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.

Yes, U.S. citizens can still go on many Carnival cruises in 2026 without a passport, provided the trip is a "Closed-Loop" cruise. This means the cruise must begin and end at the same U.S. port (e.g., departing Miami and returning to Miami) and travel only to specific regions like the Caribbean, Bahamas, or Mexico. In lieu of a passport, you must present an original state-issued birth certificate (or a certified copy) and a valid, government-issued photo ID (like a driver's license). However, Carnival and the U.S. State Department strongly recommend a passport book regardless of the rule. If you have an emergency and need to fly home from a foreign port, or if the ship is forced to dock in a country not covered by the "Closed-Loop" exemption, you will be unable to board an international flight back to the U.S. without a valid passport book.