Passport or birth certificate?When a U.S. citizen can cruise with a birth certificate instead of a passport, which sailings need a passport, and why we still recommend one.Passport timingHow far ahead to apply for or renew a U.S. passport before a cruise, the six-month validity rule, online renewal, and passport card vs. book.Visas for cruisesWhere U.S. travelers can check visa and entry requirements for a cruise or tour, and why each traveler should confirm their own.Travel insurance basicsWhat travel insurance usually covers, what Cancel For Any Reason means, and why Medicare usually doesn't cover you outside the U.S.What to packA cruise packing list: embarkation-day essentials, medications, and items cruise lines commonly prohibit, like irons and power strips.First-cruise checklistA simple first-cruise checklist: documents, final payment, online check-in, arriving a day early, and port excursions.REAL ID and flying to portWhat REAL ID means for flying to your cruise port, which other IDs TSA accepts, and why your REAL ID isn't a cruise document.Military cruise discountsWhich cruise lines offer military rates or benefits to active duty, veterans, retirees and spouses, who qualifies, and how each line verifies.
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