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I live in Virginia and i'm going on a cruise to the Bahamas, do I need a passport? Or just 2 forms of i.d.?

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You dont need a passport till the summer. However, these rules are subject to change from the State Department at any time. I would certainly advice you to get a passport. Even if you dont need a passport to cruise you do need it to fly. So if something happens on the cruise ship and you need to be air lifted back to the States, they cant without a passport. Not worth the risk for $90 investment with the post office.
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You do not need a passport yet.A drivers license or state id with photo and a birth certificate are fine.If you google passport regulations it will give all the details.It looks now like it may be June 2009.We're going 3/31 and don't have passports.
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Most cruiseliners require a passport for all theyre passengers. But it doesnt hurt to ask the cruisline off your choise. You cant get more than a no.

Johan
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from

http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/crossingbord...

Land/Sea Travel

Beginning January 31, 2008, the United States will end the practice of accepting oral declarations of citizenship at the border.

U.S. citizens ages 19 and older must present documentation that proves both identity and citizenship. Identification documents must include a photo, name and date of birth.

also look here

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbp...
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as of january 2008, you now need a passport to go on any cruise. they dont take that long to get as long as you have all of the paperwork in order
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I'm cruising in May. A birth certificate and drivers license is required if you don't have a passport.
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You MUST have a passport.  Most if not all require a passport to even check in on the ship before the cruise.  As of Jan 2007 you have to have one for all cruises now.

I am going on one on Monday and my friend needed my passport number in order to validate me for the cruise because I am the Guest that is going with them.  This is Celebrity Cruise.

I know for a fact the Carnival Cruise lines require a passport as well.  My mother went on one last year and she had to have it or she couldn't go.  Her ship sailed out of Miami.

Another girl I talked to today told me that when she went on Carnival or either royal, she said that when she got to the ship to check in so she could get on the ship, while they took her bags, that there were people who didn't have their passport or have a passport at all, and the ship made them wait in a lounge until they decided what they were going to do with the people that didn't have their passports.

Even though the government travel website says you may not need one for sea travel call the cruise line and ask them what you need.  Like I said MOST if not all now REQUIRE a passport.

An Adult passport for regular service is $100 and can take anywhere from a week all the way to 6-8weeks.

Expidited is $160 and that takes about 2-3 weeks.

If you do end up trying to get a passport make sure all the info they as you for is up to date, because anything suspisious to them they will put your passport process on hold and send you a letter asking for more stuff.
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As of Dec 2007 all cruise lines started requiring all passengers to have passports.
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I am traveling in June to the Bahamas on a Disney Cruise and all passengers need passports!
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oh i took a cruise to the bhamas too your gonna love it i had to have a passport
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Right now you will be OK with just your birth certificate and a photo ID.  And "right now" means from now until this summer.

The Federal agencies that are responsible for border security plan to change the rules to make them more restrictive but have only said that;

     " As early as Summer 2008, subject to U.S. Government amendment, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport"

So no one knows right now when the EXACT date will be made effective.

In addition, you may need to look at what your cruise line is requiring because some cruise lines are requiring a passport right now so that they do not have situations where people report to check in at the pier and do not have a passport.

It takes 4 to 6 weeks for normal passport processing through the mails.  But if you live in one of the cities, like DC, that has a processing office you can get it in a day if you spend all day at the processing office OR is two weeks by mail.  Check out the passport office web site for information about getting an expedited passport:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/passpor...
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What are the new passport requirements?

CRUISE TRAVEL

The U.S. Government will soon require all of our guests (including U.S. citizens) to be in possession of a valid passport when traveling on any Carnival cruise. To make sure you are prepared at your departure port, visit www.travel.state.gov for the latest and exact passport requirements.
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