Passports or birth certificates?

[sparks1093]

Your sign and sail card identifies whether you are an adult or a minor. No other ID is needed on board. If there is a question the card is linked to your on board account which includes your picture, so it will be clear by looking at the picture that the person presenting the card is the person who was issued the card.

 

My 18 year old son was carded when he was in the casino and I have certainly read of others being carded. I did say "might" and "could" indicating that they "might" card her and it "could" cause problems if the names don't match and of course it "might" not be an issue at all;).

 

I would prefer nipping any potential problems in the bud and would book the cruise with the daughter's current married name and bring the license to bridge passport and DL, but that's just my preference.

[njhorseman]

My 18 year old son was carded when he was in the casino and I have certainly read of others being carded. I did say "might" and "could" indicating that they "might" card her and it "could" cause problems if the names don't match and of course it "might" not be an issue at all;).

 

I would prefer nipping any potential problems in the bud and would book the cruise with the daughter's current married name and bring the license to bridge passport and DL, but that's just my preference.

 

My understanding is that you can't use a marriage license as a bridge document between a passport and drivers license, only as a bridge between a birth certificate and drivers license, so if she were to book in her married name she would have to bring the BC, marriage license and DL.

 

Your son was 18 so he had a sign and sail card that identified him as a minor, did he not? That is why he was carded. He was allowed to gamble but not purchase alcohol. The woman in question will have an adult's S&S card. And again, if there were a question they could swipe the card to see that the person presenting it is the person to whom it was issued.

Edited July 20, 2014 by njhorseman

[sparks1093]

My understanding is that you can't use a marriage license as a bridge document between a passport and drivers license, only as a bridge between a birth certificate and drivers license, so if she were to book in her married name she would have to bring the BC, marriage license and DL.

 

Your son was 18 so he had a sign and sail card that identified him as a minor, did he not? That is why he was carded. He was allowed to gamble but not purchase alcohol. The woman in question will have an adult's S&S card. And again, if there were a question they could swipe the card to see that the person presenting it is the person to whom it was issued.

 

Actually he had a card indicating he had parental permission to buy beer and wine (and thus indicating that he was 18 or over) but they still wanted to see his ID. A server would have to return to the bar in order to swipe the card and it would be easier for them to just ask for the ID (and the person handing them the card may be using someone else's card). As I said, it may or may not be an issue.

 

I have searched and searched and searched the regulations and they say nothing about bridging documents and I see no reason why a marriage license can't be used to bridge a passport and a DL. Women get married and change their last name all of the time. A woman presenting mismatched documents is not an atypical occurence. The daughter would present the DL because it is an ID supporting the name on the booking and her passport showing her citizenship. Having the marriage license supports the name change in case someone wants to challenge her statement that she is married and that's why her name is different.

[LadyBeBop]

Thanks for all the responses thus far. :)

 

So y'all would suggest my daughter booking with her maiden name and bring the marriage license as a possible bridging document?

 

Or my daughter booking with her married name and bring the marriage license as a bridging document.

 

Also, did we do something unnecessary ten years ago when we got a state ID for my then 15-year old daughter when we went on our last cruise ten years ago. Also, did my eldest daughter do something unnecessary in getting a new passport when she went on her honeymoon last year (three months after she got married). IIRC, I think she got her old passport in 2005, so it would have been good for her Jamaican honeymoon (although probably not for the upcoming cruise).

 

Yes, it's been 10 years since I've last been on a cruise. I still feel like a newbie. :confused:

Edited July 20, 2014 by LadyBeBop

[sparks1093]

Thanks for all the responses thus far. :)

 

So y'all would suggest my daughter booking with her maiden name and bring the marriage license as a possible bridging document?

 

Or my daughter booking with her married name and bring the marriage license as a bridging document.

 

Also, did we do something unnecessary ten years ago when we got a state ID for my then 15-year old daughter when we went on our last cruise ten years ago. Also, did my eldest daughter do something unnecessary in getting a new passport when she went on her honeymoon last year (three months after she got married). IIRC, I think she got her old passport in 2005, so it would have been good for her Jamaican honeymoon (although probably not for the upcoming cruise).

 

Yes, it's been 10 years since I've last been on a cruise. I still feel like a newbie. :confused:

 

I would suggest calling the cruise line and seeing what they say. My preference (only if this were my family going) would be to book her with her married name and bringing the marriage license.

[Amerryscot]

If you are thinking about it, and have time, get a passport. Then you never need to have to worry.

[njhorseman]

Actually he had a card indicating he had parental permission to buy beer and wine (and thus indicating that he was 18 or over) but they still wanted to see his ID. A server would have to return to the bar in order to swipe the card and it would be easier for them to just ask for the ID (and the person handing them the card may be using someone else's card). As I said, it may or may not be an issue.

 

I have searched and searched and searched the regulations and they say nothing about bridging documents and I see no reason why a marriage license can't be used to bridge a passport and a DL. Women get married and change their last name all of the time. A woman presenting mismatched documents is not an atypical occurence. The daughter would present the DL because it is an ID supporting the name on the booking and her passport showing her citizenship. Having the marriage license supports the name change in case someone wants to challenge her statement that she is married and that's why her name is different.

 

Due to a passport's importance as an identity/citizenship document if it doesn't match the the exact name (other than middle name) under which travel is booked it's technically invalid and it's going to be up to the discretion of the personnel who check you in at the port as to whether they'll accept a "bridge" document. You're not going to find this type of information looking in CBP regulations for closed loop cruises.

 

It's taking an a totally unnecessary risk to try this. The way to book that carries zero risk and is 100% acceptable is to book in the name on the passport.

 

Your advice is misguided.

 

You're more worried about a minuscule chance of someone with an adult sign and sail card being "carded" than you are about the far more important issue of having citizenship/ID documentation that will be accepted for boarding the cruise.

[njhorseman]

Thanks for all the responses thus far. :)

 

So y'all would suggest my daughter booking with her maiden name and bring the marriage license as a possible bridging document?

 

Or my daughter booking with her married name and bring the marriage license as a bridging document.

 

Also, did we do something unnecessary ten years ago when we got a state ID for my then 15-year old daughter when we went on our last cruise ten years ago. Also, did my eldest daughter do something unnecessary in getting a new passport when she went on her honeymoon last year (three months after she got married). IIRC, I think she got her old passport in 2005, so it would have been good for her Jamaican honeymoon (although probably not for the upcoming cruise).

 

Yes, it's been 10 years since I've last been on a cruise. I still feel like a newbie. :confused:

 

If your daughter books in her maiden name and has a valid passport in her maiden name, no bridge documents are required.

 

Off the top of my head I can't remember what regulations exactly said 10 years ago...and they did change a few years ago so it's conceivable an ID was needed then even though it isn't needed now.

[sparks1093]

Due to a passport's importance as an identity/citizenship document if it doesn't match the the exact name (other than middle name) under which travel is booked it's technically invalid and it's going to be up to the discretion of the personnel who check you in at the port as to whether they'll accept a "bridge" document. You're not going to find this type of information looking in CBP regulations for closed loop cruises.

 

It's taking an a totally unnecessary risk to try this. The way to book that carries zero risk and is 100% acceptable is to book in the name on the passport.

 

Your advice is misguided.

 

You're more worried about a minuscule chance of someone with an adult sign and sail card being "carded" than you are about the far more important issue of having citizenship/ID documentation that will be accepted for boarding the cruise.

 

The only advice that I've given is to call the cruise line and I have stated only what I would do if presented with the same situation. A passenger needs to submit documentation to show proof of identity and proof of citizenship which may be a combination of documents. In the instance currently under discussion the identity for the name the cruise is booked under is proved by the presentation of a drivers license and the citizenship is proved by the passport issued in the maiden name. The marriage license is available to show the legal name change if any quesiton arises in that regard. This is more than being about using an ID on the ship- it's about booking travel with one's legal name. Yes, the cruise could be booked with the name on the passport, no doubt about it. But I personally would feel better if it were booked in my daugher's legal name if it were my family traveling. It isn't my family traveling so this is only an academic discussion as far as I'm concerned.

[njhorseman]

The only advice that I've given is to call the cruise line and I have stated only what I would do if presented with the same situation. A passenger needs to submit documentation to show proof of identity and proof of citizenship which may be a combination of documents. In the instance currently under discussion the identity for the name the cruise is booked under is proved by the presentation of a drivers license and the citizenship is proved by the passport issued in the maiden name. The marriage license is available to show the legal name change if any quesiton arises in that regard. This is more than being about using an ID on the ship- it's about booking travel with one's legal name. Yes, the cruise could be booked with the name on the passport, no doubt about it. But I personally would feel better if it were booked in my daugher's legal name if it were my family traveling. It isn't my family traveling so this is only an academic discussion as far as I'm concerned.

 

Your use of the term "legal name" is incorrect. There is no law obligating a person to take their spouse's last name upon marriage. A significant percentage don't. And there's also no law prohibiting using one name for social purposes and another for business/professional purposes. This is also very, very common. You can use any name you want as long as there's no intent to defraud. There's no law prohibiting your passport from being in one name and your drivers license in another (although this may prove to be inconvenient at times).

 

You're basing your recommendation on a legal concept that doesn't exist...again you're misguided.

Edited July 20, 2014 by njhorseman

[sparks1093]

Your use of the term "legal name" is incorrect. There is no law obligating a person to take their spouse's last name upon marriage. A significant percentage don't. And there's also no law prohibiting using one name for social purposes and another for business/professional purposes. This is also very, very common. You can use any name you want as long as there's no intent to defraud. There's no law prohibiting your passport from being in one name and your drivers license in another (although this may prove to be inconvenient at times).

 

You're basing your recommendation on a legal concept that doesn't exist...again you're misguided.

If a woman has changed her license to her married name that is her legal name. Your method of using the passport name to book the cruise would work but it isn't the method I would choose for me and mine.

[njhorseman]

If a woman has changed her license to her married name that is her legal name. Your method of using the passport name to book the cruise would work but it isn't the method I would choose for me and mine.

 

Not really. In general any name you elect to use is "legal" and usable as long as it's not done for fraudulent purposes. Nothing prohibits the use of multiple names for multiple purposes.

 

My wife's name on her professional license issued by the State of NJ is not the same as the name on her drivers license, also issued by the State of NJ. Her professional license includes her maiden name as well as my last name (this is because her doctorate is issued in that way). Her drivers license is only in my last name.

 

I looked at some wedding announcements in today's issue of The New York Times. Some state the bride will be using her husband's name. Others state the bride will be retaining her current name. Some announcements say nothing about the name, and there was at least one that said the bride would be retaining her current name for business/professional purposes (presumably that means she will be using her husband's name for other purposes).

Edited July 21, 2014 by njhorseman