Can a permanent resident travel in a Cruise without a passport and only their US resident card?

If you're just going to the Caribbean or Mexico, no problem.

According to Customs and Border Patrol:
"Foreign nationals that are lawful permanent residents of the U.S. must present a Permanent Resident Card ("Green Card", INS Form I-551), a Reentry Permit (if gone for more than 1 year), or a Returning Resident Visa (if gone for 2 years or more) to reenter the United States. U.S. LPRs are not required by the U.S. to have a passport for travel, although most foreign destinations will require you to have one to enter their country. "
http://help.cbp.gov/cgi-bin/customs.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=572&p_created=1048279878&p_sid =wX-*G4Wi&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF 9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19j bnQ9MjExLDIxMSZwX3Byb2RzPTAmcF9jYXRzPTAmcF9wdj0mcF 9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZw X3BhZ2U9MSZwX3NlYXJjaF90ZXh0PXBlcm1hbmVudCByZXNpZG VudHM*&p_li=&p_topview=1

So, your green card is fine to get back in to the U.S.

However, depending on your destination, you may a passport (even one from your original country) to visit foreign ports. That's only likely to be an issue if you are going on a very exotic cruise -- in the Caribbean and Mexico, I've never, ever seen them check passports at the pier.

I actually just spoke with my travel agent AND a Carnival cruise line rep to ask if my 9 year old cousin could travel on a cruise without a passport. They both informed me that she could travel with her birth certificate and some form of ID. Also, because her parents wouldn't be traveling with us, she needed a letter from her mother stating that it is OK for her to be with us. However, this is the last year that you can travel without a passport.

Good luck!

PJ is right, but there is one other thing to consider...SOME cruise lines require all apssengers to have a passport...so you need to call them and ask their policy. Starting in June citizens AND permanent residents will need passports for ALL international travel...so you will need one from your home country then.

Im from scotland but live in usa and I am going on a cruise in sept with carnival and I was told I would need my passport along with my resident card because we are going to the caribbean but even my husband who is american has been told he has to have a passport. we got his within a week but my daughters is british and she will have to wait up until about 3 weeks.