Couple of ?'s about id's and online registration.

[karensj]

From what I have read it is in my best interest to pre-register on-line. I will be able to do so for my DH and myself. My parents should be no problem as well. My question is about the kids. What should we do about id's. Their passports have expired and I am not sure if we can get them in time. I have birth certificates. Will these be enough? What about registering. They ask for a passport number what do I put for the kids? Any suggestions would be great. We are in the process of renewing passports now. I don't expect to get to the post office before next week. Our cruise is the 19th of February. Will we be ok without them? Thanks

[jhannah]

If your cruise is 19 February and you get your passport renewals in the mail next week, you should have them in plenty of time. There will be suggestions from others, I'm sure, as to what you should do. However, your best bet would be to have your TA contact HAL ... or call them yourself. That's probably the safest way to make sure you have what you need. Hopefully, the passports will arrive in time.

[the2ofus]

You can always fill out the immigration forms on-line on the HAL web-site, leaving out the passport #s for the kids, then pull the info up and edit at a later time.

You should have the renewed passports in plenty of time, if you mail the apps next week.

[Stevesan]

I have birth certificates. Will these be enough? What about registering. They ask for a passport number what do I put for the kids? Any suggestions would be great. We are in the process of renewing passports now. I don't expect to get to the post office before next week. Our cruise is the 19th of February. Will we be ok without them? Thanks
Sans passport for the kids you'll need both birth certificate and a government issued ID, same as for adults. You can get an ID at your DMV office in most states.

[sea-n-me]

Stevesan:

I am confused. Do children really need a government issued ID? When flying they are not required to show any type of picture ID, so I guess I just assumed a picture ID would not be necessary on a cruise. If this is the case, then I guess we are going to have to get our daughter up to the BMV ASAP as we leave in 3 weeks.

[ore-ee-gun]

We cruised to Alaska this past summer with my sister-in-law and her family, and she went to the DMV beforehand and got ID cards for both her kids, ages 6 and 12. They were indeed asked for photo IDs. Regarding the passport # on the online immigration form: it isn't necessary. We completed the registration online and had no problems at all when we got to the port.

[ekerr19]

Stevesan:

I am confused. Do children really need a government issued ID? When flying they are not required to show any type of picture ID, so I guess I just assumed a picture ID would not be necessary on a cruise. If this is the case, then I guess we are going to have to get our daughter up to the BMV ASAP as we leave in 3 weeks.

Wow, we have had to show photo ID for our kids when departing here from DIA... they have passports and we've been asked to show them, especially after 9/11. We got them years ago and it certainly has helped speed up the check-in process when traveling. One TSA agent scrutinized my 11-yr. old daughter's (it's is about to expire so - it's almost 5 years old) and told her how grown up she looked now. :)

We have been asked for them by the cruise line as well. You may want to get the photo ID's to be safe rather than sorry.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have had no problems renewing passports. Mine was up last year - sent in and got it back within 2 weeks.

[AmyinVail]

Is it just HAL? I've cruised twice since 9/11 (and two additional flights) with our two young children and have never had to show id-just birth certificates. Is this just a HAL thing? Seems ridiculous to get a state issued id for my 2 year old for our April Oosterdam cruise..... Amy

[sea-n-me]

Amy:

I don't know either. We've flown with both of our kids several times since 9/11 from Cleveland to Orlando and never once have we been asked to show any kind of ID whatsoever for either of them at either airport. I think I will e-mail HAL directly to find out for sure what their policy is. I am also going to check with our Bureau of Motor Vehicles to see if they issue picture ID's to 12 year olds and what I would have to bring in order to get one.

Renee

[jfishe]

We've traveled extensively since 9/11 with my now 16 year old son. We are always asked for his picture id by both the cruiseline and the airline. He has a passport for when we travel outside the country and a government issued picture id for domestic travel. I think whether or not they ask is somewhat inconsistent, like whether or not to take your shoes off going through airport security ! They always ask you to take them off in Seattle, but in Vegas they look at you like you're an odd one if you take your shoes off in line ! In LA, they don't care, in Atlanta they want you just about stripped down and in Orlando it's not such a big deal. Depends on where you are. Sooo better safe than sorry !

[ekerr19]

jfishe-

I think you are correct! I was at LAX in October and no shoe removal - here in Denver it's automatic - and LAX was the one place I can rememer they did not want to see my daughter's ID. Also, she flew to MN last summer with a group of friends and the ticket agent was giving one of the parents a hard time about lack of photo ID for their 11-yr. old - but finally relented after about 20 minutes. What a hassle.

I'm not sure about the two year old, it seems kind of excessive to require ID for someone so young, but I believe the time is quickly appoaching when all US citizens will be required to have a passport in order to travel. We plan to keep our children's up to date - it has made traveling so much easier for all of us.

[sea-n-me]

I received a reply back from HAL regarding their ID policy for children. They wrote "As long as both parents are going on the sailing, children under the age of 14 only need their birth certificates".

Hope that helps clear this up for some.

Renee

[ore-ee-gun]

I was given the same information; however, what HAL requires may not be the same as what is required by INS. I'd call immigration services to be sure....

[ekerr19]

I was given the same information; however, what HAL requires may not be the same as what is required by INS. I'd call immigration services to be sure....
ore-ee-gun:

You have a good point, I'd also check with the airline - some are stricter than others... we have flown on so many different airlines since 9/11, I can tell you they all have different requirements. :)

[Stevesan]

I received a reply back from HAL regarding their ID policy for children. They wrote "As long as both parents are going on the sailing, children under the age of 14 only need their birth certificates".

Hope that helps clear this up for some.

ReneeIf the individual who sent you the reply is the same person who checks you in at boarding and is also the counter person who checks you in at the airport, you're good to go.:rolleyes:

Haven't you taken note of the number of responders to your original post who have related personal experiences of having to present an ID for a minor at airports and cruise ship ports? The personnel who man those stations interpret the laws and rules. Their interpretations obviously vary from individual to individual. It ain't carved in granite.

[Lisa63]

karensj, it shouldn't take long to get the kids' passports renewed. We renewed our 10-year-old son's passport earlier this year and were able to take care of everything, including photos, in the same day. I strongly suggest that you read the passport renewal info on the State Department's Web site: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get_minors.html.

If the kids are older than 14, you will still have to renew in person, but both parents will not have to be there. See http://travel.state.gov/passport/get_first_apply.html

Our son had his passport in about six weeks. Still, I encourage you to go to the post office as early in the week as you can.

Assuming the passports don't arrive in time, you may still need photo ID for the kids depending on their ages.

One more thing -- when you renew their passports, you will have to submit their birth certificates. You will get them back with the passport, but it's a good idea to have an additional certified copy on hand just in case.