Will A Real Id Work For A Cruise?

Starting May 3, 2023, the REAL ID Act will take effect, making it more convenient to board commercial flights, visit military bases, and nuclear sites. REAL ID allows compliant states to issue drivers licenses and identification cards where the applicant’s identity cannot be assured or lawful presence is not determined.

As of May 7, 2025, the US Department of Homeland Security will require every resident of a US state or territory who is a REAL ID to have a REAL ID at minimum for domestic travel. A valid passport can work in place of a REAL ID for domestic travel, but a valid REAL ID is required for international travel.

A REAL ID is an upgraded, more secure driver’s license that is required for domestic flights as of May 7, 2025. However, a passport or Enhanced Driver’s License can be used on some cruises, depending on the port of embarkation and debarkation. If a passenger’s passport has a month left at the port, their REAL ID card can be used.

International travelers will still need their passport, as REAL ID cards are not acceptable forms of identification for international travel. Sea (cruise) travel is not allowed with REAL ID cards. A REAL ID is marked by a gold or black star to signify compliance, and a birth certificate is required for obtaining a REAL ID license.

A REAL ID is not equivalent to a passport, nor is it related to cruising. While a passport could be used if one didn’t have REAL ID, a REAL ID is not equivalent to a passport.

To board a Royal Caribbean cruise, a temporary drivers license (paperwork without a photo ID) is required, and a REAL ID is not considered acceptable documentation for a cruise.

Can you travel to the Caribbean with a REAL ID?

Q: Do I need a passport if I have a REAL ID? If you are traveling internationally you will still need your passport. If you are traveling domestically, you will only need one valid form of identification – either your REAL ID or another acceptable alternative such as a passport, not both.

Can I use real ID instead of passport to Jamaica?

Do I Need a Real ID to Travel If I Already Have a Passport?. The short answer is, no.

An official U.S. passport will get you through airport security and can be used in place of a Real ID.

If you are only traveling domestically, you can use a Real ID or passport. If you are traveling internationally, you still need a valid passport.

If you’re worried about getting your proper paperwork in time for your next trip, make sure you apply for these documents early.

There have been delays with this process in the U.S. State Department the last couple of years. These delays are only expected to increase due to the Real ID act as worried travelers rush to get or renew passports.

What documents do you need to travel to the Caribbean?

Whether a passport is need for the Caribbean depends on on the country your passport is issued from, your intended destination, and your mode of travel. Generally, you should always carry a passport or government-issued photo ID when traveling to any Caribbean country.

Customs and Border Protection (CPB) in US territories allows US citizens to travel to the Caribbean without a passport. Destinations include Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Other travelers will require a vaild passport and apply to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), if eligible for a the US Visa Waiver Program, or obtain a B Visa.

US passport holders or US citizens without passports can travel in the Caribbean with their driver’s license or other forms of government issued ID by traveling to US territories like Puerto Rico or by traveling with a cruise line that runs closed-loop cruises.

Do you have to go through passport control on a cruise?

Importance of Passport Control on a Cruise Passport control is an important part of the cruising experience and it’s something that all passengers must go through.

Passport Control Process Before Boarding. Before you embark on your cruise, your documentation will be processed at check-in, much like at an airport. Upon arrival, the port may seem bustling with excited travellers and staff, but rest assured, the procedure is usually well-coordinated with designated time slots assigned to different passengers to streamline the process.

When your allocated check-in time arrives, make sure you have your cruise documents and passport readily available for a smooth check-in experience. It’s helpful to keep these items together in a travel wallet or an easily accessible pocket. The ship’s officers will verify each passenger’s identification against an official database to ensure legal travel status, similar to procedures when entering a foreign country. This step is crucial for maintaining security and compliance.

For added security, your photograph will be taken, and you’ll receive a cruise card. This card is essential for boarding, accessing your room, and other onboard activities. It also serves as your onboard wallet, allowing you to make purchases and access various ship amenities. Ensure you keep this card safe and handy during your journey.

Do they check passports on cruises?

Passport control is an important part of the cruising experience and it’s something that all passengers must go through. This process is designed to ensure that everyone on board has valid travel documents and is legally allowed to be in the country they intend to visit.

Passport Control Process Before Boarding. Before you embark on your cruise, your documentation will be processed at check-in, much like at an airport. Upon arrival, the port may seem bustling with excited travellers and staff, but rest assured, the procedure is usually well-coordinated with designated time slots assigned to different passengers to streamline the process.

When your allocated check-in time arrives, make sure you have your cruise documents and passport readily available for a smooth check-in experience. It’s helpful to keep these items together in a travel wallet or an easily accessible pocket. The ship’s officers will verify each passenger’s identification against an official database to ensure legal travel status, similar to procedures when entering a foreign country. This step is crucial for maintaining security and compliance.

For added security, your photograph will be taken, and you’ll receive a cruise card. This card is essential for boarding, accessing your room, and other onboard activities. It also serves as your onboard wallet, allowing you to make purchases and access various ship amenities. Ensure you keep this card safe and handy during your journey.

What paperwork do you need to go on a cruise?

Identification. For most cruises, you’ll need a passport book that’s valid for at least six months from the day your sailing ends. In some cases, you can use a passport card instead of a passport book, but that will only work if you plan to reenter the U.S. via your ship from Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or the Caribbean.

Boarding a cruise ship isn’t like boarding a city bus or hopping on the subway. Because cruises involve international travel, you won’t be allowed to sail if you don’t have all the proper cruise documents and identification. That means you’ll want to know exactly what to take with you and, once you have a list, double- and triple-check it to ensure you haven’t forgotten anything.

The check-in process can be intimidating if you haven’t gone through it before. You might wonder what, exactly, cruise documents are, which ones you need and how you obtain them.

Gear up for a successful and stress-free embarkation day, and make sure you have all the necessary items on hand and ready to go with this guide.

What do non U.S. citizens need for cruises?

An LPR is required to present an I-551 (Green Card) for reentry into the United States. If you are not a U.S. citizen or an LPR, you will need a passport and/or the appropriate documentation based on the status you are seeking in the United States for any type of cruise, closed loop or not.

Do they check ids on cruises?

Carnival requires guests to provide proper travel documentation in order to travel. The documentation is required at embarkation and throughout the cruise and is the responsibility of the guest.Our policy states that any guest traveling without proper documentation will be denied boarding the ship and will be under full penalty, and therefore, will not be offered a refund or a replacement cruise. Guests must contact the appropriate embassy or consulate of thecountries they will bevisiting for specific travel documentation requirements.Carnival assumes no responsibility for advising guests of Immigration requirements.

Domestic CruisesIn addition to required documents stated below, guestsmust contact the appropriate embassyor consulate of thecountries they will be visitingfor specific travel documentation requirements.

Cruises Sailing from One U.S Port to a DifferentU.S Port: Guests are required to carry a Passportvalid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel, fromtheir country of citizenshipANDa valid Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), that includes a photo I.D.;

Can non-US citizens go on a cruise?

If you are not a U.S. citizen or an LPR, you will need a passport and/or the appropriate documentation based on the status you are seeking in the United States for any type of cruise, closed loop or not.

Can non-U.S. citizens go on a cruise?

If you are not a U.S. citizen or an LPR, you will need a passport and/or the appropriate documentation based on the status you are seeking in the United States for any type of cruise, closed loop or not.

What type of ID do I need for a cruise?

While you do not need a REAL ID to board the ship, beginning May 7, 2025, the US Department of Homeland Security will require every resident of a US state or territory who is 18 years of age and older to present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of identification (such as a passport or …

Can I go on a cruise without a passport?

U.S. citizens 16 and older If you’re a U.S. citizen age 16 or older sailing on a closed-loop cruise without your passport, you will need a government-issued photo ID like a driver’s license.