steve

we are u.s. citizens going on our first cruise. in all other ports of call (antigua, st. maarten, tortola, st. thomas, san juan and our potential side trips to st. john's and virgin gorda) we have been told we can get by with an original birth certificate and a drivers license. though ncl says we won't need anything more in martinique, the french embassy in the u.s. says we will need a passport to disembark at the port. anyone with recent experience? i'd hate to spend a couple hundred dollars for one port if it isn't necessary. thanks, steve

Jason

Steve<BR>Get a passport both of you.It is always good to have one.You major expense will be in first obtaining one.Now they are good for 10 years and renewal expense is negligible.However,for entry into Martinique and/or Guadeloupe you need only have your original birth certificate or a certified copy with a raised seal plus a photo I.D.If you were venturing to other spots in the French West Indies,true you need a passport.You cant go wrong with a passport.Thats my 2 cents.<BR>Jason

M.B.

Steve, absolutely obtain a passport!! We cruise around the world and even flying domestically we need one! It's so simple to pick up a form at the Post Office and mail it in! Or, I think now you can go on line and purchase a passport! We treat the grandkids with summer cruises and now I'm thinking of getting them passports!! Makes it so much easier! Happy Cruisin'!

Mary

Steve: Although a birth certificate with a raised seal will be okay, I agree with all the other posters: get a passport. Actually you can get the form on-line: http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html, so you don't have to go to a post office or any other federal building to get it.<BR><BR><BR>

Paul Therault

Whichever to take be sure to make a copy and keep it separate from your orignal. If lose a birth certificate it is no big deal but it is quite a hassle if you lose your passport.<BR><BR>I would say, if you plan on traveling quite often, it is best to purchase a passport. For a one-time vacation it is not necessary. Just my opinion.<BR><BR>Paul

Starfish

Get the passport. As other said you don't have to have one if you are on a cruise, but it is much better to have one. <BR>Read about a lady who's husband had an accident on one of the islands during a cruise. It was a real mess trying to fly home since they did not have a passport.

Mary

Despite what Paul says, it is not a hassle if you lose your passport. Keep your passport number in a separate place. If you are on a cruise, and you indicate what your passport number is on your documents it'll be readily available. Believe me, having traveled extensively, you always want a passport. There are American Embassies or Consulates on almost all the islands if you get into trouble. It's worth the money!!

Paul Therault

If you are in any other place than the Caribbean then in takes an entire day to get a new passport and that is with copies.<BR><BR>If your passport is stolen or you lose it in the Caribbean it is not a good idea to waste a vacation day in a government building but to wait until you get home. Then you can waste the day since you have to appear in person.<BR><BR>I can not see advising anyone to spend all that money to purchase a passport if the trip is only to the Caribbean and a passport is not necessary. If a birth certificate is lost it only costs $5 to get another by mail. If one ends up in a hospital or wishes to go home the ship's I.D card that shows you are a passenger is enough proof that one is an American citizen (the ship has the information). No island will hold you hostage. There has to be more to the story about the woman that had a problem. If one ends up in a hospital a cruise line rep. will be there shortly after a call to the ship.<BR><BR>If there is any questions about I.D. or birth certificates one can simply call the cruise line in advance of the cruise. If they state a passport is not necessary it is not.<BR><BR>Paul<BR><BR>