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This means you’ll need a passport regardless of whether you plan to fly or drive in or out of the country. For example, a one-way Panama Canal cruise from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale requires a valid US Passport. If you’re from another country or have a different citizenship, you might find most of what I mention below irrelevant or incorrect for you.
What Do You Need to Remember About International Cruise Trips?
It can take eight to 11 weeks (expedited wait times are five to seven weeks) for a routine passport to be issued, so you always want to plan ahead. You will also need to have a passport size photo taken and pay the required fees. While this type of passport can be issued within as little as a day, it could take up to a week to receive it. 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. An enhanced driver's license is another alternative that you can use for land and sea port crossings, but not for international flights. If you don't have a passport and your ship stops at one of these islands, you'll have to stay on board.
Temporary Passports for Emergencies
While it’s yet to be seen how this will be resolved and how the cruise lines will address the issue, it can all be avoided by simply getting a passport. You need a passport to cruise if the ship embarks from or disembarks in a foreign country, even if the cruise itself is entirely within US waters. An example of this would be if you were taking a one-way cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Port Canaveral, Florida. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Complete Guide to Using Your Phone on a Cruise (Carnival, Royal Caribbean & More)
The U.S. Department of State provides smooth sailing with a handy Traveler’s Checklist of things to do for your next cruise, as well as passport recommendations and requirements. On the other hand, an open-loop cruise begins in one U.S. port and ends in a different U.S. port. These cruises often require passengers to present a passport before the cruise starts and again after it ends. Children’s passports are issued for 5 years, adult passports for 10 years. If you've purchased travel insurance for your cruise, you should print out and carry the policy card listing your policy number and the phone number of the insurance company.
Travel document requirements for sailings from Haifa, Israel
TSA says that by May 2025, every air traveler 18 and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States. It’s important to know that you can only use the passport card to reenter the United States at cruise ports of entry from Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. 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. Yet, as we organize our carry-ons, it is crucial not to ignore the contents of our checked baggage. While it may seem like a convenient place to store bulkier or less essential items, several objects should never be put in your checked baggage.
Travel document requirements for sailings from Chinese homeports
You'll need to keep track of several documents, but if you plan ahead and follow the list above, you should have no problem ensuring you have everything you'll need for a successful and seamless boarding experience. You might also want to have a similar letter handy for your own children if you will be traveling with them alone and their last name does not match yours. Some cruise lines will ask you to complete a paper form at the terminal on embarkation day, while others will allow you to complete it a few hours before you arrive. If you fill it out in advance, whether or not you'll need to print out confirmation depends on your cruise line and whether the form is completed online or through a mobile app.
Do You Need a Passport for a Bahamas Cruise? - NerdWallet
Do You Need a Passport for a Bahamas Cruise?.
Posted: Thu, 11 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The recommended time to arrive at the airport is currently 90 minutes to two hours before departure for domestic and three hours before departure for most international flights. In order to board the ship, you'll need to show up at the embarkation terminal with your cruise boarding documents and personal identification in hand. The required boarding documents can typically be printed out at home ahead of time; some lines will still send them out via old-fashioned snail mail. It is also your responsibility to obtain any necessary visas you may need during your cruise. Be sure to research the visa requirements for each country you’ll be visiting during your itinerary.
It's your responsibility (not your cruise line's) to learn the requirements of each of the destinations you're visiting before you go. Mostly, whether or not a passport is required depends on your itinerary. If you are going on what’s called a “closed-loop” cruise (for example, leave from Ft. Lauderdale then visit a foreign county (ex. Caribbean islands) and return to Ft. Lauderdale then technically you do not need a U.S. passport booklet (like in the above photo). Cruise documents provide the verification you'll need to board your vessel on embarkation day. They include identification, boarding passes, health forms and any required visas, which you should always keep handy in your carry-on bag or personal item.
The Best Cruise Lines
What it doesn’t cover is if you travel to a country that requires a passport (most Caribbean ports do not) or if you are not sailing on a loop, such as sailing from Miami and departing in Puerto Rico. A passport book can get you to so many more places internationally, and in the case of an emergency on a cruise, having a passport book allows you to make unexpected travel arrangements significantly easier. If you live in the U.S., you will also need the original copy of your Alien Registration Card (ARC or "Green Card") and any other documentation the countries on your itinerary require due to your alien status. If you are unsure about the meaning, ports of call are temporary stops in various ports. They allow you to exit the ship and experience different cultures, climates, and on-shore excursions. As you would expect, if these ports of call are in international destinations, you would need a passport, even if you initially boarded your cruise ship in your home country.
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. However, neither a passport card nor the combination of a birth certificate and license will allow you to fly to a foreign country or return to the U.S. from a foreign country by air. If you must fly to a foreign port for embarkation or if something unforeseen happens on your sailing and you need to cut your cruise short and fly home from a foreign port, you will need a passport book for identification. If you are a U.S. citizen and cruising out of the United States (meaning your cruise begins and ends in the United States), then you do not need a passport. MSC Cruises provides a relatively straightforward breakdown of travel documents and visa requirements for travelers of all nationalities.
Passengers may need a passport for some cruises within the same country due to maritime laws or cruise line policies. You must present your passport to immigration officials when you enter and exit the foreign country. If you’re taking an Alaska cruise that starts or ends in Vancouver, BC, you’ll need a passport to enter or leave Vancouver. Remember, cruise lines do not make the rules—they must follow local regulations at every port they visit. The daily planner will tell you if a passport in port is required and an announcement from the cruise director during arrival.
Also, remember that children (even infants) will need a birth certificate to leave and enter the United States, but kids under 16 do not need to show a second form of identification. If you need a new copy of your birth certificate, you can request a new one from your local or state vital statistics department for a fee. Some cruise lines may also ask that the copy of your birth certificate be notarized, so check with your individual cruise line to make sure you have what you need.
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. Check with your cruise line before departure to see what documents are needed instead of a passport. Many require a state-issued ID and an original birth certificate if you don't have a passport. This can be an official copy of your birth certificate or a government-issued photo ID. So long as the ship’s final destination isn’t Mexico, you should be fine with any official document other than a passport. According to the Carnival Cruise website, it’s highly recommended that you bring a valid passport for at least another six months.
You also need to know if the cruise itinerary will involve making stops in other countries along the voyage. In order to sail, a guest must meet the requirements of ONE of the check boxes below. Learn the rules and consequences of traveling with an expired passport. Our comprehensive guide shares the steps to take if you find yourself in this situation. Rushed expedited service is a better choice when you have a tight schedule.
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 you're headed to one or more Caribbean countries on the list below on a closed-loop cruise, you aren't required to have a passport as a U.S. citizen. That said, some may require a passport if you want to disembark at ports in any Caribbean destination.
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