Your boarding documents, which will either be mailed to you in advance or printed at home.
Your luggage tags. ...
Passport and/or driver's license, depending on your particular cruise.
A credit card.
People Also Ask
Everyone will need to present an accepted form of identification to board the ship. It's important that the name on your reservation appears exactly as it does on the government issued identification document(s) that you use to board the ship. If you... Do I need any visas to cruise to and from other countries?
Quicker boarding processArriving at the terminal early means that you will not have to deal with the later crowds. While the check-in process is pretty straightforward, there are a couple steps that you have to take prior to being let on the ship, including checking your travel documents and going through security.
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.
If you take closed loop cruises (meaning your trip begins and ends at a U.S. port), you can sail to a variety of dreamy destinations as a U.S. citizen without a passport. For “closed-loop” cruises, U.S. citizens will need to provide: A boarding pass. A government photo I.D.
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.
Many people suggest $100 per day, and this has generally worked well for me in my cruising experiences. Here are some guidelines to help you decide how much money to bring on a cruise.
If it's homemade, not in a sealed package or needs refrigeration or to be cooked, it's prohibited. The only food allowed on cruise ships is store-bought items in sealed, shelf-stable packaging. If you're tempted to try to smuggle something on board, it's not recommended.
In many spots, you'll need cash for everything from sweets to sodas to souvenirs sold by street vendors and small mom-and-pop shops. If you're cruising to large cities, say Rome or Barcelona for example, you'll be able to use plastic in most cases.
In general, expect to spend about 15 minutes on the boarding process if lines are short (usually when boarding later), or at most about 45-60 minutes if lines are long (usually when boarding earlier). When you arrive to the cruise port can make a big difference in how long you'll wait to board.
Beyond needing a valid passport to travel, cruise ship passengers might also require a cruise visa. This happens when the countries they are exploring along the way have specialized entry requirements in place. A cruise visa provides the same credentials for a traveler as a traditional visa.
Birth Certificate InformationA 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.
Either type of passport can be used on closed-loop sailings that call at foreign ports but depart and return to the U.S. Without either document, you'd need to provide proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate) and proof of identification (such as a driver's license).
Taking Your PassportShould you take your passport with you on shore excursions? No, you shouldn't bring your passport, unless your tour requires it. We recommend bringing your driver's license as a form of ID instead. You don't want to risk losing your passport ashore.
The Verdict: Plan to Board Your Cruise Ship EarlyRemember that it's always better to be a little early and wait a little longer before embarking rather than show up late and miss your trip entirely! Check out this article with other tips for embarking on a cruise ship.