Cruises have become an increasingly popular way to travel. However, you do need to make sure that you have all the necessary travel documents for your cruise.
Do you need a passport to go on a cruise? That depends on where you are going. If your boat only stops at US ports, then no passport is necessary. If you are cruising outside of the Western Hemisphere, you definitely need a passport.
However, as of June 1, 2009, if you are cruising from the US to Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean, US Citizens are required to present one of the following documents to re-enter the country:
- A US passport book
- A US passport card (Note: Unlike the US passport book, the US passport card is not valid for air travel)
- A NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST card
- An enhanced driver’s license (only available in certain states)
There are a few exceptions for cruises in the Western Hemisphere:
- US citizens on a closed-loop cruise, one that begins and ends at the same US port, can use a driver’s license or government-issued ID card and a birth certificate, certificate of naturalization or certificate of citizenship.
- Children under the age of 16 traveling by land or sea can use their birth certificates, as can children under the age of 19 if they are under adult supervision and are traveling with an organization such as a school group, church group, volunteer organization or sports team.
However, most cruise lines strongly recommend that all guests travel with a valid US passport during their cruises for a couple of important reasons:
- If you have a medical, family, personal or business emergency and need to fly back to the U.S. before your cruise ends a passport is required or you could experience significant delays and complications. See Why You Should Consider Getting a Passport for a Closed-Loop Cruise
- If you need to fly to meet your ship at the next available port should you miss your scheduled embarkation in a U.S. port or if you miss a ship’s departure from a port of call.
- Some ports may have their own entry requirements. Talk to your cruise line to confirm the documents you need for your cruise.
Also, here are some additional articles about passport requirements for different cruise destinations:
Do You Need a Passport To Go To Mexico?
Do You Need a Passport to Go to Canada?
Do you Need a Passport to Go to the Caribbean?
No matter where you’re cruising to, RushMyPassport can help you get your passport in time. We personally deliver your passport application to the Department of State, resulting in processing times as low as 24 hours.
Don’t let your ship sail without you-apply for your passport today!
Tags: cruises
[...] Passport requirements for many cruises have changed . Please see this article for updated [...]
February 21st, 2010 at 7:44 pmI am planning on cruising from the Port of Galveston to Cancun this June or July. Is this considered a closed-loop Cruise? Will I need a passport?
March 19th, 2010 at 7:13 pmPlease respond as soon as possible?
Hi Bobbie-
March 21st, 2010 at 2:45 pmIf your cruise begins and ends at the Port of Galveston, it is closed-loop and you just need your driver’s license and birth certificate to get back into the states. However, Mexico has started requiring passports to enter the country if you are heading more than 20 kilometers south of the border or staying more than 72 hours. So, yes, you probably will need a passport. Contact your cruise line to be sure. Have a great trip!
I am going on a cruise to that bahamas that departs the US from new york and returns there was well. Im pretty sure I can use the state ID/Birth certificate combo. Is this correct?
September 2nd, 2010 at 1:23 pmThat’s correct, but do confirm with your cruise line just to be on the safe side. Have a great trip!
September 20th, 2010 at 1:52 pmHi, I am going on a cruise that leaves from and returns to San Juan, PR. I contacted the ship they said you can use the ID/Birth certificate documents. Is this correct?
September 28th, 2010 at 2:48 pmHi Kelly,
Definitely. That qualifies as a closed-loop cruise. Have fun!
October 8th, 2010 at 8:50 amI am going on a 7 day western caribbean cruise. Do i need a passport to get off at the ports We are leaving and coming back to Miami. We have 4 stops in other countries.
November 29th, 2010 at 12:50 pmHi Christine,
You should be able to get by with your driver’s license and birth certificate, but please call your cruise line to make sure that’s all you need.
Have a great trip!
December 2nd, 2010 at 10:55 pmI am going on cruise with children their father and I are divorced. I have all the legal paper from divorce and thier birthcertificates. Going to the Bahamas from and back to the same port. Do I have to have his permission to take children. I have Primary custody.
December 4th, 2010 at 5:32 pmHi Constance,
As long as there’s no court order preventing you from taking the children out of the country without his permission, you should be fine for the cruise as long as you have their birth certificates. You will need his permission for any travel that requires a passport, however, as the Department of State won’t issue passports for the kids without his consent.
Enjoy your cruise!
December 16th, 2010 at 7:27 pmWe are going on a cruise to 2 islands in the Bahamas in June 2011 we are a family of 4/ 2 adults 2 children ages 11 & 14. We are departing and returning to a port in Charleston SC; does anyone need a passport??????
December 27th, 2010 at 1:08 pmCheck with your cruise line, but you should be fine with driver’s licenses and birth certificates since it’s a closed-loop cruise.
January 8th, 2011 at 9:22 pmWe are going on a cruise to Bahamaas in Sept 2011. Do we need a passport?
February 22nd, 2011 at 8:26 pmor can we us Driver’s Licenses or Military ID and Birth certificates.
Hi Evette,
If it’s a closed-loop cruise that begins and ends at the same US port, you should be able to use your driver’s licenses and birth certificates.
Have a great trip!
February 27th, 2011 at 10:26 pmWe have passports that expired last year.
Can they just be updated somehow?
Thanks
March 2nd, 2011 at 6:08 pmHi John,
No, you must renew them. This step-by-step guide will help: http://www.rushmypassport.com/blog/2008/12/passport-renewal-cutting-through-the-red-tape/
However, the government has raised passport fees since I wrote that post. See here for updated fees:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/fees/fees_837.html
March 10th, 2011 at 10:03 pmI am a texas citizen. If i have a drivers license and a birth certificate i can go on the cruise right?
March 20th, 2011 at 9:11 pmHi Cruiseboy,
You should be fine as long as it’s a closed-loop cruise, one that begins and ends at the same US port, and you’re only going to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean.
Have a great trip!
April 8th, 2011 at 2:29 pmMy family is planning on taking a cruise. One of my brothers is a US resident and has his passport. He is able to go on the cruise, correct? I was informed it had to be US citizens but with the proper documentation and legalization, there should not be a limit to only US citizens I would imagine. Thanks for your help.
May 22nd, 2011 at 12:11 pmAs long as has a valid passport and a valid permanent resident card, he should be fine. I don’t know why anyone would think that only US citizens are allowed on a cruise!
That said, you should call the cruise line and verify the documents he needs to bring.
Enjoy your trip!
May 24th, 2011 at 10:51 amI’m travelling to Ensenada Mexico and am a US Resident but will not receive my renewed passport in time for my cruise? Am I still able to travel. I was told that I can with just my Driver’s Licence and my US Resident Card.
July 21st, 2011 at 3:46 pmIf you are going on a cruise GET A PASSPORT PEOPLE! Yes, if it is a closed loop you can re-enter
August 4th, 2011 at 10:57 amthe U.S. with your driver’s license and birth certificate. But, who goes on a cruise and NOT get off the
boat and explore and do excursions. I know Freeport didn’t check for passports to get off the boat or to
get back on, BUT in Nassau they have their own military working at the gate checking for passports when
trying to get back on the boat (This military guy gave me a hard time in Nassau bc my picture didn’t look
like me…I looked chubby in my passport picture and had worked out prior to my cruise).
WHEN IN DOUBT GET A PASSPORT!
If I have a driver’s license with my new married name and my birth certificate has my maiden name, will I still be able to go on a cruise to Mexico. Will I have to be sure to take my marriage license as well? Also, if we don’t get a passport and just use our driver’s license and birth certificate can we get off the boat when it stops in Cozumel, Mexico? Or will we have to stay on board since we don’t have passports?
November 28th, 2011 at 1:42 pmHi Becky,
You should be fine without a passport as long as the cruise begins and ends at the same US port. Go ahead and bring your marriage certificate along in case anyone has any questions. Yes, you should be able to get off the boat in Cozumel, as Mexico only requires US citizens to have passports when they go further into the interior of the country.
That said, please, PLEASE double-check with your cruise line as they may have stricter documentation requirements.
Enjoy your trip!
November 30th, 2011 at 9:19 pmOk…so going on cruise to bahamas to and from miami. A drivers license and birth certificate is enough right? To get off at ports also?
December 5th, 2011 at 12:21 amYou should be fine, Jimmy, but please double-check with your cruise line!
December 16th, 2011 at 10:41 pmIm going on a cruise to the caribbean from miami can I just use my Id and birth certificate will I be allowed to get off the boat?
January 9th, 2012 at 12:02 pmI’m a U.S. Citizen married to a Venezuelan who is a U.S. Resident. Want to do a 3 night cruise to Bahamas and back from Miami. Does my Venezuelan wife need a passport besides her U.S. Residency (green) Card ??
Thanks
January 11th, 2012 at 4:53 pmHi Tamika,
As long as it begins and ends in the same US port you should be okay, but please confirm with your cruise line and/or the embassies for the countries you’ll be stopping in.
Have a great trip!
January 11th, 2012 at 10:49 pmHi Mark,
She won’t need a visa to visit the Bahamas but she will need both a green card and her Venezuelan passport: http://www.un.int/bahamas/tourist%20visa%20info.htm
January 11th, 2012 at 11:00 pmif u are staying aboard the royal cruise thru out the cruise is a passport still mandatory?it is also a closed loop cruise
January 12th, 2012 at 4:51 pmHey, I’m going to Bahamas on a cruise leaving from and returning to Miami I have a passport but other family members don’t. Will they be able to get off at ports with id and birth certificate???
January 13th, 2012 at 12:05 pmHi Everybody – I have been on 4 cruises (closed-loop out of New Orleans, Galveston, Mobile, and Port Canaveral). We’ve sailed to Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Jamaica, Bahamas, and Grand Cayman. I’ve taken my husband and 2 children, as well as friends of theirs (who weren’t even my own children). You can ABSOLUTELY get on the cruise with your government-issued ID’s and birth certificates. We’ve NEVER had a problem. It’s really not as hard as it may seem. I just keep everything in a manilla envelope, along with my travel tickets/itinerary and it makes it much smoother when going through customs and getting on and off the ships. We’re going again this year and will do the same thing! Happy travels!!
January 14th, 2012 at 6:57 amYes, as long as the cruises are closed-loop, that’s all you need. But I’d like to continue to encourage everyone to verify ID requirements with the cruise line before you sail. Better safe than sorry, right?
Thanks for commenting, Laura, and I hope you have an even better time on your cruise this year!
January 15th, 2012 at 10:31 pmHi JD,
If it’s to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean you don’t have to have a passport but you will need a driver’s license and birth certificate. Hope this helps!
January 15th, 2012 at 10:41 pmGoing to the Bahamas. Can I just bring a xerox copy of my birth certificate or does it have to be the original?
January 24th, 2012 at 9:43 pmHi Yang,
It needs to be the original (or a certified copy issued by your county or state). A Xeroxed copy won’t work as proof of US citizenship. Sorry!
January 25th, 2012 at 9:05 pmIf I take a Carnival Inspiration 4 day cruise leaving Los Angeles and ports in Catalina Ensenada and Mexico , do I have to have a passport? I read alittle and it says with an DL and birth certificate it should be fine. My friend only has an ID not a DL. Is a military ID good to?
January 31st, 2012 at 12:37 amI am permanent resident of the united states and I would like to go in a cruise.. Do I need to get a passport and if I do where can I get one.
January 31st, 2012 at 12:45 amHi Charo,
Check with the cruise line before you book. Most cruise lines require permanent residents to carry both their permanent resident card and a valid passport from the country of origin for cruises outside of the US. However, we’ve heard from people who have successfully taken Caribbean cruises with just a permanent resident card. Don’t take it for granted, always check with the cruise line, and understand that it’s best to have your passport in case of emergency regardless. To get a passport, contact the embassy for the country you are a citizen of.
Hope this helps!
Alison
January 31st, 2012 at 8:29 amHi Jennifer,
Yes, you should be fine with a driver’s license and a birth certificate. Any government-issued photo is fine in place of a driver’s license and a military ID works, too. Have a great trip!
January 31st, 2012 at 8:44 amI am going on a cruise leaving from Baltimore, and returning to the same port. Our only destination is Bermuda. Will I have any trouble getting on and off the ship without a passport when boarding the ship the first day and also while on the island?
January 31st, 2012 at 4:22 pmMy sister’s and brother in law’s passports expires August 12, 2012. We are sailing March 4th-16th, 2012 on a closed-loop cruise from Ft Lauderdale to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia. Are their passports still good even though they expire within 6 months of the end of our cruise? Are birth certs and DL sufficient for the countries we are traveling to? I don’t want to be refused at boarding!
Thank you!
February 3rd, 2012 at 10:13 pmHi Karen,
You do need passports but your sister’s and brother-in-law’s passports should be fine. I checked the Department of State’s website and Costa Rica and Panama both require passports to be valid for at least three months. There is no requirement listed for Columbia. That said, you should contact your cruise line with your concerns, as they have final authority over whether or not you get on board the ship.
Thanks so much, and enjoy your cruise!
February 5th, 2012 at 5:14 pmHi Samantha,
Please contact the cruise line for required ID for your cruise. Have a great trip!
February 5th, 2012 at 5:36 pm