Ahoy there, Patryce! Welcome, and thank you for cruising on over with your question.
Patryce, a
Disney Cruise Line vacation is really an amazing experience, and I can't think of a better way to celebrate your anniversary. With fabulous
entertainment,
incredible food, and an adult-exclusive
nightclub "district," there's an awful lot to get excited for.
Passports are not required for what are called closed loop cruises. Those are cruises that depart from and return to a US port and go to places like the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. You'll want to be aware, however, that even though you won't be required to show a passport to get back into the United States, some countries in the Caribbean won't allow you to leave the ship without a passport to enter their country.
For a first cruise, I definitely recommend a trip to the Bahamas, where you can enjoy Disney's private island,
Castaway Cay, without a passport. These trips usually include a stop in
Nassau, Bahamas, and you can get off the ship there with the same documents you board with - a government-issued photo ID and your birth certificate - either the original or a copy with a raised seal.
Patryce, out of an abundance of caution, I recommend getting a passport if you can. While sailing won't be a problem on those closed-loop cruises, if there's an emergency that requires you to fly home from a foreign country, that becomes more difficult without a passport. This is just something to keep in mind as you begin planning.
I hope this turns out to be a practically perfect vacation for you, Patryce!
Anna