A us passport card can only be used for land and sea travel to canada, mexico or the caribbean. Passport card vs passport book sep 16 cruise forum. I heard you can get a passport card instead of a passport book for a cruise, is that true. There are many more cruise lines for which you do not require a passport if taking a closed loop cruise. The passport card will facilitate entry and expedite document processing at u.
Closedloop cruises are the primary exceptions to the rule that those arriving in the u. Passport cards are particularly handy for people who live close to the border and cross frequently or people who rarely travel but have decided to go on a cruise in mexico or the caribbean. Passport requirements for travel to jamaica getaway usa. Im not very familiar with the card but there is a decent price difference between the 2. If youre heading on a cruise this season, dont forget about passport requirements. For travel by land or sea into canada, mexico, bermuda and the caribbean, the u. However, before you apply for a new passport card, consider carefully whether or not you might be better off getting a us passport book. The cruise beginning in ny and ending in san juan is one, panama canal is another.
Passport requirements cruise to the edge march 27 april 1, 2020. Citizens you will need a valid passport and, in some cases, a visa. We fly from maryland to florida where we board our ship and sail to the bahamas. You need a passport for cruises to and from foreign ports. You wont be able to use a passport card for air travel to or from the island. The passport card is commonly requested by travelers that are planning to go on a cruise. Canadian permanent residents must travel with a valid passport and a permanent resident card, also known as a prc, to travel outside of canada canadian citizens who are 15 years of age or younger may sail with either an original valid canadian passport or a canadian birth certificate. After he confirmed that his spouse could cruise with just a passport card, he booked their tropical vacation. The passport card, meanwhile, is both less expensive and less flexible. Differences between a passport book and passport card. Both passport books and cards are valid for 10 years. Americans may enter the unites states from the bahamas by sea using a passport, passport card, or other western. Because of its small size, the passport card will fit in your wallet, as opposed to a passport book which can be impractical to carry around with you. Many foreign countries require nothing more for entry than a u.
Passport card or book for my kids to go to the bahamas via. Passport and travel documentation disney cruise line. For instance, if there is a medical or family emergency, you will not be able to fly out of the country to return home. Passport identification requirements uncruise adventures. Using a passport book is the easiest, especially if due to unforeseen circumstances you do need to fly home, but if you dont have a passport book, it isnt like they arent going to let you in. Department of state recommends the passport book as it is more versatile. In any case, if your journey schedule makes them leave from vancouver or going to some other canadian port, you should have a valid passport book or card. Excellent form of official identification for children or nondrivers. On a cruise that begins and ends in the us, us citizens can travel with a drivers license and a birth certificate, no passport book or card required. Passport card can be used to enter the united states from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda at land border crossings or sea portsofentry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. You can apply for both a passport book and passport card at the same time using either form ds11 apply in person or form ds82 renew by mail must be eligible.
This case is an unfortunate example of what can go wrong if you decide to cruise with just a passport card. Applying for a passport card by mail will take up to 8 weeks. It is my understanding that it is better to have them in case of emergency. However, whether you need a passport card or a book depends on how you travel to the islands. Even closed loop cruises often require passengers to have a valid passport. A passport card can be used for land and sea border crossings between the u. If for some reason while your on a cruise and you need to disembark unexpectedly and need to fly home from a foreign port only having a u. However, the passport card cannot be used for travel by plane. If you ever want to fly to another country or even do a cruise outside of the countries where the cards are valid, get the book. However the three above are the only ones i could find that has a direct reference to needing a passport on their website. It can also be used for domestic air travel in the usa. Would like opinions on the difference and if we should go with the passport card. Wouldnt be so bad if child passports lasted 10 years like the.
Passport operations in response to covid19 because of public health measures to prevent the spread of covid19, effective march 20, we have limited u. It will otherwise carry the rights and privileges of the u. Technically you dont need either for that cruise, just a bc and phot id. This case is an unfortunate example of what can go wrong if you decide to cruise with just a.
The passport card is good for land border crossing between the us, canada, and mexico and sea cruise border crossings in. To apply for or renew both the book and card, check the appropriate box at the top of the form to. Given that the card is not good for international air travel, if youre going to the trouble of getting the cards, perhaps you should consider spending a few more dollars and get. While the passport card is permissible for a cruise, you may want to reconsider getting the card over the book. Passport requirements for cruises know before you go.
The passport card can be used only to reenter the u. Disneys panama canal cruises follow the same guidelines as cruises to mexico or the caribbean. A passport card is more affordable than a passport book. A passport card will not allow you to fly internationally to catch up with your missed princess cruise. While norwegian does its level best to facilitate the process for its clientele, passengers are subject to u. Passport book vs passport card cruise critic community. In the event that you are traveling to canada to start your journey, you totally should. Disney cruise passport requirements for the panama canal. My family and i will be sailing on the adventure of the seas out of bayonne, nj in may. Passport card or book for my kids to go to the bahamas via cruise.
A passport card is less expensive and is the size of a drivers license, thus some frequent cruisers prefer it. Using a us passport card on a cruise flyertalk forums. Can you use the passport card for travel to the bahamas. Although not required on closed loop sailings, which call at foreign ports but sail roundtrip from the u. Passport books are valid for all international travel, no matter what the mode of transit is.
If you are also applying for a renewal of your passport book and you opt for expedited service by mail, your passport book will arrive in 23 weeks, but your passport card may arrive in a separate envelope several weeks later. Does a passport card work to go to canada by train. In this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. As it turned out, he was the one in for the unpleasant surprise. If you fly to jamaica, a passport book is the only acceptable form of identification, despite jamaicas membership of the western hemisphere travel initiative. And, because a passport card is less bulky its similar in size to a drivers license, its. The passport book is more expensive, but meets more of the cruise passport requirements for a larger set of destinations and circumstances, including air travel in case of an emergency. Since the bahamas is not part of the united states, you need federal identification to travel there. Wouldnt be so bad if child passports lasted 10 years like the adult passport, but renewing them every 5 yea.
We are traveling with a 4 and 2yearold on a disney cruise. A passport book or passport card is required if your vessel transits through canadian waters. The passport card is the size of a drivers license and is used for convenience as it is smaller and cheaper than the passport book. The sections below provide specific examples of when you may or may not need a passport for a cruise. Find out if you need a passport to go on a cruise celebrity cruises. For roundtrip sailings cruises that depart from and return to the same u. Gold country is a us state, so you neednt bother with an international id to enter. There are some advantages to traveling with a passport card rather than a passport book, mainly cost and portability. The way i understand it is that if the cruise begins and ends in a different port, even if both are considered u.
Passport book that is valid at least 6 months after your cruise. Unless you have a lifeordeath emergency, you should wait to apply for or renew your passport until we resume normal operations. As a result, you need to submit a passport application and receive your card or book if your cruise ship docks on a different countrys shores. Government issued photo id, like a drivers license or an identity card. What travel documents do i need to board a royal caribbean cruise ship non u.
Passport a us passport for bahamas is an important travel document you need to have if you visit these islands. The bahamian government only requires proof of citizenship e. The 4 kids need their passports renewed before our fall cruise. All international air travel to other uncruise destinations requires a passport book. These are cruises that depart from and return to the same u. Passport book vs passport card norwegian cruise line. Do we need a passport book or can we use a passport card.
The card may not be used to travel by air outside the united states. I want to get my 3 kids passports for our cruise in october. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air. Governmentissued photo id and a birth certificate or other. Please remember that passport cards are not good for international air travel, so if you had to fly home mid cruise for some reason, you would need the passport book. Passport card vs passport book carnival cruise lines.
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