Passport Requirement for Alaska Cruise Question - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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DD Lauren is going to tag along with DD Samantha and her DH Cory when they cruise to Alaska next month (on The Wonder, of course).
Well, stupid me thought her passport expired next year. It doesn't, it expires this year. As in 3 months ago!! The ship stops at Victoria Canada for about 3 hours. Not even sure if they'll get off that day. However, if they decide to, will Lauren need a passport??
The government website says a closed loop cruise only requires a photo ID (which we'll have to try to get - Indiana now mails those!) and a birth certificate will do. Since she'll be with her sister, I'll send hers, her sister's, and a notarized note giving Samantha and Cory permission to have her.
HOWEVER, the website also says it's possible the kid will need a passport - that the country they are traveling to will require it.
IF we have to get her a passport, we'll have to go to Chicago to get it all done, but it will mean DH and I both taking time off work to do this. If I recall correctly, I can't send him with just a note, even if it's notarized.
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I'm on the July 30th sailing to Alaska and I just checked the DCL booklet. It says that guests 17 yrs old or younger need an original or certified copy of their birth certificate (or if not born in the US a copy of Naturalization papers or the Consular Report of Birth Abroad). That is all that is required to board the ship and to leave the ship in the Alaska ports. To go ashore in Victoria passports are required.
I won't make a final decision until I'm on board, but will probably not go ashore in Victoria. My nephew lives there and says in the summer it can get quite crowded in the harbor area. With the ship in port from 6:30pm-9:30pm by the time you deduct the time to clear customs both ways there really wouldn't be much time at all to explore.
Okay - all solved. They aren't getting off the ship in Canada, so no passport needed. Thank goodness! The list of documentation required for DD to get her passport with only one parent or even no parents present is astronomical!!
We'll get her passport renewed in a month or so, when we have more time. (she's going to France next school year with her class, so she still needs one)
There are a few excursions offered in Alaska (like the Train ride) that require a Passport because you cross over the Canadian border. They actually stop the train and customs boards to check people's i.d. and then you leave. So just double check any excursions you have booked that passports aren't required.
The Victoria stop is incredibly brief and basically just there to fulfill the "international" port of call rule. It was rather crowded to get on and off the ship for the Victoria stop-i was surprised how many people went ashore.
I have the Alaska excursions brochure from our May 28th cruise I'm going to scan in that stuff later tonight and i'll post it on my blog.
There are a few excursions offered in Alaska (like the Train ride) that require a Passport because you cross over the Canadian border. They actually stop the train and customs boards to check people's i.d. and then you leave. So just double check any excursions you have booked that passports aren't required.
Good to know. Thanks. I'll have to call DD Samantha tomorrow to see what they plan to do. I really hate the idea of having to get DD up to Chicago (DH and I both working full-time, and the passport offices are only open M-F, 9-3!).
We renewed my nephew's passport who is traveling with us at our county recorder's office, (easier than the post office too) He has a single parent, and the one page form for not having a parent with was not a big deal -- I asked a few friends if they new a notary, and it turns out one of our friends was a notary and we were able to get the forms notarized easily.
Teresa - your local post office doesn't do passports?
The issue in this case maybe getting a fast turnaround. Current processing time for an expedited passport application is 2-3 weeks from a local acceptance facility (post office, county clerk, etc.). If you need it faster than that, then it does require a trip to a Passport Agency - there are just 25 of those nationwide.
The issue in this case maybe getting a fast turnaround. Current processing time for an expedited passport application is 2-3 weeks from a local acceptance facility (post office, county clerk, etc.). If you need it faster than that, then it does require a trip to a Passport Agency - there are just 25 of those nationwide.
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