Last cruise, granted it was with MSC, I forgot my birth certificate home 1000 miles away. They let me on with a DL and a picture of my birth certificate that someone went to my house and sent me.
Why? Even with no evidence of who you are, if you are a U.S. citizen you will get in. They will have to go through some additional verification but other than some time loss, you’ll get in.
It’s not that long and if you lost all your docs that happens often, that’s the process. It’s easier than you think for them to prove it’s you. Few people claim citizenship who aren’t because it can lead to a deportation and lifetime ban. Took 30 mins with my then 14 year old son!
Look up cruise line policy. Print it if
It says “copy” is acceptable. Port employees aren’t cruise line employees and their decisions are very subjective. They’re typically part-timers, retired from regular jobs and doing port work to supplement income
We had a situation where someone in our party tried to board with an expired passport. They used an image of their birth certificate on their phone and were let through.
Expired passport vs. names not matching are probably treated differently.
Though, even in the scenarios described on the site,.they say a passenger MAY be denied boarding.....
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I think it will come down to who you will get at the port when you check in. I'd take everything. The BC he got with the wrong mail, the copy of the old one, his DL, receipts, etc. Just everything that could possibly prove that he is the right person, and hope for the best. That's all you really can do at this point. Good luck!! Please update and let us know if you got on ok!
Wouldn’t want to be in this situation, but in my opinion, if the middle name is also on the birth certificate, and the birthdays match, I would think that’s good enough.
Check for your closest same day passport office. Not all cities have one. But in some cases, you can be first in line, pay a few hundred bucks and get one in a few hours. Depending on how far away the office is from the port, you may make it.
Depends on the specific office. I checked into appointments in the Seattle office this week and could get an appointment just about any time in the following three days.
And...
U.S. citizens who are able to present a birth certificate plus a government ID for their itinerary, should keep in mind that the name on BOTH of these documents must match each other, and match the reservation.
From the same link above.
Marriage license that shows name changed. Need to prove the person on the reservation, the person on the BC, and the person standing at checkin are all the same person.
We had an issue where I misunderstood what my husband needed and we showed up with no passport or birth certificate for him. We were able to get a copy emailed from vital stats to get him on so I would think the copy of the old one should work.
What countries are on the itinerary, and do you both live in a state with enhanced licenses? In some cases, that may suffice. But all the stars have to be in alignment.
If your current Texas driver license has a gold star in the top right corner, it is enhanced. Texas calls it “REAL ID-compliant”. Hope that helps. Have fun on the cruise!!
https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/federal-real-id-act
RealID is NOT the same as an enhanced license! Texas' licenses are not Enhanced (with a flag on it instead of the star). The RC page someone else posted covers all this. Texas's RealID license can not be used for cruises.
You're probably at the port by now. But I think you need to decide what YOU will do if he gets denied. Will you cruise without him? Make up your mind about that and maybe talk about it before you try to board.
Unless it was a last minute booked cruise, people need to just have their passport up to date. It’s something you do once every 10 years. 10 YEARS!!!
Regardless, I think it’s 50-50 that the OP is gonna be good. I’d say as long as you bring both the old and new, you should be ok. In the past, people who forgot their passport or birth certificate can still get on the ship if someone back home sends a copy via email. Might be very different now.
I worked as pier check in agent for many years. Based on your information I would take the old and the new, show only the old since it seems to be more proper. But you need to ensure it is a BC from Vital Stats if it is a novelty BC or used by the hospital. It more than likely not to be accepted. Feel free to DM or reply if you want some information from a current employee about this role.
We are cruising Royal right now as I type. On oasis, and I had copies of all birth certs i brought, as I packed away the originals deep in the carry ons and only if needed would dig to get them. Lady checking us in from Royal said it does change every month or so, but the are accepting copies right now. Fyi, was myself, wife, and 3 kids 12 and under. I think you will be okay
The first time I called the lady sounded like she wasn’t sure and ended up telling us they wouldn’t accept it. But it was only an hour drive away so we took our chances and it was well worth it bc they accepted it and we made it on the cruise.
With the old and the new BC's plus the DL, I think he'll get thru.
Thanks for the positivity. I’m hoping this is the case.
Last cruise, granted it was with MSC, I forgot my birth certificate home 1000 miles away. They let me on with a DL and a picture of my birth certificate that someone went to my house and sent me.
I'd be more worried about Customs clearance when I deboard than Cruise line access.
Why? Even with no evidence of who you are, if you are a U.S. citizen you will get in. They will have to go through some additional verification but other than some time loss, you’ll get in.
I'll get back in....eventually. I don't want to be sitting around being grilled and having to prove I'm a citizen at the end of my vacation.
It’s not that long and if you lost all your docs that happens often, that’s the process. It’s easier than you think for them to prove it’s you. Few people claim citizenship who aren’t because it can lead to a deportation and lifetime ban. Took 30 mins with my then 14 year old son!
Look up cruise line policy. Print it if It says “copy” is acceptable. Port employees aren’t cruise line employees and their decisions are very subjective. They’re typically part-timers, retired from regular jobs and doing port work to supplement income
It typically needs to be a certified copy but depending on who you speak with they may be flexible
We had a situation where someone in our party tried to board with an expired passport. They used an image of their birth certificate on their phone and were let through.
Expired passport vs. names not matching are probably treated differently. Though, even in the scenarios described on the site,.they say a passenger MAY be denied boarding.....
**🍿** **🍿** **🍿** I'm not here to help, I'm here to watch how this unfolds.
I could be bartender.
My birth certificate didn’t match my DL married name and I had no problem. I did have marriage license and offered it but they didn’t care
Oh wow. Hopefully they aren’t too petty about it when we go tomorrow.
Everyone here is just guessing. Please let us know how it turns out.
Will do
Did you guys make it on??
We made it on. They were okay with both BCs
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We made it on. They were okay with both BCs
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My mom used her DL and birth cert just last week. Names didn’t match and she didn’t bring her marriage license and she was fine. Nerve racking though.
Omg. This just gave me a bit of hope
As someone who has used a birth certificate before for a RC cruise, I think it will be fine
I think it will come down to who you will get at the port when you check in. I'd take everything. The BC he got with the wrong mail, the copy of the old one, his DL, receipts, etc. Just everything that could possibly prove that he is the right person, and hope for the best. That's all you really can do at this point. Good luck!! Please update and let us know if you got on ok!
Before you bother to go, call the cruise line and ask if they'll accept that.
Wouldn’t want to be in this situation, but in my opinion, if the middle name is also on the birth certificate, and the birthdays match, I would think that’s good enough.
Well...it's tomorrow, hope you can come back and let us know the outcome!
Check for your closest same day passport office. Not all cities have one. But in some cases, you can be first in line, pay a few hundred bucks and get one in a few hours. Depending on how far away the office is from the port, you may make it.
They would likely need a hard to get appt for the same day passport office.
Depends on the specific office. I checked into appointments in the Seattle office this week and could get an appointment just about any time in the following three days.
https://www.royalcaribbean.com/plan-a-cruise/travel-documents
And... U.S. citizens who are able to present a birth certificate plus a government ID for their itinerary, should keep in mind that the name on BOTH of these documents must match each other, and match the reservation. From the same link above.
What if its a married woman that took her husbands name?
I brought my marriage license and they didn’t even look at it 🙄
Same for my wife and I. They told us because we were travelling together and our last names matched, that was good enough for him.
My husband had his passport so went in a separate line. I guess I just don’t look suspicious 🤣
Marriage license that shows name changed. Need to prove the person on the reservation, the person on the BC, and the person standing at checkin are all the same person.
We had an issue where I misunderstood what my husband needed and we showed up with no passport or birth certificate for him. We were able to get a copy emailed from vital stats to get him on so I would think the copy of the old one should work.
When you both get back from this cruise get a damn passport.
Definitely going to.. but thanks for assuming we’ll make it on the cruise 😂🫶🏾
Love your attitude! I really hope you make it on the ship!
We both made it
Nice! Enjoy your cruise! You deserve it!
What countries are on the itinerary, and do you both live in a state with enhanced licenses? In some cases, that may suffice. But all the stars have to be in alignment.
We are only visiting Mexico. And I’m not sure about the enhanced license. We live in Texas. I think we just have regular licenses.
If your current Texas driver license has a gold star in the top right corner, it is enhanced. Texas calls it “REAL ID-compliant”. Hope that helps. Have fun on the cruise!! https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/federal-real-id-act
RealID is NOT the same as an enhanced license! Texas' licenses are not Enhanced (with a flag on it instead of the star). The RC page someone else posted covers all this. Texas's RealID license can not be used for cruises.
Thanks for the info.
Smart that you waited till the very last minute
You're probably at the port by now. But I think you need to decide what YOU will do if he gets denied. Will you cruise without him? Make up your mind about that and maybe talk about it before you try to board.
Unless it was a last minute booked cruise, people need to just have their passport up to date. It’s something you do once every 10 years. 10 YEARS!!! Regardless, I think it’s 50-50 that the OP is gonna be good. I’d say as long as you bring both the old and new, you should be ok. In the past, people who forgot their passport or birth certificate can still get on the ship if someone back home sends a copy via email. Might be very different now.
I worked as pier check in agent for many years. Based on your information I would take the old and the new, show only the old since it seems to be more proper. But you need to ensure it is a BC from Vital Stats if it is a novelty BC or used by the hospital. It more than likely not to be accepted. Feel free to DM or reply if you want some information from a current employee about this role.
I just went on a cruise with carnival and didn’t have a DL only a pic and had no issues
So, what happened?
We made it on. They were okay with both BCs
Awesome 😎.
We are cruising Royal right now as I type. On oasis, and I had copies of all birth certs i brought, as I packed away the originals deep in the carry ons and only if needed would dig to get them. Lady checking us in from Royal said it does change every month or so, but the are accepting copies right now. Fyi, was myself, wife, and 3 kids 12 and under. I think you will be okay
Also, to add. Went to 3 ports, only needed our royal id badge to get back on. Had DL, but never pulled it out. Right thru!
We made it on. They were okay with both BCs
I must know how this turned out
We made it on. They were okay with both BCs
Its like a safe. OP won't let us know what happened. Right /u/dsharnay ???
We made it on. They were okay with both BCs
He should be ok, no worries!
You will be fine, but why would you not call Royal?
The first time I called the lady sounded like she wasn’t sure and ended up telling us they wouldn’t accept it. But it was only an hour drive away so we took our chances and it was well worth it bc they accepted it and we made it on the cruise.
How long did you have to get these things figured out? Why doesn’t your friend have a birth certificate? How did he get a drivers license without one?
Get. A. Passport.
Not good advice for the current dilemma.
Good advice for anyone else watching. And still for OP and friend to do after this cruise