Can you go on a cruise without papers?

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.



Technically, you cannot go on a cruise without any papers, but you can often cruise without a passport if you are a U.S. citizen on a "Closed-Loop" cruise. These are voyages that begin and end at the same U.S. port (e.g., Miami to Miami) and travel only within the Western Hemisphere. For these trips, an original government-issued birth certificate and a valid driver's license (for those over 16) are usually sufficient for boarding. However, cruise lines and travel experts strongly advise against this; if you have a medical emergency or miss the ship in a foreign port, you cannot fly back to the U.S. without a valid passport. For all other international cruises, a passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel date is a non-negotiable requirement.

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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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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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You can cruise to quite a few destinations without a passport, as long as you have proof of citizenship and a government-issued photo ID. A variety of documents are accepted as proof of citizenship, including a state-certified U.S. birth certificate.

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If you look underage, cruise ships will check your ID when you ask for a drink.

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Do I need a passport? We recommend that everyone taking a cruise from the United States have a passport book. Though some “closed-loop” cruises may not require a U.S. passport, we recommend bringing yours in case of an emergency, such as an unexpected medical air evacuation or the ship docking at an alternate port.

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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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All cruise ships are required to file a passenger manifest with the National Immigration Naturalization Service (I.N.S) prior to sailing.

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While you can generally assume that you won't need a visa, it would still be wise to check with your cruise company, especially if your cruise is outside of the Western Hemisphere or Europe. Some countries allow the cruise line to handle visas upon arrival in port.

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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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Drinking Alcoholic Beverages / Tobacco Products Guests must be 21 years of age or older to be served alcohol on board. Proper I.D with birth date is required. In keeping with U.S. federal law, the age for the sale of tobacco products is 21. This policy is for U.S.-based itineraries/ships only.

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The drinking age on all U.S.-based cruise lines is 21 -- even when sailing international waters. (Under special circumstances, some cruise lines allow 18- to 20-year-olds to purchase and consume alcohol with a parent's consent.) Regardless of the policy, you should never buy a drink for someone under 21.

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ALCOHOL POLICY The minimum age to consume alcohol on Royal Caribbean ships on sailings originating in North America or the Caribbean is twenty-one (21). The minimum age to consume alcohol on Royal Caribbean ships on sailings originating in South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand is eighteen (18).

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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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This may be an original or photocopy of a state-issued birth certificate. If your daughter is 16 years of age or older, she will also need to present a government-issued photo ID. When it comes to the online check-in for your Disney Cruise, you will be required to submit a photo of these documents.

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Passport Control Process Before Boarding The ship's officers will check each passenger's identification against an official database to ensure that everyone onboard is legally entitled to travel in the country of departure. This process is similar to what happens when entering a foreign country.

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It depends. For North Americans, many popular cruise destinations -- such as the Eastern and Western Caribbean, Alaska and Western Mediterranean -- do not require visas. But ships that call on more exotic destinations might include visits to a country where you'd need a visa to enter.

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