Can I cruise with just a birth certificate?

If you're a United States citizen going on a “closed loop” cruise, you'll only need to present: Government issued photo identification. Proof of citizenship (an original or copy of your U.S. birth certificate, a Consular report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization)



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The good news is that you can cruise to quite a few popular destinations without a passport, including Alaska, the Bahamas, Mexico, Bermuda, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Canada, and New England.

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Carnival offers many Caribbean cruise options including sailings that depart and return to U.S. ports like Baltimore, Norfolk and New Orleans. These don't require a passport as they are closed-loop sailings.

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We highly recommend that all U.S. Citizen's cruise with their U.S. Passport book that is valid at least 6 months after your cruise. Guests may also sail with their official US state-issued Birth Certificate and a supporting Government Issued Photo ID...

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More often than not, the answer is no. U.S. citizens don't need a passport if the cruise starts and ends in the same U.S. city. This is known as a closed-loop cruise. That said, some may require a passport if you want to disembark at ports in any Caribbean destination.

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If you're a United States citizen going on a “closed loop” cruise, you'll only need to present: Government issued photo identification. Proof of citizenship (an original or copy of your U.S. birth certificate, a Consular report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization)

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U.S. citizens are generally required to present a valid U.S. passport when traveling to The Bahamas, as well as proof of anticipated departure from The Bahamas. Those traveling to The Bahamas on a cruise may use another Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document.

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Carnival offers many Caribbean cruise options including sailings that depart and return to U.S. ports like Baltimore, Norfolk and New Orleans. These don't require a passport as they are closed-loop sailings.

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If you no longer have your birth certificate, you can get in touch with the city or county you were born to get a certified official copy to use on your cruise. There's usually a small fee and waiting period, but it's faster than getting a passport.

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If you are a US citizen, you can take a “closed-loop cruise” (one that begins and ends at the same port) to The Bahamas without a passport. Instead, you'll need to present another proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID.

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Fastest citizenship by investment: top 8 countries
  • Vanuatu: 1–2 months. ...
  • Dominica: 2–6 months. ...
  • St Kitts and Nevis: 2–6 months. ...
  • St Lucia: 3–4 months. ...
  • Grenada: 4–6 months. ...
  • Antigua and Barbuda: 4–6 months. ...
  • Turkey: 6–8 months. ...
  • Malta: 1–3 years.


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A clear, legible copy (photocopy) of a birth certificate that was originally issued by a government agency (state/county/city) or the Department of Health and Vital Statistics. The copy does not need to be notarized or certified.

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Most cruises operate as “closed loop” cruises, which begin and end at the same port. If you take a closed loop cruise, you are not required to have a passport to reenter the United States. Instead, you can return to the country with a government issued ID, such as a driver's license, and a birth certificate.

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U.S. citizens traveling on our international sailings are required to have valid passports. Before Leaving Home: Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the required travel documents you will be asked to provide prior to boarding the ship.

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There are no exceptions to this rule. Passport cards, birth certificates, etc., are not accepted when air travel. So, you have to have your US passport for the Bahamas.

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There are two types of cruises to Aruba. The first is the closed-loop cruise which starts and ends at a U.S. port. In such a case, you can board the ship without a passport book. Instead, you would use WHTI-compliant documents like passport cards and birth certificates.

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Passports for U.S. Citizens are NOT required for the U.S. Virgin Islands, but you must be prepared to show evidence of citizenship upon leaving the territory (such as a government issued photo ID or your passport). Citizens of countries other than the U.S. should follow U.S. travel regulations.

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Yes, the difference between long and short is the parental information. But, the long form is required for passport application. For cruising you just need an official birth certificate (no specification as to whether it's long or short - just official).

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