Regions You Wont Need A Passport To Cruise
- Mexican Riviera
- San Juan, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands
If youre taking an Alaska cruise that starts or ends in Vancouver, BC, you will need a passport to enter or leave Vancouver.
Guests that do not have passports and want to go on an Alaska cruise should choose to sail roundtrip from Seattle or San Francisco.
What To Know About Us Passports
- Your passport must not expire for at least another six more months from the date you return to the U.S.
- There must be at least two blank pages in the booklet.
- While an Enhanced Drivers License or a Passport Card are handy, they are valid only for re-entering the U.S. at land borders or sea ports-of-entry from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. They cannot be used for air travel entry to the U.S.
- Visit travel.state.gov/destination to know exactly what will be required for your cruise itinerary
What If You Lose Your Passport During A Cruise
If you lose your passport while on a cruise, the first thing you need to do is notify the nearest U.S. consulate in order to get a replacement passport issued. Also, contact the guest relations department on your cruise ship so they can provide guidance on how to handle the rest of your cruise before you get your replacement passport.
If you lose your passport on the ship, you should fill out a lost property report with the guest relations department on board.
To help eliminate any chance of losing your passport while on the ship, we recommend keeping it in your stateroom or suite. The in-room safes are easy to use and will keep your passport in a secure place at all times. When youre on your cruise, there is no need to carry a passport on you since youll use your Sea Pass card for all transactions.
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Do I Need A Passport On A Closed Loop Cruise
American citizens do not need a passport to go on a closed loop cruise. They can leave and re-enter their own country without a passport. However, it is important to know that another proof of citizenship will be required instead.
According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Information Center, other valid proofs of citizenship you can use to go on closed loop cruises besides a passport are:
- Enhanced Drivers License
- Government-issued birth certificate or
- Government-issued certificate of naturalization
If youre 16 or older, you will also need a valid government-issued drivers license or picture ID that contains your photo, name and date of birth.
U.S. citizens younger than 16 may use an original, notarized or certified copy of their birth certificate to go on a closed loop cruise. They do not need other documents to leave and re-enter the USA.
Note, however, that this does not necessarily mean that the countries on your itinerary, especially in the Caribbean, wont still require you to have a passport to enter. If thats the case, your cruise line might already require you to have a passport to board the shipeven if U.S. Customs and Border Protection does not.
If you arent sure, please ask your cruise line about this in advance. A closed loop cruise refers only to U.S. immigration regulations and passport requirements for U.S. citizens. It does not reflect those of the destinations on the closed loop cruise.
Do You Need A Passport For A Caribbean Cruise
If you are cruising to the Caribbean, you will need to enter with either your U.S. passport book, passport card, Trusted Traveler card , or an enhanced drivers license.
If you are aboard a Caribbean closed-loop cruise, , you can travel with a state-issued ID and an original birth certificate. You must have both of these documents in order to be able to travel without a passport.
The following Caribbean countries require the above documentation: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Turks and Caicos.
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Why Is A Passport Required For Cruises
U.S. citizens are required to have a valid passport book for all international travel by air. Many cruises begin and end in foreign ports and need guests to fly. For example, on a Mediterranean voyage, you might board your cruise ship in Barcelona and stop at several ports on your way to Athens, where you can get on a plane and fly home. With this type of cruise, you need a passport book.
Even if you do not fly to take a cruise, you may still need a passport if you end your journey at a different port than where you began. For instance, if you start a cruise in Boston, visit several Caribbean islands and complete your voyage in Miami, you will need a passport.
Some cruise lines require guests to bring a passport regardless of their itinerary. Carrying your passport on a cruise ensures you can reenter the United States by air if you would need to leave early due to an emergency. With a passport, you can also have greater peace of mind knowing that you can explore every port on your itinerary without issues.
Where Else Can I Cruise Without A Passport
There are a few U.S. territories and other destinations that allow passport-free entry for U.S. citizens.
- Puerto Rico is a United States Commonwealth, and all U.S. citizens can travel there and to its surrounding islands, Vieques and Culebra, without a passport.
- Also in the Caribbean, the U.S. Virgin Islands are a U.S. territory thats fair game for passport-less American citizens. You can visit St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John just not the neighboring British Virgin Islands.
- In the Pacific, some cruises visit Guam, where, although U.S. citizens are required to possess a U.S. passport, on a case-by-case basis, photo I.D. and proof of citizenship may be accepted.3
- Cruises to Alaska and Hawaii dont require passports, because both are U.S. states. However, if your Alaskan cruise begins or ends in Canada, youd need your passport.
Take note: Just because you dont need a passport to visit these destinations doesnt mean you wont need any official documentation. Make sure you have a government-issued photo ID, naturalization paperwork, and/or birth certificate.
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Some Ports May Still Require A Passport
There are rare instances where a port of call may require passengers to have their passport to go ashore or take an excursion, even if the cruise itself doesnt require it.
The daily planner will tell you if a passport in port is required, as well as an announcement from the cruise director during arrival.
If you get to the gangway and realize you forgot the passport back in your room, security will ask you to go get it. Remember, the cruise lines do not make the rules they have to follow local regulations to every port they visit.
In 2019, the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe both require passengers to have a valid passport. If you do not have a valid passport and are on a closed-loop cruise, you will be required to stay on board.
Does Windstar Cruises Require Passports
With Windstar Cruises, guests must have a valid U.S. passport to board, no matter the itinerary. We hope for guests to make the most of their cruise and explore hidden harbors, discover secret islands and dive into the local culture without any worries or stress. Having a passport with you allows you to fully immerse yourself in the experience, whether youre sailing the turquoise Caribbean Sea or gliding next to whales in Alaska. And, if you would need to fly for any reason, whether theres an emergency back home or you decide to continue traveling post-cruise, your passport gives you the freedom you need.
A cruise can be the experience of a lifetime, so its worth preparing for your voyage as much as you can. Once you step on board, you can leave problems behind and savor every moment at sea. Well do our part, too, and ensure you feel pampered, informed and delighted from port to port.
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Cruises That You Dont Need A Passport
You dont need a passport in most cases where your cruise starts and ends in the same U.S. port.
These cruises are referred to as closed loop sailings.
However, every cruise on a ship that is not U.S. flagged, embarking and disembarking on a U.S. port, must visit one foreign port of call according to maritime law.
Thats why you will sometimes find Western Caribbean cruises stopping at Cancun, or Alaska cruises calling in at Vancouver.
To qualify, the places these closed loop cruises tour outside of the country must be adjacent territories of the United States,
which includes Canada, Mexico, and several islands on the Caribbean. Some destinations for closed-loop cruises where you dont need a passport include:
1. The Caribbean
The Caribbean comprises of 35 countries and territories that are in or around the Caribbean Sea, including islands in the Lesser Antilles and the Greater Antilles.
This region has often been described as paradise, and for a good reason.
Here, you will find some of the worlds most gorgeous palm-fringed beaches, where travelers flock to soak up the sun, get a feel of the laid-back culture, and snorkel among vibrant tropical fish.
Every island on the Caribbean is unique with a ton of things to do.
You could, for instance, visit Stingray City in Grand Cayman and play with stingrays, or swim with pigs at the Bahamas Big Major Cay.
2. Bermuda
3. Alaska
Should You Take Your Passport With You On Shore Excursions
Your passport got you onto the ship, but can you get off the cruise ship without a passport or do you need to take it with you on shore excursions?
In general, you are not required to bring your passport with you when you go ashore for the day, either for a tour or to explore on your own. Certain ports are exceptions, such as St. Petersburg, where youll need to go through a passport and visa check.
You might also need a passport for shore excursions that take you from one country to another, such as certain tours on the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad that takes passengers from Alaska into Canada.
Even though youre not required to take your passport ashore, opinions are mixed as to whether its a good idea to bring it anyway. Proponents say that its best to have your passport in case you miss the ship youll have an easier time getting to the next port of call or back home if you dont need to seek out an emergency passport from the local U.S. embassy.
Opponents argue that the chance of you missing the ship is low, and its more likely that your passport will get lost or stolen while youre exploring in port. In that case, your passport is better left in the safe in your cabin.
Some cruisers take a middle-of-the-road approach, and bring a photocopy of their passport ashore , but leave the actual book on the ship. This way, if something does go wrong, its easier to prove your identity and citizenship.
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Which Cruise Ports Require A Passport
You need a passport for any cruise that departs out of a foreign port that you need to fly to. Cruises departing from Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and Australia require passports. If youre flying to Caribbean islands like Barbados or the Bahamas, or Canadian homeports, such as Vancouver and Montreal, you will need to carry a passport.
Remember that cruise ports such as San Juan, Puerto Rico, and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, are actually part of the U.S. Treat those flights as domestic travel.
If you are sailing out of one U.S. homeport and disembarking at the end of your voyage in a different one, you also need a passport for your cruise. For example, a Panama Canal cruise that leaves from Miami and ends in Los Angeles will require a passport.
Do I Need A Passport For A Caribbean Cruise
Mostly, whether or not a passport is required depends on your itinerary. If you are going on whats called a closed-loop cruise and return to Ft. Lauderdale then technically you do not need a U.S. passport booklet .
On such a closed-loop cruise and without a passport, U.S. citizens will be able to enter or depart the U.S. with certain proof of citizenship. You will be required to present a government-issued birth certificate and a laminated government-issued photo ID, denoting photo, name and date of birth.
You may also present an Enhanced Drivers License or a Passport Card.
Check with your state to see if it offers an Enhanced Drivers License. Passport Cards have the same limitations at an EDL.
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Can You Go On A Cruise With An Expired Passport
No. An expired passport is not a valid travel document.
However, your passport may officially expire earlier than you think. Infrequent travelers, take note: Many countries require that your passport be valid for six months after the date you arrive in that country. If your cruise takes place in August, you will be traveling for just a week or two, and your passport expires in October of the same year, you might think its acceptable documentation. It isnt.
How To Go On A Cruise Without A Passport The Complete Lowdown
While some of the cruises on this list do not require a passport to let you onboard, you may need it at your destination to disembark.
You may be wondering, How do I go on a cruise without a passport? First off, you can go on any domestic closed-loop cruise.
A closed-loop cruise, also known as a no-passport cruise, is a voyage that ends in the port of departure, thereby forming a loop if its route is plotted on a map.
After searching the internet, we came to the conclusion that there is no hard and fast list for no-passport-required cruises.
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Why Suggest A Passport If You Dont Need It
So if this is the case, why are the cruise lines and Cruzely so adamant about getting a passport in the first place?
There are a couple of reasons.
First, if anything were to happen that made you have to find alternate transport home, then youd be in deep water without a passport. For example, if you had to fly home from a foreign port due to a family emergency, then youd have trouble returning without a passport.
With the recent health crisis, this is more important than ever. While its not definite, its been seen that on some cruises, passengers that are positive for COVID have had to debark the ship. That means they have to find an alternate way home, such as flying.
Second, passports can make the debarkation process faster.
Not all terminals have the technology yet, but many are switching over to automated passport screening. In the old way of doing things, you leave the ship and then have to wait in line for a Customs & Border Patrol agent to check your documents before letting you into the country.
With automated screening, you scan your passport, take a quick photo, and youre on your way. Instead of waiting in a long line, the processing takes seconds. However, those with a birth certificate still have to wait in line and have their documents manually checked.
Where Can You Cruise Without A Passport
The quickest way to determine whether you need a passport to cruise is to look at the itinerary. If the journey starts and ends in the same U.S. port, you may not need a passport. Then, make sure you understand what your cruise line requires, as every company is different.
To show you some options, here are destinations you can escape to last minute, even if you dont have a valid passport:
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Do You Need A Passport To Cruise From Miami
Most people dont realize that they need a passport to cruise from Miami. Sometimes people think that they just need a drivers license or a passport, but you dont need either of those things to cruise from Miami.
The cruise industry is booming right now, and there are a lot of people who are looking to travel. But many people dont realize that they need a passport to cruise from Miami. You can cruise from Miami without a passport, but it will be much more difficult.
How Much Does A Us Passport Cost
If youre applying for your first passport, the cost is $145 $110 for the passport and $35 for fees. If youre renewing a passport, youll only pay $110. Apply or renew at least four to six weeks prior to departure. Try to avoid the costly expediting fee if possible.
For more detailed info, visit:
Bon voyage and happy travels!
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If There’s No Passport Required What Documents Do I Need
Even though you’ll be sailing on a no-passport-required cruise, you’re still required to carry the following 2 pieces of identification:
Proof of Citizenship AND Government-issued photo ID
- State certified U.S. birth certificate
- Original certificate of U.S. naturalization
- Original certificate of U.S. citizenship
- U.S. Consular report of your birth abroad
WHTI -compliant documents
*A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 does not require a government-issued photo ID.
Although you do not need a passport to visit these destinations as a U.S. citizen, Norwegian Cruise Line strongly recommends all guests to obtain a passport for their cruise vacation for the following reasons:
- If you miss your ship at its scheduled U.S. departure port and need to travel outside the U.S. to meet your ship.
- You unexpectedly need to depart the ship from a foreign port prior to the end of sailing, a passport would be required to leave or re-enter the U.S. by air.
- If you need to obtain a passport quickly, please contact VisaCentral at 844-834-5702 and reference account 75006 for discounted VisaCentral service fees. VisaCentral can obtain a passport in as little as 48 hours.
