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

Everyone will need to present an accepted form of identification to board the ship. We strongly recommend 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 from the U.S.  But a passport is the more efficient, secure option. Learn more about why passports are best.

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. Learn if your sailing does at our Travel Documents Hub.

• 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.

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

•  The name across all docs, and the reservation, must match. What if the name on my documents doesn’t match?

•  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.

Canadian Citizen

Similarly, Canadian citizens age 14 and under may present an original Canadian-issued birth certificate.

Should you decide to present your birth certificate on boarding day, please keep these guidelines in mind:

• Birth certificates are accepted as identification only for Canadian citizens age 14 and under. The certificate must be an original Canadian-issued birth certificate.

• No supplemental document required unless minor is traveling with relatives or friends, then a notarized Travel Consent Form is required. Learn More.

Guests who do not bring required documents may be denied boarding.