Do You Need a Passport to Go on a Cruise? A Guide for U.S. Citizens
If you don’t have a passport or your passport’s expiration date has passed and you forgot to renew, you’re probably wondering if you can take a cruise without one. Do you need a passport to go on a cruise? The answer is yes -- in most cases.
However, you may be surprised by the cruise options that you do and do not need passports for that leave from the United States, including closed-loop cruises, cruises to Alaska or the Caribbean, or United States river cruises.
Find out the details of the ins and outs of U.S. passport needs for a cruise along with interesting points about why it’s better to have a passport during a cruise than not, just in case.
Note: This article was written with U.S. travelers in mind who are able to obtain U.S. passports.
Closed-Loop Cruises Passport Requirements
We often get the following questions about cruise passport requirements: Do you need a passport to cruise to the Bahamas? Do you need a passport for a Caribbean cruise? Do you need a passport for an Alaska cruise? What about Hawaii?
The answer to all of these questions for U.S. citizens is no -- as long as you’re taking a closed-loop cruise. The most popular closed-loop cruises from the United States travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda and none of them require a passport. However, there are some caveats regarding ID requirements.
If you choose to do a closed-loop cruise on a large cruise ship without a passport, you will still be required to show a government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license and proof of citizenship, like a certified copy of your birth certificate. The big cruise lines like Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line, all offer closed-loop itineraries.
You don't need a passport book or passport card to cruise to Alaska from Seattle or other U.S. ports, but you need valid identification for international ports during your cruise. This is because of the Passenger Vessel Services Act. This act requires a non-U.S.-flagged cruise ship to stop in a foreign port during a US itinerary, like a stop in Canada during an Alaska cruise. Most large cruise ships are foreign-flagged.
Without these required documents for your large-ship cruise, you will not be able to board your cruise.
Be aware that requirements for closed-loop cruises may change over time for the US or for any of the countries that your closed-loop cruise sails to. This is why it’s important to check the entry requirements of the specific cruise ports on your itinerary. Some Caribbean destinations that still require passports or passport cards are Martinique and Guadeloupe.
Passport Requirements for River Cruises in the United States
An option you may not have thought of for your next cruise vacation is a U.S. river cruise. The ships that cruise on America’s rivers must be built within the United States, which is why they are flagged as U.S. ships. Because of this, they do not need to stop in international ports like mega-cruise ships that sail on the ocean. U.S.-flagged river cruise ships only make stops in United States ports.
While these river cruises are a different experience from a mega-cruise ship vacation, they get you out on the water on a cruise ship without the need to change hotels every few days like land vacations. If you love cruising and are planning a vacation without young kids -- as small ship cruises cater to an older audience -- these cruises are worth researching.
American Cruise Lines and Viking River are the leading river cruise lines in the U.S. They sail rivers from the West Coast to the East, including the Columbia and Snake Rivers, the Mississippi River and the Tennessee River.
Ocean Cruise Passport Requirements for United States Cruise Itineraries
An exception to needing a passport for an ocean cruise ship that is flagged from another country is if you sail with a cruise line that is U.S.-flagged and only goes to US ports. This is an advantage to small ship cruising.
American Cruise Lines has American-built, U.S.-flagged ships offering ocean cruises around Maine or between New York and Massachusetts. Alaskan Dream Cruises and UnCruise are two other companies with U.S.-flagged ships that cruise U.S. itineraries in Alaska or Hawaii. These cruise lines have ships that accommodate fewer passengers, ranging from 22 passengers to just under 200 guests.
A Passport Is Needed for Cruises to and From Foreign Ports
If you are a citizen of the United States of America and you are going on an ocean cruise to an international destination, you will need a passport book or passport card for your cruise, depending on your itinerary. One example is a transatlantic cruise that begins on the East Coast of the US, like in Port of Miami, and ends in Europe.
Keep in mind that cruise passport requirements can change based on shore excursions, too. For example, you need a passport any time you cross a land or sea border into a foreign country, whether it's riding Alaska's White Pass and Yukon Railway or taking day trips to smaller Caribbean islands. Remember that it's a good idea to check the entry requirements of all individual ports in your itinerary, as you might need a visa as well.
Passport Books and Passport Cards: What's the Difference?
When you envision a typical passport, you likely think of a passport book with pages for visa stamps, but passport cards also exist. A passport card has the same length of validity as a passport book, but it’s a small wallet-sized plastic card like a driver’s license. A passport card serves as proof of US citizenship and includes a photo ID.
A passport card does not have visa pages and costs less than a passport book. Exact passport book and passport card prices vary based on various factors, including your age and if you currently have a valid passport, need a passport for the first time, or yours expired before renewing.
However, a passport card doesn’t allow the same travel options as a passport book. The card cannot be used for international air travel and is only valid for land and sea travel from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and most Caribbean countries.
How Long Does My Passport Need to Be Valid For a Cruise?
If you need a passport for your sailing, you also need to check when your passport expires. It needs to have enough validity to satisfy the requirements of the countries you’re visiting.
The amount of time your passport needs to be valid for changes depending on your destination. But one example is if you’re traveling to Spain: Your passport needs to be valid for three months past your travel date. If your passport does not meet these requirements, you will be denied travel.
Check your passport's expiration date well in advance so if you have to renew it, you have at least 10 weeks of lead time; renewing your passport can take six to eight weeks.
Official U.S. passports are valid for 10 years if you are over the age of 16. They are valid for less time for younger children.
Having a Passport on Hand Is Best Practice for Convenience and Safety
If you are stranded in another country due to unforeseen circumstances, you still have options with only a birth certificate and photo ID. However, this route is more cumbersome and time-consuming than having your passport on hand.
Unexpected things can occur when you travel, so it’s always safest to travel with a passport in case of an emergency. You may need it to unexpectedly pass through another country on your way home or to another destination.
The U.S. Department of State has a cruise-specific resource page that states, “You may need your passport in the event of an unexpected medical evacuation or if the ship docks at an alternate port. You should bring your passport even if your cruise says you won’t need it.”
We advise leaving a color copy of your passport with a friend or family member in case of emergency as well. It’s also smart to upload a digital version to your online files that are accessible from a mobile device.
How to Get a Passport While Abroad in an Emergency Situation
A birth certificate and photo ID will allow you to receive a temporary passport for reentry into the United States. Temporary passports are only valid for a short period of time and are given to people who need to travel quickly but don't have time to wait for a standard passport.
It typically only takes a few days for temporary passports to be processed and received after applying for one at the local U.S. Embassy or consulate while abroad. But if you’re in an emergency situation, you may not have a few days to spare.
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.
In cases where a ship forces disembarkation in a foreign port, the cruise line will work directly with the international immigration department to assist passengers with passport processing and whatever means of transportation they need to take home.
Bottom Line: Cruise with Your Passport
A passport opens a realm of worldwide possibilities for your future vacations and is worth the effort, time and money to obtain. Even if you plan to stick to a closed-loop cruise or small ship experience in the United States, it’s worth investing in a passport for peace-of-mind.