documents to embark

[rover11]

To initially get on the ship in Port Canaveral, in the absence of a passport, will a drivers license suffice?

[Shmoo here]

To initially get on the ship in Port Canaveral, in the absence of a passport, will a drivers license suffice?

 

For US citizens on a closed-loop cruise (beginning and ending in the same US port, aboard the same ship) the minimum requirement is a birth certificate and (for those 16 and older) a government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID card, military ID, etc). For a cruise that isn't a closed loop cruise, you must have a passport.

 

I will point out, if there is a reason you would need to cut your cruise short, and fly home from a foreign port, you would need a passport.

[moki'smommy]

No, a driver's license is NOT sufficient. You need a certified birth certificate--the one you get from the state where you were born. While this is commonly called an "original" birth certificate, it is actually a certified copy; the original is never released from any state. Years ago, all states used a raised seal to indicate authenticity; now some states use holograms and other devices. It MUST be the one from the state, not some gifty thing from a hospital.

 

In addition, all guests 16 and over need a government issued photo ID (driver's license/permit, military ID, employment ID if you work for the government, etc)

 

These comments apply to US citizens on a closed loop cruise only.

Edited October 24, 2014 by moki'smommy