Every cruise guest knows that it’s important to verify and bring the correct documentation to their cruise ports, or else they could be denied boarding.

However, US citizens who will be flying to their next departure port now need to make extra sure they have another form of identification: Their REAL IDs.

If you missed the memo, the REAL ID is a state-issued driver’s license or ID card that doubles as a federally accepted form of identification that complies with stricter security standards.

In most US states, these cards are identifiable by a white star in a yellow circle.

REAL IDs have been required for domestic flights since May 7, 2025, but TSA agents will be enforcing this with a financial penalty starting next year.

As of February 1, 2026, guests who are flying without a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification will be required to pay a $45 fee online.

The fee was originally proposed at $18, but the final amount is more than double this rate.

According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), 94% of people already use REAL IDs or other approved forms of identification, but the remaining 6% still equates to hundreds of thousands of vacationers.

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“Beginning February 1, travelers who do not present an acceptable form of ID at our security checkpoints and still want to fly can pay a $45 fee and undergo the TSA Confirm.ID process,” said Adam Stahl, Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator for TSA.

“This fee ensures the cost to cover verification of an insufficient ID will come from the traveler, not the taxpayer,” Stahl added.

How the Process Works

Starting in February, those traveling without REAL IDs or other suitable identification must pay the $45 to the TSA online prior to traveling.

Every transaction is good for a 10-day travel period before non-REAL ID users have to pay the fee again.

While it’s possible to complete the process from the airport, it’s highly recommended that the fee is paid in advance.

The process can take upwards of 30 minutes – and that’s assuming there are no glitches.

After paying the fee, travelers will need to present an email confirmation to the TSA agent before being allowed to pass through the security checkpoint.

But even then, it’s possible that TSA agents could still refuse to let these travelers pass through the security checkpoint if they can’t verify their identities for any reason.

As another unfortunate side effect, this extra step could make lines even longer at airports servicing busy cruise ports like PortMiami and Port Canaveral.

“The security of the traveling public is our top priority, so we urge all travelers to get a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID as soon as possible to avoid delays and potentially miss flights,” Stahl continued.

This is another reason to support why we always recommend flying to your cruise port at least one day early, as the ship will not wait for you if your original travel plans are delayed or cancelled for a reason like this.

Passports as an Alternative

On the bright side, the TSA accepts passports as an alternative form of identification, which is also the preferred form of identification for the major cruise lines.

With the exception of closed-loop and domestic cruises, passports are almost always required to set sail.

That said, it’s always smart to confirm what documentation is needed for your specific voyage with your cruise line before leaving home and with enough time to obtain documents that you might not have.

US citizens who travel with a passport but do not have a REAL ID are able to pass through TSA checkpoints without paying the $45 fee.

Other additional forms of identification that have been approved by the TSA include US passport cards, DHS trusted traveler cards, permanent resident cards, Veteran Health Identification Cards, and foreign government-issued passports.

A complete list of acceptable forms of ID can always be found on the TSA website.

Cruise lovers in the Mid-Atlantic will soon have a new cruise port to enjoy as PhilaPort has officially broken ground on its future cruise terminal.

The 16-acre facility, adjacent to Philadelphia International Airport, is slated to open in April 2026, giving Philadelphia a dedicated homeport just ahead of its hosting large-scale celebrations for the United States’ 250^th anniversary.

The terminal groundbreaking is the latest step in a partnership between PhilaPort, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, and Energy Transfer Marketing and Terminals, and began after the sale of the former Hog Island Dock property was complete.

During the December 1, 2025, groundbreaking ceremony, Jeff Theobald, PhilaPort executive director and CEO praised Norwegian Cruise Line and Energy Transfer.

“It took a lot of hard work to bring this agreement together,” he said. “Energy Transfer and Norwegian Cruise Line were committed every step of the way.”

He added that there is a lot of hard work ahead, “but we are ready and excited to welcome cruise passengers this spring.”

Under a seven-year berthing agreement running through March 2033, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ three brands – Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises – will operate as Philadelphia’s exclusive homeport operator with an initial commitment of 41 sailings per year.

Officials estimate the terminal will support 2,185 jobs and generate about $300 million a year for Pennsylvania’s economy.

The groundbreaking comes just as Philadelphia prepares to serve as a focal point for America’s 250^th anniversary, which is expected to draw an influx of visitors. Port officials say the timing couldn’t be better to showcase visibility for the port as a homeport option for the Mid-Atlantic.

“Philadelphia’s debut as our newest homeport marks a strategic milestone for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings,” said Daniel Farkas, executive vice president, general counsel and chief development officer at the cruise company.

“As we prepare to launch in 2026, this terminal represents the next wave in our commitment to innovation, regional growth, and delivering an unmatched guest experience from ship to shore,” he added.

PhilaPort will oversee the waterfront work, while Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings will build and design the passenger terminal on land.

The new terminal is part of PhilaPort’s broader “Destination 2040” plan to expand the port’s infrastructure, increase berths, upgrade terminals, and shift the port from cargo to passenger operations.

Norwegian Gains New Cruise Homeport

Norwegian Cruise Line announced that it was making Philadelphia a new homeport in 2024, restoring the city’s direct cruise access for the first time in years.

The cruise line’s 93,502-gross-ton Norwegian Jewel will operate from the new port beginning April 16, 2026, and extending through October 17, 2026.

During the summer of 2026, the 2,368-guest Norwegian Jewel will run 7- to 9-day cruises to Bermuda with overnight calls at the Royal Naval Dockyard. 

As the season progresses, the ship will shift to longer excursions of 10- and 11-day sailings to Canada and New England, alternating homeports between Philadelphia and Quebec City beginning in September 2026.

Ports for those sailings will include a mix of smaller and major stops such as Halifax, Nova Scotia; Bar Harbor, Maine; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; and Boston.

At this time, Regent Seven Seas and Oceania Cruises have not announced a Philadelphia-led lineup.

No other major cruise line is scheduled to homeport in the city in 2026, making Norwegian Cruise Line the only operator bringing passengers from Philadelphia to Bermuda and New England.

Other cruise lines are set to add Philadelphia to their lineup in 2026 for the historic 250^th Semiquincentennial. Princess Cruises, for example, features the City of Brotherly Love on its land tours program, “Historic America Cruisetour.”

The Port of Galveston issued an important traffic pattern alert to cruise guests planning to sail from the port between December 5 and December 25, 2025.

It is the second time in less than two months that vehicle traffic entering and exiting the port has been impacted by ongoing road construction in the area.

In a social media post and on its website, the Port of Galveston informed travelers that traffic routes are being altered for those headed for Terminal 25 and Terminal 28.

Carnival Cruise Line ships sail from Terminal 25, and all guests arriving in vehicles must enter the port on 23rd Street and exit on 33rd Street. Those bound for Terminal 28, which serves Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, and Princess Cruises, must enter and exit on 33rd Street.

Port officials also urge all passengers to park in Port of Galveston cruise parking lots and use the port’s shuttle system to bring their luggage to the embarkation terminals. Also, pedestrians arriving from downtown areas should enter and exit the terminal complex at 25th Street.

The latest instructions for accessing Terminals 25 and 28 differ slightly from those issued in October 2025. At that time, road construction forced all guests headed to Terminal 25 to enter and exit at 23rd Street. Access to Terminal 28 remains the same — entering and exiting at 33rd Street.

The Port of Galveston, in recent years, has been upgrading its internal roadways in an effort to divert some traffic away from the city’s busy Harborside Drive. In fact, Port Director and CEO Rodger Rees noted in his end-of-year statement on December 1, 2025, that the port is nearing completion of upgrades to its internal roadway.

The latest traffic alert is valid until December 25, 2025, at which point it appears possible that the roadway work will be finished.

Read Also: Galveston Cruise Terminal Overview and Guide

The port, also known as Galveston Wharves, is the fourth-busiest in North America based on cruise arrivals, behind Port Miami, Port Canaveral, and Port Everglades. With roughly 400 ship departures and more than 3 million passenger transits, the port continues to grow each year.

December a Busy Month For Galveston’s Cruise Terminals

Virtually every major cruise line has a presence at Galveston. Carnival Cruise Line has four ships sailing from the port —  Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, and Carnival Legend.

In fact, the port made significant changes to Terminal 25, to the tune of $53 million, in order to accommodate the mega-ship Carnival Jubilee, when the 183,521-gross-ton ship debuted in late 2023.

Galveston is a busy port in December, as cruisers take advantage of warm weather vacations to the Caribbean and many book popular holiday sailings. 

On December 13, 2025, for example, two Carnival ships, the 5,228-guest Carnival Jubilee and the 3,646-guest Carnival Dream, both depart on Western Caribbean voyages — that’s nearly 9,000 passengers between just those two vessels.

The Port of Galveston has several parking lots available to cruise guests, including the Express Lot, specifically for Terminals 25 and 28. It has 680 spaces and is a short walk to the terminals.

Also, for those terminals, passengers can utilize Economy Lots A and B, both with shuttle service, and the SMP Garage, which is within walking distance.

Other major developments at the port include the opening of Terminal 16 in November 2025. That facility is home to an MSC Cruises ship, MSC Seascape, and will also be used by Norwegian Cruise Line.

Royal Caribbean, which has two ships currently sailing from Galveston, Mariner of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas, uses Terminal 10.