Do You Need a Passport for Caribbean Cruises?

Table Of Content

• Communication at Sea
• U.S. Passport Expiration Requirements for Cruises
• Travel document requirements for sailings from U.S. homeports (excluding Honoulu, Hawaii & Seward, Alaska)
• Spain to Deport Bolivian Cruise Passengers Over Invalid Visas
• Travel document requirements for sailings from Seward, Alaska
• Learn About Credit Cards

You can cruise to quite a few destinations without a passport, as long as you have proof of citizenship and a government-issued photo ID. A variety of documents are accepted as proof of citizenship, including a state-certified U.S. birth certificate. Customs and Border Protection, and their recent publication also explains the requirements for taking a cruise without a passport.

Communication at Sea

Can you go on a cruise with a green card? What US permanent residents need to know about travel documents - The Points Guy

Can you go on a cruise with a green card? What US permanent residents need to know about travel documents.

Posted: Fri, 22 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

But if you wish to book a rail journey excursion on the White Pass & Yukon Route, which takes you from Alaska into Canada, choose the shorter White Pass Summit tour; you'll need a passport for the longer trips. If you don't have a passport and your ship stops at one of these islands, you'll have to stay on board. If you want to cruise without a passport, choose itineraries where you know you can get off the ship and enjoy your day in port. These voyages sail round trip from U.S. ports to destinations in North America such as the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexico, Central America, Alaska and Hawaii. They depart from such home ports as Miami, Seattle, Los Angeles, Galveston, Texas and New York City.

U.S. Passport Expiration Requirements for Cruises

First-time passport books costs $110, plus a $25 acceptance fee, for a total of $135. The obvious reasons for having a passport are if you are not sailing on a closed-loop cruise or heading to a port that requires it. A passport necklace is similar, but is worn around your neck and inside your shirt instead.

Travel document requirements for sailings from U.S. homeports (excluding Honoulu, Hawaii & Seward, Alaska)

What if an opportunity pops up on short notice, and you don't have a passport yet? What if it's only a three-night cruise to the Bahamas, and the passport application fee is almost as much as the cruise fare? Or, maybe you have children nearing age 16 and can't justify paying for passports that will only be good for five years.

Kayak in and out of secret coves, zip line through the trees or try parasailing. In Ensenada, the “Cinderella of the Pacific,” you can ride horses along mountain trails, tour the wine country, shop for souvenirs and taste the local tequila. You can cruise to The Bahamas from a number of U.S. ports along the Atlantic Coast. Located just southeast of Miami in the Atlantic Ocean, The Bahamas offers an ideal island getaway. With soft-sand beaches, vibrant coral reefs, and pastel-colored British colonial architecture, the Bahamian capital of Nassau makes a popular port of call for cruisers.

Some Caribbean nations still require passports or passport cards, like Martinique and Guadeloupe. As previously mentioned in the BAGGAGE POLICIES & PACKING ADVICE section, you should not place valuables in your tagged luggage. Place them in a carry-on bag or keep them with you so you can access them easily. You should have it available at the gangway when disembarking so please DO NOT pack it in your tagged luggage.

If you start and finish in the same US port and you are traveling only to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean, you do not need to bring a passport. Instead you can choose to bring your government issued ID like your driver's license and some sort of proof of citizenship like your birth certificate in order to get back into the US. Just make sure that you double check the entry requirements for all of the ports that you want to visit.

Travel document requirements for sailings from Seward, Alaska

You don't have to wait for a passport to travel: What to know about closed-loop cruises - USA TODAY

You don't have to wait for a passport to travel: What to know about closed-loop cruises.

Posted: Thu, 13 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

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). You should check the passport requirements for any port you are visiting, as sometimes there can be a port that requires a passport to visit even if you do not need a passport to return to the United States.

Learn About Credit Cards

Guests may bring Wine and Champagne onboard, however a corkage fee of USD $20.00 (which is subject to change without notice) will be applied to each bottle (max 750 ml in volume or less). Wine brought in quantities deemed to be excessive by the vessel or security will be refused. To learn more about Holland America Line’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and conservation in all of our operations, visit hollandamerica.com/sustainability. Boarding may be denied or fines may be levied against those guests without proper documentation.

As an extra precaution, most countries will require travelers to have a passport valid for at least six months after the planned return date, which you should keep in mind. You may need to start the passport renewal process and get a new passport a few months before the expiration date. Aside from remembering to bring a passport or passport card for yourself and any children in your care, you also need to make sure that those pieces of identification have a valid expiration date. While you might be okay not bringing a passport if your cruise departs and returns to your home country, it can be a good idea in case of an emergency. This is particularly true if your cruise hugs the shorelines of other countries. You probably guessed it – you’ll need a passport if you have booked an international cruise.

While the book is valid for entering most countries by any means of travel (air, sea, or land), the passport card is only valid for only return to the U.S. by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. If you are cruising to a destination not located within Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, or Bermuda, you need to bring a U.S. passport book; a passport card will not be allowed as a valid travel document. There are some advantages to traveling with a passport card rather than a passport book, mainly cost and portability. Currently, a passport card costs only $65 to issue, while issuing a passport book is $145. For adults, both are valid for 10 years before you need to renew them. If you are cruising to the Caribbean, you will need to enter with either your U.S. passport book, passport card, Trusted Traveler card (Nexus, SENTRI, or FAST), or an enhanced driver’s license.

For many years we have emphasized environmental stewardship and conservation in our operations. We believe that safeguarding our guests, crew, ships, and the environment is the right thing to do and essential to the success of our business. In today’s era of heightened security, Holland America Line has implemented a “no visitor” policy.

If downloading or using off ship, your regular carrier rates may apply. You may wish to sunbathe, swim or simply find a quiet spot and do nothing at all. In the evening you’ll find a wide variety of music and entertainment, award winning production shows, theme nights, movies and more!

U.S. government security regulations require us to submit certain guest information to law enforcement authorities at least 60 minutes prior to departure. To meet this requirement, we must have the necessary information in our records at least 90 minutes before departure. If we do not have your information by this deadline, you will be unable to sail.

The most common length for these closed-loop Alaska cruises operated by the major cruise lines is seven nights. Cruises early or late in the season might be only four or five nights, and trips departing from LA are usually 14 nights. The ship’s estimated arrival time at the port of disembarkation is shown on your cruise itinerary. Generally, the ship is subject to certain government procedural requirements upon arrival. Restrictions for each homeport city include participating airlines, earliest and latest flight times, and citizenship requirements. Transfers are available to Flight Ease® guests and to guests who have independent flight plans.

In addition, Holland America Line will honor any pricing or amenities that your travel advisor extends in addition to your onboard offers. To book, or for more information, simply visit your Future Cruise Consultant. Guests are responsible for arranging special air travel related service requests such as, advance seat assignments, in-flight meal requests, wheelchairs and any other airline services. Holland America Line and its onboard staff are not able to confirm flights from on board our vessels. For voyages that depart from and return to Australia and/or New Zealand, these policies and the legal drinking age apply to guests 18 years or over. Minors under the age of 18 traveling to foreign countries must be accompanied by a parents or guardian.