Welcome aboard, Ashley! Hooray! This time next year you'll be setting sail with Captain Mickey and his crew for a magical adventure at sea! Besides all of the fun and excitement of every
Disney Cruise Line voyage, your family is in for even more magic because you'll get to experience a
Very Merrytime sailing! I just love when it "snows" in the atrium, Santa visits, dancing at the Deck the Deck Tropical Holiday Party, the huge Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, and the life-sized gingerbread house in the atrium that smells so heavenly! I can't wait for you to experience this too!
While
passports are not required for U.S. citizens traveling on Disney's ships that depart from and then return back to a domestic U.S. port, I do recommend that you obtain them if possible. For this type of itinerary, adults only need their government-issued I.D., like a driver's license, plus a state-issued birth certificate. Kids just need the state-issued birth certificate. However, my family and I have always sailed with passports, as it adds an extra layer of security that makes me feel safer. In the event that there is an emergency, or a medical problem, in a foreign port of call, you will more easily be able to make your way home, as you'd need a passport to fly back. Plus, it's nice to have, because they're valid for years, and who knows what other trips you might plan in the coming years! So, since you have an entire year before you set sail, I would suggest applying for those passports for your cruise.
Have so much fun planning, and please stop back with more cruise questions throughout the year as you continue to count down to the big trip, Ashley!
Marcy