Passports required?

[CruiseHappy1965]

We sail in April on an Eastern Caribbean cruise. Just noticed that my passport has expired. Question  I have is do I absolutley have to get a new passport before this cruise? I know if we were to miss the boat in a non US territory, there would be major issues, but does Carnival require a passport to board and cruise? Thanks everyone!

[rtw68]

I would!  Our passports expire in August, but I am getting them renewed in the late spring.  Passports are the safest way to exit and return to the country.

[CruiseHappy1965]

Thank you, I was wondering about Customs and if not having a passport would also be an issue. I think I knew all along that we should renew, but was curious. 

[ray98]

No...Passport not required.

[Ryno9065]

To answer your question...no, for your cruise, a passport is not required. We don't use passports and it's been easy going through customs. Yes, I know the complications of not having a passport if something were to happen in a foreign port.

[ObstructedView2]

Will your ship be stopping at Martinique? New rule put in place for Martinique. To go ashore at Martinique you are required to carry a valid, unexpired passport.

 

 

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[Organized Chaos]

As Ryno said, no you don't need a passport. For closed-loop cruises, which are cruises that leave from and return to a U.S. port, you don't need one. If you don't use a passport, then you'll need a government issued photo ID and a birth certificate issued by a govt. agency.

[Cruise-Crazy]

It makes things easier. Coming home this month they did not even ask to see the passport, the face reconstruction brought my info up on the screen and I was on my way in 10 seconds. I don’t think that system pulls data from other sources. 

 

Also so checking in is faster. 

[buckeyefrank]

4 hours ago, CruiseHappy1965 said:

We sail in April on an Eastern Caribbean cruise. Just noticed that my passport has expired. Question  I have is do I absolutley have to get a new passport before this cruise? I know if we were to miss the boat in a non US territory, there would be major issues, but does Carnival require a passport to board and cruise? Thanks everyone!

Assuming you're going on a closed loop cruise, NO you do not need a passport.  Only BC and DL.

 

 

[buckeyefrank]

42 minutes ago, Cruise-Crazy said:

It makes things easier. Coming home this month they did not even ask to see the passport, the face reconstruction brought my info up on the screen and I was on my way in 10 seconds. I don’t think that system pulls data from other sources. 

 

Also so checking in is faster. 

Wrong.  We have used DL/BC in the past as well as passports on various cruises from quite a few ports.  Never was there a difference in processing between the 2.

[Cruise-Crazy]

1 minute ago, buckeyefrank said:

Wrong.  We have used DL/BC in the past as well as passports on various cruises from quite a few ports.  Never was there a difference in processing between the 2.

 

Whatever works best for you.

[Shaded Lady]

I thought I recalled reading a month ago that they are planning on making changes to travel documentation requirements so that you will need a passport any time you're leaving the country, regardless of the mode of transportation. I also recall that this was supposed to take effect at some point in 2021...

 

I also cannot find that reference anywhere online to quote here, so for now, assume that everyone is correct, no passport required on closed loop cruises. If anyone else happens to find that reference I made, I'd love to see it, just so I know I'm not losing my mind!

[Host Carolyn]

Asked and answered....thank you!

There are numerous threads and posts\debates on passports, why you should have one, don't need one etc on this board 

Edited December 29, 2019 by Host Carolyn