Whether a standard government-issued ID (like a driver's license) is enough for a cruise in 2026 depends entirely on your citizenship and the itinerary. For U.S. citizens on a "closed-loop" cruise—one that starts and ends at the same U.S. port—you can typically use a government-issued photo ID alongside an original state-issued birth certificate. A driver's license alone is never sufficient; it must be paired with proof of citizenship. However, for any cruise that visits an international port outside the Western Hemisphere, or for any cruise departing from a foreign port (like Vancouver or Barcelona), a valid passport is mandatory. Cruising to Australia for Australian citizens also allows the use of a government ID for domestic-only itineraries. Even when not required, a passport is "strongly recommended" by all major lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival, as you cannot fly home from a foreign port in an emergency without one.