Documents Required For Your Cruise
Before embarking on a cruise each passenger is required to have not only a cruise ticket, but certain other documents, depending on the itinerary of the ship. The following list is provided as a guideline to these requirements for U.S. citizens. Non-U.S. citizens should check with the embassy or consulate of their respective countries to verify those requirements.
A passport is the preferred document for all cruises, although
not required for certain destinations (see below). To obtain
a passport, you'll be required to complete a Passport Application
and provide a Birth Certificate and twoidentical photos as specified
on the application. Passport Applications can be obtained from
your local U.S. Passport Office, on the internet at http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html or
by calling the National Passport Information Center at 1-888-362-8668
($4.95 per call flat rate fee, must use credit card) or 1-900-225-5674
(35 cents per minute for automated information or $1.05 per minute
for operator assisted calls).
For those cruises that stop ONLY in Alaska, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Mexico
and the Caribbean, passengers may use aCertified Birth Certificate AND a government-issued
photo identification in lieu of a passport.
If no passport is available, a certified birth certificate is required for EVERY passenger, regardless of age. A copy may be obtained from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in the state of birth and is identified by a raised seal. Some states now offer wallet-sized plastic copies, which are also acceptable.
A photo ID is also required for any passenger age 18 and over. A driver's license is the most common form of identification. Those who do not have a driver's license may, in most states, obtain a photo ID from the state licensing office. A phone call to the local office is recommended to verify what is required to obtain this ID card.
Some cruises to the Caribbean and Panama Canal that stop in certain countries in South and Central America may require a passport. The cruise line or your travel agent can advise you if your itinerary has this requirement.