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Certainly many guests will cruise without a passport and likely not run into any issues. The concern without having a passport is if an emergency occurs, only an official passport will allow you to easily and quickly fly from a foreign port to another port and/or back home. Figuring out if you need a passport to go on a cruise isn’t quite as straightforward as you might think. The answer largely depends on the destination of your cruise, which port you’re embarking and disembarking from, and which forms of ID you already have. It’s also worth mentioning that U.S. consular offices are not available in every cruise port. Cruise passengers visiting Turks & Caicos, for example, would be directed to the U.S. consular office in Nassau, Bahamas, 400 miles away.
Should you bring a passport on closed-loop cruises?
Please visit Norwegian Cruise Line global visa support center for additional visa requirements for your cruise by clicking here. While U.S. citizens aren’t currently required to have passports on closed-loop cruises, Royal Caribbean International highly recommends travelers carry a valid passport book as it is the most reliable form of identification. Additionally, if an unforeseen situation arises where guests have to take a flight to or from the U.S. during their cruise, not possessing a valid passport book could result in substantial delays and challenges. As a general rule, Americans embarking on a cruise should have a passport, with at least six months validity left.
For non-U.S. citizens
However, other Caribbean countries may require a valid passport for closed-loop cruises if you plan to disembark, so verify this before your trip and ensure you travel with all necessary documentation. The Caribbean is one of the most popular cruise destinations for U.S. travelers. But before you book a trip, knowing which travel documents are required and whether you need a passport is essential. Princess, Holland America and Celebrity all strongly recommend passport books, but they allow one of the WHTI forms of identification. Again, the passport card opens up one-way possibilities, assuming you aren't flying and your cruise only includes Canada and the U.S. Most Caribbean islands participate in the WHTI, but it's always best to check the details specific to the ports of call included in your itinerary.
Passport for a Caribbean cruise recapped
Anyone who does not carry a passport from Australia or New Zealand must have an Australian visa to go on any cruise that calls to an Australian port or they cannot sail. In transit guests visiting as a port of call do not require a visa before or during the cruise. Effective February 29, 2024, all Mexican citizens entering Canada by air, excluding those with a U.S. permanent resident card, will require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) in order to fly into a Canadian airport. As long as you're on a closed-loop cruise, you’ll be able to skip the passport in favor of other government-issued IDs. If you board in Miami, make a few ports of call, sail through the Panama Canal and end in San Diego, you’ll need to bring your passport. You’ll also need a passport for cruises that begin and end in different ports, even if they’re both in the United States.
Travel document requirements for sailings from Central & South American homeports
Just be sure that your cruise begins and ends in the same U.S. port, and double check your identification and proof of citizenship documents. Mainstream cruise lines operate numerous cruises along the U.S. and Canadian coasts that don't require passports. These depart from the ports of Bayonne, Baltimore, Boston, Manhattan, Brooklyn and occasionally Norfolk. The majority of these New England and Canada cruises are weeklong fall sailings; however, a handful depart at other times of the year or are a touch longer, ranging from eight to 10 nights. Beware of 20-plus-night cruises that are round-trip sailings from the West Coast and would seem to fit the bill for closed-loop cruises that don't require passports.
All guests MUST have the NZeTA or visitor visa in order to take any cruise that visits New Zealand ports. It is not an option to detain a guest onboard in New Zealand ports if they do not have the required visa. For cruises that begin in Sydney, we will check for the NZeTA confirmation email from every guest at check in so please print or have the confirmation email available on your phone. Anyone who has not yet applied can do so at the pier, but will not be boarded if they do not receive approval before the ship sails. Passport holders from the following countries require a visa for Martinique before the cruise.
You have options to cruise without a passport because not every sailing requires them. So while you don't need a passport of passport card to cruise to Alaska from Seatlle or other U.S. ports, you will need this idenfitication as the cruise must stop in Canada on its way. Without these required documents, you will not be able to board your cruise or get back into the United States. U.S. Alien Residents holding an Alien Resident Card (ARC), also known as a "Green Card" must be in possession of the ARC in order to sail. Alien Residents who do not have their ARC with them at check in will be denied boarding.
Always Travel With a Passport on Your Cruise — Even If You Don't Need One - Fodor's Travel
Always Travel With a Passport on Your Cruise — Even If You Don't Need One.
Posted: Wed, 20 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
You probably guessed it – you’ll need a passport if you have booked an international cruise. This could be a cruise departing from or returning to a port outside your home country, or it could refer to a cruise that features international ports of call in its itinerary. To help you understand your passport requirements, we will cover different types of cruises and whether you need a passport to board them. Passport holders from the below listed countries do not a require a visa to go ashore in Vanuatu ports. Passport holders from all other countries not listed below will require a visa for Vanuatu prior to the cruise.
What about Non-American travelers?
Also, if a cruise starts or ends in a foreign country, including Canada, or if it starts and ends at different U.S. ports, a valid passport book is always required. While cruising with a passport is always recommended, it's not required by law in certain circumstances. Closed-loop cruises from U.S. ports that visit Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico are part of an international agreement that allows U.S. citizens to cruise without a passport. In these cases, government-issued identification and proof of U.S. citizenship are acceptable alternatives to a passport book.
The Caribbean includes over a dozen different countries and territories, so don’t think that you’re limited. Your options range from Barbados to Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Aruba and more. For this reason, you’ll see plenty of cruises taking off from Florida, stopping off in the Bahamas, then looping back and docking in the United States. Apply in advance of your trip as a new passport can take up to 6 weeks to process.
The Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app is a free & efficient alternative to Global Entry. The cruise line operates in over 100 countries across all 7 continents, with voyages ranging from 2 to 15 nights. It is acclaimed for its meticulous attention to detail, playful character interactions, and creative dining experiences. Their Regent Seven Seas and Oceania Cruises, in particular, are renowned for their luxury.
Passports are required for any U.S. citizen whose cruise embarks or disembarks in a foreign country, including Canada. They’re also required for sailings that begin and end in different U.S. ports. While some cruises may not mandate a passport, it’s always smart planning to carry one. A valid passport acts as your ticket to a hassle-free and enjoyable cruising experience. When a valid U.S. passport book is required, the validity of the passport book is recommended with either 3 months or 6 months (most common) of validity remaining beyond the last day of the cruise. Holland America Line, founded in 1873, operates 11 ships offering over 500 cruises to 470+ ports in 98 countries.
Additionally, visas or travel permits may be required to enter some countries. If you’re looking for cruises that don’t require a passport, take a round trip sail to Bermuda from New York City, Baltimore, Charleston or one of two Florida ports of call. As Britain’s oldest colony, Bermuda offers wonderful historic attractions and plenty of opportunities for fun in the sun. Pink-sand beaches, beautiful blue waters and colorful coral reefs deliver the perfect recipe for sunning, swimming, sailing and snorkeling.
And if you're starting and ending your cruise at different ports within the U.S. — or flying in to or out of a Caribbean country — you will need a passport. Princess Cruises' 16-day Hawaiian Islands voyage from San Francisco visits Hilo, Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui before five days at sea and a stop in Ensenada on the return to San Francisco. Norwegian Cruise Line offers a seven-day Hawaii inter-island cruise that boards in Honolulu and visits Maui, Hilo and Kona on the Big Island, and Kauai before returning to Honolulu. The Hawaiian islands are about 3,700 miles from the West Coast, so cruises from the mainland to Hawaii and back involve four or five days at sea in each direction.
Failure to present the right documents may also affect your ability to receive a refund should you be unable to take your trip. Our comprehensive guide shares the steps to take if you find yourself in this situation. Rushed expedited service is a better choice when you have a tight schedule.
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