Cruise lines have a zero-tolerance policy regarding missing or improper proof of citizenship and photo ID. If you do not have the acceptable documents, you will be denied boarding and will not receive a trip refund. Check with your cruise line for any updated news or information on travel requirements.
If you do not have a passport, it can be fast and easy to obtain one--usually from two to four weeks--but it is a good idea to give yourself plenty of time, just in case there are any complications with the filing process. Remember, extra fees will be charged for speedier service, so don't leave it until last minute! You can get a passport application at government centers such as municipal courts, post offices and federal buildings.
In the past, it was often possible to travel to Mexico with just a birth certificate and photo ID, but the rules changed after 9-11 with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, in effect since June 1, 2009. This initiative requires travelers who are returning to the U.S. from Mexico or Canada by sea or air to have a valid passport. This is relevant to most travelers as many of the Mexican cruise ports-of-call (where you debark for your cruise) are located in the U.S. (Seattle, Los Angeles, San Diego or San Francisco).
U.S. citizens who are taking a “closed-loop” cruise (one that starts and ends at the same U.S. port)--such as New Orleans; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; or Los Angeles--do not require a passport. Travelers need only present a birth certificate, driver’s license or other form of primary ID.
A basic rule is that a passport is always required for cruises that originate or terminate in a foreign port. For example, if your cruise starts in Vancouver, British Columbia and ends in Acapulco, Mexico, then a passport is required. Another guideline is that you require a passport for any cruise where an international flight is taken to get to your port-of-call--since all international flights require you to present a valid passport. Finally, a passport is mandatory if your cruise is a making a stop at a different port along the way and this port does not share a border with the U.S. (such as Panama or Costa Rica)--this still applies even if the cruise originates and terminates at the same port (closed-loop cruise). Failure to present a valid passport in this case may result in fines and/or denied entry into a country.
