The short answer is: Yes. Okay, bye! That was a quick post! Just kidding, I’ll qualify that statement and explain my answer so you can make the best decision.
If you are sailing on a European or Mediterannean itinerary (or any cruise leaving out of a foreign port), then you probably already knew you needed a passport, since you’ll be flying to and from a foreign country. But you may have heard of friends using their driver’s licenses and birth certificates when sailing on a cruise that embarks from a U.S. port and wondered if you can or should do the same.
First I’ll go over the rules, then my own recommendations (which are for your own good!)
Open-Loop Cruises
If you are sailing on an open-loop cruise from a United States port (starts in one port and ends in another), then the same rules apply as for foreign port cruises: you must have a valid passport.
Closed-Loop Cruises
If you are sailing on a closed-loop cruise (round trip to and from the same port) out of a U.S. port, here are the required documents:
For U.S Citizens
- Original valid U.S. Passport
- Original valid U.S. Passport Card
- Original valid Trusted Traveler Card (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
OR
- Original or official copy of their state-issued birth certificate AND Government-issued photo ID
- Original Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State AND Government-issued photo ID
- Original Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services AND Government-issued photo ID
Hospital-issued birth certificates are not acceptable.
Puerto Rico birth certificates issued prior to 7/1/10 are not acceptable.
Guests 15 years of age and younger are required to travel with one of the documents listed above but do not require a Government-issued photo ID.
Social Security Cards and Global Entry are not acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship for purposes of traveling outside of the U.S.
So the rules state that you may use just your birth certificate and driver’s license or other state-issued ID as identification if your cruise begins and ends at the same U.S. port. Yes, it is legal. But that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Here’s why:
If for any reason, you should have to fly back to the United States from a foreign country (even the Bahamas, Mexico or the Caribbean), you will not be admitted without a passport (book, not card!). You may think the odds are very slim that you’ll find yourself in that situation, and you’re probably right, but if it DOES happen to you, things can get ugly!
Consider these real-life scenarios:
Like the Wentzel Family, you decide to fly to your port on the same day your ship sails (mistake number one) and your flight is delayed, causing you to arrive to the port too late to board the ship. Bummer, but at least you can fly to meet the ship at its’ first port of call, right? Wrong, without a passport, you’re stuck in the U.S. – oh, and your travel insurance doesn’t cover this.
Or you could fall overboard, and then be rescued (let’s hope!) by another ship – at which point you’ll be flown home – but if you don’t have your passport, you’re not going anywhere!
If your flirtatious behavior and suspiciously good looks are drawing too much attention, you might get booted off the ship in an unsafe port, like these male models who Holland America left in war-torn Tunisa.
Okay, you can probably avoid those last two scenarios, but what is much more common and more difficult to predict or prevent, is a medical situation like the one faced by Fred and Connie Claussen when Fred had a heart attack onboard his Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship. He was transferred to a hospital in St. Kitt’s that doesn’t sound like a place you’d even want to take your dog to be treated. From there, he was airlifted to the U.S. – thank goodness he’d had his passport or he’d have been stuck.
Passports currently cost $110, so if you need to purchase them for your whole family, it can be a big expense. But it’s nothing compared to what you’ll face if you find yourself stuck without a passport. Add it to your overall vacation budget and order one at a time so you have to take the hit all at once.
What about a passport card? It’s so much cheaper! Nope, that won’t help you anymore than your driver’s license and birth certificate will. It is only accepted if you arrive in the U.S. by land or sea. If you need to return by air, a passport card won’t cut it. You definitely want a passport for your cruise!
So when should apply for those passports?
Processing can take from 6 to 8 weeks. They often arrive much quicker, but do you really want to sweat it? I suggest applying at least 3 to 6 months before you sail for your peace of mind if you have the time. If you don’t, you can pay extra for expedited processing.
Another note about timing – if you already have a passport, make sure it will not expire until at least 6 months after your return from your trip. That’s a rule – not just a tip from me!
Do you have a cruise or passport related horror story? Share it in the comments below. If you’d like more information about planning a Disney Cruise or a free quote, fill out the form on my CONTACT page or just shoot me an email me rebecca@magicaltravel.com
