The Lollipop Road

Posts Tagged ‘travel documents’

You can read more about this topic, as well as many other family cruising topics, in our new book–Cruising With Kids: A Guide To The Perfect Family Cruise Vacation. Visit our dedicated Cruising With Kids website for more details.

We’re getting ready to embark on several trips out of the country (on the Cruise Views Marathon), so I began pulling together all of our travel documents to make sure that all was in order.  I guess I’m a bit late given that we leave on Saturday, but nonetheless, we have liftoff.  I discovered that both of our passports expired last year, but no worry, we’re sailing on closed-loop cruises.  I often read articles that tell you that you must have a passport to travel outside of the country.  Well, although it is a VERY good idea, you don’t really need it in all cases.

Whenever you travel outside of the United States without a passport, you are taking the risk of  being stranded in a foreign country.  Let’s be clear, in order to travel to (or from) a foreign country by air, you must have a valid passport or other valid resident document (see exception below).  Most airlines (if they are doing their job) will not let you board without verifying your documents.

However, if you are traveling on a closed-loop cruise (defined as departing from and returning to the same U.S. port) to ports within the Western Hemisphere (this includes North America, South America, Central America and all of the islands in between), you do not need a passport. Rather you can use an original or copy of your birth certificate, Naturalization Certificate or Consular Report of Birth Abroad.  This exception only impacts adults 16 and over as minor children are already exempted from land and sea passport requirements under the WHTI requirements for minors. So, for example, if you are cruising from Fort Lauderdale to Belize, Honduras and Jamaica and returning to Fort Lauderdale, a passport is not required. Many websites will get this wrong – for closed loop cruise purposes, all countries within the Western Hemisphere are eligible, not just contiguous and adjacent countries. This does not, however, discount the fact that the foreign country you are visiting may require a passport. For those wondering, Panama, Costa RIca, Belize and Honduras do not currently require passports for cruise passengers.

ALERT – Be sure to check with your specific cruise line as most cruise lines are now ONLY accepting original or certified birth certificates that contain the raised seal.

If for some reason you needed to return to the United States from a foreign port, you would need a passport, right?  So, why would you take the risk of traveling to foreign ports without passports?  Well, in an emergency an emergency or limited passport or other travel document (ie letter) from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate will be accepted.  The lost and stolen passport procedures will give you a good idea as to the process, although the Department of State has the ability to bypass the formal procedures and issue temporary travel documents in a true emergency.  So, although it is a hassle that has the potential to cause delay, you won’t really be stranded.  Although, being stuck on a tropical Caribbean island does sound appealing.

When using a birth certificate, married couples, where one or both of the spouses have changed their last name, should also consider carrying a copy of their marriage certificate.  Although not required in most cases, we have used it at least once to easily and quickly clear up any confusion.  Also, be sure that you actually have a birth certificate.  I can’t tell you how many stories I read where folks are denied travel because they have the wrong document.  Don’t let your dream cruise get grounded.  Of course, this is yet another perfect reason to always carry a valid passport.  I guess I should get mine renewed!

You can read more about this topic, as well as many other family cruising topics, in our new book–Cruising With Kids: A Guide To The Perfect Family Cruise Vacation. Visit our dedicated Cruising With Kids website for more details.

Disclosure

You can read more about this topic, as well as many other family cruising topics, in our new book–Cruising With Kids: A Guide To The Perfect Family Cruise Vacation. Visit our dedicated Cruising With Kids website for more details.

Travel document requirements for kids (children under age 16) entering the United States are different than those for adults.  Although seemingly simple, there are some twists and turns to navigate. Read the rest of this entry »