Experienced cruiser makes a DUMB mistake (how can you forget your passports??)

[Another_Critic]

I still don't understand why a photo of a birth certificate is acceptable, but a photo of a passport is not.

[radiojw]

17 hours ago, Jasukkie said:

When did they stop accepting DL for closed loop cruises? I thought that was still okay on Royal. 

 

Remember that amazing thread from a while back of a guy who was able to board using a picture of an expired driver's license? 

When states started allowing non-documented people the ability to obtain a DL.

 

Government has introduced "Enhanced Drivers Licenses" which requires proof of residency/citizenship -- these EDLs are OK for entry on a closed loop US cruise. You'll also need an EDL or WHTI document/card to fly commercially whenever they finally meet their own set deadline.

[Ferry_Watcher]

And just a reminder for folks - Enhanced Driver's Licenses are only issued from these five (5) northern border states: MI, MN; NY; VT & WA.

Canadians in 4 providences also have an Enhanced Driver's License option.

 

An Enhanced Driver's License is different from Real ID.  We have had to turn away passengers arriving for their Alaska cruise who were only just presenting their Real ID driver's license.  The only other option to get to sail is if they were able to have a copy of their US birth certificate electronically sent to the port where we could print it out.  Without a copy of their birth certificate, they would be denied - the Real ID would not have been enough proof of citizenship to allow for boarding.

[nelblu]

 

 

22 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

And just a reminder for folks - Enhanced Driver's Licenses are only issued from these five (5) northern border states: MI, MN; NY; VT & WA.

Canadians in 4 providences also have an Enhanced Driver's License option.

 

An Enhanced Driver's License is different from Real ID.  We have had to turn away passengers arriving for their Alaska cruise who were only just presenting their Real ID driver's license.  The only other option to get to sail is if they were able to have a copy of their US birth certificate electronically sent to the port where we could print it out.  Without a copy of their birth certificate, they would be denied - the Real ID would not have been enough proof of citizenship to allow for boarding.

If one only needs proof of citizenship, then my Global Entry pass should be sufficient.

[Ferry_Watcher]

18 hours ago, radiojw said:

Source: my wife is Indian on a visa and enrolled in GE.

 

FYI -  if an Indian National (and not a Green Card holder) arrived for an Alaskan cruise with an Indian Passport the first thing the check-in agent would do is to look for the Canadian visa in the passport (which is required because of the single port-of-call usually in Victoria, BC).  Unless that Canadian visa is in the Indian national / non US Green card holder's passport, this person would be denied boarding because of not having the required Canadian visa.

 

I can't tell you the number of people holding Indian passports (or Brazilian or South African passport holders) who are in the US visiting friends and relatives who are either US citizens, or US Green Card holders, who suggest to their visiting Indian friends & family, 'lets go on a cruise to Alaska'.  US citizens and US Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) do not need a Canadian visa, but, the visiting friends and family do.  (Citizens from the EU, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, So Korea, Mexico and some other military/economic ally countries that are considered 'friends' also don't need the Canadian visa - but there is a list of close to 180 countries whose travelers do need it.)   

 

Every cruise day we have folks denied because of Canadian visa issues - and it is a full-stop denial, with no recourse. It's sad to witness this, and on top of being denied, the cruise line is under no obligation to refund the cruise fare (taxes and fees - yes, cruise fare - no).  Then the US family/ friends need to decide whether to go on the cruise without their guests, or they too will lose the money they paid for the cruise.  As someone who works during the Alaska season, it is beyond sad seeing folks denied due to document or visa issues.

 

As for the Global Entry card, I would strongly suggest that the traveler also bring their US birth certificate, if they don't have a passport.  I would not rely on only the Global Entry Card as acceptable proof of citizenship.

 

 

[Another_Critic]

8 hours ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

The only other option to get to sail is if they were able to have a copy of their US birth certificate electronically sent to the port where we could print it out.  Without a copy of their birth certificate, they would be denied - the Real ID would not have been enough proof of citizenship to allow for boarding.

Why is a copy of a birth certificate sufficient, but a copy of a passport is not?