Guide to Cruise Passport Policies for U S. Travelers

Table Of Content

• Cruises Without a Passport: Here’s Everywhere You Can Cruise Without a Passport in 2024
• Visa Requirements for French Polynesia
• Open-Loop Cruises
• Travel document requirements for sailings from Chinese homeports
• Cobranded Cards
• Royal Caribbean International
• Information for U.S. Citizens in the Middle East
• Required Travel Documentation and Information for Cruise Vacations

Even though Hawaii is a U.S. state, all of our cruise itineraries require you to travel with a U.S. passport book or card. Your cruise company also may require you to have a passport, even if U.S. Customs and Border Protection or the foreign country’s border agency does not. However, if you don't have a passport, or don't wish to get one, you can still cruise — you're just limited to North American cruises sailing round trip from U.S. departure ports. The cost for a first-time passport holder is $165, plus the photo fee; the steep fee alone is why many Americans choose to go without one.

Cruises Without a Passport: Here’s Everywhere You Can Cruise Without a Passport in 2024

When most travelers think of cruises in sunny, sandy locales, they think of the Caribbean or South Pacific. However, Hawaii is right there, and since it’s a U.S. state, there’s no worry about passports. Part of America but still exotic enough for an ideal getaway, Hawaii offers black-sand beaches, volcanic vistas, surfing opportunities, amazing food and, of course, hula dancing.

Visa Requirements for French Polynesia

Carnival Cruise Line Clarifies Official Document Policy - Cruise Hive

Carnival Cruise Line Clarifies Official Document Policy.

Posted: Tue, 30 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Be aware that these requirements only dictate reentry into the United States. You’ll want to research entry regulations for your destination country or countries before you leave to ensure you have proper documentation on hand. As travelers, we are accustomed to meticulously planning what we can and cannot bring in our carry-on luggage, ensuring compliance with airline regulations and security protocols.

Open-Loop Cruises

You can also get a passport card, which is like a lower-cost, limited version of a passport book (which is what a traditional passport is). However, it will not be accepted as a valid form of ID for air travel unless you’re flying domestically. Depending on where you are traveling and your nationality, you may also require an entry visa to board the ship or enter certain countries the ship will visit. While most cruise lines are happy to provide this information, it is ultimately the passenger’s responsibility to ensure they have all of the necessary visas before they board the ship.

As our name implies, we offer a suite of expert guides on a wide range of topics, including fashion, food, drink, travel, and grooming. We don’t boss you around; we’re simply here to bring authenticity and understanding to all that enriches our lives as men on a daily basis. These delays, compounded by intensive federal investigations into Boeing’s manufacturing processes, may limit the number of planes available to American carriers. Consequently, this reduction in aircraft availability poses a risk of driving up airline prices for travelers.

Furthermore, even if your cruise doesn’t require a passport, the international destinations you visit might. Some countries mandate a passport for entry, regardless of how you arrive—land, air, or sea. No, in most cases, you will not need to go through customs every time you leave a cruise ship. Otherwise, on closed-loop itineraries that travel to Canada, you only need to present a government ID and birth certificate (or a passport card).

Royal Caribbean International

All guests of any nationality are welcome to go ashore while in transit in American Samoa ports, there are no visa requirements before or during the cruise. Based on Canadian entry requirements, some passengers may require a valid Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) in order to visit or travel through Canada. A valid passport is required on all sailings that begin in one US port and end in another US port. There are plenty of reasons to take a cruise, including great food, plentiful activities and lots of sunshine. If you’re looking for a Bahamas cruise, you’ll want to be aware of the documentation requirements for your trip. TSA prohibited itemsWhen it comes to packing for a flight, we are often well-versed in the restrictions placed on carry-on items, particularly the infamous liquid rule.

Guests that are in transit and visiting Dominican Republic as a port of call only, do not require a visa to go ashore. Passport holders from the following countries are eligible to apply for the ETA via the app on their own. Third parties, like Visa Central cannot assist with the app set up as it has to be done on the mobile phone the applicant takes with them on the trip.

4 Caribbean Islands That Don’t Require a U.S. Passport - AFAR Media

4 Caribbean Islands That Don’t Require a U.S. Passport.

Posted: Wed, 10 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Required Travel Documentation and Information for Cruise Vacations

Even if you're on a closed-loop sailing, certain islands in the Caribbean – Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Barts, Barbados and others -- require a passport for entry. It's your responsibility (not your cruise line's) to learn the requirements of each of the destinations you're visiting before you go. Customs and Border Protection, some countries require a notarized consent letter for children traveling without both parents or a legal guardian.

Please refer to this website for a list of countries that do not require a visa for Taiwan. Click here to view countries and territories that are visa waiver countries. The NZeTA visa will be available for purchase via New Zealand's immigration website, or their mobile app, called NZeTA. Guests will also have to pay what is called the International Visitor Conservation And Tourism Levy (IVL) which is done at the same time as the visa application. Passport holders from all other counties may visit Ecuador as port of call without a visa. For more information, including other acceptable forms of identification, please click here.

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. Regardless of what the minimum requirements are for travel, we highly recommend everyone get a passport. Passports do have an additional cost to them (especially for children), but we feel the advantages of having a passport far outweigh the cost and work required to get one. Many countries outside of North America do require a passport and visas are even required where they apply.

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. Here’s some useful information to consider before you depart from popular ports like Miami, Boston, New York, New Orleans, Los Angeles or Seattle. Disney Cruise Line offers a three-night Bahamian cruise from Port Canaveral aboard the spectacular Disney Wish with a day in Nassau and a day at Disney Castaway Cay before returning to Port Canaveral. You should also ensure that the name you used when booking your cruise is the same as the one on your passport. If you have recently changed your name, there are certain steps you will need to take.

If you’re not a U.S. citizen, do you need a passport to cruise to the Bahamas? Customs and Border Protection, you’ll still need to provide some proof of U.S. citizenship. This can take the form of an Enhanced Driver’s License, a passport or a government-issued birth certificate. Additionally, you’ll need to bring a government-issued ID with your photo, name and date of birth. Again, you could board the ship with an enhanced driver’s license or a valid government-issued photo identification and a birth certificate.

Carnival Cruise Line strongly advises having a valid passport book while traveling. A passport book is not only the most reliable form of identification but if guests unexpectedly need to fly to or from the U.S. during their cruise, not having a passport book could cause big problems and delays. The cruise line you’re traveling with may also have its own documentation requirements, which can include a passport book or passport card regardless of the itinerary. Passport holders from all nationalities not listed in one of the above categories require a Thai visa issued by a Thai embassy or consulate prior to the cruise. Any guest who requires a Thai visa and does not have one will be denied boarding on embarkation day. Applications for Thai VISA can be done online or in person at the Thai embassy or consulate in the country of departure of the applicant.