Ahoy there, Melissa! Welcome aboard planDisney! It looks like you're going to be embarking on the voyage of a lifetime to
Mexico! Having cruised on both sides of that beautiful country, whether your itinerary takes you to the tropical getaway of Cozumel or the gorgeous Pacific coast of the Baja Peninsula and beyond, you're in for an amazing time!
When it comes to passport requirements for sailings to Mexico, I have good news, Melissa! Since most Disney Cruise Line vacations that make calls on Mexican ports are round-trip, meaning that your sailing starts and ends at the same port, U.S. citizens must present either an original U.S. Passport, U.S. Passport Card, or Trusted Traveler Card, OR an original or copy of a state-issued birth certificate AND government-issued photo ID (if over 15 years of age).
Now, while "closed-loop" cruises departing and returning to US ports don't
require a passport, I always suggest traveling with one if you can get one! On the slim chance that anything happens which requires you to fly home from a Port of Call, you'll need a passport to do so! You can always check out the
latest travel documentation information for more guidance!
Oh, and one additional thing of which to be aware: over the years, various regulations have come and gone requiring minors traveling with only one parent to have explicit consent from the other parent to travel - so there's often confusion on this front.
According to the US Customs and Border Protection website, it is currently advised that minors traveling alone or with only one parent to Mexico have a notarized letter of consent: "Unless the child is accompanied by both parents, the child must have a notarized letter from the other parent or signed by both parents stating, 'I acknowledge that my son/daughter is traveling outside the country with [the name of the adult] with my permission.'"
Now, I'm a firm believer in being prepared (thanks for that, oh, you few years of scouting...) so while my family has never been asked to furnish such a letter, if we didn't bring one, that would be the one time we'd be asked for it. In the spirit of "better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it, I'd suggest you go ahead and have one drafted and notarized just in case! Check with your bank or local shipping store to track down a notary!
I hope that helps you check all the boxes as you finish preparing for your magical vacation, Melissa! Thank you for your question, and if you run into any other rough seas as you continue planning, please drop me another line here at planDisney!
Fair winds and following seas!
Andrew