Can I use my passport with my maiden name on a cruise?

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, citizens or permanent residents who've had their names changed can use their previously issued passports. In order to travel with it, you'll need to bring proof of your name progression. This can include paperwork such as: A marriage certificate.



Yes, you can use a passport with your maiden name on a cruise, but only if the name on your cruise booking exactly matches the name on your passport. For most "Closed-Loop" cruises (trips that begin and end at the same U.S. port), the cruise line and U.S. Customs and Border Protection require that your legal identification matches your manifest. If your booking is in your married name but your passport is in your maiden name, you must carry a certified copy of your marriage license to act as a "linking document" to explain the name discrepancy. In 2026, many travelers find it simpler to book the entire cruise under their maiden name to avoid any administrative friction at the terminal. If you are flying internationally to join the cruise (e.g., a Mediterranean cruise), your airline ticket must also match the passport name exactly, or you will likely be denied boarding at the airport. It is always a "pro-tip" to ensure all travel documents—including insurance and shore excursion bookings—align with a single legal identity to prevent last-minute boarding delays or security issues.

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If your middle name is included on your passport or other form of government-issued identification, it may be a good idea to use it when booking your cruise. This is because the name on your booking must match the name on your identification, and any discrepancies could result in delays or even being denied boarding.

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Immigration officials will often come onboard cruise ships to check documentation and the process of keeping the passports centrally makes it much easier and faster for the cruise line and passengers.

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Citizens: United States Citizens who change their name due to marriage, divorce, or because of any other circumstance may travel using your United States passport or other Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative approved document in your prior name provided you bring proof of your name progression such as; a marriage ...

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Everyone will need to present an accepted form of identification to board the ship based on their nationality/country of citizenship. Guests who do not bring required documents may be denied boarding.

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U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL), a government-issued birth certificate (issued by the Vital Records Department in the state where he or she was born) or passport, and if 16 or older, a government ...

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No problema -- but plan accordingly. You have to book your airline tickets and secure your passport before your honeymoon, and the name on both must match, so book your ticket and apply for your passport under your maiden name.

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In the United States, anyone on a cruise ship whose last port of call was outside the US is required to pass through US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), unless if the last port of call was equipped with US preclearance facilities (in which case the ship will be treated as a domestic arrival).

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In the United States, anyone on a cruise ship whose last port of call was outside the US is required to pass through US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), unless if the last port of call was equipped with US preclearance facilities (in which case the ship will be treated as a domestic arrival).

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Bottom line Cruise documents provide the verification you'll need to board your vessel on embarkation day. They include identification, boarding passes, health forms and any required visas, which you should always keep handy in your carry-on bag or personal item.

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A valid passport is required; visas are required where they apply. This includes Europe, Asia, Central and South America. For additional passport information, visit www.travel.state.gov. Royal Caribbean International strongly recommends that all guests travel with a valid passport during their cruise.

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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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Answer: As part of the TSA's Secure Flight Program, the names on airline tickets must match the name on passports. We recommend that you contact the airline you are traveling with to see if they can provide a solution for the name mismatch.

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Citizens: United States Citizens who change their name due to marriage, divorce, or because of any other circumstance may travel using your United States passport or other Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative approved document in your prior name provided you bring proof of your name progression such as; a marriage ...

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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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