Do I need a passport to take a Disney Cruise?

[DJ Disney Kid]

We booked the 4-Night Bahamian Cruise. Do I need to get a passport or can I just use my Illinois Drivers liscense? I thought I read somewhere if you have a certain type of DL, you don't need a passport, but how would I know?

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

You can't board the cruise with just a driver's license. You need either a passport or a certified birth certificate from your state government, not the hospital, to board the cruise. Once on board, you can use your driver's license as photo id to get on the ship at ports.

I recommend getting a passport any time you're leaving the country. Yes, on closed loop cruises that depart and return to the US you don't need it, but if anything happens in port, you are injured, you miss the ship, anything at all, you would be stuck in a mess of red tape without a passport.

 

[AmandaRG]

On closed-loop cruises leaving the US, a passport is not required, just a photo ID and birth certificate.

Passports are recommended, as the laws could change.

For our family, we consider them like insurance and have the "just in case" a problem comes up.

 

[kay1864]

Passports are recommended, as the laws could change.

That will not happen without at least six months' notice.

 

[eblong]

That will not happen without at least six months' notice.

True. However, your personal conditions can change at a moments notice. Having a Passport is good insurance.

If you don't have a passport, and need to return home in an emergency, the delays can be lengthy because of the red tape you will run into of you don't have a passport. I don't believe that Passcard is sufficient for return to the US by air without red tape.

 

[kcashner]

I do not believe that the passcard is sufficient for air travel. It is adequate for boarding the ship and boarder crossings.

The requirements for a closed loop Caribbean cruise are a government issued photo ID AND a certified birth certificate OR a passport (which serves as both ID and proof of citizenship) for all persons 18 or older. Minors do not need a photo ID.

As above, there are laws in place to allow for emergency re-patriation in the event of an emergency that required you to not complete the cruise. For instance, if you had to be hospitalized in the Bahamas, you would have to go to the US Consulate and would be issued an emergency passport, upon your return to the US this must be exchanged for a "real" passport. I agree that a passport is always a good idea, but many families choose to cruise with birth certificates

 

[kay1864]

I do not believe that the passcard is sufficient for air travel. It is adequate for boarding the ship and boarder crossings.

This is correct. It's really functionally no better than a birth certificate. It is handier (and less likely to get damaged) for people who live near the Canadian or Mexican border, and drive across often.

As above, there are laws in place to allow for emergency re-patriation in the event of an emergency that required you to not complete the cruise. For instance, if you had to be hospitalized in the Bahamas, you would have to go to the US Consulate and would be issued an emergency passport, upon your return to the US this must be exchanged for a "real" passport. I agree that a passport is always a good idea, but many families choose to cruise with birth certificates

Exactly. I'm guessing less than 1% of cruise passengers incur this kind of medical emergency, and as you mention there are ways to get back without a passport in hand.

So if your health is good, you don't plan to travel internationally, and you're on a tight budget (especially after paying DCL fares ), no need to spend an extra $400 for a family of four, especially when thousands of people sail every weekend with just a birth certificate. (raised seal, of course)

 

[jerry557]

Passports are good to have, but they are not cheap ($135 each I think). Good thing is that they are good for 10 years. So if you plan to travel outside the country in the next decade, it might be worth it. But if a Bahamas cruise is all you plan on doing...it might not be worth getting one.

But you WILL need a DL and a official birth certificate.