How Long Does It Take
The time it takes to cross the gulf stream will depend upon your boat. A pair of four stroke outboard motors could make it from Florida to The Bahamas in as little as two hours. Small boats will want to wait until completely calm weather to make the crossing. The smoother it is, the faster a powerboat can make the crossing.
Does your boat have marine radar? Does it need radar?Read this article to learn the answer.
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.
Try A New Water Sport
Depending on which Norwegian Cruise Line ship you’re on, you’ll find a variety of exciting activities available, including a children’s aqua park and drop slides. Adventure seekers should have no problem finding new experiences to try in ports along the way. Spend a day at the Aquaventure water park, part of the Atlantis Resort, while you’re in Nassau. Try parasailing at the beach, or book a wave runner tour at Great Stirrup Cay. You can also spend a few hours deep-sea fishing off the coast of Nassau or bottom-reef fishing off the coast of Grand Bahama Island.
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Do Kids Need Passport For Cruise To Bahamas
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.
Shop For Gifts And Souvenirs
Of course, no cruise would be complete without a little retail therapy. You can shop for gifts and souvenirs aboard your Norwegian Cruise Line ship as well as at ports along the way. While you’re in Nassau, head to Bay Street for some of the best local shopping. Shops are within easy walking distance of the port.
In the midst of the more modern shops lies the Nassau Straw Market, a place where you can find traditional straw crafts, wood carvings, and other handmade items. If you want to sharpen your haggling skills, many vendors are willing to bargain with you.
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What Country Does Not Require A Passport
The U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are both located in the Caribbean, making them popular hot spots for U.S. travelers. The other three U.S. territories that you can visit without a passport are all located in the Pacific Ocean American Samoa, Guam, and the latest addition, the Northern Mariana Islands.
Visiting The Bahamas By Air Or Cruise Ship
Understanding the ins and outs of international travel can be confusing, especially for un-seasoned travelers and cruisers. Even though the 700 islands in the Bahamas are so close to the U.S., its still an international destination.
Whether you arrive by plane to board a ship or stay for a week at a resort or just spend a day in Nassau or Freeport, all require specific documentation.
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Do You Need A Passport To Cruise From The Bahamas
The simple answer is YES. Be aware that if your cruise originates in the Bahamas, from Nassau for example, you need a passport book. Why? Because even though you are taking a cruise in the Bahamas, you are flying from the U.S. to go to the Bahamas to embark your ship.
During the pandemic, more and more cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean plan to homeport their ships in the Bahamas or elsewhere in the Caribbean. If you plan to begin your cruise in the Bahamas or elsewhere in the Caribbean, you will need a passport book.
Royal Caribbean Updates Vaccine Protocols Following Bahamas Order
Royal Caribbean has updated its protocols, and the cruise line will be having all sailings requiring guests 12 years old and over to be fully vaccinated from September 2021.
With the Bahamas requiring all cruise passengers 12 years old and over to be fully vaccinated, Royal Caribbean has updated its protocols for September. The cruise line has been adamant about keeping the requirements so that both vaccinated and non-vaccinated guests can sail aboard the ships, but to no avail.
The Bahamian Prime Minister issued an emergency order on August 19, impacting the cruise industry and cruise ships making calls in the Bahamas. Effective from September 3 until November 1, 2021, no passengers will be allowed to enter any Bahamas ports, including private islands, unless several requirements are met, including a vaccination requirement.
The new requirements mean that all U.S. departures and departures worldwide onboard Royal Caribbean ships will sail with 100% fully vaccinated guests from September onwards. This is now the case as Florida protocols in September were updated which follows other ports that already had a requirement for guests 12 and over to be fully vaccinated.
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Visa Requirements For Israel
Passports holders from the following countries can purchase an Israeli visa onboard the ship for $119 per person.
Angola, Antigua & Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Comoros, Cook Islands, Democratic Republic of the Congo , Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Guyana, India, Ivory Coast, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor Leste, Togo,Tonga, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Bank, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Passport holders from the following countries must obtain a visa from an Israeli embassy or consulate prior to their cruise. Guests who do not possess the Israeli visa must remain onboard in Israeli ports.
Bahrain, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, Qatar, Somalia, Tunisia
Passport holders from the following countries are restricted from entering Israel. Guests from these countries must remain onboard in Israeli ports.
Visa Requirements For Indonesia
Passport holders of the following countries require an Indonesian visa to visit Indonesia. This visa cannot be arranged onboard the ship. It must be done through an Indonesian embassy or consulate prior to sailing. Anyone who requires a visa for Indonesia and does not have one will be denied boarding on embarkation day.
Afghanistan, Israel, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Somalia, Yemen.
Passport holders of the following countries are eligible to apply for visa on arrival:
Colombia, Iran, Montenegro, Syria.
Passport holders from the below listed countries require a visa to go ashore in Malaysian ports. Guests from these countries that do not have a Malaysian visa must remain onboard in Malaysian ports.
Montenegro, Serbia
Passport holders from the below listed countries are required to have yellow fever vaccine certificates in order to be given clearance to go ashore in Malaysian ports, without it guests will be detained onboard.
Angola, Argentina, Benin, Brazil, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burindi, Cameroon, Central Afrika Republic, Chad, Congo, Colombia, Djibouti, Ecuador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Guyana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guniea Bissau, Guniea Equat, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Suriname, Sierra Leone, Sudan Somalia, Trinidad & Tobago, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Zambia, Zaire.
Bolivia, Peru, Madagascar, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire.
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What Is A Passport Card
A passport card is something between a passport and a government-issued ID card. It can only be used for land and sea travel into the US from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada, and Mexico. It is not valid for air travel.
For frequent travelers into The Bahamas, a passport card could be considered a less expensive option. A passport for one adult will set you back $135, a passport card costs you only $55.
Passport cards are also seen as more convenient when traveling, due to its size. A passport is 5×3-1/2 inches, while the passport card is wallet-sized. This one-page card has no space for stamps or visas.
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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Book A Refundable Hotel Room
Another easy task to get out of the way now is to book a hotel room in Nassau before your sailing.
The best strategy is to fly into Nassau at least one day ahead of your cruise to ensure travel delays do not impact your ability to get on the cruise ship.
Nassau has many hotels and resorts you can stay at.
Booking a hotel now locks in a spot at a great resort, but be sure to book refundable rates so that you can cancel if there is a lower price later.
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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The Bahamas Is Requiring All Visiting Cruise Passengers Be Vaccinated And Cruise Lines Are Changing Their Policies To Comply
The policy will be in effect through at least Nov. 1.
Cruise passengers heading to the Bahamas will soon have to show proof of vaccination before docking at a port including on a cruise line’s private island.
Starting Sept. 3, cruise ships will not be able to dock in the Bahamas unless all passengers 12 and older supply proof they are fully vaccinated, according to an emergency order issued Thursday and posted to the Bahamas Customs & Excise Department website. The order will be in effect through at least Nov. 1.
To comply, ship captains must submit the passenger manifest with the passenger’s vaccination status, including when a ship stops at a cruise line’s private island in the country.
The order does not apply to crew members, children under 12, or anyone who is ineligible for the COVID-19 vaccine due to a medical reason.
Royal Caribbean which saw several guests test positive for COVID-19 on cruises sailing from the Bahamas last month will require all guests 12 and older be fully vaccinated on cruises visiting the island nation starting Sept. 3, including those leaving from Florida, according to the company. Previously, Royal Caribbean required all guests 12 and older to show proof of vaccination before boarding nearly all cruises except those leaving out of Florida.
For its part, Norwegian Cruise line extended its vaccination mandate through the end of the year.
Bonus: Do I Need Vaccinations Before Entering The Bahamas
Most tourists are not required to get special vaccinations before entering The Bahamas. The Bahamas only requires proof of Yellow Fever vaccination if you are arriving from a country where Yellow Fever is endemic or there is an outbreak. Travelers over the age of one must provide a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate, if arriving from countries with risk of Yellow Fever transmission such as…
Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Rep., Chad, Congo, Congo Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo and Uganda.
This list is complete at time of writing, please do check whether its still up to date before planning your vacation to the Bahamas.
This requirement also applies to travelers having transited more than 12 hours through an airport of a country with risk of Yellow Fever transmission. In this case, you must be vaccinated 10 days before entering The Bahamas.
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Passport Requirements For The Bahamas
If you are traveling by plane, you must have a U.S. Passport.
If you are traveling by sea, you can use a passport book or one of the following documents:
- passport card
- trusted traveler card such as NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST card
- enhanced drivers license .
Please note that the passport card can only be used if you are traveling to the Bahamas by sea-its not valid for air travel. There are some exceptions to passport requirements for some international travel options. We will outline them in the next section. But please note, the US Department of State and most cruise lines strongly recommend that all travelers should carry a valid passport during their cruise or international trips. Emergency situations may arise that would require you to fly back to the US or the next port on the cruise trip. Additionally, many travelers have found out the hard way that a passport is needed- even in the case of medical, family, personal or business emergencies. For this reason, we always recommend every traveler carry a valid passport anytime they leave the country.
Exception: Closed Loop Sailings
Here’s the confusing part: Cruisers are mostly 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. If you choose to travel without a passport, you still need to show a government-issued photo ID and proof of citizenship to get back into the U.S. after your trip.
Again, be sure to check the entry requirements of the cruise ports you plan to visit. Just because you don’t need a passport to return to the U.S. does not mean that you don’t need one to enter one of the foreign countries on your itinerary. For example, Martinique and Guadeloupe require cruisers show passports to enter the port, even on closed-loop sailings.
What’s the downside of cruising without a passport? If an emergency arises, only an official passport will allow you to fly home from a foreign port. But what will actually happen if — due to an unexpected injury or illness, or a mechanical failure on the part of your cruise ship — you end up stranded in another country with only your birth certificate and photo ID? The answer is you can return home — it will just take more time and effort to get the proper documentation to do so.
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On Island Experience: Tourism Protocols
Restaurants, Businesses and Attractions
Are on-island businesses, restaurants and attractions operating normally?
Notwithstanding any public health restrictions that may be implemented from time to time, all travellers abiding by these new protocols will be permitted to move about and explore the beauty and vibrant culture of The Bahamas beyond the confines of their hotel or other accommodations.
Conditions and instances of the virus can be different on each of the 16 islands available to welcome visitors, which may lead to increased restrictions for businesses, restaurants, beaches and attractions.
- In some cases, islands may have curfew or lockdown orders in place for limited periods of time.
- Travellers should check the status of their island destination before travelling, by visiting the Know Before You Go Interactive Island Guide on Bahamas.com/travelupdates.
What are the requirements for travellers who are staying on an island that has curfew or lockdown measures in place?
What is the status of beaches?
- All public and private beaches and parks are operating normally, with a few restrictions. Please check our Interactive Island Guide for details.
What is the status of restaurants?
When do I have to wear a face mask?
- All travellers must wear a face mask in any situation where it is necessary to enforce physical distancing guidelines, such as:
- When entering and transiting air and sea terminals
- During security and customs screenings
- At baggage claim
What Kind Of Id Do You Need To Go On A Cruise To The Bahamas
For security purposes, it is always a wise move to bring some kind of identification whenever you go out of your house. This is even more true when traveling.
Sometimes, you will be required to present different credentials depending on the situation you are currently at.
If you have plans to sail to the Caribbean, it is best to know what kind of ID do you need to go on a cruise to the Bahamas.
Proper documentation is necessary and obligatory before sailing to confirm your identity, not only for your safety but also for everyone on board.
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