Please note that Cruise Recs is providing this article for informational purposes only. We take great care to make sure the information we provide is accurate, but take no legal responsibility for advising travelers regarding proper travel documents. Be sure to check with your preferred cruise line prior to embarkation to confirm required documentation for your specific travel itinerary.

The required documents are a little different for traveling by sea than by land, and depends on your home port, destinations, and your citizenship status. For this article, we’ll be focusing on United States permanent residents cruising from U.S. Domestics ports.

Most cruise lines highly recommend that all guests travel with a passport book that is valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel.  Traveling with a passport will ensure a smooth debarkation, as without one you may experience delays by U.S. Customs and Border Protection when you return to the United States. Additionally, in the unlikely event of an emergency that requires you to cut your cruise short, having a passport will enable you to fly back to the United States without significant delays and complications.

Traveling with a Passport or Other Acceptable Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-Compliant Documents

For cruises that begin and end in the same U.S port, the following WHTI-compliant documents are acceptable for cruise travel. Please note that there are a few exceptions where you MUST travel with a passport – see the Exceptions section below for more information.

PASSPORT

United States citizens may present a valid, unexpired U.S. passport book when traveling via air, land, or sea. The passport book must be valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel.  U.S. citizens may also present a limited-use, wallet-size passport card. The passport card will only be valid for land and sea travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region, and Bermuda. Note that a passport card cannot be used to travel by air outside the United States.

• U.S. Passport Book
• U.S. Passport Card

-OR-

PHOTO IDENTIFICATION + BIRTH CERTIFICATE

In lieu of a passport, guests may travel with acceptable government issued photo identification + a valid birth certificate.

An unexpired government-issued photo ID is required of all guests 16 years of age and older. A Mobile/Digital version of a photo ID is not an acceptable form of identification.

The following photo IDs are acceptable:

• Driver’s License (a temporary Driver’s License with photo is acceptable)
• Driver’s Permit
• School/Student ID (acceptable for guests 16/17/18 years of age)
• Government-issued identification card including a U.S. Military ID with photo (city/state/federal)
• Government-issued Trusted Traveler Program Membership Card (NEXUS/SENTRI/FAST) – for photo identification use only

AND one of the following:

• U.S.-born citizens may use a birth certificate issued by a government agency – see Birth Certificate Information section below for more information on requirements for birth certificates
• Consular report of Birth Abroad
• Certificate of U.S. Naturalization
• Native American Indian Card

EXCEPTIONS:

• Cruises that visit Greenland: a passport book is required.
• Cruises that begin and end in a different U.S. port: a passport book or passport card is required.
• Cruises that visit Colombia, provided they depart from and return to a U.S. port: a passport book or passport card is required.

Note that passport books and passport cards must be valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel.

Birth Certificate Information

The following are acceptable:

• An original or copy of a birth certificate issued by a government agency (state/county/city) or the Department of Health and Vital Statistics.
• A 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
• Internationally adopted children (under the age of 18): If the adoptive parent was not issued a birth certificate, proof of citizenship, a Certificate of Citizenship by the U.S. and adoption paperwork is acceptable. A Certificate of Citizenship is issued by the U.S. once the adoption is finalized.
• Guests may obtain a copy of a birth certificate by contacting: The Department of Health and Vital Statistics at: www.vitalchek.com.
• Laminated birth certificates are acceptable.

Birth certificates from Puerto Rico issued prior to July 1, 2010, are not valid forms of proof of citizenship and are not accepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Guests from Puerto Rico either need to present a WHTI-compliant document or a government-issued photo ID with a validated birth certificate issued after July 1, 2010.

Unacceptable Forms of Documentation

• Copies of any WHTI-Compliant document
• Driver’s License as the only proof (must also have birth certificate)
• A Mobile/Digital version of a photo ID
• A temporary driver’s license (paperwork without a photo ID)
• Voter’s Registration Card
• Trusted Traveler Program Membership Card (NEXUS/SENTRI/FAST) – may be used for photo identification use only
• Baptismal Papers
• U.S. Military ID as the only proof
• A Dependent Military ID that is issued to the spouse and children of military personnel is not acceptable
• U.S. Military Discharge Papers
• No Record of Birth certificate: a certificate issued by the Department of Health and Vital Statistics showing that they have no records on this person
• Hospital certificate, hospital-issued birth notice, Certificate of Live Birth, live record of birth or announcement of birth

Names on Travel Documentation
It is important that the guest’s full name (first name and last name) on the booking be the same as the guest’s non-expired government-issued photo I.D. they plan to use for travel identification. In the event of a different name on the booking and the guest’s photo I.D. as a result of a marriage, divorce or a legal name change, documentation (original or clear, legible copy) supporting this change is required (at embarkation), such as a marriage certificate, marriage license or legal name change court document. Failure to bring documentation bridging the name differences could result in denied boarding.

For those about to or recently have been married, we strongly recommend that in instances where the non-expired government-issued photo I.D. is in the maiden name, the cruise booking be made in the maiden name (do not include the married name); If the reservation was made in the married name, but the non-expired government-issued photo I.D. is in the maiden name, documentation (original or clear, legible copy) supporting this change is required (at embarkation), such as a marriage certificate or marriage license. Failure to bring documentation bridging the name differences could result in denied boarding.

Traveling with Minors
When traveling with a minor where one or both parents or legal guardians are not cruising, we strongly recommend bringing an original signed letter from the absent parent(s) or legal guardians authorizing the minor to travel with you. If there is no second parent with legal claims to the minor (due to sole custody, deceased, etc.) other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, death certificate, birth certificate naming only one parent, would be useful to bring in place of a signed letter. This will expedite processing by the Department of Homeland Security.

Citizens of U.S. Territories and Commonwealth

Guests will follow the same travel documentation requirements. U.S. Territories and Commonwealth include: Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John), America Samoa, Swains Island and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

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