Passport or no passport? That is the question.

It's a question asked by many would-be cruisers. Should they travel with a passport or just a photo ID and birth certificate?

Most cruises from the United States do not require passengers from the US to carry a passport to board the ship and visit their respective ports of call. The alternative option to utilizing a passport to board and clear immigration at the end of your cruise is to use a birth certificate and government issued photo identification card. So the question is, which is better? Should you spend the money and the time to get a passport, do you really need one and what are the benefits to carrying one? We'll do our best to answer that right now.

Does your cruises itinerary require a passport?

This is the first question you should ask before embarking on a cruise. Most US-based cruise itineraries do not require a passport, but some do. There are certain ports of call that require a passport for guests. Cruises originating from the US or other home ports that visit Columbia require guests to carry a passport for entry. Transatlantic cruises and some relocation cruises depending on the final destination will also require a passport. US citizens embarking from a non-US home port or non-US citizens embarking from US homeports will likely need a passport for immigration purposes. It is important to check travel document requirements well in advance of your sailing so you have time to collect what you need. Check with your cruise line's website or contact them by phone to verify what is needed to board and clear customs upon disembarking the ship.

What to know: traveling with a birth certificate and photo identification card.

Most cruisers from the United States sailing out of US home ports can simply utilize a birth certificate and photo ID to travel. One benefit to this is money saving. A passport costs around $130 for adults. It's also a little bit of a hassle to get one. You need a valid and accepted picture, then must collect appropriate documents, fill out an application, mail it away, then months later will hopefully receive your passport. The good news? The passport is valid for 10 years from the date of issue.

If you choose to cruise without a passport, your boarding experience should be nearly the same as those with passports. The negative comes if you have issues while off the ship in a foreign port of call, have to disembark the ship unexpectedly, and during immigration while disembarking back in the US.

We always recommend cruising with a passport, but there are arguments to be made for avoiding the cost and hassle of obtaining the document. Especially if the only time you travel internationally is for a cruise.

Tip: A passport will likely expedite your trip through customs and immigration.

In most US home ports, US Customs and Border Protection will have several lines set-up for disembarking cruisers to pass through border inspection to re-enter the country. Often, there are several lines dedicated to US passport holders, then lines for birth certificate users, and a line for non-US citizens. Nearly every time I've cleared immigration following a cruise, the line for non-passport holders is lengthy and slow moving. If there is no separate line, it's easy to spot those without passports due to the time taken to pass through at the agent desk.

Passports can be scanned easily and after only a few questions by the agent, you pass right through. Birth certificate information has to be entered manually into the computer system by the agent. It doesn't take terribly long, but if you end up in a separate line, it can extend the time to navigate your way out of the port and on your way home. Trust me, leaving the cruise ship stinks anyway, you don't want to deal with anymore than you have to.

A passport will make an emergency situation much easier to navigate.

Even though the thought of an emergency while on vacation is most travelers' worst nightmare, it's important to prepare for these situations prior to leaving for your trip, especially while traveling outside of the country. If an emergency arises, either onboard the ship or at foreign port, that requires you to leave the cruise early or seek medical treatment and not rejoin the ship back to the US, a passport can be a life saver. Maybe you are halfway through your cruise and you get a call that a relative is severely ill and you need to return home immediately. Not having a passport can complicate matters if your ports of call are not in the United States. Sometimes, disembarkation of the ship is not even an option in situations like this. If you have a medical emergency and have to stay in a foreign port, lacking a US passport can extend your stay in that country until US Customs and Border Protection help you get your immigration status sorted out.

Carrying a passport would make a nightmare situation like this much simpler. You disembark and when you are ready to return to the US, you simply go home. Hopefully you never encounter a situation like this, but if you do, a passport can be a big key in a successful trip home.

You can use your passport for other vacations besides cruises.

One perk of a passport is that it doesn't just benefit you on one vacation. Your investment in the document will allow you to visit most nations around the world with relative ease. Should you decide to visit an all-inclusive resort or take a trip to Europe, the passport you purchased for your cruise will get you there. While you don't have to have it for a cruise, you never know when you might find a reason to use it.

Passports are valid for 10 years.

While passports are pricey, they are also good for 10 years from the date of issue. This means that if you make the decision to purchase one, you are essentially getting a universal travel document that averages out to only a little more than $10 per year. The process is difficult to get one, but luckily the renewal process is easier and only has to be dealt with once a decade. Keep in mind that passports for those under 18 are only valid for five years, but do have a reduced cost.

You might take a cruise from a non-US home port.

We covered this a little bit in an earlier section, but not all cruises leave from United States home ports. If you decide to take a cruise to the Mediterranean, US citizens would need passports to travel to Europe and to board the ship at their home ports. We recently took a cruise that departed from Barbados, a valid passport was required for entry into the island and when disembarking the ship.

Getting a passport takes time.

Since getting a passport is not an instantaneous process and can take months, it's best to have one in case you want to take a trip. While most people plan trips a year or more in advance, if you decide to take a trip for three months in the future, getting a passport in that time period could be iffy at best. Don't miss a trip because you don't have a passport. Currently, it's taking between six and 11 weeks to get a passport by standard mail.

Your passport should expire no less than 6 months before the end of your trip.

This is a biggy. Most countries will not allow entry and cruises may not allow boarding if your passport expires within six months of your stay. It's important to check your expiration dates several months before you travel internationally or use it to board a cruise. If the expiration date is less than six months after the final day of your trip, you could be denied boarding to the ship or entry into your destination. Keep in mind that it can take around three months to receive your new passport. Don't get caught off guard by noticing this a few weeks before your trip.

Our Recommendation: Get a Passport

If you plan to do any international travel, by cruise or other mode of transportation, our recommendation is to get a passport. Hopefully, we've made a case in our points above. Having one can save you a ton of headache down the road, even if its a little bit of a hassle or pricey on the front end. Some nations and cruises don't require them, but if you have to leave the country for any reason, a US passport is an essential tool to protecting yourself and ensuring the easiest passage back home.

Have questions about traveling internationally or applying for a passport? The CruiseNReview team is happy to assist. There is never an obligation to book travel with us to receive advice or tips on your trips. Our goal is to help, not make money. You can contact us by clicking here.