Birth Certificate questuion

blondee028 · #1 (**permalink**) May 15th, 2011, 02:48 PM

Hi,
I am new to this site and hope this question is in the right place. My boyfriend booked a closed loop cruise for us on Carnival going to Mexico. I was told I needed a birth certificate, drivers license and marriage certificate to prove name change. My birth certificate is certified with a raised seal but it says delayed. its the only one I ever had, I used it for everything even retirement and Medicare. Are they going to accept this? I have a 5 hour drive to Long Beach CA to get on this ship and he already paid $3,500.00 I don't want to get there and not be allowed to board.

LizandPhil · #2 (**permalink**) May 15th, 2011, 03:25 PM

You have to have a passport. After I got married, I had to send it and a certified copy of my marriage license, they then put a stamp in the back of it saying it was amended to my new last name

blondee028 · #3 (**permalink**) May 15th, 2011, 03:34 PM

This is a closed loop cruise NO PASSPORT required

cruised1014 · #4 (**permalink**) May 15th, 2011, 05:14 PM

Even though you really don't need a passport get one anyway. The worst case senario is not being able to board. Save yourself all the headaches and loss of sleep over it and once you get your passport it's good for 10 years.
If you do decide to go with your Birth Cert make sure it is issued by the "State" you were born in (Hospital Birth Certifacetes are not valid for a cruise.) Also make sur your Drivers Licence is valid and not expired or that won't be accepted. Have a great Cruise. Ed

Aerogirl · #5 (**permalink**) May 15th, 2011, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blondee028

This is a closed loop cruise NO PASSPORT required

What's a closed loop cruise? Is it like a cruise to nowhere?

LizandPhil · #6 (**permalink**) May 15th, 2011, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blondee028

This is a closed loop cruise NO PASSPORT required

Sea Travel Only (before June 1, 2009)
For domestic travel which includes: the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico, a Passport (valid or expired), valid U.S. Passport Card or State or Provincial Enhanced Drivers License is highly recommended. In the absence of a Passport, U.S. Passport Card or State or Provincial Enhanced Drivers License (when available - this secure drivers license will denote identity and citizenship) or any other Department of Home Land Security approved Identification / Citizenship document (s), a birth certificate (original or certified copy), plus a laminated picture ID card including photo, name and date of birth issued by a federal, state, or local government agency is required. U.S. and Canadian citizen children ages 18 and under will be expected to present a birth certificate issued by a federal, state, provincial, county or municipal authority. Note Baptismal paper and hospital certificates of birth are not acceptable. A voter registration card or Social Security Card are not considered to be proof of citizenship. For U.S. Naturalized citizens, in the absence of a passport, Naturalization papers (either original or notarized copy) plus a laminated picture ID card issued by a federal, state, or local government agency is required.

Donna · #7 (**permalink**) May 16th, 2011, 08:13 AM

Hopefully you have plenty of time and with the money involved in the cruise, just get the passport and have no worries. I'd also suggest getting travel insurance too, unless you already have purchased it.

EMG · #8 (**permalink**) May 16th, 2011, 11:51 AM

Blondie is right it's a closed loop cruise so a birth cert will do however; you will need your marriage certificate showing the name change from the name that's on your birth certificate or the chain of name changes. If you qualify for a passport, you should apply for one and get it.

Closed loop cruise means it starts in the United States or one of it's territories and ends where it started.

green_rd · #9 (**permalink**) May 16th, 2011, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerogirl

What's a closed loop cruise? Is it like a cruise to nowhere?

Embarks and disembarks from the same US port. Most cruises originating in US ports are closed loop. That said, we always carry passports, you never know when some sort of deviation may occur and it would be very handy to have your passport in hand.

There has been a few incidents reported here where cruise line or TSA employees have denied passengers boarding (incorrectly) due to a lack of a valid passport.

Better safe than sorry.

Dhill · #10 (**permalink**) May 16th, 2011, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EMG

Blondie is right it's a closed loop cruise so a birth cert will do however; you will need your marriage certificate showing the name change from the name that's on your birth certificate or the chain of name changes. If you qualify for a passport, you should apply for one and get it.

Closed loop cruise means it starts in the United States or one of it's territories and ends where it started.

We just returned in April from a closed loop cruise to Hawaii All we used was birth certificates and a drivers license. My wife did not need a marriage certicate or anything to show a name change.

DeepSpace · #11 (**permalink**) May 17th, 2011, 01:15 AM

I agree with green rd just get your passport, and your worries are over. Do not take the chance of you not getting on board.

littlepockit · #12 (**permalink**) May 17th, 2011, 10:00 AM

i agree with the majority. a passport will save you a lot of headache. you can get a passport card, but if you have to board a plane for any reason, a passport card will not work. but, it is less expensive. you can also expedite the application for a fee, receiving your passport in 2 weeks.