For U.S. citizens sailing on a round-trip cruise to the Bahamas from the United States, a passport is recommended, but not required. Please bring the original or a copy of your child's state-issued birth certificate with you to check in at the cruise terminal.

Whether your child needs a passport depends on the type of cruise you are taking. If you are on a "Closed-Loop Cruise"—one that begins and ends at the same U.S. port (e.g., Miami to Miami)—U.S. citizens, including children, are not legally required by the U.S. government to have a passport to visit the Bahamas. Instead, a child under age 16 can use an original or certified copy of their birth certificate. However, even if the government doesn't require it, some cruise lines strongly recommend one in case of an emergency that requires you to fly home from a foreign port (as you cannot board a plane without a passport). If your cruise is not closed-loop (e.g., Miami to New York), a valid passport is mandatory for all ages. For 2026 travel, it is always a peer-to-peer best practice to bring a passport if possible, as it significantly speeds up the re-entry process and provides the ultimate security for your family should your travel plans change unexpectedly due to weather or illness.