Passport Requirements

 

A valid passport is a requirement for air travel to / from Canada, Mexico the Caribbean and Bermuda.

 

Effective June 1, 2009 only a valid passport (unless otherwise noted below) or other WHTI compliant document will be accepted for entry or re-entry into the United States. For a list of all approved documents visit: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html#compliant_document

 

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 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 or a 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."

 

However, please do note that a passport IS required for air travel to/from the Caribbean. Should someone without a passport need to fly back from a caribbean port, there would be a problem.

[mohavemommy]

Although they do not NEED them... I would recommend at least getting the cards.

They are $45 for adults and $35 for kids.

 

http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html

[mohavemommy]

Here's a PDF on the differences between cards and passports:

http://travel.state.gov/pdf/ppt_pptCard.pdf

[hollywoodfloridamom]

I just got my two kids their passports. We are going on LOS out of Miami. They did not need them, they could have used birth certificates.

 

The reason I broke down and paid for them each to get one was this board. I have read horror stories of families that have to fly back from different islands, because of an emergency. Without a passport or pasport card it is hard to leave some places quickly(or at all).

 

The two passports cost $60.00 each and came in two weeks. They are good for 5 years. A good investment IMHO

[jrmama496]

How did you get them for $60? There is a $25 additional fee everywhere I have seen them. Is there a way to get them without paying the extra $25?