NEWS: Disney Cruise Line Policy Change Just Made Boarding the Ship More Complicated

By Brian Delpozo
Posted on Posted on

A major change is coming to the Disney Cruise Line. 

©Disney

The Disney Cruise Line is one of the fastest-growing segments of the Disney company, and the company is adding several ships in the next few years, with a final goal of 13 in the fleet by 2031. Perhaps in response to this growth, Disney just changed one of the line’s boarding procedures in a MAJOR way. 

To board a Disney Cruise that departs and returns to the same U.S. port, a passenger must provide several identifying documents. While U.S. travelers can use a passport, they can also use substitute proof of citizenship documents including a government-issued ID and a birth certificate. In the past, a copy of said birth certificate was acceptable. 

That’s now changed. 

©Disney

According to an email Disney sent to guests with upcoming reservations, “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.”

YouGov

The new rule disallows the use of photocopies or hospital-issued birth certificates, which had previously been acceptable. As recently as April of this year, the official PlanDisney website specifically stated “you can print a scanned copy or photocopy your state-issued birth certificate to present at the port.”

The new specification has been added to the Passports, Visas & Citizenship Documentation page on the Disney Cruise Line’s official website. 

©Disney

The Disney Cruise Line has made a major change to their documentation procedures, now requiring an original state-issued birth certificate as opposed to a copy if a passenger wishes to use one as a proof of citizenship document. Stay tuned to AllEars for further coverage of the evolving Disney Cruise Line. 

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Does this new rule change your approach to setting sail on the Disney Cruise Line? Let us know in the comments below.