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She has lived one the East Coast and the West, as well as Mexico, Switzerland, Italy and France. She and currently splits her time between San Francisco and France's Basque Country. No matter which documents you bring, it's a smart idea to take copies of them (either paper ones or photos on your phone) when you leave the ship, in case something happens while you're ashore. Always carry some type of photo identification, like a driver's license, when you head into port. 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.
What's the Difference Between a Passport Book and Card?
The Caribbean islands are located in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and Florida. Exactly how many islands, islets, reefs and cays are found in this area is unclear, but some speculate as many as 700. Some Caribbean islands were created by volcanoes and have towering mountain ranges, like Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Martinique. Others are not volcanic and are quite flat, like Antigua and Barbados. Sail to Bermuda on a closed-loop cruise from the East Coast and a passport isn’t mandatory.
There are plenty of wonderful sailings you can take that don’t require a passport, including to foreign countries.
They are more conveniently sized than a passport book -- about the size of a driver's license, which makes them easy to fit into your wallet and carry with you. Mainstream cruise lines operate numerous cruises along the U.S. and Canadian coasts that don't require passports. These depart from the ports of Bayonne, Baltimore, Boston, Manhattan, Brooklyn and occasionally Norfolk.
The Best Ways to Book a Cruise
While you may leave and enter the United States on a closed-loop cruise with the required identification and proof of citizenship, you should be aware that some countries on your itinerary may require a passport. (Your cruise line should provide that information when you book your trip.) It’s still a good idea to bring your passport on a cruise if it’s up to date, but if it’s not, we’ve got you covered. Here are eight destinations that you can cruise to without a passport (and don’t forget to renew your passport so you’ll always be ready to travel). Be aware that requirements on closed-loop cruises can still change in certain countries, so be sure to check the entry requirements of the specific cruise ports on your itinerary.
U.S. Passport Card Vs. Book
Apart from a few isolated cruises stopping in Bermuda as they come or go from other destinations, there are no one-way Bermuda cruises to confuse the situation. If you plan to sail without a passport, be wary of any Bermuda cruise longer than 10 nights. Those are likely to be point-to-point cruises that happen to include Bermuda. This point should be top-of-mind especially because of COVID-19 and any other medical emergency that would require the trip to be altered or a medical evacuation. You’ll also be glad you have a passport if you encounter other unforeseen circumstances such as a family emergency or a sailing cut short due to bad weather or technical issues.
Card Issuer
25 BEST Caribbean Cruises 2024 (Prices + Itineraries): Cruises to the Caribbean on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
25 BEST Caribbean Cruises 2024 (Prices + Itineraries): Cruises to the Caribbean on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 15:33:38 GMT [source]
It costs half the price of a passport, but can only be used for land and sea entry into the U.S. from Canada, Bermuda, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Traveling to the Caribbean on a cruise ship can be the perfect getaway, but along with any trip comes a few inconveniences along the way. One of the most common questions is whether or not you need a passport to go to the Caribbean. People also ask if they can just get by with a birth certificate and photo ID. This article will attempt to answer these questions but keep in mind that the rules and regulations of travel are always in flux. However, while many cruise lines may not require passengers to bring their passports, plenty recommend it, as does the U.S. It can come in handy if you need an emergency medical evacuation or the ship has to schedule an emergency docking at a different port that's not on your itinerary.
Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory, lying 643 miles off the coast of North Carolina. Hop on a cruise ship for a direct route to the island's famous beaches and golf courses. Spring and summer are the prime seasons to visit, but cruises are possible throughout the year.
Also, if something goes wrong with your cruise and you have to fly home, not having a passport could be a problem. However, other Caribbean countries may require a valid passport for closed-loop cruises if you plan to disembark, so verify this before your trip and ensure you travel with all necessary documentation. The Caribbean is one of the most popular cruise destinations for U.S. travelers. But before you book a trip, knowing which travel documents are required and whether you need a passport is essential. Cruises are a popular way to travel and there are many options to choose from.
The long-cruise options consist of 14- to 18-night round-trip sailings from San Diego, LA (Long Beach and San Pedro) and San Francisco. You won't need a passport for these closed-loop sailings, but you do need to be prepared for multiple days at sea as you cross the Pacific from California to Hawaii. Small-ship cruise operator UnCruise Adventures also offers seven-night, inter-island Hawaiian sailings. The American-flagged ships only cruise to and from U.S. ports, so no passport is needed, as would be the case on any domestic trip.
Since you have to send out your birth certificate to get your passport, we don’t advise you send off for a passport if the time for departure is less than a two months away. All Canadian Landed Immigrants (inclusive of those who are citizens of the British Commonwealth countries) who reside in Canada must have valid passports and US visas. Also required is the original copy of your Permanent Resident Card (PR Card) formally the IMM 1000 or with respect to any country on the itinerary any other travel documentation required because of alien status.
The majority of these New England and Canada cruises are weeklong fall sailings; however, a handful depart at other times of the year or are a touch longer, ranging from eight to 10 nights. Closed-loop cruises are the primary exceptions to the rule that those arriving in the U.S. by sea need passports. If you leave on a cruise ship from a U.S. port, visit a handful of islands, then return to the same U.S. port on the same ship, you don't need a passport to re-enter the country. Any government-issued photo ID card will do, like a driver's license. Beware of 20-plus-night cruises that are round-trip sailings from the West Coast and would seem to fit the bill for closed-loop cruises that don't require passports. Most of these cruises don't work because they also include stops in French Polynesia, which is outside of the WHTI agreement.
If you take closed loop cruises (meaning your trip begins and ends at a U.S. port), you can sail to a variety of dreamy destinations as a U.S. citizen without a passport. In a nutshell, a passport card is a plastic card that can fit into a wallet and are accepted for land and sea border crossings between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. Passport cards cannot be used on cruises from international homeports.

Lauderdale then technically you do not need a U.S. passport booklet (like in the above photo). If you're interested in cruising to Alaska without a passport, look for itineraries that begin (and end) in Seattle, San Francisco or southern California ports, such as Los Angeles or Long Beach, California. 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.
Events can occur during your cruise that prevent you from returning to the U.S. on your cruise ship. Cruising to Alaska is one of the easiest ways to experience all the state offers. You'll have opportunities to see glaciers and wildlife; stroll the streets of charming coastal towns; eat your fill of local crab legs and salmon; and enjoy nature on a kayak, zip line or hike.
The concern without having a passport is if an emergency occurs, only an official passport will allow you to easily and quickly fly from a foreign port to another port and/or back home. 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. That said, some may require a passport if you want to disembark at ports in any Caribbean destination. And if you're starting and ending your cruise at different ports within the U.S. — or flying in to or out of a Caribbean country — you will need a passport.
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