Do they check your birth certificate on a cruise?

We strongly recommend that all guests present a passport as their form of ID on boarding day. Technically, yes – U.S. citizens can present a state-certified birth certificate and government-issued photo ID to sail on most cruises departing from the U.S. But a passport is the more efficient, secure option.



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A Passport is Required to Cruise To and From Foreign Ports This means you'll need a passport regardless of whether you plan to fly or drive in or out of the country. The cruise line will require you to enter your passport information during check-in, and then the airline will verify your passport to board the flight.

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A cruise line may keep your passport for the duration of your cruise or certain segments to make it easier for immigration to check passports when travelling between different countries.

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Under the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, for the purposes of determining the obligations under the convention, a birth on a ship or aircraft in international waters or airspace shall be treated as a birth in the country of the ship or aircraft's registration.

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A Certificate of Citizenship is issued by the U.S. once the adoption is finalized. Guests may obtain a copy of a birth certificate by contacting: The Department of Health and Vital Statistics at: www.vitalchek.com. If the guest has laminated their birth certificate, it is acceptable.

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U.S. Domestic Cruises
  • U.S. Passport.
  • Passport Card.
  • State Enhanced Driver's License.
  • Certificate of U.S. Naturalization.
  • Native American Indian Card.
  • US-born citizens may also use a birth certificate (issued by a government agency and accompanied by government-issued photo I.D.)


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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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If you lose your passport, report it immediately to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and make arrangements to get a replacement passport, for a fee.

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As for your person, you will go through a metal detector. We have yet to go through a port that has the body scanners that have caused so much controversy at airports.

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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.

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Some cruise lines require a medical certificate or a letter from your doctor stating your term of pregnancy or due date, pre-existing physical or medical conditions, your fitness to travel, and any medications you require while onboard.

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United States citizens on a roundtrip cruise departing from one United States port, sailing within the Western Hemisphere and ending in the same United States port can use a government issued picture ID along with proof of citizenship in the form of an original or notarized government issued birth certificate or ...

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Much like a hotel or plane, cruise lines in the U.S. are not required by law to do criminal background checks, or block passengers who may be registered sex offenders. Published policies for cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian do not state any restrictions on passengers with a criminal history.

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If you've committed only minor offenses, you likely won't have a problem, but be honest about anything on your criminal record. You might also be asked to submit documentation to explain your convictions.

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For sailings departing from U.S. homeports, an official US state-issued Birth Certificate is also accepted.

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Officials say an expectant mother cruising onboard Royal Caribbean International's Jewel of the Seas visited the medical facility after experiencing discomfort. The medical team determined she was in active labor. The premature baby was successfully delivered aboard the Jewel.

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Depending on your itinerary, the ship may collect your passport to speed up the clearance formalities at each port of call. We suggest you bring with you a few photocopies of your passport's personal page which includes the picture, and that you carry one of these photocopies with you each time you leave the ship.

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