One of the most frequently asked questions about cruising is what sort of travel documentation is needed to sail to other countries.
The travel document requirements vary from country to country, and here I will share the information for U.S. permanent residents sailing out of U.S. ports.
The documentation to take a cruise is required at embarkation (when you board) and throughout the cruise. Anybody traveling without proper documentation will be denied boarding the cruise ship and will not be offered a refund or a replacement cruise since it was their failure to bring proper documentation.
Also, it is the responsibility of cruise guests to contact the appropriate embassy or consulate of the countries they will be visiting for specific travel documentation requirements.
In general, you should cruise with a passport valid for at least six months beyond the end of your cruise.
It’s important that the full name on the cruise ticket be the same as the traveler’s passport. So for newly married brides who are changing their names, use your maiden name to book the cruise if that’s what you still have on your passport.
Children under 16 don’t need a passport, but most cruise lines recommend carrying either a passport or state-issued photo ID in the event the child misses the ship’s departure from a port of call.