When preparing for your cruise, it’s important to make sure you have the correct travel documents. Please review the following requirements carefully — guests without the proper documents may be denied boarding.
🚨 Important: A visa is NOT a replacement for your passport. A visa is only valid together with the passport it belongs to. If you bring your visa but forget your passport, you will not be allowed to board the ship — no exceptions. Before you leave home, physically check that you have your passport book in hand.
👉 You can also review the official Royal Caribbean Travel Document Requirements for additional details.
Do I need a U.S. Passport Book or Passport Card to cruise?
We strongly recommend that all guests travel with a valid passport.
Passport Requirements:
- Must be valid for at least six months after your cruise ends — for our November 2–6, 2026 sailing, that means valid through at least early May 2027.
- The name must match your reservation. (See Name Mismatch below if it doesn’t.)
Passport Card Option:
- U.S. citizens may also use a Passport Card when traveling by sea or land between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.
- ⚠️ A Passport Card is not valid for international air travel. If you miss the ship and need to fly home from the Bahamas, only a Passport Book will work.
Why passports are best:
- The gold standard for international travel.
- Faster when boarding or clearing customs.
- Essential if you miss the ship or need to fly internationally during your trip.
U.S. Citizens
For this itinerary (Miami → Nassau → Perfect Day at CocoCay → Miami — a "closed-loop" cruise departing and returning from the same U.S. port), U.S. citizens may use one of the following:
Option 1: Original Birth Certificate + Government-Issued Photo ID
- Must be a state-certified birth certificate issued by the government. Not accepted: hospital-issued, "baby feet," baptismal papers, or photocopies.
- Guests 15 and under only need the original birth certificate (no photo ID required).
- Guests 16–17 need the original birth certificate plus a government-issued photo ID.
- Puerto Rican birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010 are not valid. New certificates may be requested at VitalChek.com.
- Names across all documents and your reservation must match.
Option 2: U.S. Passport Book or Passport Card
- Accepted for sea and land travel between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.
Option 3: Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL)
- Issued only by Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington State.
⚠️ A note about REAL ID: A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license is NOT a cruise travel document — it does not replace a passport or birth certificate for boarding the ship. You will, however, need a REAL ID (or passport) for your domestic flight to Miami. An Enhanced Driver’s License is different from a REAL ID.
⚠️ While birth certificate + photo ID is accepted, a valid Passport Book is still strongly recommended as the most secure and flexible option.
Canadian Citizens
- Canadian Passport: Required if flying into the U.S. (must be valid at least six months after your cruise ends).
- Guests age 14 and under may present a Canadian passport OR an original Canadian-issued birth certificate, Naturalization Certificate, or Citizenship Card.
⚠️ Photocopies are not accepted — only original documents.
International Citizens
- Valid Passport: Must be valid at least six months after your cruise ends.
- Visas / Travel Authorizations: Depending on your nationality, you may need an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) or a U.S. Visa to enter the United States, since our cruise departs from and returns to Miami.
✈️ If you are traveling internationally to join us, you must first meet U.S. entry requirements before boarding the ship. Please check requirements with your country’s embassy or consulate well before sailing.
What about the Bahamas?
- No visa or tourist fee is required for cruise guests — the ship handles clearance in Nassau.
- Going ashore in Nassau: carry your SeaPass card plus a government photo ID (adults).
- Perfect Day at CocoCay is Royal Caribbean’s private island — only your SeaPass card is needed.
What if the name on my identification does not match my reservation?
The name on your reservation must exactly match the name on your government-issued identification. If your name has changed (marriage, divorce, adoption, etc.) and doesn’t match, bring one of the following original or notarized documents:
- Marriage license
- Divorce decree
- Government-issued name change document
- Adoption papers
What identification does a child need to cruise?
Required ID for Kids:
- U.S. Citizens (age 15 and under): Original state-certified birth certificate (no photo ID required).
- U.S. Citizens (age 16–17): Original state-certified birth certificate plus government-issued photo ID, or a valid passport.
- Canadian Citizens (age 14 and under): Canadian passport OR original Canadian-issued birth certificate, Naturalization Certificate, or Citizenship Card.
- All Other International Citizens: Valid passport (valid at least six months after the cruise ends).
Traveling with a child that is not your own
Are you traveling with a grandchild, niece, nephew, or another child that you are not the guardian of? When a minor (age 17 and under) travels without their legal guardian, the accompanying adult must present a notarized Minor Consent Form signed by the child’s guardian. This ensures the child has the guardian’s consent to leave the country and participate in release-form activities onboard.
👉 Download Royal Caribbean’s Minor Consent Form
Different last names
If your child has a different last name than you, you must bring an official supporting document (original or notarized copy) to explain why the names are different. Examples include:
- State, county, or province-issued marriage license
- Divorce decree
- Government-issued name change document
- Official adoption papers
Do I need a visa or travel authorization?
⚠️ Remember: a visa only works together with your passport — bring both. A visa alone will not get you on the ship.
Depending on your nationality, you may be required to obtain a U.S. visa or electronic travel authorization. U.S. and Canadian citizens do not need a visa for the Bahamas on this cruise.
Visa Guidance:
- Contact the Embassy or Consular Services of your country for official requirements, applications, and fees.
- You may also use a professional visa service company to help process travel visas.
⚠️ Guests who do not obtain required visas or authorizations may be denied boarding.
Important Reminders
✅ Always keep travel documents with you at the terminal (do not pack them in checked luggage).
✅ Double-check names, expiration dates, and itinerary-specific requirements well before sailing.
✅ Complete Royal Caribbean online check-in in the app starting September 18, 2026 (45 days before sailing).
✅ When in doubt, a valid Passport Book is always the safest and most reliable option.
✨ Following these guidelines will ensure your boarding process is smooth and your cruise starts stress-free!
❓ Questions? Email support@frequense.com
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