Military Blue Card

[Art]

Here's a golden opportunity to show my ignorance of the military.

My wife is a Viet Nam era Navy nurse who received an honorable discharge after three years service. She has a DD214 to prove it.

Recently we booked a cruise that happened to offer a discount for current or past military service so we booked that fare. The DD214 was specifically cited as a requirement.

The final documents have arrived and suddenly a comment about showing a blue card as proof of eligibility has now appeared. My wife has no clue what a blue card is, and I haven't been able to find anything via Google and Bing searches, except possibly that retired military personnel might have them.

Could someone enlighten me as to the significance of blue cards in relation to honorably discharged personnel?

Thanks

Art

 

[MULTIZ321]

Art,

Might be related to this:

Retiree Identification Cards

Richard

 

[thheath]

Art,

Might be related to this:

Retiree Identification Cards

Richard

You are correct, the retired service member ID is the only one of that color. Of course your get that ID after retiring having serving 20-30 years.

 

[DaveNV]

I can confirm the above. I'm retired Navy, and my retiree ID card is blue.

Art, I think the key phrases to compare in your documents are "Veteran" vs. "Retiree." If that discount applies to veterans, your wife's DD214 should qualify her. If it states "retirees" it doesn't sound like it will work. If push comes to shove, I'd contact them and ask for clarification.

Dave

 

[Art]

Thanks, guys.

I have done a little more research, and it looks like the blue card language with respect to honorable discharges was incorrectly used when RCL first announced its availability of a military rate in 2006. That language seems to have disappeared.

Now, on their Internet sites, both RCL and its subsidiary Celebrity (on whom the cruise is booked) state the blue card ID is for retirees and the DD214 is for honorable discharges.

The military rates have been discussed frequently over on cruisecritic, and the consensus is be prepared with documentation but don't expect to be asked to show it or cause confusion by asking if the check in personnel want to see it

 

[xnavyss]

I am also retired navy - 20 years. I also have the blue ID. I am told there is a new type of ID being issued.

Thanks

Joe