A Real ID Driver's License and Enhanced Driver's License are not the same thing.  If you have any doubts or questions, check with your cruise line for their specific requirements.  

Real ID is a state issued driver's license and state identification card, with a minimum-security standard for issue. The Enhanced Driver's license provides proof of identity and US Citizenship and allows crossing into Canada and Mexico.  While it sounds good it, doesn't replace a passport.  Enhanced License was meant to speed up travel across borders but is only available in 5 northern states.  (Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington)

 

Real ID started - May 7, 2025 

Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission's recommendation that the Federal Government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses.” The Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards and prohibits certain federal agencies from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards. These purposes are:

• Accessing certain federal facilities

• Boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft.

• Entering nuclear power plants

 

Check out this website for REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions

https://www.dhs.gov/real-id/real-id-faqs

 

Visit this website for any updates on Enhanced Drivers Licenses.

https://www.dhs.gov/enhanced-drivers-licenses-what-are-they

Enhanced Drivers Licenses: What Are They?

Enhanced Drivers Licenses (EDLs) are state-issued enhanced drivers licenses that provide proof of identity and U.S. citizenship. They are issued in a secure process and include technology that makes travel easier. EDLs are a low-cost, convenient option for entering the United States from Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean through a land or seaport of entry, in addition to serving as a permit to drive.

DHS has been working with individual states to enhance their drivers' licenses and identification documents to comply with travel rules under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), (see the blog post on WHTI) effective June 1, 2009.

EDLs make it easier for U.S. citizens to cross the border into the United States because they include:

• A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip that will signal a secure system to pull up your biographic and biometric data for the CBP officer as you approach the border inspection booth.

• A Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ) or barcode that the CBP officer can read electronically if RFID is

The application for an EDL depends on where you live. It is currently only available to residents of the following states:

• Michigan

• Minnesota

• New York

• Vermont

• Washington