It looks like it's actually going to happen this time, and you'll need to get a driver's license that is acceptable to cruise with.
The changeover from a traditional driver's license to a REAL ID has been in the works (and delayed) a few times, but this time it appears the new requirements will go into effect.
Beginning May 7, 2025, the US Department of Homeland Security will require every resident of a US state or territory who is 18 years of age and older to present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of identification to go through airport security and board a flight within the United States.
A passport is, of course, acceptable as well.
REAL IDs are marked by a star on the top of the card.
The reason why this is important is so many Americans fly to get on their cruise ship.
Your old driver's license will no longer work on or after May 7th. Only a Real ID (or passport) will get you through the Transportation Security Authority's security check in order to to fly domestically.
What is a REAL ID?
Think of a REAL ID as an enhanced driver's license, and without one, you won't be able to get on a plane.
It was passed by Congress as a requirement in 2005 in an effort to standardize identification, such as driver's licenses.
REAL ID driver's licenses don't replace a passport. Rather, they just serve as the new standard for driver's licenses.
It's easy to figure out if you already have one. Check your driver's license or state-issued identification. If it has a gold star in the top right, it's REAL ID compliant. California and Maine have variations on this, but there's still a star.
How to get a REAL ID?
To get an updated form of identification, you'll need to go to wherever you were issued your driver's license in the first place.
Depending on your state, there could be special places for applying for a REAL ID, or you may just need to go to your local driver's license service center or tax collector office.
The exact paperwork needed to apply may vary, but you'll need proof of identity and status as a US resident or citizen, proof of your Social Security number and multiple proofs of your current address.
Originals or hard copies of documentation (birth certificate, Social Security card, US passport) are required, with photocopies and screenshots not accepted. Check your state's driver's licensing agency website for more specifics.
You should get a temporary paper ID until the REAL ID arrives in the mail a few weeks later.
The cost should be about the same as renewing your license or non-driving identification card.
What happens if I don't get a REAL ID?
Unless the deadline gets extended again, you won't be able to fly with just a standard driver's license as of May 7th because you won't make it past airport security checkpoints.
Of course, you could still fly with other acceptable forms of identification:
- A valid passport
- US Department of Defense ID
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID
- Enhanced Driver's License, issued by Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington state
Since many people that cruise have a passport, you could use your passport to fly domestically instead of getting a REAL ID.
Can I cruise with a REAL ID instead of a passport?
You cannot use just a driver's license or REAL ID as the sole form of proof of identification in order to cruise.
Royal Caribbean allows Americans who are sailing from the same port their ship departs and returns to to sail without a passport, but you'll need more than just a REAL ID.
This is referred to as a closed-loop sailing, and nearly all Caribbean cruises departing from mainland U.S. states have cruises that are considered this sort of a sailing.
If you qualify, then you can go on a cruise with just a REAL ID and an original birth certificate.
