Birth Certificate Question (take your mother in law on a cruise they said)

[SoonerDan]

Quick question-  taking mother in law on her first cruise

 

She mailed off for passport (sent her only birth certificate with her application).  She just got a letter saying they couldn't read the document and she needed to send another one.  I have now sent a request for out of state birth certificate to her state of birth.  Should get in just a few days.

 

I ordered two copies.

 

Cruise is Galveston- cozumel- Galveston

 

If her passport fails to return- she can cruise with a birth certificate and valid government ID for this cruise correct?

[BLAMBKY]

9 minutes ago, SoonerDan said:

Quick question-  taking mother in law on her first cruise

 

She mailed off for passport (sent her only birth certificate with her application).  She just got a letter saying they couldn't read the document and she needed to send another one.  I have now sent a request for out of state birth certificate to her state of birth.  Should get in just a few days.

 

I ordered two copies.

 

Cruise is Galveston- cozumel- Galveston

 

If her passport fails to return- she can cruise with a birth certificate and valid government ID for this cruise correct?

If she is a US citizen and on a closed loop cruise (starting/ending at same place in the US) Passport makes it easier in an emergency to fly home if needed.

[Acruisingperson]

Yes, that's a closed loop cruise and a passport is not required. It's preferable to have a passport, but sometimes that simply isn't possible. 

[SoonerDan]

Thank you. We all have passports except for her. This has me nervous. 

[neverbeenhere]

 If she was my MIL she might only make it onto the ship… just saying…

[LadyZolt]

And if her current surname that's on her official identification card (like her driver license) is different than her birth certificate surname, I think you're supposed to bring the bridging document, like her marriage license if she changed her name when she got married.  I've always used a passport, but I believe that's what I've read before. 

[stevea36]

The birth certificate and any bridging documents are required to have a raised seal from the state/locality that issued the documents.

 

[S.A.M.J.R.]

1 hour ago, stevea36 said:

The birth certificate and any bridging documents are required to have a raised seal from the state/locality that issued the documents.

 

Don't think so.  Not every state does raised seals.  It needs to be an "official" document.

[RedIguana]

15 hours ago, stevea36 said:

The birth certificate and any bridging documents are required to have a raised seal from the state/locality that issued the documents.

Raised seals have been replaced by watermarks for many states, especially for birth certificates.

[buckeyefrank]

18 hours ago, SoonerDan said:

Thank you. We all have passports except for her. This has me nervous. 

No need to be nervous.  LOTS of people use BC and DL.  She will be fine as long as it's a closed loop cruise and she is a US citizen.  

[PhillyFan33579]

On 8/23/2023 at 8:33 PM, stevea36 said:

The birth certificate and any bridging documents are required to have a raised seal from the state/locality that issued the documents.

 

Not true. I have been on two cruises the past month using my birth certificate and driver’s license while waiting for my passport renewal. My birth certificate does not have a seal, but I had no issues at both Port Everglades and Port Miami getting on and off the ship (Freedom and Adventure) 

[buckeyefrank]

5 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

Not true. I have been on two cruises the past month using my birth certificate and driver’s license while waiting for my passport renewal. My birth certificate does not have a seal, but I had no issues at both Port Everglades and Port Miami getting on and off the ship (Freedom and Adventure) 

For clarity, this comment was regarding the BC not needing a seal....    The bridging documents are usually not required but ALWAYS a good thing to bring just in case.

 

[Scottdalfonso]

She'll be fine, My whole family sails with just Birth certificates and IDs. No issues AT all 

[HappyTexan44]

On 8/23/2023 at 8:48 PM, S.A.M.J.R. said:

Don't think so.  Not every state does raised seals.  It needs to be an "official" document.

 

Yeah, I recently got a copy of my marriage license and when they handed it to me I thought it was the receipt since it went straight from the printer to my hands.   I don't even think it has a watermark.  But they assured me it was official.