From The BahamasIf you book a cruise on a ship that starts and ends at the same American port, you can use your birth certificate and picture ID to board. That said, you should have a passport instead. If there is a problem and you are at a foreign port, it will be difficult to return home without a passport. The recent problem with the Norwegian Cruise Line ship running aground in the Dominican Republic is a good reminder. While this is a rare instance, it’s a reminder that things can and do sometimes happen. Those passengers with passports had a much easier time returning home than those who used their birth certificates.