Passport vs. Enhanced DL question

[iamaqt2]

This is a tricky question, and I know that many of you experienced cruisers out there can possibly help me.
DH and I have passports, so I'm not worried about us, but some friends of ours have Enhanced DL's which are WHTI (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative) compliant for travel on land and sea between the US and neighboring countries. They use these for cruises between Seattle and Vancouver quite frequently.
My question is this: If we are driving into Vancouver and then taking a roundtrip Vancouver to Vancouver cruise, are their DL's valid because we are not sailing from US to foreign port or vice versa? Or are they valid because we will be visiting a US port while on the cruise?

The rules have gotten so tricky lately it's hard to keep it all straight! Thanks for any insight you can offer.

[rafinmd]

Have your friends tried to do the online checkin? I know when I try to check in for my Zaandam cruise, the system comes back with an strong "A passport is required for your cruise". I would think if they can check in with the drivers license they should be ok. Do any other HAL veterans have an idea if I'm on solid ground here? It seems like a good starting point.

Roy

[kjpabl]

My husband and I traveled from Seattle to Vancouver on Amtrak with our Enhanced DL's, then took the Volendam to Alaska, we traveled Aug 6th thru the 17th. While in Skagway we traveled with Dyea Dave into the Yukon to see Emerald Lake and returned on the White Pass RR. We then traveled back through Vancouver to Seattle via Holland America transfer. Our DL's were fine for all our travels. Never had a problem. All agents were familiar with and had no trouble with out Enhanced DL's.

[Valley Girl of VA]

Are the Enhanced DL's available only in the states that are contiguous to Mexico and Canada or are they available to every person in every state? I ask because I live in Virginia but summer in northern Michigan. I use my passport when I go to the Soo but an enhanced DL would let me leave my passport at home where it won't get lost in packing.

[rafinmd]

Are the Enhanced DL's available only in the states that are contiguous to Mexico and Canada or are they available to every person in every state? I ask because I live in Virginia but summer in northern Michigan. I use my passport when I go to the Soo but an enhanced DL would let me leave my passport at home where it won't get lost in packing.

Looks like only 4 states: Michigan, New York, Vermont and Washington, so you appear to be out of luck.


http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/lang_eng/eng_edl.html

Roy

[cherylandtk]

This is a tricky question, and I know that many of you experienced cruisers out there can possibly help me.
DH and I have passports, so I'm not worried about us, but some friends of ours have Enhanced DL's which are WHTI (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative) compliant for travel on land and sea between the US and neighboring countries. They use these for cruises between Seattle and Vancouver quite frequently.
My question is this: If we are driving into Vancouver and then taking a roundtrip Vancouver to Vancouver cruise, are their DL's valid because we are not sailing from US to foreign port or vice versa? Or are they valid because we will be visiting a US port while on the cruise?

The rules have gotten so tricky lately it's hard to keep it all straight! Thanks for any insight you can offer.The rules are different for this cruise as it leaves from and returns to a foreign port; the round trip rules are only for US ports. That said, the EDL's are accepted at land and sea port crossings between the US and Canada, which are the only ports on your cruise. As long as Canada does not have any additional rules for cruise ships, the US is going to accept the EDL on the Canada-US crossing of this itinerary.

A BC/ID will Not work on this sailing and the cruise line could impose stricter requirements (i.e. Passports) than what the US requires.

[iamaqt2]

My husband and I traveled from Seattle to Vancouver on Amtrak with our Enhanced DL's, then took the Volendam to Alaska, we traveled Aug 6th thru the 17th. While in Skagway we traveled with Dyea Dave into the Yukon to see Emerald Lake and returned on the White Pass RR. We then traveled back through Vancouver to Seattle via Holland America transfer. Our DL's were fine for all our travels. Never had a problem. All agents were familiar with and had no trouble with out Enhanced DL's.

Thank you for sharing your experience! I was sure it wouldn't be an issue, but they were concerned.

Are the Enhanced DL's available only in the states that are contiguous to Mexico and Canada or are they available to every person in every state? I ask because I live in Virginia but summer in northern Michigan. I use my passport when I go to the Soo but an enhanced DL would let me leave my passport at home where it won't get lost in packing.

Valley Girl... if you have permanent address in Michigan as a resident that you pay taxes on, then you can apply for an Enhanced drivers license through the EL program.

[iamaqt2]

The rules are different for this cruise as it leaves from and returns to a foreign port; the round trip rules are only for US ports. That said, the EDL's are accepted at land and sea port crossings between the US and Canada, which are the only ports on your cruise. As long as Canada does not have any additional rules for cruise ships, the US is going to accept the EDL on the Canada-US crossing of this itinerary.

A BC/ID will Not work on this sailing and the cruise line could impose stricter requirements (i.e. Passports) than what the US requires.

cherylandtk thanks for the input, but travel between WHTI states and countries is best shared through actual experience.

[Valley Girl of VA]

Valley Girl... if you have permanent address in Michigan as a resident that you pay taxes on, then you can apply for an Enhanced drivers license through the EL program.[/QUOTE]


My husband is a legal, tax paying resident of Michigan, so he can apply. I take it form this answer then it is only applicable to those states who share a border with Canada.