It depends on where the cruise travels. If it leaves the countries boundaries then yes.

I'm going on a cruise tomorrow and I think the rule is that you only need an original birth certificate for another 150 days or so until they change the rule. Then they will force you to have a passport.
:-(

Depending on your destination, you will most likely need a passport. Also, if you are traveling with children, you may need additional documentation (i.e. birth certificate, permission letter.) It sounds redundant, but Royal Caribbean wouldn't let my niece board without an ORIGINAL, NOTARIZED letter from her dad giving her permission to travel even though my sister presented an original un-notarized letter and had a notarized copy faxed. My sister and niece had to wait to get the original notarized letter by fedex and then fly to our first port of call to meet us - all at their expense. Royal Caribbean will not help at all. BRING ALL YOUR DOCUMENTS. OTHERWISE, THE CRUISE LINE CAN AND WILL REFUSE TO LET YOU BOARD.

You can get detailed, updated passport info. at:

http://allthingscruise.com/.../

more than likely, yes! unless to just plan on cruising up and down in the U.S.

That depends on the cruise line and where you will be traviling

yes. I went to the carribean and on a mexican riviera cruise and I needed a passport for both.

Yes, you do need to take your passport along.
The cruise ship will be stopping over at interesting places and to make a tour of the territory you will need to get temporary visas from the immigration authorities of the country where your cruise ship has docked.
You will need your passport to get the temporary visas, which of course is a formality.
The cruise managers will arrange everything for you.

Yeah,or else stay within your territorial waters.

If you live in the US and are going to the bahamas, no, if you are going to Africa, yes.