This week, Disney Cruise Line sent emails out to guests booked on upcoming closed loop cruises with an update on the citizenship documentation requirement for those choosing to sail using their birth certificates.
The key message in the birth certificate correspondence is that only an original state-issued birth certificate is acceptable and photocopies of birth certificates will not be accepted.
The latest clarification of the birth certificate requirement is presented below from the original email.
Dear Guest,
We are reaching out with important information about the citizenship documentation required for Guests planning to sail using their birth certificates and a government issued photo ID.
For round trip sailings departing from the U.S., Guests using a birth certificate as citizenship documentation are reminded that only an original state-issued birth certificate is acceptable. Guests 16 years of age and older are also required to present a physical government-issued photo ID. Children 15 years of age and younger will need to present an original state-issued birth certificate but do not need to present a government-issued photo ID. Photocopies of birth certificates will not be accepted.
Please be sure to review the documentation requirements for your sailing on our Passports, Visas & Citizenship Documentation page. Guests without proper citizenship documentation will be denied boarding.
In addition, for a carefree boarding experience, we strongly recommend that Guests complete Online Check-In ahead of time by uploading their valid citizenship documents and arrive during their designated Port Arrival Time. Online Check-In for your sailing will be available approximately 30 days prior to sailing.
Sincerely,
The Cast and Crew Disney Cruise Line
Most cruises beginning and ending in the same location are considered “round-trip” or “closed-loop,” meaning they begin and end at the same port in the United States and travel within the Western Hemisphere. For instance, if you board the Disney Fantasy at Port Canveral, Florida, and after visiting at least one foreign port of call, such as Cozumel, or Tortola, and return to Port Canaveral, you have taken a closed loop cruise.
It is important to research the citizenship documentation for you and your sailing party for your specific cruise. I highly recommend investing in a Passport for a number of reasons. Most importantly if something were to happen during the cruise and you needed to return home via alternative transportation methods. In the unlikely event that you experience an emergency during your cruise that requires you to fly home from a foreign port, your passport allows you to board the flight without delay. We cruised early on as a family using just birth certificates until we sailed on a 7-night Caribbean cruise where there were four separate guests medically evacuated from the ship either by tender or helicopter. Additionally, having a passport prepares you to travel to any destination opening up more unique itineraries.
Correct, photocopies were never allowed. However, I have close friends and others informing me that have been able to get by using photocopies in the past. Seems like with the roll out of facial recognition, there is a focused effort by CBP to enforce the policy.
I am surprised CBP hasn’t changed from requiring a BC + Photo ID to just a Real ID. To get a Real ID you have to present the same validating paperwork.
I am shocked to find out that photocopies were ever accepted.
They were never accepted. They have just had an uptick in people trying (and failing) to use them.
Correct, photocopies were never allowed. However, I have close friends and others informing me that have been able to get by using photocopies in the past. Seems like with the roll out of facial recognition, there is a focused effort by CBP to enforce the policy.
I am surprised CBP hasn’t changed from requiring a BC + Photo ID to just a Real ID. To get a Real ID you have to present the same validating paperwork.
The problem there is that there are a handful of states who are way behind on getting compliant with Real ID standards.