No passport needed for the cruise around the Hawaiian islands.......

I believe that closed loop cruises (RT from the US) going to the Caribbean do not require passports--jut a certified birth certificate and government ID.

Without passports you really are limited in the cruises you can take. You might consider getting passports if you find that you like cruising and want to have lots of great choices in the future.

Beginning June 1, 2009, all U.S. citizens will need to carry a U.S. passport -- or equivalent -- for any travel by land, sea or air, anywhere outside of the United States. A driver's license or birth certificate will no longer be valid. If you don't have a passport, valid "equivalents" are U.S. Passport Cards and Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST). Passport Cards are Department of Homeland Security-approved limited use passports reduced down to wallet card size, valid for land and sea travel only between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean.

But wait -- some cruise travelers still have a loophole! Passengers on any "closed-loop sailing" -- an itinerary that begins and ends at the same U.S. port -- are not required to carry a passport or other WHTI-compliant document in order to re-enter the U.S. They will, however, still need to present a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license) and proof of citizenship (a birth certificate, certificate of naturalization or similar documentation). So if you're sailing to the Caribbean, roundtrip from Miami, a driver's license and birth certificate will suffice, but if your Panama Canal cruise departs from Miami and returns to Los Angeles, you'll need a passport.

To recap: Travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and Caribbean nations now requires the same documentation as travel to other foreign countries, and you'll need a passport for one-way cruise itineraries or roundtrip travel from non-U.S. ports. And don't forget -- if you're cruising to the U.S. state of Alaska, but the ship departs from or arrives in Vancouver, you'll need a passport. However, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are U.S. territories, so you don't need a passport for your roundtrip San Juan sailing.

Even though many cruisers may be exempt from carrying a passport, we strongly encourage everyone to register for one. Why? You'll need this kind of documentation should your travel plans go awry, such as you miss the ship and have to fly to your first port of call, or there's a problem that requires you to debark the cruise and fly home mid-trip. You don't want to be stranded in Mexico, Barbados, Jamaica or any other foreign port without the appropriate documentation. Nor do you want to give up your entire vacation because a flight delay caused you to miss the ship, and you can't legally fly to the next port.

cruisecritic.com

For all intend and purposes, passport is a must. Yes, there are the clsoed loop cruises but be aware tha the rules may change. Your challenges are 2 folds: (1) admission to a foreign country (example: canada, mexico, Caribbean countries) and (2) re-admission to the US.

ALthough most of the North Anmerican and Caribbean countries do not require a passport for your visit for the day, that can change with no notice. The same goes for readmission back to the US.

Just get you passport and get it done and over with.

NCL all American Hawaiin cruise would be the excption that would not require a passport ever as you are always in US territory.

Hawaiian cruise does not require a passport, the one that start in Honolulu and goes around the islands. Don't know if a passport is needed on cruises from LA, SD, SF to Hawaii.

If everybody in your family was born in the US and has US birth certificates, there are "closed-loop" cruises. If somebody for any reason gets stranded (missed the ship boarding time or got sick, need medical evacuation) - good luck without a passport!

Going to Canada, and may be to other places, there is such a thing as "passport card" that is cheaper, and allows entrance to some countries. You can Google it. Don't know if it gives access to airlines.

Is there a reason you don't want to get passports? They last for 10 years and can serve as ID under most any circumstances, not just for travel. Once you have a passport your travel options will not be so limited.