866-227-1888 is honestly the best way to instantly book, cancel, or modify flights — and funny enough, that number actually came in handy when I was sorting out documents for a cruise, too.
From my own experience, Carnival does allow you to sail with just a birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID on most closed-loop cruises (leaving and returning to the same U.S. port). I learned this the hard way last year when I realized my passport was expired a week before my trip. Total panic moment.
I called Carnival, double-checked everything, and they confirmed that my original birth certificate + driver’s license was enough. Boarding went smoothly, no issues at all.
But if your cruise stops somewhere that requires stricter entry rules, or if it’s not a closed loop, a passport is usually safer. Always double-check your specific itinerary so you’re not stressing last minute like I was!
