Welcome aboard, Summer! Hooray for your upcoming sailing with
Disney Cruise Line! Your kids are in for the most magical adventures ever!
We've been sailing with Disney Cruise Line since my kiddos were very little, and we have sailed with passports each time. I like the security of knowing that if we're in a foreign port of call, including
Nassau, and we run into an unexpected health problem or emergency, we can much more easily fly home with our passports. However, that being said, for your itinerary, a round trip cruise beginning and ending in the United States, if you're U.S. citizens, passports or passport cards are not required.
Please read the details of exactly what you'll need on the
Travel Documents page of Disney Cruise Line's website, and call the agents at Disney Cruise Line if you need clarification for a specific circumstance. However, for the most part, you'll see that U.S. citizens do not need passports or passport cards for this type of itinerary, and can sail simply with their valid government-issued I.D. (like driver's license) and a copy or the original of their state-issued (not hospital issued) birth certificate. Kids under 16 only need their state-issued birth certificate if traveling with their parents.
Now, as I said, this is what the basic requirements are. However, if you have the time and budget to get your kiddos passports, I do recommend that, just for the added security they provide.
I hope that helps as you count down to this big trip, Summer! Have so much fun planning!
Marcy