Question:
My and hubby and kids are going
on the Carnival Celebration in August
we are going to Play Del Carman
and Cozumel.. Do we really do need
passports or is a birth certificate
good enough...and also is there
thing for our kids who will be 19
yrs old...and also do the men have
to wear a coat and tie on formal
nights...or can they just wear a
dress shirt and slacks?
Answer:
If you're a United States Citizen,
you're not required to have a passport
for that trip. A photo ID and a
copy of your birth certificate,
with a raised seal, will be sufficient.
That said, a passport is always
preferred. I haven't NEEDED one
for nearly 20 years. But I have
one, nonetheless.
A birth certificate
is fine along with a government
issued photo ID like your drivers
license. You will need the same
thing for your 19 yr old. If any
of your kids are under 18 yrs old
you will also need a notarized letter
from any absent parent giving permission
to travel outside the USA. Your
best bet really is a passport as
they are universally accepted and
the best ID you can ever have anywhere.
Cheap and good for 10 years.
On formal
nights a coat and tie is the requested
attire at least. You may see some
without but it is not acceptable
etiquette. Besides, you may fine
that dressing up for dinner is a
great feeling!
You can get
by with the birth certificate BUT
the passports make it a lot easier
in the long run. We just got back
from a cruise and every single person
that was stopped in line and showing
multiple ID had the birth certificates.
You still have time to get one and
that's what I would do if I were
you. Passports for adults are good
for 10 years, and cost something
like sixty dollars to obtain (plus
the cost of the photos). That works
out to be fifty cents per month
to have a passport, and then you
never have to worry about this do
I nee done or don't I need one question
ever again.
Even if you
don't need one, there won't ever
be a time (at least not I can conceive
of) that you will use a passport
as a travel ID and be asked for
a birth certificate instead. You
have plenty of time between now
and August to get a passport, even
if you don't need it on that trip,
you will have it for the next 10
years. They are without a doubt
the best bargain in travel.
