A viewer asked: “When cruising, do you need other documents when using a passport? We used others when we didn’t have a passport.”
It’s a great question, because the answer depends on where you’re cruising from, where you’re going, and what ID you already have.
👉 Not in the mood to read? Here’s the quick TikTok version ⬇️
If You Have a Passport
For most travelers, a valid passport is all you need to board a Royal Caribbean cruise. A passport proves both your identity and your citizenship in one document, which makes check-in smoother and faster.
You’ll also get to use the passport line at the cruise terminal, which usually moves quicker than the line for people carrying a birth certificate plus ID.
Another big perk? If your name doesn’t match across your license and birth certificate (like after marriage or a legal name change), the passport becomes the final word. No questions, no delays.
And if something unexpected happens and you need to fly home from a foreign port, a passport is the only document that will get you on a plane back to the U.S.
If You Don’t Have a Passport
On round-trip cruises from a U.S. port (called closed-loop cruises), you can use:
- A government-issued photo ID (like a driver’s license)
plus - An original or certified copy of your birth certificate
Kids under 16 can often use just a birth certificate.
This option works for Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexico, and Canada sailings, but it doesn’t work everywhere.
Cruises Outside the U.S.
If your cruise starts or ends outside the United States- in Europe, Asia, South America, or Australia- you’ll need a valid passport. The license + birth certificate option won’t be accepted.
Do You Ever Need a Visa?
Sometimes, yes. Certain destinations require a visa in addition to your passport. Examples include:
- Brazil
- China
- India
- Vietnam
- Some Middle Eastern countries
Royal Caribbean usually tells you at booking or in your pre-cruise documents if a visa is required. In some cases, the cruise line arranges a group visa; in others, you’ll need to apply ahead of time.
Bottom Line
- Passport holders: A passport alone is usually all you need.
- No passport: You’ll need both a license and a birth certificate, but only on closed-loop U.S. sailings.
- Outside the U.S.: Passports are always required, and sometimes visas too.
Here are the most common unacceptable forms of documentation:
- ❌ Copies or digital images of passports, birth certificates, or other WHTI-compliant documents
- ❌ Driver’s license only (even REAL ID)
- ❌ Temporary paper driver’s license without a photo
- ❌ Voter registration card
- ❌ Trusted Traveler cards (NEXUS/SENTRI/FAST) as sole proof of citizenship — they can only be used for photo ID
- ❌ Baptismal papers or religious certificates
- ❌ Hospital-issued birth records (including “certificate of live birth” or birth announcements)
- ❌ Military ID by itself (including dependent military ID for spouses/children)
- ❌ Military discharge papers
- ❌ “No record of birth” certificates issued by a health department
Want to feel prepared for your cruise?
I pulled the most important Royal Caribbean prep steps into a printable checklist bundle that walks you through what to do before you leave, what to bring, how embarkation works, and what to expect on disembarkation day—so you’re prepared instead of guessing.
Products I Use and Recommend
I keep a list of cruise-approved items I personally use and recommend.
Charity Bradley 
Leave a comment