26/02/2024
Passport or State Issued ID? Which should you have?
Per Carnival:
Except where it is a mandatory requirement, Carnival highly recommends that all guests travel with a passport book. The passport book must be valid for at least six months beyond the 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.
U.S. Domestic Cruises
For cruises that begin and end in the same U.S port, the following WHTI-compliant documents are acceptable for cruise travel. Please note that if the cruise visits Colombia or Greenland, a passport book (valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel) is required. A passport card with the same validity is also acceptable for cruises to Colombia.
U.S. Passport
U.S. Passport
State Enhanced Driver's License
Certificate of U.S. Naturalization
Native American Indian
US-born citizens may also use a birth certificate (issued by a government agency) AND accompanied by government-issued photo ID (it does not have to be REAL ID compliant however it should be VALID); a Mobile/Digital version of a photo ID is not an acceptable form of identification.
If you are applying for a passport, it is best to do it now, as the turnaround time for a passport can take up to 12 weeks. For those who have a driver's license or ID, make sure you have a copy of your birth certificate. Please check with the Vital Statistics office in the state you were born to obtain your birth certificate if you do not have it. You can also obtain a copy of your birth certificate through VItal Chek www.vitalchek.com. Rates may be a little higher than going through your vital statistics office direct but this is an alternative for obtaining these documents. If you need any help with this please let me know.
Make sure your license/ID/Passport is valid 6 months after the date of travel. That means your id should be close to expiring when you leave for the cruise. Get these things done early to avoid any last minute delays.
Order official birth certificates and vital records online through VitalChek. Government authorized documents. Safe, easy, secure, and fast!
