Ahoy there, Kiarra!
Welcome aboard planDisney! Whether you've already booked your perfect sailing or you're still dreaming about
which Disney ship will carry you off on your next adventure, it's always a smart idea to make sure your travel documents are shipshape well before embarkation day.
The answer to your question really depends on the itinerary you're planning to sail. In many cases, U.S. citizens sailing on a closed-loop cruise (one that departs from and returns to the same U.S. port) can travel with an original state-issued birth certificate (no photocopies) and a physical government-issued photo ID. Guests 15 years of age and younger do not need a government-issued photo ID and can generally sail with just their original birth certificate.
That said, travel document requirements vary by itinerary, so you'll want to
carefully review the requirements for your specific cruise before packing your bags. While many sailings from U.S. ports allow travel with a birth certificate and ID, there are some itineraries where a passport is required. A couple of examples include
Panama Canal and transatlantic sailings.
If you have the option, I do recommend
investing in passports for you and your crew. While no one plans for unexpected detours, sometimes adventures don't go exactly according to the map. In the rare event that you need to leave your cruise early and fly home from a foreign country, having a passport can make the process much smoother. It's a little like having Baymax in your travel toolkit, you hope you won't need the extra support, but it's nice knowing it's there when you do.
Another benefit is flexibility. A passport opens the door to additional itineraries, including incredible sailings to destinations like Alaska and the Mediterranean. It can also make debarkation day a little more convenient. At many ports, Guests traveling with passports can use facial recognition technology during the customs process, allowing them to move through the terminal quickly without digging through backpacks or carry-on bags to locate their documents.
I hope this helps as you get your travel documents in order and prepare for your Disney adventure! A little planning now can help ensure your embarkation day is as smooth as a magic carpet ride over Agrabah.
Sea ya real soon as the days grow longer and the countdowns grow shorter,
Dustin