Should i get a passport card or book for a cruise

Passport card the passport card will facilitate entry and expedite document processing at u. Discover if a passport is required to go on a cruise, when to obtain one, where to get it and how quickly you can acquire your travel document. A us passport card can only be used for land and sea travel to canada, mexico or the caribbean. If you are flying into seattle and driving to vancouver, the card is fine. It was designed for people who travel frequently between the us and canada, mexico, bermuda or the caribbean by land or sea. This is a privately owned website and not a government agency. Why you should get a passport for a closedloop cruise. If you have a valid passport book, you do not have to get a passport card as well. Department of state recommends the passport book as it is more versatile. Other countries like canada, mexico, bahamas, and the caribbean uses a passport card. Passport book vs passport card for kids the dis disney. I currently have a card but im wondering if i should get the book. Passport cards cannot be used for international air travel, even within the 19 mostly caribbean countries that accept the cards at land or sea ports. Passport cards are small, walletsized passports that are used for land and sea travel to mexico, canada and the caribbean.

But, the passport card can only be used for international travel by land and sea. Aug 10, 2012 a passport book is bigger than a passport card. The passport book has plenty of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps, while the passport card is a onepiece credit card sized id card. Using a us passport card on a cruise flyertalk forums. Passport the application process is the same for either the passport book or card, even if you want both at the same time. You can use the passport card to reenter the united states at sea ports of entry from mexico, canada, bermuda, and the caribbean. When taking a cruise or any other vacation that takes you out of the country, it is very important to have the proper identification. Also you can not use the passport card to fly into the us. Its cheaper, but not as versatile as a traditional passport. The passport card is only for land and sea travel, which means there is no way travelers can use the passport card to board a plane. Should i get a passport book, card, or both for a cruise. However, before leaving, there are a few things passengers should know about the requirements for leaving and reentering the united states if their cruise involves international waters.

If you are flying to canada for the alaskan cruise and flying home, you have to have a passport book. Jun 09, 2019 basically, i would say passport card is simply designed for those people who plan to cross the land border or enter a sea port, for example, there are many americans who only travelled to canada in their whole life. A passport card is an acceptable id for flying domestically, according to tsa. To apply for or renew both the book and card, check the appropriate box at the top of the form to indicate that you would. Now you are on a cruise, get hurt and have to fly home from a foreign country. Preparing for your cruise why you should get a passport. Our guide will show you the uses and advantages of each document, and will help you figure out which one is best for you, or if you should have both. For instance, if there is a medical or family emergency, you will not be able to fly out of the country to.

I f youve wondered what the difference is between a passport book and a passport card, youve come to the right place. Although cruise passport requirements vary depending on where youll be sailing, you will usually need either a passport card or a passport book. Getting a passport isnt that difficult, but it can be a bit of a hassle as there are several steps to take. Cheaper passport cards can only be used for land and sea travel between the u. The card may not be used to travel by air outside the united states. For example a passport card for proof of residency and a drivers license. The passport book is the regular passport that youve seen before. It will otherwise carry the rights and privileges of the u. May 17, 2011 i want to get my 3 kids passports for our cruise in october. Passport card vs passport book sep 16 cruise forum. I saw the information about the passport card instead of a passport book and was wondering if that would work as identification for our children or if we need to get them actual passports. How to apply for a new passport card rush my passport. Plus only traditional passports can be marked with cool stamps from around the world. The united states department of state will be requiring passports for more and more types of travel.

But apart from that, you should view a passport as an insurance policy. From the minute you board all you need to do is go to your muster station and then only ponder where and when youll have your next feast, and you can appreciate. The 4 kids need their passports renewed before our fall cruise. Ask your cruise line what identification you will need. To start, you will need to know whether you want a passport book, passport card, or both. You will not need it to get off ship in any port because the cruise line will issue to each person in your family a cruise card that serves as your pass to get off and back on the ship at port stops. Why should i have a passport for a closedloop cruise.

I just air on the side of caution and keep a booklet, even if they are more expensive. However, before you apply for a new passport card, consider carefully whether or not you might be better off getting a us passport book. What is a us passport card, and how can you get one. Passport book vs passport card norwegian cruise line. If youre a citizen of the united states, and youre thinking about traveling to mexico, but you dont yet have a passport, you might consider getting a passport card instead of a regular passport book. Nonetheless, any visitor who will be touring with no passport will want proof of citizenship reminiscent. Even closed loop cruises often require passengers to have a valid passport. My boyfriend of one month asked me if i would go on a cruise with him and his family in december and i thought sure, itd be a nice way getting to know him more and meet his family. It can also be used for domestic air travel in the usa. We encourage all cruise passengers to obtain a passport well in advance of their cruise reservations. Passport cards do not work for flying into canada, mexico, bermuda, or the caribbean. The card is only valid for land crossings in and out of mexico and canada.

This case is an unfortunate example of what can go wrong if you decide to cruise with just a passport card. May, 2019 in this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. Regardless of the possibility that your voyage agenda in fact would enable you to board with simply verification of us citizenship like a unique birth endorsement or a travel permit card, all journey lines emphatically suggest that you bring a substantial visa book. You should take your photo id with you but you will not need your passport. Find out if you need a passport to go on a cruise celebrity. The passport card contains a radio frequency identification chip as well as the traditional photograph and personal information found in a passport book. While youre not absolutely required to have a government issued photo id to fly domestically, having one will surely make it. You may be searching over do i need a passport for a cruise. During your cruise, keep your passport card or book in your cabin safe, and simply carry a photocopy of it when walking around in port, in case of an emergency. Well help you determine whether you want or need to pay extra for the passport card.

Regarding carnival cruises to destinations in mexico, canada, the caribbean, the bahamas and bermuda, there is a notable exception to this us passport. You need a passport for cruises to and from foreign ports. A passport card fits in your wallet, making it a more convenient form of id to carry on certain trips. We recommend that everyone taking a cruise from the united states have a passport book. Passport cards are wallet sized while the passport book is larger and thicker. Passports are not required for reentry to the united states when traveling on a closedloop cruise. Using a passport book is the easiest, especially if due to unforeseen circumstances you do need to fly home, but if you dont have a passport book, it isnt like they arent going to let you in. Will be cruising to haiti, jamaica, and cozumel from ft. Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your u. You dont need a passport if you are traveling to these areas on a closedloop cruise, which is a cruise that begins and ends at the same us port. Oct 05, 2018 if so, youve probably noticed the option for a passport card. Passport card or book for my kids to go to the bahamas via cruise. Save yourself hassle with expedited passport services if you dont have the time or patience for applying for your u.

Passport cards are particularly useful for some people. Hello, i was wondering whether you need a passport to book a cruise. If youre thinking of going on a cruise, the passport card might be nice when you need a from of identification to get on and off the ship. Depending on where you are traveling outside of the u. Passport books are likely what you think of when you imagine a passport.

Passport books or passport cards are both valid for 10 years after issue for adults, and. But you should consider what will happen if you miss the boat and need to take a flight to catch up with it. You should know that the passport card is only valid for travel by land and sea within mexico, canada, bermuda, and the caribbean, and you can. The passport card cant be used for international journeys by air. On a cruise that begins and ends in the us, us citizens can travel with a drivers license and a birth certificate, no passport book or card required. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. Understanding the best travel documents to have before you go. Those driving to canada or mexico, or on a cruise, only with a passport card, who encounter an emergency, cant use their passport card to fly back to the us.

I know that when boarding and reentering the us, you might need it. When you apply for a passport card, youll spend less money than you would when. So if youre eyeing an alaska cruise that departs from vancouver, british columbia, but you only have a passport card and dont want to get a passport book, youll need to drive or take to the train to vancouver. Passport card or book for my kids to go to the bahamas via. The us passport card is a credit card sized identification document. The passports for cruises faq page provides american citizens with answers to the most frequently asked questions about passport requirements related to cruising. In june, getting a passport became mandatory for americans traveling to canada, mexico or the caribbean via land or sea. The obvious reasons for having a passport are if you are not sailing on a closedloop cruise or heading to a port that requires it. Just dont try to use a passport card to get to cuba. A passport book is required for all international travel by air. However, if you are not able to return on the cruise ship for any reason e. Passport requirements for us citizens for popular types of cruises cruising is an incredible get away. Mar 22, 2010 you will not need it to get off ship in any port because the cruise line will issue to each person in your family a cruise card that serves as your pass to get off and back on the ship at port stops. Why you should get a passport for a closedloop cruise rush.

It is my understanding that it is better to have them in case of emergency. The passport card will facilitate entry and expedite document processing at u. Jul 27, 2019 this case is an unfortunate example of what can go wrong if you decide to cruise with just a passport card. Your passport book can be used in any situation where a passport card could be used, but you may find that it is convenient for you to also have a passport card. You can apply for both a passport book and passport card at the same time using either form ds11 apply in person or form ds82 renew by mail must be eligible. There are very important differences between the passport card and the passport book. Differences between a passport book and passport card. Though some closedloop cruises may not require a u. Passport books are valid for all international travel, no matter what the mode of transit is. If you are traveling by plane to get to your departure port in canada or are flying.

To enter the united states at land border crossings or sea portsofentry from canada, mexico, the. Because although you can cruise with just a passport card, you cant fly anywhere internationally with. While the passport card is permissible for a cruise, you may want to reconsider getting the card over the book. For,these people, it is just a wasting of money to get a passport book. Wouldnt be so bad if child passports lasted 10 years like the adult passport, but renewing them every 5 yea.

What time do i board the ship on embarkation day and in ports of call. For example, if something happens on your cruise and you need to fly back, the passport card does no good. We want you to know about a few differences between the book and card so you can decide if you want to apply for one or both documents. Passport requirements for a cruise may apply to some countries. We are traveling with a 4 and 2yearold on a disney cruise. This is for all cruises regardless of if theyre closed loop or not.

We fly from maryland to florida where we board our ship and sail to the bahamas. Our hawaii cruise itineraries either depart or end in canada, so u. For the 2011 alaska cruises everyone had to have a passport since the cruise began outside of the united states the only way i see around that is if someone flew into seattle and crossed into canada by land or ferry then possibly was able to use a passport card instead. Youll need the passport book to return home whether youre flying in from europe, asia, latin or south. Their smaller size makes them more convenient to carry around than a traditional passport book, and theyre cheaper, too. A passport card will not allow you to fly internationally to catch up with your missed princess cruise we purchased a princess cruise to the caribbean, sellers reported. Jun 15, 2017 preparing for your cruise why you should get a passport. Youll need the passport book to return home whether youre flying in from europe, asia, latin or south america, africa or. Would like opinions on the difference and if we should go with the passport card.

The information below will help you alleviate any lastminute rush and expense of obtaining necessary documentation before your sailing. If you ever want to fly to another country or even do a cruise outside of the countries where the cards are valid, get the book. A passport card is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book, but it cannot be used for international travel by air. Carnival cruises passport requirements for cruises passports are required for all travelers, including citizens of u. The passport card should be a safe bet for them, but for other travelers, including cruisers, its foolhardy to do so, in my. You did not indicate where your cruise is going to so i would check the locations in which the passport card is good for as from what i read they are only good for 34 places.

Taking a cruise can be a fun and exciting adventure. Published on may, 2019 in this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. Mar 18, 2020 the passport book has plenty of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps, while the passport card is a onepiece creditcardsized id card. May 17, 2011 for the 2011 alaska cruises everyone had to have a passport since the cruise began outside of the united states the only way i see around that is if someone flew into seattle and crossed into canada by land or ferry then possibly was able to use a passport card instead. If you must fly to vancouver, youll have to get a passport book.