For instance, if there is a medical or family emergency, you will not be able to fly out of the country to return home. Wouldnt be so bad if child passports lasted 10 years like the adult passport, but renewing them every 5 yea. 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. Valid passports are required to board the ship for all panama canal sailings. If your ship never sails beyond the islands of hawaii, all you need is a governmentissued photo i. Using a us passport card on a cruise flyertalk forums. You wont be able to use a passport card for air travel to or from the island. The passport card is available to all irish citizens who hold a valid irish passport book. A passport card will not allow you to fly internationally to catch up with your missed princess cruise. This case is an unfortunate example of what can go wrong if you decide to cruise with just a passport card. And, because a passport card is less bulky its similar in size to a drivers license, its easier to carry more securely than a passport book. The passport card is good for land border crossing between the us, canada, and mexico and sea cruise border crossings in the caribbean and bermuda.
Passport book vs passport card for kids the dis disney. A passport card fits in your wallet, making it a more convenient form of id to carry on certain trips. 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. If you fly to jamaica, a passport book is the only acceptable form of identification, despite jamaicas membership of the western hemisphere travel initiative. However, before you apply for a new passport card, consider carefully whether or not you might be better off getting a us passport book. Im not very familiar with the card but there is a decent price difference between the 2. I just air on the side of caution and keep a booklet, even if they are more expensive. Closedloop cruises are the primary exceptions to the rule that those arriving in the u. Failure to present a valid passport at checkin will result in denial of boarding. May, 2019 in this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. Wouldnt be so bad if child passports lasted 10 years like the.
Passport card department of foreign affairs and trade. You can travel internationally via air, sea or land with the use of a passport book. Passport books and cards are alternatives to a stateissued id. Discover if a passport is required to go on a cruise, when to obtain one, where to get it and how quickly you can acquire your travel document. In a nutshell, a passport card is a plastic card that can fit into a wallet and are accepted for land and sea border crossings between the u. The passport book has lots of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps. A us passport card can only be used for land and sea travel to canada, mexico or the caribbean. At the end of the month, jetblue will make history with the first noncharter direct commercial flights from the us to cuba in almost 50 years. 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. The united states passport card is an official identity and limited travel document issued by the united states federal government in the size of a credit card. Passport cards requested by mail are always shipped back. It can be used for travel to 31 countries in the european union eu and european economic area eea plus switzerland. The card may not be used to travel by air outside the united states. If your cruise itinerary takes you outside of the u.
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. While the passport card is permissible for a cruise, you may want to reconsider getting the card over the book. It can also be used for domestic air travel in the usa. 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. 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. Passport cardbasically a limiteduse passport enhanced drivers licenseacts both as a driver license and a travel document, but also with limits well walk you through the basic differences of each of these documents, and help you determine which one is right for you. However, if you are not able to return on the cruise ship for any reason e. But, the passport card can only be used for international travel by land and sea. Passport and travel documentation disney cruise line.
Theres no need for a passport when you sail on any hawaii interisland cruise. 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. Find out if you need a passport to go on a cruise celebrity. Americans may enter the unites states from the bahamas by sea using a passport, passport card, or other western. 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. It is my understanding that it is better to have them in case of emergency. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison. The 4 kids need their passports renewed before our fall cruise.
There are many more cruise lines for which you do not require a passport if taking a closed loop cruise. A passport card is valid for travel to and from canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda at land border crossings and sea portsofentry. But if you have the money to spare or anticipate traveling more frequently and internationally, a passport book is always the best choice. How to apply for a new passport card rush my passport. Passport requirements cruise to the edge march 27 april 1, 2020. While the passport card may protect you against certain scenarios and is superior to not having a passport at all, getting a passport book not only provides more coverage such as flying internationally, but it allows you to travel beyond simply cruises. Do we need a passport book or can we use a passport card. If youre heading on a cruise this season, dont forget about passport requirements. Now you are on a cruise, get hurt and have to fly home from a foreign country.
Citizens you will need a valid passport and, in some cases, a visa. Excellent form of official identification for children or nondrivers. 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. Canada, the caribbean, or mexico must have a valid passport book or passport card. Required travel document and information for cruise vacations. May 17, 2011 i want to get my 3 kids passports for our cruise in october. If youre thinking of going on a cruise, the passport card might be nice when you need a from of identification to get on and off the ship. Your personal details must be an exact match of the details that appear in your passport book. Border countries are canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda. It will otherwise carry the rights and privileges of the u.
Passport the application process is the same for either the passport book or card, even if you want both at the same time. While norwegian does its level best to facilitate the process for its clientele, passengers are subject to u. I heard you can get a passport card instead of a passport book for a cruise, is that true. What travel documents do i need to board a royal caribbean cruise ship non u. Passport book that is valid at least 6 months after your cruise. Passport cards cannot be used on cruises from international homeports. Can you use the passport card for travel to the bahamas.
There is an exception for passengers of closedloop cruises. No passport cards, birth certificates or other form of proof of us citizenship will be accepted. Jul 27, 2019 after he confirmed that his spouse could cruise with just a passport card, he booked their tropical vacation. You can use the passport card to reenter the united states at sea ports of entry from mexico, canada, bermuda, and the caribbean. A passport card also could be useful for alaska cruises, as long as all border crossings into canada are done by land or sea. The only advantage the card has is ease of carrying it with you for people in boarder areas constantly going across the boarder. But before you go, here are 5 things you need to know about cubas passport requirements, cuban travel visas and how to travel to cuba legally as an american citizen. Carnival cruise lines strongly recommends all of our guests travel with a valid passport. Technically you dont need either for that cruise, just a bc and phot id. Although princess cruises strongly recommends passengers travel with a passport, its terms and conditions clarify that it is possible to cruise with just a passport card with considerations. These are cruises that depart from and return to the same u. Passport card vs passport book sep 16 cruise forum. Applying for a passport card by mail will take up to 8 weeks.
Nassau, bahamas if you are cruising to the bahamas from the u. Otherwise a passport card 1 makes it easier small than bringing a birth certificate etc if doing a round trip cruise, but 2 is deficient compared to a passport for any form of international air travel planned or emergency. Apr 15, 2019 if youre heading on a cruise this season, dont forget about passport requirements. Many foreign countries require nothing more for entry than a u. Passport cards are wallet sized while the passport book is larger and thicker. This case is an unfortunate example of what can go wrong if you decide to cruise with just a.
My family and i will be sailing on the adventure of the seas out of bayonne, nj in may. However the three above are the only ones i could find that has a direct reference to needing a passport on their website. Passport book vs passport card norwegian cruise line. Entering the united states at land border crossings and sea portsofentry from. The passports for cruises faq page provides american citizens with answers to the most frequently asked questions about passport requirements related to cruising. However, depending on your itinerary, you may only need a passport card. Passport requirements for travel to jamaica getaway usa. As it turned out, he was the one in for the unpleasant surprise.
Do you need a passport to go on a cruise to the bahamas. Passport requirements for cruise passengers royal caribbean. Department of state recommends the passport book as it is more versatile. Government issued photo id, like a drivers license or an identity card. To apply for or renew both the book and card, check the appropriate box at the top of the form to indicate that you would like to apply for both products. If youre doing any international air travel to get to your cruise, then you are required to bring a valid u. While the passport card may protect you against certain scenarios and is superior to not having a passport at all, getting a passport book not only provides more coverage such as flying internationally, but it. The card is slightly cheaper, yes, but you can do so much more with the book. Find out if you need a passport to go on a cruise celebrity cruises. Differences between a passport book and passport card. The passport card, meanwhile, is both less expensive and less flexible. Would like opinions on the difference and if we should go with the passport card. There is nothing you can do with the card you cant do with the book.
It may often be used as an identity card for purposes other than international travel, such as domestic air travel. In this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. The passport card will facilitate entry and expedite document processing at u. Passport card vs passport book carnival cruise lines. Mar 18, 2020 the passport card, meanwhile, is both less expensive and less flexible. The passport card can be used only to reenter the u. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. Guests may also sail with their official birth certificate and a supporting government issued photo id, like a driver. A passport card is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book, but it cannot be used for international travel by air. 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. The bahamian government only requires proof of citizenship e. There are several options when it comes to forms of identification for travel.