Getting Onboard with the Right Travel Documents

Passports are Best

A passport is the best ID document for travel. Make sure yours doesn't expire for 6 months after your cruise ends.

Question: Do I need a passport to cruise?

Answer: Everyone will need to present an accepted form of identification to board the ship. Royal Caribbean strongly recommends that all guests present a passport as their form of ID on boarding day, and for some guests a passport is required.

The passport must be valid for six months after the day your cruise ends. The name on your passport should match the name on your reservation. While some other forms of ID may be accepted for your cruise, a passport is the very best option and here's why:

• A passport is the hassle-free, gold standard for traveling between countries.

• Boarding and disembarking through customs with a passport is usually faster than other types of ID documents.

• If you have an issue while exploring a foreign port (such as missing the ship), it's best you have a passport with you.

Birth Certificates

U.S. Citizens can cruise with a U.S. birth certificate on most sailings form the U.S. But your birth certificate needs to meet the requirements.

Question: Can I cruise with a birth certificate as my identification? What if I don't have a passport?

Answer: Everyone will need to present an accepted form of identification to board the ship. Royal Caribbean strongly recommends that all guests present a passport as their form of ID on boarding day.

U.S. Citizens: Technically, yes - U.S. citizens can present a state-certified birth certificate and government-issued photo ID to sail on most cruises departing form the U.S. But a passport is the more efficient, secure option. Should you decide to present your birth certificate on boarding day, please keep these guidelines in mind:

• Most, but not all, sailings from the U.S. will accept a birth certificate

• It must be a state-certified birth certificate issued by the government. No "baby feet" certificates, no hospital birth certificates, and no baptismal papers

• You must present the original copy, no photo copies

• You must also show a valid government issued photo ID, like a driver's license. (Note: Make sure your ID is a Real ID)

• Guests 15 and under do not need to show an ID, just the birth certificate

• The name across all docs, and the reservation must match. (What if my name doesn't match? - See question/answer below)

• Puerto Rican birth certificates issued prior to July 1, 2010 are not valid. The government of Puerto Rico has partnered with VitalChek.com to issue new birth certificates.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER A NEW BIRTH CERTIFICATE

Names Must Match

If you've had a name change, and the name used across your documents does not match, you will need to take an extra step.

Question: What if the name on my identification does not match my reservation due to a legal name change, married name, or other reason?

Answer: Everyone will need to present an accepted form of identification to board the ship.

It's important that the name on you reservation appears exactly as it does on the government issued identification documents(s) that you use to board the ship.

If your name has changed since your document was issued, you will either need to update the name on that document, or bring an additional, official supporting document to help explain why the name is different. This can include one of the following:

• State, county or province-issued marriage license

• Divorce decree

• Government-issued name change document

• Official adoption papers

U.S. citizens who are able to present a birth certificate plus a government ID for their itinerary, should keep in mind that the name on BOTH of these documents must match each other, and match the reservation. If they don't, you'll need a supporting document as listed above.

Cruising with Kids that Aren't Yours

When a minor (age 17 and under) travels without their legal guardian, an accompanying adult must present a notarized form signed by the child's guardian.

Question: What if I am traveling with a minor that is not my own child?

Answer: Are you traveling with a grandchild, niece, nephew, or other child that you are not the guardian of? When a minor (age 17 and under) travels without their legal guardian, an accompanying adult must present a notarized form signed by the child's guardian. This ensures the child has the guardian's consent to leave the country and participate in release-form activities onboard.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE MINOR CONSENT FORM

Question: What if my last name does not match my child's?

Answer: If your child has a different last name than you, you will need to bring an official supporting document to help explain why the names are different. The supporting document must be the original, or a notarized copy. Some examples of valid supporting documents:

• State, county or province-issued marriage license

• Divorce decree

• Government-issued name change document

• Official adoption paper

Accepted Identification for U.S. Citizens & Permanent Residents

The below list is for round trip sailings from the U.S. that DO NOT include Panama, Colombia, or Martinique.

In order to sail, a guest must meet the requirements of ONE of the check boxes below. All documents must be original - no photocopies. Your name must match across all documents. (What if I had a name change? - See "Names must Match" section above)

U.S. PASSPORT BOOK OR U.S. PASSPORT CARD

• Royal Caribbean strongly recommends that all guests travel with a valid passport

• Passports must be valid at least 6 months after your cruise ends

ORIGINAL U.S. BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND VALID GOVERNEMENT ISSUED ID (STATE ID CARD, DRIVER'S LICENSE, OR MILITARY ID)

• U.S. Birth Certificates must be the original or an official document issued by the government

• Guests age 15 and under are NOT required to have a photo ID, just the birth certificate

PERMANENT RESIDENT CARD (ALIEN RESIDENT CARD "ARC" OR GREEN CARD) AND VALID PASSPORT FROM COUNTRY OF CITIZENSHIP

• Guests must bring their physical Permanent Resident and it must be original - no photocopies

• Passports must be valid at least 6 months after your cruise ends

• Guests age 16 and older whose ARC has no photo must present a valid government issued photo ID

• Barbados & Martinique require ARC guests to provide a valid passport

• Any additional requirements are the responsibility of the guest

ORIGINAL U.S. NATURALIZATION CERTIFICATE AND VALID GOVERNMENT ISSUED ID (STATE ID CARD, DRIVER'S LICENSE, OR MILITARY ID)

• Original U.S. Naturalization Certificate

• Guests must bring their physical Permanent Resident Card and it must be original - no photocopies

ENHANCED DRIVER'S LICENSE (EDL) THAT IS NOT EXPIRED

• Enhanced Driver's Licenses are only available from the following states: Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington State

• An Enhanced Driver's License is different from a REAL ID compliant id. An EDL will have a flag on the front

Don't Pack Your Documents!

Please keep all travel documents on your person at the terminal; you'll need to present them at check-in.