A Passport Is Essential
Why?
A passport is an identification of you as a citizen of your country. Simple. When traveling out of the country, bring a passport for your safety and avoid entry inconveniences.
A family of six that are planning a 4 day Disney cruise toBahamas/Castaway Cay with two little one ages 5 and 7. Each have different needs in order to travel. The little ones don’t need a passport, but the grandparents who are going but don’t
have passports.
One says they can get a “Western Hemisphere
Travel Initiative, another says they can travel with a certified Birth
Certificate. Which one is best?
For your security and safety, passports are recommended for everyone. Passports can be use as ID and proof of your citizenship. And in times of missing the ship for whatever reason, a passport may be needed.
If there is a need to fly back to the USA, it would
be difficult reentering US without a passport. The passport may seem the only way to enter USA. In fact, while checking in the departure terminal for travelers, the airlines will request a passport to check in your baggage and before allowing a passenger to depart. So, I say, a passport is necessary.
Current Law
However, current law permits USA citizens, cruising from the USA, returning to
the USA to travel with only an original Birth Certificate and a State Photo ID.
Children are also required to have Birth Certificate, if they have a school
photo ID, it is helpful or a State Photo ID (Drivers License). If the “little ones” or are 16 or 17
years old, they also need a state-issued photo ID, even though they are not
technically adults.
One can cruise with no
passport, with luck I'd say. Cross my fingers, as long as nothing happens that would require you to show a passport. I did just that at one time and now realized it was stupid of me not to take my passport with me on a cruise.
However, I would be scared to travel with elders, healthy they may be, for medical reasons. There was incident while on Disney cruise that an older woman developed pneumonia and thought she would
have to debark at a port and fly home. In a case like this, a passport is required to enter USA. Luckily, she ended up not having to fly. But my point
is - anything can happen!
It only takes 6 weeks to process, if planning a Disney cruise, it's probably further out, so there is time to start the
process to get a passport. It can even be expedited. Passports are not as much work
as people think it to be!
For safety, get a passport before traveling.
