Has anyone been on a closed loop cruise (leave out of and return to same u.s. port) since the new June 1, 2009 guidelines came out ?  It states you can use your original birthcertificate and drivers license, only if it is a closed loop and not have to have passport, but recommends passport.  I would like to hear some feedback from some who have cruised  with their birth certificates and d. l. since this came out and if they had any problems with it, thanks

all you need is your BC and liscense for closed loop cruising thru december

We just returned from a closed loop cruise on June 29th.  We had no problems using birth certificates and drivers licenses.  There were 6 of us traveling, 3 had passports and 3 had birth certificates.  No problems at all. 

Thanks for your response, it helps sets our minds at ease about using the birth certificates and drivers license.  There are 3 of us going on passports and 5 of us on birth certificates and drivers license.  Just hoping for no problems on check in.  Thanks again for your response. We are on the Fantasy leaving July 30, 2009.

thanks also we are leaving on the ectasy july 6th and I have been calling every week to make sure we can board with birth certificates and drivers license with no issues

You will be just fine!  Have a wonderful cruise.  I would go ahead and get a passport for those that don't have one before December.  I am getting one for the 3 of mine that traveled with birth certificates.  They are hooked on cruising now and we have another trip scheduled for March.  This past trip came up too quickly for passports, but I will have them for all of us by March.  Happy Sailing

Does it change in December? We're leaving 12/14/09 and 2 of our group doesn't have passports.

From what I understand, passport requirements do change in December. 

Do you happen to know when in Dec this may change? I am also traveling in Dec 2009 and was planning on using my bc and lisc.

april

I have not seen anything on the website about a change

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

The U.S. State Department has to give suffiicient notice of any changes.....look at the changes that happened on June 1st, almost a year of notification before the changes took affect. Go to the link provided above for the latest "official" information. Those are the people who make the rules. Agreed, as above stated, there are no changes listed for December at this time. No need to call every week, as the changes will not take place overnight with no notice.

Relax and enjoy your cruise! Happy sailing!

Were any of you married females that had your birth last name on the birth certificate and your married last name on your dirvers license ?   Did they question the different last names?   

When I used my birth certificate a few years ago I was worried about the same thing. I took a copy of our marriage license just in case. No one questioned it though.

summer09:

Were any of you married females that had your birth last name on the birth certificate and your married last name on your dirvers license ?   Did they question the different last names?   

I have had a passport for a number of years, but re: the name being different on drivers license, birth certificate... another very good reason to never change your name!  

Sorry if I kind of hijacked the thread with one of my (many) opinions...  

you'll be fine with the B.C and state I. D.---i use my B.C on all my cruises and plan on using it on my up coming cruise,,before i booked my latest cruise--i checked the homeland sercuity, carnival, post office, and any other web site i could find just to be sure, and like VA _cruiser said there is nothing stated about changes in december of 2009...everybody will be fine--to ease the mind -check the homeland sercuity web page, or call your travel agent....

have fun,

philly1