Ahoy there, Suheide, and welcome to planDisney! This is a great question and one that comes up often when Guests are considering an itinerary that sails between Florida and the Bahamas.
The short answer is that a passport is not always required for a Bahamian cruise departing from Florida if you are sailing on a closed-loop itinerary. That means your cruise begins and ends at the same US port. In this case, US citizens can travel with an original, state-issued birth certificate and a valid government photo ID, such as a driver’s license, instead of a passport.
That said, I highly recommend bringing your passport whenever possible. Not only does it make the travel process smoother, it also provides extra peace of mind should anything unexpected happen and you need to return home from a port of call independently. It's also important to bring the same documents with you on embarkation day as you used to check in online.
No matter which
travel documents you choose, be sure to pack them in your carry-on bag and not in your checked luggage. While you're at it, throw in some other items so you can start having fun the second you step onboard, like a swimsuit, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
If you have any more questions while preparing for your Bahamian adventure, I hope you will sail back to us here at
planDisney.
Embrace the magic,
Sami