Slothinc Posted August 2 #1 Share Posted August 2 Hello! I am about to book a closed loop Alaskan cruise with NCL, out of Seattle. I don’t have a passport and can’t get one in time. I am wondering if they can deny entry to the boat if I have my driver license and birth certificate? I realize cruising without a passport is a risk. But I am really just asking if I will run into trouble with getting onto the boat in the first place? My birth certificate has my maiden name on it, so if I bring my marriage certificate will that be enough documentation? Are there ever troubles with being turned away for not having a passport? Thanks so much! This will be my very first cruise. PS I did chat with a NCL representative who said they can’t give any advice on this topic 🤷♀️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ferry_Watcher Posted August 2 #2 Share Posted August 2 Your US issued birth certificate, along with your driver's license is all that you need. As for maiden name v married name, check-in agents are trained to look at the first and middle names on the birth certificate, as well as the birth date to see if they match up with the current gov't issued photo ID (like a DL). You can certainly bring along your marriage certificate, but 99% of the time it isn't asked for. Happy cruising! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slothinc Posted August 2 Author #3 Share Posted August 2 (edited) @Ferry_Watcher Thank you so so much for that info! I spoke to a different NCL agent today and she basically confirmed that we should be okay… But unfortunately I made a stupid mistake today. My driver license was set to expire on my birthday - the day before the cruise starts. So I went down there today and renewed it, but rather than printing the new card there and giving it to me, they hole punched my old license (invalidating it??) and gave me a paper copy of my new license to use. The new license won’t come in the mail until after the cruise. I am really upset with myself for not realizing that my old license would be hole punched, and I know that a paper license has no validity. We haven’t booked yet… thankfully! But I guess the trip is off. It was going to be a 15 year wedding anniversary trip (and our first getaway without kids in over 10 years.) Hubby is very upset with me 😬😣 Edited August 2 by Slothinc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peety3 Posted August 3 #4 Share Posted August 3 Your paper license PLUS the hole-punched photo license should provide validity. You may also find that an expired license is still valid ID for a year past expiration (it's not like you're magically no longer you...). My wife ended up flying on an expired DL and had no trouble, so I researched it later. Also, you can absolutely get a passport on short notice. It's work, and requires going to one of the official processing centers which may be far for you, but lots of people do it. You have to be close to your travel date to qualify. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted August 3 #5 Share Posted August 3 8 hours ago, peety3 said: Your paper license PLUS the hole-punched photo license should provide validity. You may also find that an expired license is still valid ID for a year past expiration (it's not like you're magically no longer you...). My wife ended up flying on an expired DL and had no trouble, so I researched it later. Also, you can absolutely get a passport on short notice. It's work, and requires going to one of the official processing centers which may be far for you, but lots of people do it. You have to be close to your travel date to qualify. There are a lot of "shoulds" and "mays" here...not sure I would go with with something other than the official line. @Ferry_Watcher works at Seattle checking people in. Ferry-Watcher knows the official word. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ferry_Watcher Posted August 3 #6 Share Posted August 3 I am trying to understand the timeline here. Your license expires on your birthday this this year (I am guessing that the date is soon). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ferry_Watcher Posted August 3 #7 Share Posted August 3 Con't. But the new license will not yet arrive in time for your cruise that you haven't yet booked. Usually, driver license renewal take a relatively short time, and you should have your new DL back from whatever state you live in in about 2 weeks. So, unless you were booking a truly last minute cruise and you said that you have kids, and that means arranging a grandmother or someone to watch them, you still have time to book a later cruise. The NCL Alaska cruises extend well into October, so either your new DL hopefully will be back in time for the cruise date you want, or you could book a later in the season cruise. As for whether a cruise line will accept a license with a hole punch due to renewal situation. The real answer is "it depends". Each ship's Documentation Officer has different standards when is comes to these situations. Sadly, I can't give you a definite answer one way or the other. Hopefully your renewed DL will arrive quickly and you will still have time to book your cruise. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slothinc Posted August 3 Author #8 Share Posted August 3 (edited) Thank you so much everyone! I really appreciate your insights!! Yes, after thinking it over I think we are going to look at booking one in Sept or possibly even Oct (though I realize it will be really freezing outside on an Alaskan cruise the longer we wait.) Originally we wanted to go this month since our anniversary is this month. But with the license thing, we are in Utah where they say it takes 6-8 weeks to get your new one in the mail - and no way to rush that process 🙄 My sister lives in Arizona and she said that when you go to renew yours there, they give it to you before you even leave your appointment. Dang Utah!! So it should be here mid to late Sept. Anyways, thank you so so much for all of the advice, it has been my dream to one day go on a cruise and with disabled kiddos it just hasn’t happened yet. Fingers still crossed for the upcoming months. Thank you for being such a kind and helpful community!! Edited August 3 by Slothinc 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psuboater Posted August 3 #9 Share Posted August 3 5 hours ago, Slothinc said: Thank you so much everyone! I really appreciate your insights!! Yes, after thinking it over I think we are going to look at booking one in Sept or possibly even Oct (though I realize it will be really freezing outside on an Alaskan cruise the longer we wait.) Originally we wanted to go this month since our anniversary is this month. But with the license thing, we are in Utah where they say it takes 6-8 weeks to get your new one in the mail - and no way to rush that process 🙄 My sister lives in Arizona and she said that when you go to renew yours there, they give it to you before you even leave your appointment. Dang Utah!! So it should be here mid to late Sept. Anyways, thank you so so much for all of the advice, it has been my dream to one day go on a cruise and with disabled kiddos it just hasn’t happened yet. Fingers still crossed for the upcoming months. Thank you for being such a kind and helpful community!! I know it's not the same state, but WA was quoting the same amount of time, and I got mine in under 2 weeks. Fingers crossed they're just giving you the worst case scenario and you'll get it quicker than you realize! 🙂 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildBlueYonder64 Posted August 6 #10 Share Posted August 6 Realize I'm a little late to the conversation, but can you get a state issued identification card? Looks similar to a drivers license, and would work in lieu of an expired DL. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slothinc Posted August 6 Author #11 Share Posted August 6 That’s a great idea, and I had that thought too! But they issue the state ID cards at the same place as the driver licenses. So I talked to an employee and she said that the wait time for the ID cards and the licenses is the same amount of time. Also on their website it says you can’t possess both an ID card and a license. Not sure how true that is but it seems silly. We still are going to shoot for trying to make it on a cruise in mid-late Sept, but will probably wait to book until my license arrives. My dad actually just got his renewed last month and it came in the mail a couple of days ago - it was a little under 4 weeks! So I am hopeful that it will come around the end of August! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATSEAMYLIFE Posted August 6 #12 Share Posted August 6 On 8/1/2024 at 9:31 PM, Slothinc said: Hello! I am about to book a closed loop Alaskan cruise with NCL, out of Seattle. I don’t have a passport and can’t get one in time. 🤷♀️ If you haven't booked yet then you can most definitely get a US Passport in time for your cruise. Unless you're leaving tomorrow there are services that will get it for you within 48 hours. I got one for our new born granddaughter shortly after she was born in two weeks and didn't even pay for the fastest service. It's a little complicated and costly, but people with family emergencies get them all the time within 24-48 hours without a trip to the nearest passport office. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATSEAMYLIFE Posted August 6 #13 Share Posted August 6 On 8/3/2024 at 8:22 AM, Slothinc said: Thank you so much everyone! I really appreciate your insights!! Yes, after thinking it over I think we are going to look at booking one in Sept or possibly even Oct. Weather is always a crap shoot. We went late September and had great weather. Friends the week after got rain every day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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