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We created this mega-resource not because we love getting a passport, but because we grew tired of standing in long lines at the passport agencies. We also want our users to focus on traveling the globe not loosing hair. Don’t let passport complications delay your next vacation – learn everything you need to know about passports for cruises so your trip goes as smoothly as possible.
The Biggest Reason Cruisers Miss Their Cruise Ship in a Foreign Port
Though passport requirements when taking a cruise may seem confusing, it’s important to take the necessary steps and double-check what type of ID is needed. In some cases, all you might need is a government-issued photo identification such as a driver’s license, but in other cases, you will need your original government-issued birth certificate with a raised seal and a valid passport. 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.
What's the Difference Between a Passport Book and Card?
Cruise News Update: Royal Caribbean Cancels, Carnival Policy, NCL - Cruise Hive
Cruise News Update: Royal Caribbean Cancels, Carnival Policy, NCL.
Posted: Sat, 16 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
You may also present an Enhanced Driver’s License (allows you to re-enter the U.S. only by land or sea and only from Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean) or a Passport Card. It's accepted as legal identification, negates the need to bring multiple forms of ID and provides peace of mind if the worst should happen — such as flying home unexpectedly or docking elsewhere during your trip. Get a view of Kaua‘i’s stunning landscapes from the vantage point of the sea on any number of Hawai‘i cruises. For small-ship fans, other options include sailings that do not leave Alaska, such as those of UnCruise Adventures, Lindblad Expeditions, and Alaska Native–owned Alaskan Dream Cruises. If there is a passport requirement, each person needs to have one, including infants and toddlers.
Closed-Loop Cruises: The One Passport-Required Exception
Scrambling for a temporary passport can create mounds of paperwork and plenty of headaches, and the time it takes to process is never guaranteed. Isolated incidents have left passengers stranded for longer than anticipated. If neither of these two choices fits your short timeline, we recommend using a trusted professional passport expeditor to get your new passport in as few as 24 to 48 hours. A professional expeditor can easily navigate the passport application process on your behalf and make sure that you get your new passport in time for your trip. Therefore, even if a cruise doesn’t require a passport, it’s advisable to have one to avoid these potential issues.
Alaska
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. Cap off a day of adventure in Bermuda with a sunset rum-tasting cruise. As luck would have it, you’ve suddenly got a few open days in your schedule and a yearning to travel somewhere exotic. If you take closed loop cruises (meaning your trip begins and ends at a U.S. port), you can sail to a variety of dreamy destinations as a U.S. citizen without a passport.
Embassy or consulate abroad, it typically takes only a few days for temporary passports to process and receive. If an emergency arises, only an official passport will allow you to fly home quickly from a foreign port. If you end up stranded in another country because of unforeseen circumstances, you do still have options, but it will take more time and effort to get home with only a birth certificate and photo ID. The exact travel documentation required depends on what citizenship you hold, as well as where your cruise is sailing from and to.
List of Passports for Cruises FAQ
If you are cruising with kids under age 16 on a closed-loop cruise, you'll need to bring a certified copy of their original birth certificate for identification. You may be surprised to learn that U.S. citizens don't need a passport to sail on "closed-loop" cruises with lines like Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and others. Whether you need a passport depends on numerous factors, including where you embark and disembark the ship, where you're sailing to and which line you're cruising with. Many countries outside of North America do require a passport and visas are even required where they apply. This includes countries in Europe, Asia, Central and South America. If you’re an adult traveling with a minor (under 16 years old)—by land, air, or sea—you must be able to prove that you are the parent or legal guardian of the child.
Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. A stop in Victoria, British Columbia offers a whole new set of adventures. Visit castles, take a ride on a horse-drawn trolley, stroll through beautiful Butchart Gardens or get your fill of shopping and dining downtown. When you arrive back in Seattle or San Francisco, take time to explore those cities for even more vacation fun. Starting and ending in Seattle or San Francisco, an Alaskan cruise takes you to charming waterfront cities and villages like Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.
Princess Cruises also recommends carrying a second government-issued photo ID while in port. For travelers on tight budgets, who cruise roundtrip from the U.S. and don't plan to leave the country by air, it can be cost efficient and convenient to carry a U.S. passport card. A passport card also could be useful for Alaska cruises, as long as all border crossings into Canada are done by land or sea. Quick three- to five-day hops to the Bahamas bring you to white-sand beaches and cruise lines’ private islands at an affordable price, with no passport required.
Cruises are a popular way to travel and there are many options to choose from. Whether it's a tropical beach vacation, a river trip in Europe or a glacier cruise in Alaska, there's something enjoyable about kicking back on a ship, exploring a handful of ports and taking it easy for a few days. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provides a detailed description of the requirements. If you have any questions, check with your travel agent or cruise line. You don’t want to be turned away at the pier for lack of proper identification.
To help you better prepare for your voyage, here are a few passport tips and best practices to follow when planning your international cruise. As for travel visas, it is the guest’s responsibility to identify and obtain all the necessary travel visas before embarking on the cruise. Established in 1965, Princess Cruises, a prominent name in the cruise industry, began its journey with a single ship heading to Mexico. Today, it boasts a fleet of 15 state-of-the-art ships, offering a variety of onboard amenities and top-notch service, serving millions of passengers annually. Each cruise line has specific guidelines to ensure guests can enjoy a smooth, enjoyable journey and make the most of their travel itineraries. So, while a passport may not always be necessary for a cruise, it’s a good idea to carry one for maximum flexibility.
You can also cruise to the Mexican Riviera—destinations such as Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlán—without a passport. These round-trip sailings typically embark from Los Angles, Long Beach, San Diego, and San Francisco. If your cruise also visits other countries, you may be required to have a passport on hand—usually the cruise lines will ask to see it but you likely won’t need it on shore. Lines doing the sailings include Princess, Holland America, Disney, Norwegian, Celebrity, and Royal Caribbean. That is cheaper than a passport book, can get you on the ship but are valid for entering the USA by land and sea only. Some Caribbean nations require passports for tourists visiting by air or sea for overnight stays, while some do not.
To protect yourself against emergency situations, go with a passport book, which covers all international travel -- by air, sea or land. Always check your cruise line’s specific travel document requirements for more information on whether a passport card is an acceptable form of identification for your specific cruise. Regardless of cruise type, Holland America strongly advises all guests to carry a passport book that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of their travel date. 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.
At the south end of the island of Eleuthera, Princess Cays offers island resort living at its finest. We are a nationally recognized US Passport and visa service by the Washington Post, New York Times and USA Today. Passports and Visas.com is based in Miami, Florida and assists travelers going on a cruise with obtaining an expedited passport, passport renewal, or other passport or visa services. If you need a US passport quickly for your cruise, Passports and Visas.com is a private company that works with the Passport Agency to obtain your US passport application in as fast as 24 hours, with services starting at $59.
In select destinations, you do not need a passport to go on a cruise. Whether you should cruise without a passport is another matter (there are some risks that we’ll get into below). A Green Card will serve as valid proof for lawful permanent residents, however, renewal is very important. If your card is expired or about to expire, you may wind up leaving the country on the cruise ship. Note that a social security card won’t be regarded as proof enough, nor will a baptismal paper or a hospital certificate.
Keep in mind that some Caribbean countries on your closed-loop cruise might require a U.S. passport to enter. If this is the case, without a passport booklet you will not be allowed to cruise or go ashore on those islands. If your ship is not returning to the same port—for instance, if you are eyeing a one-way Panama Canal sailing from Los Angeles to Miami—you do need a passport.
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