Do I need a passport to go to the Bahamas on a cruise? If so do my 1 year old son need one too?

Question

I am going on a family cruise and am wondering do we need passports.

Answer 1

Passports are not required for cruise travel for American citizens when the cruise begins and ends in the  U.S.  Even after June 1, 2009, when passports will be required for sea travel, cruises beginning and ending in the same port in the U..S.  will not require passports.  Some cruise lines like passengers to have passports, so it is wise to call and ask them, but they are not required by law.  If you choose to get passports, your baby would need one too...and babies cannot be on the parents passport...they must have their own passport.   You will need photo I.D. and birth certificates for adults, and birth certificate for minors.  I believe you are capable of carrying these without losing them...just like you would carry passports. So ...passports or not..it is your choice. See sites below for verification of this info.

Answer 2

Currently, you need your state ID and birth certificate (just birthcertificate for your sun).  If you go after the spring of 2009 - you will need a passport.  Your 1 year old son will need one too.

Answer 3

You will need a passport after the Spring of 2009. If you go before then, it is still a good idea to get one because the lines are so much quicker boarding the ship. And yes I think you son does need one.

Answer 4

The US Government requires a citizen to have a passport in order to reenter the USA.

A child can be included in a parent's passport but it is better to obtain a separate passport for the child.   One never knows what emergencies  can occur while traveling, causing the child to be left behnd, eg hospitalisation.    Avoid a problem up front.

Answer 5

Yes, as U.S. citizens, you and your family need passports. For more information www.bahamas.com

Answer 6

Hey Lady,

How are you? Yes, both you and your son will need passports to cruise to the bahamas.  I can assist if you like.  http://www.cassandralanetravel.org

Answer 7

I suggest you get passports for both you and your son!  Carrying a certified copy of your son't birth certificate, even if still allowed, is not at all wise!  Birth certificates are a huge target for thieves, and just the thing to get identity theft started.  Passports are much more secure, and in fact do not contain enough information to acquire a copy of a birth certificate or establish a Social Security number in that name.  Passports are also rather simple to replace if they are lost or stolen.  A birth certificate, once stolen, can be saved for use when your son is older, so the idea that he's too young for ID theft isn't valid.  (Pack a photocopy of the first pages of your passport separate from the passport itself.)  By the way, you need to check into the current requirements in order to take your son out of the country!  Even with a passport, I think a notarized statement will be required from the non-traveling parent or guardian, and when my niece and her husband together took both their children out of the country this summer they both executed and carried statements anyway.  Do look into that, too!

Answer 8

Yes, as citizens of the U.S.A. You need passports.

good luck