Ahoy there, Shannon! Welcome aboard planDisney!
Ah, a Western
Caribbean itinerary! Some of my family's favorite Disney Cruse Line memories are from sailings that visit
Cozumel, George Town,
Grand Cayman, Falmouth,
Jamaica and other Western Caribbean Ports of Call! I'm so excited that you and your crew will have the opportunity to experience them, too! Be sure to check out all the
Port Adventures that are available in each, and plan on taking advantage of at least one! (If anyone's a certified SCUBA diver, I highly recommend diving in Grand Cayman!)
Oh, look at me getting ahead of myself again. You'd asked about some of the most important topics, first!
When it comes to
required travel documentation, while you can use a passport on what's known as a "closed loop" cruise that departs from and returns to the same port, it is not required. HOWEVER, if not using a passport, each Guest will need an original or a copy of a state-issued birth certificate and those 16-years-old and older will also need government-issued photo ID.
I always strongly suggest you travel with a passport if possible. If anything should happen and you need to fly home from any of the Ports of Call instead of finishing your voyage, you'll need a passport to do so. While you may be able to leave Mexico, the Cayman Islands, or Jamaica, being allowed to enter the US by air without a passport is a different story altogether! Better safe than sorry I always say!
When it comes to Covid-19 Vaccinations, as of this writing, Disney Cruise Line requires that all vaccine-eligible Guests be fully-vaccinated against Covid-19 in order to sail. Guests who are not vaccine-eligible because of age must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result between 3 days and 24 hours before their sail date. Be sure to check out the
Know Before You Go information for specific details about requirements and the Safe Passage program! Oh, and here's a planDrew-approved tip: be sure to bookmark the page to make checking for updates even easier, as policies are always subject to change!
With all that information in your cargo hold, I'd say you're on the right track to keep on planning that incredible vacation for your family! Thank you so much for sailing my way with your questions, and if any others surface as you continue your plans, please drop me another line here at planDisney!
Fair winds and following seas!
Andrew