Many first time cruisers wish to know whether or not or not you’ll be able to cruise with a delivery certificates in lieu of a passport, however the reply is determined by just a few key components. And, simply since you can cruise with a delivery certificates doesn’t essentially imply you ought to.
Whether or not you’ll be able to cruise with a delivery certificates as an alternative of a passport is determined by your citizenship standing and cruise itinerary. Sailings from the U.S. allow U.S. residents to indicate a delivery certificates as proof of citizenship, however further documentation is required for these over 16 years previous.
If you’re contemplating cruising with a delivery certificates as an alternative of a passport, you should definitely learn this information totally to grasp the principles earlier than embarkation day.
Who can cruise with a delivery certificates, and on which sailings is that this allowed?
Cruising with a delivery certificates is permitted for U.S. residents, however solely in particular instances. The solely time U.S. residents can cruise with a delivery certificates (and ID) as their official identification is on sailings departing from U.S. homeports. These should be roundtrip sailings beginning and ending within the U.S.
U.S. homeports embrace:
- Cape Liberty
- Miami
- Fort Lauderdale
- Port Canaveral
- Los Angeles
- Seattle
- Galveston
- Boston
- San Juan
For any cruises departing from exterior the U.S. (Canada, Italy, Australia, and many others.), U.S. residents should present a passport legitimate no less than 6 months after the cruise ends.
Which kind of delivery certificates is allowed?
Only official U.S. state-issued delivery certificates are accepted. Note that state-issued delivery certificates are completely different from hospital delivery certificates (child toes delivery certificates), and are issued straight out of your state’s very important data workplace.
To get hold of a state-issued delivery certificates, contact the very important data workplace within the state or territory by which you had been born, and comply with the directions for requesting a replica and paying any relevant charges.
Do I want different documentation along with my delivery certificates?
Guests 16 and older who’re offering a delivery certificates as their citizenship doc earlier than a cruise should additionally present a legitimate driver’s license or authorities issued image ID.
If your title has modified because the delivery certificates was issued, you will need to additionally present a supporting doc (marriage license, authorized title change doc, and many others.) that gives proof of the title change.
Remember that each paperwork should match the title offered in your cruise reservation.
What documentation is required when cruising with minors?
While friends 16 and above should present a state-issued ID along with their delivery certificates, minors underneath 16 might cruise with only a delivery certificates. This is, after all, solely legitimate on cruises departing from a U.S. homeport (in any other case a passport is required).
If the title of the mother or father and minor little one don’t match, nonetheless, the names of the mother or father and little one should be linked by means of authorized documentation.
If an grownup is touring with a minor who’s not the mother or father or authorized guardian of the kid, they need to current:
- A passport or visa (when required) OR
- The little one’s state-issued delivery certificates AND
- A notarized letter signed by one of many little one’s dad and mom stating that the grownup has permission to take the kid on a cruise
A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) or Certificate of Naturalization are additionally permitted in lieu of a passport or delivery certificates on sailings from U.S. homeports.
Are there any exceptions?
If you sail from a U.S. homeport however are on a cruise visiting Colombia, all passengers–no matter citizenship standing–should present a passport legitimate for no less than 6 months after the cruise’s return date. No different journey paperwork will probably be accepted.
Puerto Rican residents ought to observe {that a} delivery certificates issued earlier than July 1, 2010 just isn’t a legitimate proof of citizenship. Therefore, it’s required to acquire a renewed delivery certificates. These renewed paperwork might be ordered by means of vitalcheck.com.
Permanent residents of the United States can present a United States Permanent Resident Card, however a passport from their residence nation is beneficial.
Can residents of different international locations cruise with a delivery certificates in lieu of a passport?
Citizens of different international locations crusing on a Royal Caribbean cruise from the U.S. should present a legitimate passport from their residence nation. The solely exception to that is with U.S. everlasting residents, though bringing a passport continues to be suggested.
Should you cruise with a delivery certificates?
We suggest cruising with a passport as an alternative of a delivery certificates, even when a delivery certificates is permitted as your proof of citizenship documentation.
Traveling to a international nation with out a passport places you in danger for quite a lot of headache-inducing eventualities do you have to miss the cruise ship, require emergency transportation again to the US, and many others.
You can’t board a flight from a international nation again to the United States with out a passport. If you miss the ship in Cozumel, for instance, you’ll should journey to the closest U.S. embassy or consulate and procure a alternative passport.
Related: Do you want a passport for a cruise?
Getting stranded abroad with out a passport just isn’t the way you wish to spend your trip. You by no means know when an surprising situation might happen, so it’s higher to be ready and have a passport helpful.
In addition, having a passport makes disembarking the ship simpler as soon as the cruise is over, as there’s a separate line for these with U.S. passports versus these touring with state-issued delivery certificates and different types of identification.
Simply put, it’s at all times higher to have a passport than to journey with only a delivery certificates, and it opens up a wide array of cruise itineraries and worldwide journey decisions for the long run.
You can view the complete record of Royal Caribbean’s required documentation to board right here.