Passports Required for Minors on Caribbean Cruise?

[misgnomer]

We'll be cruising in February with several small children.

The NCL site states that:

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for Caribbean cruises, for round-trip sailings (cruises that depart from and return to the same U.S. port), you may sail with either a valid passport, proof of citizenship and a valid government-issued photo I.D. (driver’s license with a photo), or any other WHTI compliant document.

Proof of Citizenship examples include:

State certified U.S. birth certificate
Original certificate of U.S. naturalization
Original certificate of U.S. citizenship
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We can bring birth certificates, but what sort of Photo ID would count for a small child that does not have access to a Driver's license yet? Would you recommend getting passports or is it unnecessary?

Thanks!

[wavygal]

I am one to say passport if you have the time. You will be traveling again with the lil one so why not just get it out of the way. Our first family vacation I got passports for everyone. One less thing to worry about. :-) Happy travels!

[njhorseman]

No photo ID is required for children under the age of 16. You missed the following sentence on NCL's site:
A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 do not require a government-issued photo ID.

Here's the official information from Department of Homeland Security. Note there is no mention of a photo ID for children under the age of 16:

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

Children: Beginning June 1, 2009, U.S. and Canadian citizen children under age 16 arriving by land or sea from contiguous territory may also present an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Naturalization Certificate, or a Canadian Citizenship Card.

[Hstergo]

They don't need photo ID if they under the age of 16. You will have to show a Government issued birth certificate with raised seal or multi colored stamped seal.
Only thing you have know is .. if only one of the parents is traveling , the non traveling parent has to give written consent to allow you to take the child out of the country. Sometimes they won't even ask to see it but its best to have it.

[misgnomer]

Thank you so much for your quick replies! What an awesome group this is.

[SadieN]

Before we got passports our DD's got California State IDs. They have used them several times in different situations.

Make sure the kids BCs are governement issued with parents names on them.

[Keith1010]

Have a great time on the cruise.

Keith

[cb at sea]

Passports aren't required for ANY American on closed-loop cruises. Your BC (and DL, if you're an adult) is all that you need.

[worldspan]

Yes, you don't need them but be aware in the UNLIKELY even there was some tragedy or occurance back at home requiring you to disembark the ship and fly home immediately, you could NOT. To fly back to U.S. they would definetly need passports.

Worldspan
131 cruises strong

[Hstergo]

Originally Posted by worldspan

Yes, you don't need them but be aware in the UNLIKELY even there was some tragedy or occurance back at home requiring you to disembark the ship and fly home immediately, you could NOT. To fly back to U.S. they would definetly need passports.

Worldspan
131 cruises strong

That is not correct it might take some paperwork and some agravation but no US citizen will ever be denied entry into the United States

[Doug R.]

Originally Posted by Hstergo

That is not correct it might take some paperwork and some agravation but no US citizen will ever be denied entry into the United States

You forgot to mention the extra time it will take to be repatriated. My view is don't tempt disaster -- get a passport.

[Hstergo]

Originally Posted by Doug R.

You forgot to mention the extra time it will take to be repatriated. My view is don't tempt disaster -- get a passport.

Yes your advice is to get a passport which is good advice.. but telling the OP that she will not be able to enter the US is not correct. Please don't turn this into an endless passport debate. The OP asked a simple question and got a clear and accurate answer from myself and others.