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The accessibility of the Hawaiian islands makes it a popular cruise destination especially for those looking to stay within the United States. Keep in mind that even though you are not required to have a passport to cruise to Alaska, some excursions like the White Pass Railway in Skagway may require a passport. If children under the age of 16 are traveling internationally by air, they will need a valid U.S. passport. You should bring a photo ID and your cabin keycard with you as they will be checked to make sure you are supposed to be on the ship when you return. 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.
10 tasks to start doing now to be ahead of everyone else for your cruise next year - Cruise Blog
10 tasks to start doing now to be ahead of everyone else for your cruise next year.
Posted: Tue, 19 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Vacations That Don't Require a Passport
(such as a driver’s license) and proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate or certificate of naturalization). 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. Most of these cruises don't work because they also include stops in French Polynesia, which is outside of the WHTI agreement. Passports are required for the islands in the South Pacific, which means they're required for the entire cruise.
Canada and New England
Children under 16 can also travel to the Bahamas on a cruise with an original birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or certificate of citizenship. Children under 19 can use these same documents only if they are traveling with a school, church group, sports team, or other organization with adult supervision. A U.S. passport book is a government-issued document that allows U.S. citizens to travel internationally by air, land, and sea.
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Maybe you've never had the time, money or desire to travel abroad previously, or perhaps your old passport has expired. 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. 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. In general, it is preferable to have a passport with you — especially in the event you need emergency medical care and have to stay in a foreign country, for example. You’ll also need a passport for cruises that begin and end in different ports, even if they’re both in the United States.
We always recommend carrying a passport book or a passport card while vacationing on a cruise. That being said, there are certain types of cruises where you’ll be able to board with other types of documentation if you do not have either a passport book or passport card. Cruise lines recommend that every passenger have a passport when traveling, even on closed-loop cruises when one isn't strictly necessary. It's the best way to prove your identification and citizenship and is an essential item if you unexpectedly get stranded abroad.
Canada & New England
Guests who do not bring required documents may be denied boarding. In order to sail, a guest must meet the requirements of ONE of the check boxes below. If you lose your passport on the ship, you should fill out a lost property report with the guest relations department on board. A passport necklace is similar, but is worn around your neck and inside your shirt instead. It’s not usually as discreet as a money belt, but is often more convenient and allows for easier access to your travel documents and money. Figuring out if you need a passport to go on a cruise isn’t quite as straightforward as you might think.
You can cruise to quite a few destinations without a passport, as long as you have proof of citizenship and a government-issued photo ID. A variety of documents are accepted as proof of citizenship, including a state-certified U.S. birth certificate. Customs and Border Protection, and their recent publication also explains the requirements for taking a cruise without a passport. Note that enhanced driver’s licenses are issued in very few states at this time, so it’s important not to assume that yours qualifies as identification and proof of citizenship. The cruises must be “closed-loop,” meaning they begin and end at the same U.S. port.
For instance, you won't need a passport to fly to and cruise out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, or St. Thomas in the U.S. Or, what if you’re in an accident or there’s an emergency at home? If you had a passport, you could just leave the cruise during its next stop and hop on a flight from the nearest airport. However, you always need a passport to fly internationally, so if you don’t have one, you’d be out of luck. Don’t have the right documentation to cruise, according to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative and the U.S.
Cruises That Do Not Require a Passport
Mexico's Caribbean and Pacific coasts are both accessible to cruisers who do not hold passports. If you want to visit Mexico's eastern shores, you can find three- to 15-night cruises to Costa Maya, Cozumel and Progreso. Sailings depart Florida from Miami, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral; you can also find itineraries from New Orleans, Galveston and Mobile, Alabama. The cruises that you don't need a passport for are closed-loop sailings, which depart from and return to the same port within the U.S. One-way sailings from one U.S. port to another or from a U.S. port to a foreign one would require a passport. One option is to take a closed-loop cruise -- a round-trip sailing that leaves from and returns to the same U.S. port.
Like many of the tropical cruise regions, there are plenty of beach breaks, island tours, food tastings, and nature excursions to experience in the Mexican Riviera. Plus, there are exclusive offerings like whale watching, cultural shows like Rhythms of the Night, and some unique landscapes that you can’t find in the Caribbean. For those living on the West Coast, the Mexican Riviera might be the perfect destination to which to cruise without a passport. However, a lack of a passport doesn't mean you can't leave the mainland US. Travelers can visit US territories like the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands without a passport.
Since you are leaving the country, you’ll need proof of citizenship to return home. Legally, while closed-loop cruises don’t require a passport, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) mandates proof of citizenship and identity. Here’s where your birth certificate and government-issued photo ID come in handy, or better yet, an Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL). Passport cards are an affordable and unquestionable alternative to carrying an ID and birth certificate. 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.
Technically, if you have one of those forms of ID but not a passport book, you can take a one-way Alaska cruise — as long as you don't have to fly to or from Canada. What if an opportunity pops up on short notice, and you don't have a passport yet? What if it's only a three-night cruise to the Bahamas, and the passport application fee is almost as much as the cruise fare?
Once this is arranged, you’ll simply get off the ship and enjoy your destination without having to go through customs each time. However, you should always double check what the passport protocol is for the cruise ports you’re visiting. If you’re traveling by land or sea to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean, you can bring a U.S. passport card instead of a passport book.
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