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 responsibility of the guest 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. Carnival assumes no responsibility for advising guests of proper travel documentation.
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 Book
- U.S. Passport Card
- State Enhanced Driver's License
- Certificate of U.S. Naturalization
- Native American Indian Card
- US-born citizens may also use a birth certificate (issued by a government agency) and accompanied by government-issued photo ID; a Mobile/Digital version of a photo ID is not an acceptable form of identification.
A passport book (valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel) is required for cruises that visit Greenland.
A passport book or passport card(valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel)is required for the following cruises:
- Cruises that begin and end in a different U.S. port
- Cruises that visit Colombia, provided they depart from and return to a U.S. port
Europe and Transatlantic Cruises
U.S citizens are required to carry a passport book, valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel. Guests are not required to have a Schengen Visa or other visas.
Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Transpacific Cruises
U.S citizens are required to carry a passport book, valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel.Visas and/or specific travel documentation may be required for some destinations.
Air Travel
All persons are required to carry a valid, unexpired U.S. passport for air travel to or from the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix).
Effective May 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will require every state and territory resident to present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of identification, such as a passport or enhanced driver’s license,to go through airport security and board a flight within the U.S. If you will be flying to one of our cruise homeports within the U.S. on/after this implementation date, please ensure you have an acceptable document for your air travel. Visitwww.tsa.gov/real-idfor more information.
Note:All guests must still have WHTI-compliant travel documents (proof of citizenship and/or appropriate visas) in order to cruise.
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 unexpired, government-issued photo ID that will be used for travel identification. In the event of a different name on the cruise/airline ticket and the guest's photo ID because 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 guests about to or recently married, we strongly recommend that, if the unexpired government-issued photo ID 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 unexpired government-issued photo ID 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.
Traveling with Minors
When traveling with a minor where one parent or both parents or legal guardians are not cruising, we strongly recommend bringing an original, signed letter from the absent parent(s) or legal guardians authorizing the minor to travel with you. If there is no second parent with legal claims to the minor (due to sole custody, deceased, etc.) other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, death certificate, birth certificate naming only one parent, would be useful to bring in place of a signed letter. This will expedite processing by the Department of Homeland Security.
Citizens of U.S. Territories and Commonwealth
Guests will follow the same travel documentation requirements. U.S. Territories and Commonwealth include: Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John), America Samoa, Swains Island and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
U.S. Passport Book
U.S. citizens may present a valid, unexpired U.S. passport book when traveling via air, land, or sea. The passport book must be valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel.
Guests may apply for passports at passport-acceptance facilities nationwide. For information aboutU.S. Passports, visitwww.travel.state.gov.
Expedited passport services are also offered by VisaCentral. For more information, visitwww.visacentral.com/carnivalor call 877-559-4875 and identify yourself as a Carnival Cruise Line guest and mention ‘Carnival Account 75020’ for discounted rates on VisaCentral service fees.
The U.S. Passport Card
The passport card cannot be used to travel by air outside the United States.
U.S. citizens may present a limited-use, wallet-size passport card. The passport card will only be valid for land and sea travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region, and Bermuda.
State Enhanced Driver's License (EDL)
The State Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) 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 seaports 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.A Mobile/Digital version of an EDL is not an acceptable form of travel documentation.
Original Certificate of U.S. Naturalization and a Government-Issued Photo ID
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). Photocopies of the original document are unacceptable.A Mobile/Digital version of a photo ID is not an acceptable form of identification.
Native American Indians
These cards cannot be used to travel by air outside the United States.
- Form I-872 American Indian Card
- Enhanced Tribal Card (when available)
Traveling with a Birth Certificate AND Photo Identification
Birth Certificate Information
The following are acceptable:
- An original or copy of a birth certificate issued by a government agency (state/county/city) or the Department of Health and Vital Statistics
- A clear, legible copy (photocopy) of a birth certificate that was originally issued by a government agency (state/county/city) or the Department of Health and Vital Statistics. The copy does not need to be notarized or certified.
- Birth Certificate Card
- A Consular Report of Birth Abroad
- Internationally adopted children (under the age of 18): If the adoptive parent was not issued a birth certificate, we will accept as proof of citizenship, a Certificate of Citizenship by the U.S. and adoption paperwork. A Certificate of Citizenship is issued by the U.S. once the adoption is finalized.
- Guests may obtain a copy of a birth certificate by contacting: The Department of Health and Vital Statistics at:www.vitalchek.com. If the guest has laminated their birth certificate, it is 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 ID with a validated birth certificate issued after July 1, 2010.
AND
Photo Identification
An unexpired government-issued photo ID is required of all guests 16 years of age and older.A Mobile/Digital version of a photo ID is not an acceptable form of identification.
The following are acceptable:
- Driver's License (a temporary Driver's License with photo is acceptable)
- Driver's Permit
- School/Student ID (acceptable for guests 16/17/18 years of age)
- Government-issued identification card including a U.S. Military ID 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
- Driver's License as the only proof
- A Mobile/Digital version of a photo ID
- A temporary driver's license (paperwork without a photo ID)
- 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 ID as the only proof
- A Dependent Military ID 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
