We strongly recommend that all guests present a passport as their form of ID on boarding day. Technically, yes – U.S. citizens can present a state-certified birth certificate and government-issued photo ID to sail on most cruises departing from the U.S. But a passport is the more efficient, secure option.

In 2026, if you are a U.S. citizen on a "closed-loop" cruise (one that begins and ends at the same U.S. port), you can use a birth certificate as proof of citizenship, but it must be an original state-certified document or a certified copy with a raised or multicolored seal. A simple photocopy, digital image, or "hospital-issued" certificate (with footprints) is not acceptable and will result in denied boarding. The birth certificate must be accompanied by a valid government-issued photo ID (like a driver's license) for guests aged 16 and older. Royal Caribbean and the cruise industry at large strongly recommend a valid passport instead, as it is the only document that allows you to fly back to the U.S. from a foreign port in the event of an emergency. In 2026, as security regulations tighten, the "originality" of the document is non-negotiable; if you only have a photocopy, you should apply for a new certified copy from your state's vital records office or a passport well in advance of your sail date.