Passports Are Required When Going On A Cruise
We know traveling documents are the last thing on your mind when you’re preparing to go on a cruise, but it is best that you make them a priority.
Cruise Planners travel agents will assist you with your preparation and booking when going on your next cruise, whether you are a first time cruiser, or a seasoned cruiser. Before you go on your next cruise to the Bahamas, please view our cruise packing tips & checklist.
We’ve also taken the time to answer frequently asked questions on specific destinations on whether or not passports are required
Do You Need A Passport If You Fly To An International Cruise Departure Port
If youre doing any international air travel to get to your cruise, then you are required to bring a valid U.S. passport book in order to board the plane.
A U.S. passport book is a government-issued document that allows U.S. citizens to travel internationally by air, land, and sea.
A valid U.S. passport book is mandatory even if youre flying to or from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean from the United States.
Canadian Visa For Travel To Alaska
The Canadian government requires foreign citizens from most countries other than the U.S. to obtain a visa for entry into Canada. This law affects all cruises that make a port of call in Canada including most cruises to and from Alaska and the Pacific Coast. Failure to present the required visa will result in denied boarding with no refund. To learn if Canada requires a visa for citizens of your country, we highly recommend you contact with your embassy or consulate for more information and to learn the entry requirements of the countries on your itinerary. You may also contact Zier visa Service Again, All travelers are responsible to learn of the documentation requirements for yourvacations.
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Can You Go On A Cruise Without A Passport
First time cruisers often ask if they need a passport to go on a cruise. The answer is that you generally need a passport to travel to a foreign country, but select itineraries sailing roundtrip from U.S. homeports do not require passports as travel documents.
Here, we answer the most common questions about passports for cruises. Remember: Its always the travelers responsibility to make sure they have the correct identification and documentation for your cruise. Otherwise, you could get turned away at the cruise port.
Visa Requirements For Russia
All guests may cruise with or without a Russian visa. Guests from nationalities that require a Russian visa may go ashore on an organized tour, but cannot go ashore independently without a visa. Passport holders from the following countries do not require a visa to visit Russia and can go ashore independently or on a tour with no visa.
Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macau, Maldives, Mauritius, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nauru, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, South Africa, South Korea, Tajikistan, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela.
Austria, Andorra, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, Vatican City
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Which Cruises Do Not Require Passports
Closed Loop US Cruises:
Not all cruise lines have the same passport requirements and we will address these later in the post. The most popular cruises which allow cruisers to travel without passports are closed loop US cruises. This only applies to US citizens.
Cruisers are exempt from having to bring passports if they are on closed loop sailings which start and finish in the same U.S. homeport and only travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. .
Just because a cruise starts and ends in the same US port this doesnt mean that it is possible to take the cruise without a passport. Some of the other stops on the cruise may be in countries which require a passport. It wouldnt be possible to simply stay onboard that day!
Bear in mind that cruise itineraries can and do change frequently. I have another post about why this happens here, including how many times its happened to me : Do You Get Compensation For Missed Cruise Ports? Do You Get Compensation For Missed Cruise Ports?
This means that at any point the cruise itinerary could change and you may be left visiting a country that you dont have a passport for, eek!
You do need a passport for the following countries which are often on cruises which would otherwise be closed loop:
- Barbados
- Trinidad & Tobago
River Cruises:
It is possible to take a river cruise without a passport in some circumstances. River cruises along the Mississippi, Columbia, Ohio, Tennessee, Hudson often dont require passports.
Visa Requirements For United Kingdom
Passport holders from the below listed countries require a visa to go ashore in United kingdom ports. Guests from these countries that do not hold a United Kingdom Visa on embarkation day will be denied boarding. This visa must be arranged prior to your cruise through an embassy or consulate. A Schengen Visa or Irish Visa is not valid for travel to United Kingdom.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burma , Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Zaire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Sao Tome e Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Surinam, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkeminstan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
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Getting A Passport For Your Cruise
If you need to renew your passport or just need to get one and you have a long time before your cruise departs, get the process started now. If youre applying for your first passport or a new one, you will have to do it in person.
You can apply by mail if youre renewing your passport and meet all of the following criteria: It was issued less than 15 years ago, you were 16 years of age or older when you got it, and its in your current name .
Find out more information on applying for a passport at USA.gov.
What Travel Documents Are Required For Cruises From United States Ports
The following requirements are for sailings from a United States port to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada/New England, Hawaii, Alaska, Panama Canal and Mexico.
United States and Canadian Citizens:
You MUST have one of the following:
- A valid United States or Canadian passport. For additional United States passport information visit the United States Department of State travel information website or the Passport Canada website. Visa Central is the passport and visa service that we recommend, should our guests need passport and visa assistance. You may contact Visa Central for all your passport needs. Visa Central can obtain passports in as little as one day. US Residents, please contact VisaCentral online at www.visacentral.com/royalcaribbean, email or and be sure to reference Royal Caribbean account 44988 for reduced service fees. Canada residents, please contact www.visacentral.ca/royalcaribbean, email or and be sure to reference Royal Caribbean account 10026 for reduced service fees.
– OR –
- Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative or Trusted Travel Documents. Click here for a list of all approved documents.
Puerto Rican Citizens:
Birth certificates from Puerto Rico issued prior to July 1, 2010 are not valid forms of proof of citizenship and are not accepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Guests from Puerto Rico either need to present a WHTI-compliant document or a government-issued photo I.D. with a validated birth certificate issued after July 1, 2010.
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Which Cruises Do Require A Passport
If a cruise begins at one port and ends in another port, even if theyre both in the United States, passengers are required to have a valid passport. Similarly, if a cruise starts or finishes in a foreign port, travelers must come prepared with a current passport.
Certain Caribbean nations require cruise passengers to have a valid passport in order to enter: Barbados, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, St. Barts, St. Martin, and Trinidad & Tobago.4 If you dont have a passport, you still can sail on a cruise that calls on these islands youll just have to stay on the ship while its in port.
Of course, a valid passport is required for any cruise touring Europe, traveling across the Atlantic Ocean, or originating in another country. You wont even make it onto the plane that will get you there without a valid passport.
Why You Should Get A Passport
In Case of Emergency
Even though a passport isnt required for the majority of sailings offered by cruise lines, unexpected accidents or emergencies do occur while traveling. For that reason, its better to err on the side of caution and get a passport regardless.
There are many scenarios that can play out, usually things that are beyond anyones control. What if someone youre traveling with gets injured while in port and has to stay in a local hospital? What if you have to unexpectedly fly home from a port of call due to an emergency?
As previously mentioned, a passport book will be required to return to the United States. Most emergencies would be covered if you purchased a comprehensive travel insurance policy, some policies even cover the loss or theft of a passport .
Getting Back To The Ship
Even something so simple as not getting back to the ship on time and getting left behind could be an issue without having a passport. Whatever the case may be, youll have to jump through a lot more hoops if youre not traveling with a passport.
Being left in port will involve visiting the U.S. Embassy and acquiring a passport. On top of that, some embassies are located hours away from the cruise port.
This is the main reason why many veteran cruisers and travel agents always advise first-timers to travel with a passport, even if they arent technically required to.
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How To Get A Passport For A Cruise
Apply for a passport as soon as you know youll be taking an international cruise. The cost will be greater if you apply for a passport within three weeks of travel time and need an expedited application. You can learn more about the requirements and documents needed to obtain a U.S. passport at USA.gov.
Do Kids Need A Passport To Go On A Cruise
Planning a family vacation can be tricky. There are so many components to keep track of, things to remember, and tickets to purchase. As you explore your options for where to take your family, you may encounter things you hadnt thought of before.
You may want to take a cruise with your kids, but where will you go? Are you leaving the country for international waters? Will you stop at foreign ports? While you may choose a destination within the United States, you may find yourself needing passports anyway.
Several factors determine whether you need a passport, so be sure to check directly with the cruise line you intend to purchase tickets from for the most up-to-date information and guidelines.
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Us Embassy In Jamaica
- Nonimmigrant Visas
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For travel to the United States on a temporary basis, including tourism, temporary employment, study and exchange.
The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of participating countries* to travel to the United States without a visa for stays of 90 days or less, when they meet all requirements.
U.S. Citizens with emergencies, please call 1 702-6000
Outside of Office Hours, contact: 702-6000
Outside of Jamaica: 1- 702-6000
If youd like more information on the Federal Voting Assistance Program or need help with the absentee voting process please go to FVAP.gov.
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It is highly recommended that all cruise ship passengers travel with a valid passport book.
If they do not have a valid passport book, passengers who need to fly to the U.S. before their cruise ends will likely experience significant delays, expenses and complications related to the booking of airline tickets and immigration processing at the port of entry.
Passport cards can be used as a travel document for cruises but cannot be used when travelling by air, so a passport book is the best option in case a passenger must return home by air due to unforeseen circumstances.
Visa Requirements For Sri Lanka
All passengers are required to obtain an electronic ETA visa prior to arrival to Sri Lanka. This visa is free of charge and must be obtained online at least 48 hours in advance. Anyone who does not obtain the ETA visa in advance must remain onboard in Sri Lankan ports. This visa must be obtained using this link and click on âTransit ETAâ to complete application.
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Visa Requirements For Reunion Island
Passport holders from the following countries require a visa to visit Reunion Island issued from a French Embassy prior to the cruise. Any guest without a visa for Reunion Island will be detained onboard: Albania, Algeria, Anguilla, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Benin, British Virgin Islands, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Georgia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Moldavia, Mongolia, Morocco, Territory of Montserrat, Namibia, Oman, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Thailand, Turkey, Turks and Caicos, Tunisia, Vietnam.
You Need A Passport For Cruises To And From Foreign Ports
First, the easy part: 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. You also will need a passport for certain shore excursions — such as Alaska’s White Pass and Yukon Railway train ride and day trips to smaller Caribbean islands — that cross a land or sea border into a foreign country. Additionally, it’s a good idea to check individual ports’ entry requirements, as you might need a visa as well.
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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.
Passport Requirements For Cruises
Onboard and set sail, your cruise vacation is about to leave the port! Have you first checked the cruise document requirements? You might be wondering do I need a passport to go on a cruise? or what are passport requirements for cruises?. Stop sailing around, we have here the answers you need.
Cruise documents requirements depend on the type of cruise vacation you are embarking on. Remember, you will always need proof of identification regardless of the vacation you choose, but requirements might differ between:
- Closed-loop cruise,
- International cruise.
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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.