What travel documents are required to board?

• Health Status Questionnaire: to be completed on the Royal Caribbean app before you board.
  

• Government Identification: Accepted forms of identification vary based on nationality, departure port and disembarkation port. See details below to learn what forms of identification are accepted.

• Travel Visas (if applicable): Visa requirements vary depending on nationality and the country you are sailing from, see guidance here.
  

Accepted Forms of Identification

All guests will also need a form of identification to board the ship. Accepted forms of identification vary based on nationality, departure port and disembarkation port.

Please note that hospital Birth Certificates (baby feet Birth Certificates), as well as photocopies or images of any required travel documents are not accepted for boarding.

Accepted Identification for U.S. Citizens

• U.S. Passport book that is valid at least 6 months after your cruise ends. A U.S. Passport book is required for sailings that depart from homeports outside of the U.S.

• For sailings departing from U.S. homeports, an official US state-issued Birth Certificate is also accepted. Guests age 16 and older that present an official US state-issued Birth Certificate will also need to provide a valid Driver’s License or picture ID issued by the government.

• U.S. citizens may use Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) as a single form of documentation (instead of both birth certificate and picture ID) for sailings departing from U.S. homeports. Enhanced Driver's Licenses are only available from the following states: Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington State. Please note that an Enhanced Driver’s License is different from a REAL ID compliant id. An EDL will have a flag on the front.

• Puerto Rican citizens should review their birth certificates and ensure they are up to date. Puerto Rican birth certificates issued prior to July 1, 2010 are not valid forms of proof of citizenship.  The Government of Puerto Rico has partnered with document provider VitalChek to provide an expedited method for ordering new birth certificates. To apply through this method please visit:  www.vitalchek.com. Vital Check also offers a bilingual call center available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Processing and shipping fees apply. To apply through this method please call: (866) 842-6765.

• United States Permanent Residents must have a United States Permanent Resident Card. Additionally, a passport from your home country is strongly recommended. Click here for additional information.

• For all sailings that visit Colombia, all guests will be required to present a passport book valid for at least 6 months after the sailing’s return date in order to board. Colombian Customs and Immigration requires all visitors to have a valid passport book and will not accept any other travel documents for entry. Unfortunately, any guests without a valid passport book will be denied boarding.
  

No refunds will be given to individuals who fail to bring proper documentation.

For additional United States passport information visit the United States Department of State travel information website. Visa Central is the passport and visa service that we recommend, should our guests need passport and visa assistance. You may contact Visa Central for all your passport needs. Visa Central can obtain passports in as little as one day. US Residents, please contact VisaCentral online, email rci@visacentral.com or call 800-858-8579, and be sure to reference Royal Caribbean account 44988 for reduced service fees. 

Accepted Identification for International Guests (non-U.S. Citizens)

• For US Sailings: Non-US Citizens will require a passport valid at least 6 months after your cruise ends and the necessary visa for entry into the United States. On Transatlantic and Transpacific sailings European and Chinese guests will require ESTA (Europe) and EVUS (China). ESTAs are mandatory for everyone travelling to the US. You must apply for an ESTA no later than 72 hours before departing for the United States. Real-time approvals are not available and arriving at the airport without a previously approved ESTA will likely result in being denied boarding.

• For International Sailings: Non-US Citizens will require a passport book valid at least 6 months after your cruise ends and the supporting visa for entry and exit from the country, if applicable.
  • For cruises departing Australia calling into only Australian ports, Australian citizens require either a valid passport or government issued pictured and laminated ID card to be used as identification. Children aged 17 years and under will require a passport or Birth Certificate to travel or government issued photo ID. Children under 16 years of age, who do not have a passport or Photo ID, must have a copy of their birth certificate or their parents Medicare Card.
  • For all other nationalities, a passport (plus visa if needed in Australia) is required.

• Europe sailings: National ID cards issued in the European Union (EU) & European Economic Area (EEA) are accepted for travel to Schengen countries only and must be valid for at least three months from the return date. Some itineraries may include a port of call outside the Schengen area. For those sailings, national ID cards will not be accepted, and passports are required for travel.
  • EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
    • UK citizens (including children and infants) must have their own full 10 year (5 year for children) passport with at least 3 months validity from the end of the cruise on sailings in the EU (Schengen area). On sailings leaving the EU (Schengen area): passport must be valid for 6 months after return home.
    • For further passport, visa and health advice for your destinations please visit the FCO (UK) or DFA (Ireland) websites, have a look at our visa page* or refer to our Booking Conditions.
  • EEA countries: The EEA includes EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Switzerland is not an EU or EEA member but is part of the single market.

*Visa Central is the passport and visa service that we recommend, should our guests need passport and visa assistance. You may contact Visa Central for all your passport needs. Visa Central can obtain passports in as little as one day. Canada residents, please contact www.visacentral.ca, email rci@visacentral.com or call 8888-665-9956, and be sure to reference Royal Caribbean account 10026 for reduced service fees.

No refunds will be given to individuals who fail to bring proper documentation.

What if the name on my identification doesn’t match the name on my reservation?

It is important that the name on your reservation be exactly as it is stated on your passport or other official proof of nationality. If your name has changed since your document was issued (e.g., marriage or divorce), it is required that you update the document with the new name or provide an official supporting document (e.g., a state, county or province issued marriage license, divorce decree or legal name change document) of the name change. All documents must be the original or a notarized copy. Additionally, if you are using an identification (e.g., driver's license) and a citizenship document (e.g., birth certificate), then BOTH documents must match the name on your reservation. Otherwise, it may result in delay or possible denial of boarding.

Visa Guidance for U.S. Citizens and Canadians

• U.S. and Canadian citizens can obtain customized visa information and instructions for all Royal Caribbean cruises through Visa Central.
  
  • U.S. Residents, please contact VisaCentral online here or via email at rci@visacentral.com or call 800-858-8579, and reference Royal Caribbean account 44988 for reduced service fees.
  • Canadian Residents, please contact VisaCentral online, or via email at rci@visacentral.com or call 800-858-8579, and reference Royal Caribbean account 10026 for reduced service fees.

• The following resources may also be of assistance to guests in determining what type of visa is required:
  • United States citizens can visit the United States Department of State foreign entry requirements website.
  • Canadian citizens can visit the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada website.

Visa Guidance for International Guests (non-U.S. Citizens and non-Canadian citizens)

All non U.S. or Canadian passport holders should contact the Embassy (Consular Services) of each country on your cruise or VisaCentral for specific visa requirements, information, forms and fees for your nationality. Visa Central is the passport and visa service that we recommend, should our guests need passport and visa assistance. You may contact Visa Central for all your passport needs. Visa Central can obtain passports in as little as one day.

You may also contact your travel advisor or local Royal Caribbean International office for further assistance.

It is the responsibility of the guest to identify, obtain and present necessary visas before the start of their cruise vacation. Requirements vary based on the guest’s nationality and countries visiting during the cruise. The following resources may be of assistance to guests in determining if a visa is required.

Please note the most recent visa requirements for non-United States guests sailing on an Alaskan itinerary require a Canadian visa to participate in the cruise. Click here to get more details. 

Some countries that your cruise may visit will require that you obtain a visa prior to arrival. You are responsible for obtaining any necessary visas. If you do not hold proper visa documents, you will be denied boarding without compensation.