Required Travel Documents

Proper travel documentation is required at embarkation and throughout the cruise. Even though a guest has completed registration using Online Check-in, it is still the guest's responsibility to present the required travel documents at the time of embarkation. Guests should check with their travel agent and/or government authority to determine the travel documents necessary for each port of call. Any guest without proper documents will not be allowed to board the vessel, and no refund of the cruise fare will be issued.

Royal Caribbean highly recommends that all guests travel with a passport valid for at least six months beyond completion of travel. This will enhance the debarkation experience as delays may be expected upon return to the United States for those without one. Additionally, this will enable guests to fly from the United States to meet their ship at a foreign port should they miss their scheduled port of embarkation and allow guests who must disembark the ship before their cruise ends due to an emergency to fly back to the United States without significant delays and complications.

Domestic Cruises

For cruises that begin and end in a U.S. port, the following WHTI-Compliant Documents are acceptable for cruise travel. These standard forms of documentation will enable the Department of Homeland Security to quickly and reliably identify a traveler. If a picture I.D. is not affixed to the WHTI-compliant document, a picture I.D. is required (a valid, unexpired government-issued photo I.D. for all guests 16 years or older). A valid, unexpired U.S. passport is required if the cruise includes air travel to or from Canada.

Also acceptable for cruise travel (for cruises that begin and end in a U.S. port), U.S. citizens can show proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate issued by a government agency and accompanied by government-issued photo identification. A valid, unexpired U.S. passport is required if the cruise includes air travel to or from Canada. Guests who have committed or been convicted of a crime may not be allowed into Canada,

IMPORTANT: Haiti does fall within WHTI— Labadee included. For closed loop sailings, we recommend guests who are US Residents (ARC Holders) travel with both their ARC card as well as a passport; however, it is not necessary to present both to US Customs and Border Protection upon their return to the States.

 Names on Travel Documentation

It is important that the guest's full name (first name and last name) on the cruise and airline tickets be the same as the guest's non-expired government-issued photo I.D. they plan to use for travel identification. In the event of a different name on the cruise/airline ticket and the guest's photo I.D. as a result of a marriage, divorce or a legal name change, documentation (original or clear, legible copy) supporting this change is required (at embarkation), such as a marriage certificate, marriage license or legal name change court document. Failure to bring documentation bridging the name differences could result in denial of boarding.

Note: For newly married or soon-to-be-married brides, we strongly recommend that if the non-expired government-issued photo I.D. is in the maiden name, the cruise booking be made in the maiden name (do not include the married name); If the reservation was made in the married name, but the non-expired government-issued photo I.D. is in the maiden name, documentation (original or clear, legible copy) supporting this change is required (at embarkation), such as a marriage certificate or marriage license. Failure to bring documentation bridging the name differences could result in denial of boarding. 

Valid U.S. Passport

U.S. citizens may present a valid, unexpired U.S. passport when traveling via air, land or sea.  highly recommends that all guests travel with a passport valid for at least six months beyond completion of travel.  

Guests may apply for passports at passport-acceptance facilities nationwide. For information about  U.S. Passports, visit http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports.html.     

State Enhanced Driver's License (EDL)

The State Enhanced Driver's License cannot be used to travel by air outside the United States.

Several states are working with the Department of Homeland Security to develop an EDL for U.S. citizens residing in their states. This document will denote both citizenship and identity and will facilitate the entry process at land and sea ports of entry. The words ‘Enhanced Driver's License’ as well as the American flag will appear on the license. The following states issue this type of WHTI-compliant document: Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington.  

A Driver's license with a gold circle with star cutout in the right upper corner is a Real ID driver's license; it is not an Enhanced Driver's license and cannot be used as proof of citizenship but can be used as picture identification.

Original Certificate of U.S. Naturalization and a Government-Issued Photo I.D.

The Certificate of U.S. Naturalization (form N-550 or N-570) is a document issued by the U.S. government (USCIS) as proof of a foreign born person who has obtained U.S. citizenship through naturalization (a legal process of obtaining a new nationality). Photo copies of the original document are unacceptable.

Birth Certificate Information

The following are acceptable: Birth certificates from Puerto Rico issued prior to July 1, 2010 are not valid forms of proof of citizenship and are not accepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Guests from Puerto Rico either need to present a WHTI-compliant document or a government-issued photo I.D. with a validated birth certificate issued after July 1, 2010.

Photo Identification

A non-expired government-issued photo I.D. is required of all guests 16 years of age and older. The following are acceptable:

• Driver's License (a temporary Driver's License with photo is acceptable)
• Driver's Permit
• School/Student I.D. (acceptable for guests 16/17/18 years of age)
• Government-issued identification card including a U.S. Military I.D. with photo (city/state/federal)
• Government-issued Trusted Traveler Program Membership Card (NEXUS/SENTRI/FAST) - for photo identification use only

Unacceptable Forms of Documentation

• Copies of any WHTI-Compliant document
• Standard Driver's License as the only proof  **(Enhanced DL with USA flag is acceptable)
• A temporary driver's license (paperwork without a photo I.D.)
• Voter's Registration Card
• Trusted Traveler Program Membership Card (NEXUS/SENTRI/FAST) - may be used for photo identification use only
• Baptismal Papers
• U.S. Military I.D. as the only proof
• A Dependent Military I.D. that is issued to the spouse and children of military personnel is not acceptable
• U.S. Military Discharge Papers
• No Record of Birth certificate: a certificate issued by the Department of Health and Vital Statistics showing that they have no records on this person
• Hospital certificate, hospital-issued birth notice, Certificate of Live Birth, live record of birth or announcement of birth