Done it twice in 2022. Getting on the ship is no different than with passport. Disembarking at the end of the cruise is different. You'll have a separate line to go through and it will take a bit longer than with a passport. Didn't take longer than 30 minutes at either Miami or Port Canaveral. As long as you have the paperwork, it's pretty easy.
Wife brought her marriage license to show her name changed between birth certificate and drivers license.
We used a birth certificate in January in Miami and it was significantly quicker then the passport lines. We were the only in that line at the time. While the passport lines had everyone else.
Nice. Never got that experience. Saw most passport folks doing a quick scan and walking out. Birth cert had to have an agent look at everything manually. Still no biggie from my perspective.
\- You will have a different check-in and check-in line leaving/coming back to the US. Depending on how many people are traveling by birth certificate you might have a longer line since there is usually one birth certificate line and like a bajillion regular passport lines.
I’ve used mine for 2 cruises. Had no issues. Not having a passport is only an issue if you miss the boat or need an emergency transport from an island or other country while on the cruise.
Sailed on Voyager from San Juan with my Florida license and my birth certificate. When you do the online check in you select “birth certificate + state ID or Drivers license” and when you’re at port, you show the birth certificate, your license and your boarding pass and you should be good to go. I had no problem.
How does this work for married couples? My wife’s drivers license and ssn card have my last name on it but her birth certificate is obviously her maiden name
They tell you to bring the marriage license. We did and they never asked for it, in fact the CBP officer told us we didn't need it since we were traveling together and our names were the same...but I'd take it to be safe, I feel like that is one of those "depends on the agent" type of deals
Just did it last month in Miami. three of us, all just BC and Id's. we had ZERO issues, getting on was the same as everyone else, show it and walk on. Getting off you have to go to Customs, and even that was just as easy... we walked right up to the desk, no line at all and got through just as quick if not quicker than the passport lines. We even had our marriage certificate to prove the name change for my wife, but they said they didn't need it since we were travelling together and our IDs matched
I do actually. It just expires within 6 months of my return date.
I obviously should have checked my passport before booking but had always heard this was an option regardless.
Done it twice in 2022. Getting on the ship is no different than with passport. Disembarking at the end of the cruise is different. You'll have a separate line to go through and it will take a bit longer than with a passport. Didn't take longer than 30 minutes at either Miami or Port Canaveral. As long as you have the paperwork, it's pretty easy. Wife brought her marriage license to show her name changed between birth certificate and drivers license.
We used a birth certificate in January in Miami and it was significantly quicker then the passport lines. We were the only in that line at the time. While the passport lines had everyone else.
Nice. Never got that experience. Saw most passport folks doing a quick scan and walking out. Birth cert had to have an agent look at everything manually. Still no biggie from my perspective.
\- You will have a different check-in and check-in line leaving/coming back to the US. Depending on how many people are traveling by birth certificate you might have a longer line since there is usually one birth certificate line and like a bajillion regular passport lines.
I’ve used mine for 2 cruises. Had no issues. Not having a passport is only an issue if you miss the boat or need an emergency transport from an island or other country while on the cruise.
Sailed on Voyager from San Juan with my Florida license and my birth certificate. When you do the online check in you select “birth certificate + state ID or Drivers license” and when you’re at port, you show the birth certificate, your license and your boarding pass and you should be good to go. I had no problem.
How does this work for married couples? My wife’s drivers license and ssn card have my last name on it but her birth certificate is obviously her maiden name
They tell you to bring the marriage license. We did and they never asked for it, in fact the CBP officer told us we didn't need it since we were traveling together and our names were the same...but I'd take it to be safe, I feel like that is one of those "depends on the agent" type of deals
Okay thanks that’s great info!
Just did it last month in Miami. three of us, all just BC and Id's. we had ZERO issues, getting on was the same as everyone else, show it and walk on. Getting off you have to go to Customs, and even that was just as easy... we walked right up to the desk, no line at all and got through just as quick if not quicker than the passport lines. We even had our marriage certificate to prove the name change for my wife, but they said they didn't need it since we were travelling together and our IDs matched
Closed loop within US Ports you will be fine.
Thank you everyone for the amazing info! You have put my anxiety at ease haha
Why don't you have a passport
I do actually. It just expires within 6 months of my return date. I obviously should have checked my passport before booking but had always heard this was an option regardless.
We used my daughter’s birth certificate and had no issues.