U.S. citizens on cruises that begin and end in the same U.S. port and travel to destinations in Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, the Bahamas or Bermuda are able to re-enter the U.S. with proof of citizenship other than a passport or passport card.

Whether you need a passport for an MSC cruise to the Bahamas in 2026 depends heavily on your citizenship and your cruise's "loop" structure. For U.S. citizens on a "closed-loop" cruise—meaning the ship begins and ends at the same U.S. port (like Miami or Port Canaveral)—a passport is technically not required by law; you can instead use a state-issued birth certificate and a government photo ID. However, MSC and travel authorities strongly recommend a passport because, without one, you cannot fly back to the U.S. from the Bahamas in the event of an emergency, a missed ship, or a mechanical failure. For non-U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, a valid passport from your country of citizenship is mandatory, and you may also require a Bahamian visa depending on your nationality. For 2026, MSC's "Standard Booking Terms" emphasize that while closed-loop exceptions exist, a passport valid for at least six months beyond the return date is the only "fail-safe" document that ensures a smooth experience at both U.S. Customs and Bahamian immigration.