Disney Cruise Line does recommend that you travel with passports, however, for your round-trip cruise to The Bahamas that begins and ends in the same home port, you will be allowed to board if you are a U.S. citizen and provide an original or copy of your state-issued birth certificate AND a government-issued photo ID.

In 2026, the passport requirement for children on a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas depends on the type of cruise (Closed-Loop vs. One-Way). For a "Closed-Loop" cruise (one that starts and ends at the same U.S. port, like Port Canaveral), U.S. citizen children under age 16 can technically travel with just an original or certified copy of their birth certificate. However, Disney Cruise Line and all savvy peers strongly recommend a valid passport for every guest, including infants. This is because if an emergency occurs—such as a medical evacuation or a missed ship in Nassau—you cannot fly back to the U.S. from a foreign country without a passport. A birth certificate is only valid for sea travel, not air. For any cruise that is not "closed-loop" or for non-U.S. citizens, a passport is a non-negotiable, high-value requirement for boarding. Spending the $100+ for a child's passport is a peer-recommended "insurance policy" that ensures your family is never stranded in a foreign port due to a paperwork technicality that only covers the "ocean" portion of your vacation.