Cruising has had a rough few years, with increased travel restrictions and plummeting demand due to the pandemic. Now that the majority of countries are open again, many travelers are thinking it’s time to jump back on board. If you’ve never taken a cruise but are interested in traveling by ship, you may be wondering, “Do you need a passport to go on a cruise to the Bahamas?”

The answer to this question depends on a number of things. Let’s take a look at whether you need a passport for a Bahamas cruise, what other types of documentation you can use and how it differs when you’re flying versus cruising.

Cruising to the Bahamas

For those who are unfamiliar with cruising or the Caribbean, the Bahamas is a frequent destination for these behemoth ships. This nation of islands is conveniently located just off the coast of Florida, near Miami, which makes it an easy destination no matter the length of your cruise.

For this reason, you’ll see plenty of cruises taking off from Florida, stopping off in the Bahamas, then looping back and docking in the United States.

Do you need a passport for a Bahamas cruise?

So, do you need a passport to cruise to the Bahamas? In most cases, U.S. citizens won’t need one. This is because the majority of cruises that you’ll find taking off from the U.S. and heading down to the Bahamas operate on a closed loop. Closed-loop cruises are those that take off from a U.S. port, visit at least one foreign port of call and then return to that same port.

There is an exception to the closed-loop rule: If your ship will be docking in a foreign country that requires a passport to enter, you will need to carry one on board. In order to find out if you’ll need a passport for any of your destination countries, check with your cruise company.

Even if you are on a closed-loop cruise, though, you will still need to bring identification documentation in lieu of a passport.

What you need for a Bahamas cruise

If you’re sailing on a Bahamas cruise that’s closed loop and isn’t visiting any countries that require a passport, you don’t necessarily need to bring one with you — there are a few different identification options available to you.

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, you’ll still need to provide some proof of U.S. citizenship. This can take the form of an Enhanced Driver’s License, a passport or a government-issued birth certificate. Additionally, you’ll need to bring a government-issued ID with your photo, name and date of birth.

It’s important to note that this documentation is only valid for reentry to the United States through a sea or land border crossing — it won’t work for air travel.