Did you know you don’t necessarily need a passport to go on a cruise? While some itineraries, like one-way sailings from one U.S. port to another and international voyages, require a valid passport, some cruises permit a government-issued photo ID and a certified birth certificate copy as acceptable travel documentation. 

These include closed-loop (or round-trip) sailings from U.S. ports, such as a 7-night Caribbean cruise that begins and ends in Miami. 

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Even though certain voyages don’t require passports, it’s advisable to have one handy. If something goes wrong—such as a medical emergency—and you must disembark in a foreign port of call, you can’t fly back to the United States without one. 

Before your cruise, pay attention to any communication from your cruise line regarding valid travel documentation, as the rules are subject to change. 

Most of the time, if you arrive at your embarkation port with the wrong documentation, you’ll be denied boarding. However, some voyages may just forbid you from getting off the ship at certain ports. Even if you’re allowed on board, missing out on exploring a new destination because you failed to bring the proper documents would be disappointing. 

Read more: Where can you cruise without a passport?

Carnival shares new passport rule

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Carnival passengers sailing to Panama were informed of changes to the documentation requirements. Under the new rules, guests with improper documents won’t be allowed ashore in Panama. 

“To comply with guidelines for going ashore, all guests (including infants) must carry a passport book that is valid for at least six months after the cruise ends,” John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, shared on Facebook. 

“Guests will be permitted to sail with other acceptable travel documentation, but they must remain on board when the ship visits Panama.”

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Passengers on one-way cruises that transit the Canal have always been required to carry a valid passport; however, Carnival has begun offering round-trip sailings to Panama (not through the Canal) from U.S. ports, such as Galveston, New Orleans, and Tampa.  

These sailings begin as early as December 2024, starting with Carnival Liberty’s 14-day cruise from New Orleans to Grand Cayman; Aruba; Curaçao; Cartagena, Colombia; Colón, Panama; Limon, Costa Rica; and Cozumel. The ship will return to the same embarkation port of New Orleans. 

Guests are responsible for having the proper documents for each country visited 

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Currently, it can take six to eight weeks to obtain a passport. However, the process can be expedited for a fee. If a passport is needed urgently, passengers can visit the U.S. Department of State’s website for options.

Guests who don’t have valid documentation during their Carnival cruise to Panama and must stay onboard will be refunded the full price of any shore excursions purchased through Carnival. 

Where can you cruise without a passport?

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From the Bahamas and the Caribbean to Bermuda, New England/Canada, Alaska, and even the Mexican Riviera, there are numerous cruise destinations that don’t require a passport.

However, before you book, make sure your cruise departs and returns to the same port. For instance, if Cabo is on your list, look for a round-trip sailing from Los Angeles. Likewise, if you’re dreaming of exploring Alaska, focus on cruises that start and end in Seattle. 

Even one-way sailings to and from U.S. ports require a passport, meaning you can’t begin a cruise in New Jersey and disembark in Florida with just a driver’s license and birth certificate. 

Elizabeth Wright

Elizabeth graduated from New York University’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.