Can I cruise with just a REAL ID?

While you do not need a REAL ID to board the ship, beginning May 7, 2025, the US Department of Homeland Security will require every resident of a US state or territory who is 18 years of age and older to present a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or another acceptable form of identification (such as a passport or ...



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For U.S. Sailings only, U.S. Citizens may cruise using an official US state-issued Birth Certificate and a supporting Government Issued Photo ID, like a driver's license or an identity card.

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A boarding pass. A government photo I.D. if 16 years of age or older. And a certified birth certificate or certificate of U.S. 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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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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Birth Certificate Information 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. Birth Certificate Card. A Consular Report of Birth Abroad.

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Even if the cruise is only visiting destinations within the British Isles Common Travel Area (which includes the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands), you must still take a passport.

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If you are not a U.S. citizen or an LPR, you will need a passport and/or the appropriate documentation based on the status you are seeking in the United States for any type of cruise, closed loop or not.

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Cruises Sailing from One U.S Port to a Different U.S Port: Guests are required to carry a Passport valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel, from their country of citizenship AND a valid Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), that includes a photo I.D.

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Bahamas Entry Requirements for U.S. As a U.S. citizen, you only need to provide an acceptable form of I.D. to prove your citizenship so you can enter the Bahamas. If you are traveling by air, you should have a valid passport.

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An expired passport is invalid. If you are traveling back to the United States on a direct flight, you can fly with an expired passport. However, this only applies if you get the go-ahead from the relevant embassy. However, you cannot fly out of the country with an expired 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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Either type of passport can be used on closed-loop sailings that call at foreign ports but depart and return to the U.S. Without either document, you'd need to provide proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate) and proof of identification (such as a driver's license).

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Acceptable proof of citizenship includes a U.S. state-issued original or certified copy of their birth certificate (hospital certificates are not acceptable) or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization and a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license).

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