Ahoy, Nicole!
Welcome aboard the Disney Parks Moms Panel! Eee! How exciting that you're in the beginning stages of planning your first Disney Cruise! A voyage to the Bahamas would be so perfect for your inaugural sailing! Guests sailing on cruises to the Bahamas get a magical stop at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay! Castaway Cay is always my favorite port of call any time it's a stop on the itinerary!
I'm so happy you sailed by to ask such an important question! Currently, U.S. citizens sailing with Captain Mickey on itineraries leaving from a U.S. port and returning to that same U.S. port, like roundtrip Bahamian cruises from Port Canaveral, do not need to have valid passports to sail. Guests 16 years of age and older can use a valid government-issued photo ID (like a driver's license) as well as their state-issued birth certificate (copy or original). Smaller cruisers, under the age of 16, who are traveling with their parents or legal guardians can just bring a copy (or original) state-issued birth certificate as their proof of citizenship! Before setting sail, please be sure to check the
Passports & Travel Documents page on Disney Cruise Line's website to be sure each person in your party has the correct documentation for your upcoming cruise.
Nicole, I highly recommend getting passports for each person sailing with you before your voyage next year. Even though they're not required for all itineraries, there are so many
benefits to traveling with a passport! We always sail the high seas with our passports; in the unlikely event of an emergency, I have peace of mind knowing that we can all fly back home from any port of call with ease.
Please stop back with any future questions!
Beth