On closed-loop cruises, a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID are all that's required. Check with your cruise line before departure to see what documents are needed instead of a passport. Many require a state-issued ID and an original birth certificate if you don't have a passport.

For U.S. citizens on a "closed-loop" cruise (one that begins and ends at the same U.S. port), you technically only need a government-issued birth certificate and a valid government photo ID (like a driver's license). However, a valid U.S. Passport is strongly recommended for all travelers. This is because if an emergency occurs—such as a medical evacuation or a missed ship in a foreign port—you cannot fly back to the U.S. from a foreign country without a passport. For "open-loop" cruises (starting in one port and ending in another) or any cruise visiting "non-WHTI" ports (like Martinique or Guadeloupe), a passport is mandatory. Non-U.S. citizens must always carry a valid passport and, depending on their nationality, the appropriate visas for each country on the itinerary. As of May 2025, if you are using a driver's license as your photo ID, it must be REAL ID compliant to meet federal travel standards, even for domestic port departures.