Are passports mandatory?

[jenny25]

My husband and I are taking our 1st cruise on June 11th we have our birth certificates but do we need to have passports with us as well? Are passports mandatory?

[Dave]

For cruises out of U.S. ports to the Caribbean, passports are not yet mandatory. A certified copy of the birth certificate and a photo ID will suffice. If the names are different on the birth certificate/photo ID/cruise booking because of a name change you ought to bring along proof. Marriage certificate, etc. Better safe than sorry.

When you get back from the cruise I strongly urge you to get passports. They will be mandatory soon.

[Lightsluvr]

Make sure what you have is an actual original birth certificate issued by the county where you were born. Those birth documents issued by hospitals may leave you standing on the dock.

LL

[Dave]

A certified copy of the official state issued birth certificate will suffice.

An excerpt from the RCCL website....In the absence of a passport, a birth certificate (original, notarized copy or certified copy), plus a picture ID card issued by a federal, state or local government agency is required.