I need help from you experienced cruisers on one more thing!!!

[jujappers]

Hey everyone, I started a thread a couple days ago, and you guys have been SO HELPFUL already that I figured I would start one more thread to get some advice on something that just came up.

We are sailing on the May 21st Voyager cruise out of NJ. I (22 years old) will be going with my parents and older brother (26) and they all have a passport. My parents have been nagging on me the past couple of days to send for my passport. The problem is - I don't think I will receive it in time even if I apply for one this week so I would rather not waste the money on it if I don't need to. I know that I don't have to have a passport to go on this cruise (we are going to Labadee, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, and Freeport - Grand Bahama) but my parents seem to think that I am going to have to wait in a HUGE line every time I want to get on and off the ship. Can anyone give me their advice on whether this is true and if you think I should go through the trouble of trying to get a passport before May 21st? THANKS for the help!!

[ChristyW]

Once you are on the ship, you don't need to show your ID except the Seapass that will be given to you.

To get that Seapass, if you don' have a passport, you will need an ORIGINAL birth certificate or a CERTIFIED copy of it along with a picture ID.

I agree that you would not get your passport in time for this cruise, but I would apply for one before you go on another trip.

<FONT SIZE=5><FONT FACE="Signature">Christy</FONT></FONT>

[B]Rhapsody Of The Seas - 10/08/00 - Mexican Riviera[/B] - Our 7th Anniversary
[B]Radiance Of The Seas - 06/28/03 - Alaska![/B] - My parents 40th Anniversary
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[yarlenna]

Your only problem would be if you missed the ship and needed to join it overseas. You might have to pick a place that would let you board with just the ID you have. Adult passports are good for 10 years. We love having ours because it makes things easier (like cashing checks and deviating from the cruise). Without them, cruising is still possible - and usually no problem.

Work like a dog. Live like a pauper. Save all your money. Then Cruise!

[birdyhunter]

You can get by with just your birth certificate. Make sure it is an official one, not a photo copy. It is better to have a passport. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

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[Cruise Miriam]

I believe you can get an expedited passport --- within three weeks. Since 9/11 I carry mine as my main identification for traveling all the time. It has been invaluable.

Also, someone else already mentioned it, if you miss the ship for some reason, it really helps to have it. Yes, a birth certificate is all you really need, but a passport has given ME a lot of comfort.

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[matcris77381]

My son (23 years) received his passport within 2 weeks after ordering it. We did not pay extra for expetited service as we don't cruise until June. But note that they take your certified birth certificate from you and attach it to the application. It is returned to you along with the passport.

[Driftwoodgal]

The expidited passport will cost you more than if you go through the normal process. I sure felt better with a passport this cruise. We did all independent tours from the ship, and I took my passport with me in case we were late getting back to the ship.

God bless you and yours.

[bunnebonz]

You're facing the busy time for getting a passport processed! We applied March 19 and just got ours Sat. (4'24), 5 weeks from Boston. There's a passport office in NY. You could also call the passport info center @1-877-487-2778. cs reps are there from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. M-F.
Good luck!
Happy cruising!
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All dem bonz are connected: de party bone & de drinkin bone & de stayin out all night bone & the cruisin bone.



Our first cruise: May 10 2004, Enchantment of the Seas

[DedeM]

We got our passports last summer and it took 6 weeks. Expediting would be the way to go, if you really wanted your passport.

My partner is not using her passport - she's using her birth certificate instead - why, I don't know.

Navigator of the Seas 5/1/04
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[Larry Dymnd]

If you have tickets, go to the passport office in Philadelphia you can get your passport in the same day. It happened to me a few years back when I won a trip to Spain and had no passport. I called the Passport office & they said I can go to eitther NYC or Phillie to have it done. GOOD LUCK! Call the office first

May 21, 2004 Grandeur of the Seas
January 09, 2005 Adventurer of the Seas

[Seagarr]

By the way... you will not be stopping at Labadee.

Seagarr

[jujappers]

Thanks guys for all the help so far!!

I know that a passport is highly recommended, and I wish I would have applied for mine earlier. I just don't want to apply for one now and send my birth certificate along with it and then not receive the passport or my birth certificate back in time for the cruise on May 21st.

Some of you have mentioned getting an expedited passport, does anyone know how much extra this costs?

Larry Dymnd, can you give me more information on the passport office in Philly? I only live 45 minutes from the city and would deffinitely try to do this if I knew more details. When you say, "if you have tickets", does this mean that if we have our cruise tickets? We already received our cruise docs in the mail so if that is what you mean then I could easily take this with me.

I am deffinitely planning on getting a passport over the summer if I don't get one before the cruise, but I would love to be able to get one in time for our cruise if I still can without having to spend a lot of money. If anyone has anymore advice please let me know. THANKS!!

[royalcaribbeanfan]

You really only need a certified copy of your birth certificate and a photo ID. Drivers license is fine. We went on a cruise in 2002 (over a year after 9/11, and we had no problem. Just make sure that you keep track of it. When you get on the ship, put it in the safe in your room so you know where it is. You will not need it again until you return to the US. You will need to show it to immigration as you debark. It took us about 10 seconds each to get through immigration! No problems at all. I hope you have a wonderful cruise.

Happy Cruising

Patty

[cruisetarp]

Good morning - If you cannot get a passport in Philadelphia immediately, I would definately not apply for one now and risk not getting your birth certificate back in time for your cruise. Just be sure your BC is a certified copy and you have a photo ID with you. See you real soon!!!

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Voyager of the Seas from Bayonne, NJ

[sbell1]

There were no seperate lines for people with passports on our two previous cruises out of Miami(March '03 & '04). We have passports and it is less to carry but did not help getting through lines.

Jackie

[lauren0309]

You only need your birth certificates for those ports. I don't think you will be stopping in Labadee though. We applied for a passport and got it within one week. It was processed in Connecticut even though I live in New York.

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[1cruise2U]

No passport is needed for these area, but you do need your original Birth Certificate and Driver's License or State Issued ID, you can check the US Department tourism for more details.

[serene56]

You only need your documentation when you are boarding the first day of your cruise. You will not be needing them to get on and off the ship at the various ports. You will be using your sign and sail card and photo id for that. I dont think it matters on your sign and sail card if you had a birth certificate or passport.

You will keep your documentation in your safe while you are in port.

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[Larry Dymnd]

Re: Passports
Alot of your Local Post Offfices are now able to process Passports, but it still takes 2+ weeks.

May 21, 2004 Grandeur of the Seas
January 09, 2005 Adventurer of the Seas

[cgc33a]

You have only 1 official (raised seal) copy of your BC? Send off for a few more today (dept of vital stats in the state/county you were born). If you should lose the one or ever need a second you will be set. They should come in a couple of weeks.

[winncove]

Hate to ask this question but...How do you get a "certified" copy of birth certificate? Different from notarized? TIA

8/29 Mariner
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[want2seaitall]

City hall or town hall in town/city you were born.

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[cruisingnewyorkers]

Hi Everyone
I work at a PO that accepts passports and I will try to answer all the questions. You can pay an extra $60. to expedite your passport, this will get your passport in 2 weeks in addition to the $85.00 fee. Also, you cannot go to one of the passport agencies unless you are leaving in less than 2 weeks or need a visa right away. They will only let urgent cases apply in person and you still must make an appointment.
The state department will not accept anything that is notarized in place of something that needs to be certified.In New York and I think would apply to the other states,You can get a certified copy from City Hall in the city of your birth or vital statistics in the State Capital.Or on the internet at [url="http://vitalchek.com"]vitalchek.com[/url]
There is more information on the state departments web site [url="http://travel.state.gov"]travel.state.gov[/url]

I hope this helps

Donna