Not needing Passport on Cruise?

Have you tried Google?

https://www.passportsandvisas.com/cruise/lines/carnival-cruises

That's not true. If your cruise leaves the country you need a passport. They won't let you on the ship without one. Not sure what cruise line your co-worker went on, but I imagine this is the norm for most.

That's 100% not true, definitely bring your passport.

ETA: just read info on it, i guess you can however I still would bring it.

DH tried to convince me of this (he didn't have his passport), but the more he looked into it, the more we came to agree that even if he could, he'd be screwed if there was an emergency and we ended up on a random island needing a plane home. He wouldn't have been able to fly back into the US.

Thanks everyone! I thought we would need one based on the research I had done but as first year teachers, I was hoping to potentially save any money possible!

Any cruise I've researched require/ strongly suggest your passport and even a birth certificate in some cases. I would definitely bring something more than your ID to make sure your covered.

It's a good idea to have a passport anyway.

This is true however I strongly discourage it. For cruising you only need your birth certificate and valid ID (as long as you are leaving from the US). Even though the cruise line doesn't require it, I still bring my passport and still bring it to shore with me (since God forbid something happens and I get stuck behind I do not want to be in a foreign country without my passport).

@OP - for a piece of mind contact the cruise line you are going through. Cruises have different regulations for the islands when compared to just traveling there directly - so even though you may need a passport to get to island A if you flew directly you don't need it for cruising.

My only experience has been with Carnival cruiseline. They currently do not require a passport for cruises departing from and returning to the same US port for US citizens. You can cruise with an original copy of your birth certificate (long form, not short) and DL (or other approved photo ID, check link below). However, as PPs have stated, having a passport is good to have of something happens while out of the country.

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/category/~/travel-documentation-and-online-check-in/~/travel-documents/c/406

Yes that's true. As long as you are leaving and returning by the same mode of transportation, you can use your birth certificate. But if there's an emergency and you have to fly back to the US, you're SOL. Better to just get the passport if you have time.

Went on a cruise for my bach two weeks ago. My sister who does not have a passport just brought her birth certificate and drivers license we went on royal Caribbean but we returned to the same port.

We also got off in the Bahamas she brought it with her to return on the boat she had no issues.

Now you don't even have to fill out custom forms when you re-enter into the US which I was surprised about.

I had to get a passport for my mother's cruise wedding, and I'm having a cruise wedding myself and insist on everyone who is cruising get passports, I would get it either way just incase

If you are on a closed loop cruise (leaving and returning to the same US port) you do not need a passport and can use your birth certificate and driver's license. However, if you would need to fly home from one of the cruise stops due to an emergency, you likely will not be able to do so without a passport.

Mandi is correct

I personally wouldn't chance it. I would make sure you have a passport. If you get stranded, you might not be able to get home in a good manner.

We went on a Carnival cruise about a year ago to Cozumel, Mexico and we did not need one. However you never know what would happen while in the country. If we missed the ship for whatever reason, we'd have some difficulties getting back

You technically only need your birth certificate and ID, but it's still a good idea to have a passport. If, for whatever reason, you get stranded in another country, your birth certificate won't do much for you.

I went on a cruise last year that did not REQUIRE a passport. However when I went to get back on the ship at on of the ports (Bahamas) they were checking for passport. Also it's so easy to get a passport idk why you wouldn't

If it's a "closed loop" cruise (which means it departs and returns to the same US port), you technically don't need a passport. But say if you got ill in one of these foreign countries or missed the ship and got stuck there, it would be a huge pain to get back to the US without a passport (you'd most likely have to go through a long process with the US Embassy in said country). In case of emergencies, a passport is reccommended.