Do You Need a Real ID/Star ID to Cruise From Galveston?

(Galveston, TX) After a beautiful spring weekend, it would be easy to see why so many Texans would suddenly develop the urge to travel to where the map turns blue. And for Texas travelers from Lubbock, Amarillo, Wichita Falls, Lufkin, and other Texas towns that means a trip to the Port of Galveston.

What Cruise Lines Sail Out of Galveston, Texas?

The Port of Galveston offers sailings from Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruise Line, Princess Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line. Most of the itineraries out of Galveston Island are Caribbean-centric. That means stops in Cancun, Cozumel, Playa Del Carmen, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Honduras.

That's not to say you can't find a speciality cruise or a repositioning cruise that might offer passage up the East Coast of the United States or through the Panama Canal. Galveston is a busy port and is in the top five for cruise passengers served.

No, not all cruises visit those destinations, but chances are you can find a ship out of Galveston that will get you there. But as of late, there has been renewed confusion about what documents a vacationer might need to provide in order to even get on board one of these "blue water" resorts.

What is the Difference Between a Real ID and a Star ID?

You've probably heard a lot of discussion about Real ID and Star ID in the past few weeks. These "enhanced" state-issued ID cards are required for air travel as of May 7, 2025. Don't get hung up on the name, they are essentially the same document being called by two different names. That's because a REAL ID is designated as such by a gold star imprinted on its face. Hence the name, STAR ID. We're good on that now, right?

In regard to documentation for cruising many of you may have seen a sign similar to this one posted at embarkation points around the United States.

That Facebook post from Carnival Cruise Line Ambassador John Heald directly addressed the concerns that many of you might have about proper ID and a cruise ship sailaway.

You've probably noticed there are two items you need to have in order to get on board a cruise ship. They are first, your Boarding Pass, it's your ship's card they give it to you when you check in. It's your room key, on board credit card, and permission to come aboard.

The second item can be confusing if you don't read the sign the right way. The keyword is "or" in this case. In the case of boarding for your cruise vacation, you need either an Official Passport from your nation of residence, a certified copy or original copy of your birth certificate, or you need a state issued ID. The ID pictured does have a star, I get that.

READ MORE NOW: 15 Things You Can Use Instead of Real ID/Star ID

URGENT TRAVEL UPDATE: Texas Travelers Take This Out of Your Suitcase Now

But because you have the other two options, it doesn't mean that ID needs to be a REAL ID or a STAR ID. But if we are going to vacation in the world of reasonable people, you probably want to bring your passport along anyway. I personally would not get off a cruise ship in a foreign port without my passport.

Your passport should be guarded more closely than your money, in my opinion because if something goes down and you're on foreign soil you're going to want to prove, in my case anyway, that I am an American citizen so the embassy in that port of call can assist me in times of emergency.

Still, I wouldn't wait; I would go ahead and get the Real ID/Star ID as soon as I can. It will ease a lot of pain points if you do travel more than a few times every year. I would also spend the money for TSA PreCheck if you fly more than twice a year. And if you have plans to travel outside the United States more than once in the next five years you will find Global Entry is worth every dollar too.