Passport or Birth Certificate?

[Annefran]

Hi All,

 

We are cruising on the Majesty of the Seas 22 June 2009 to the Bahamas and Key West. DD & I both have passports. DD wants to bring a friend that doesn't have a passport. Will she be OK with a birth certificate? She's either 15 or 16.

 

I visited the passport webpage but was a little confused by the inforamtion, need some clarification. :rolleyes: Thanks for any info.

[lahrbrat]

Here is a link from the news page of Cruise Critic.

 

New Passport Rules

[travelntreats]

Hi All,

 

We are cruising on the Majesty of the Seas 22 June 2009 to the Bahamas and Key West. DD & I both have passports. DD wants to bring a friend that doesn't have a passport. Will she be OK with a birth certificate? She's either 15 or 16.

 

I visited the passport webpage but was a little confused by the inforamtion, need some clarification. :rolleyes: Thanks for any info.

Following is a new update to the passport requirements:

 

There has been much attention on the new travel requirements for U.S., Canadian and Bermudian citizens that went into effect on June 1, 2009. While the new Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires valid passports for land and sea travel, a final ruling was issued allowing leniency for U.S. citizens traveling on “closed-loop” cruises, i.e., sailings that both originate and terminate in the same U.S. port.

 

Recent guidance received from the Department of Homeland Security indicates the documentary requirements under WHTI for “closed loop” cruises are not limited to cruises that travel only to contiguous territories or adjacent islands. This means U.S. citizens calling on ports in Honduras, Panama, Costa Rica and Belize will also be exempt from the passport requirement.

 

U.S. citizens taking “closed-loop” cruises are not required to have a passport but will need proof of citizenship such as an original or certified copy of a birth certificate, a certificate of naturalization, a passport card, an enhanced driver’s license (EDL) as well as a government-issued photo ID. Children are also required to bring proof of citizenship and if 16 and over, a photo ID is also required. Canadian and Bermudian citizens are required to have a passport for air, land and sea travel.

 

Although a passport is not required for U.S. citizens taking “closed loop” cruises, we strongly recommend all guests travel with a passport (valid for at least six months beyond completion of travel). Having a passport will enable guests to fly from the U.S. to a foreign port in the event they miss their scheduled embarkation or to fly back to the U.S. if they need to disembark the ship mid-cruise due to an emergency.

 

If a cruise begins and ends in different U.S. ports or begins and ends in a foreign port (such as our Alaska and Hawaii cruises), a valid passport or other recognized WHTI-compliant document is required. A valid passport is required if you are traveling on any of our Europe cruises.

ALL guests need proper proof of citizenship in order to travel and failure to present a valid document at check in will result in denied boarding and no refund will be issued.

[Annefran]

Thanks Val & Travelntreats, I think she should be ok with just a birth certificate. Happy Cruising!

[ken_nyc]

You will also have to have a letter of permission (see what I copied from the RCI website:

 

What travel documents and identification will I need for domestic sailings? - Royal Caribbean International Adults who are not the parent or Legal Guardian of any minor child traveling with them are required to present the child's valid passport and visa or the child's birth certificate (original, a notarized copy or a certified copy) and an original notarized letter signed by at least one of the child's parents. The notarized letter from the child's parent must authorize the traveling adult to take the child on the specific cruise, must authorize guardian to sign legal documentation/waivers for participation in any activities requiring them (i.e. Rock Climbing, Flowrider, Bungee Trampoline, Inline Skating, or Ice Skating) and must authorize the traveling adult to supervise the child and permit any medical treatment that must be administered to the child. If a non-parent adult is a Legal Guardian, the adult must present a certified certificate of Guardianship with respect to the child.

 

What if I'm traveling with a minor and I'm not the parent or legal guardian? - Royal Caribbean International Q: What if I'm traveling with a minor and I'm not the parent or legal guardian? A: Adults who are not the parent or legal guardian of a minor traveling with them must present an original notarized letter signed by the child's parent(s), authorizing the adult to take the child on the specific cruise, supervise the child and allow emergency medical treatment to be administered. Please note: An individual's age on the date of sailing determines his or her status for the entire cruise vacation.

 

What travel documents and identification will I need for international sailings? - Royal Caribbean International Adults who are not the parent or Legal Guardian of any minor child traveling with them are required to present the child's valid passport and visa or the child's birth certificate (original, a notarized copy or a certified copy) and an original notarized letter signed by at least one of the child's parents. The notarized letter from the child's parent must authorize the traveling adult to take the child on the specific cruise, must authorize guardian to sign legal documentation/waivers for participation in any activities requiring them (i.e. Rock Climbing, Flowrider, Bungee Trampoline, Inline Skating, or Ice Skating) and must authorize the traveling adult to supervise the child and permit any medical treatment that must be administered to the child. If a non-parent adult is a Legal Guardian, the adult must present a certified certificate of Guardianship with respect to the child.

[travelntreats]

CONSENT FOR MINOR CHILDREN TO TRAVEL

Date:_____________________

I (we):______________________________________________________________

authorize my/our minor child(ren):___________________________________________

to travel to:_________________________________ on:_________________________

aboard Airline/Flight Number:________________________________________

and/or Cruise Ship:_____________________________________________ with:

____________________________________________________________. Their expected

date of return is _______________________.

In addition, I (we) authorize:______________________________________ to consent

to any necessary routine or emergency medical treatment during the aforementioned trip.

 

Signed:_________________________________ (Parent)

Signed:_________________________________ (Parent)

 

Address:________________________________________

_______________________________________________

 

Telephone:______________________________________

 

Sworn to and signed before me, a Notary Public,

 

this _______ day of _______________, 20____

________________________________________

Notary Public Signature and Seal

[Annefran]

You will also have to have a letter of permission (see what I copied from the RCI website:

 

What travel documents and identification will I need for domestic sailings? - Royal Caribbean International Adults who are not the parent or Legal Guardian of any minor child traveling with them are required to present the child's valid passport and visa or the child's birth certificate (original, a notarized copy or a certified copy) and an original notarized letter signed by at least one of the child's parents. The notarized letter from the child's parent must authorize the traveling adult to take the child on the specific cruise, must authorize guardian to sign legal documentation/waivers for participation in any activities requiring them (i.e. Rock Climbing, Flowrider, Bungee Trampoline, Inline Skating, or Ice Skating) and must authorize the traveling adult to supervise the child and permit any medical treatment that must be administered to the child. If a non-parent adult is a Legal Guardian, the adult must present a certified certificate of Guardianship with respect to the child.

 

What if I'm traveling with a minor and I'm not the parent or legal guardian? - Royal Caribbean International Q: What if I'm traveling with a minor and I'm not the parent or legal guardian? A: Adults who are not the parent or legal guardian of a minor traveling with them must present an original notarized letter signed by the child's parent(s), authorizing the adult to take the child on the specific cruise, supervise the child and allow emergency medical treatment to be administered. Please note: An individual's age on the date of sailing determines his or her status for the entire cruise vacation.

 

What travel documents and identification will I need for international sailings? - Royal Caribbean International Adults who are not the parent or Legal Guardian of any minor child traveling with them are required to present the child's valid passport and visa or the child's birth certificate (original, a notarized copy or a certified copy) and an original notarized letter signed by at least one of the child's parents. The notarized letter from the child's parent must authorize the traveling adult to take the child on the specific cruise, must authorize guardian to sign legal documentation/waivers for participation in any activities requiring them (i.e. Rock Climbing, Flowrider, Bungee Trampoline, Inline Skating, or Ice Skating) and must authorize the traveling adult to supervise the child and permit any medical treatment that must be administered to the child. If a non-parent adult is a Legal Guardian, the adult must present a certified certificate of Guardianship with respect to the child.

 

Thanks for the info, I have taken a couple of my DD's friends in the past with us and always, always have that notarilized letter just in case. Have never had to use it but you just never know.