Passport Needed?

[PurpleKomodo]

We are looking on a 3 night cruise with stops at Castaway and Nassau. If we plan to stay on the ship at Nassau, do we need passports?

 

[anricat]

Even if you get off the ship in Nassau, you don't need passports. They aren't required on a closed loop cruise.

That said, we ALWAYS travel with them. I've heard too many awful stories of people having to get off the ship (usually due to an unforeseen medical emergency) and having to deal with a bunch of bureaucratic paperwork to get back into the country.

 

[harleyquinn]

You don’t need a passport whether you get off the ship or not. Close looped cruises don’t require passports. Passports are required to fly from foreign countries.

 

[aka Charles]

I've heard too many awful stories of people having to get off the ship (usually due to an unforeseen medical emergency) and having to deal with a bunch of bureaucratic paperwork to get back into the country.

This is true.
If you need to fly back to the US due to an emergency (injury, sickness, family emergency, etc.) you will be required to have your passport.
Air travel into the US requires your passport book, not passport card.
The passport card is only for sea port and land entry into the US.
If you do not have your passport with you and need to fly back, you will probably have to get a passport issued through a US embassy or consulate, and that takes time.
Having your passport is probably the best/cheapest insurance you can get, and its good for 10 years. (that can cover a lot of cruises, lol)

 

[loislane]

As others said don't need one. We have enhanced licenses which are approved ID for certain land and sea border crossings. We didn't have passports for our first cruise. I have one now. My husband doesn't because he's a procrastinator.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If we plan to stay on the ship at Nassau, do we need passports?

Staying onboard or not makes no difference. Once the ship ports, you are considered "in" that country.

If a country requires passports to enter it, and you don't have one, you will be denied boarding.

All that said, MOST countries in the Caribbean only require a government issued photo ID and birth certificate to cruise there. However, if you wind up needing to fly back to the US from a foreign port, you'll have to get an emergency passport before you can.

 

[Cheburashka]

I recommend always taking passports when you leave the country.