Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Guide to Cruise Passport Policies for U S. Travelers

passport card for cruise

Some lines always require a passport for all travelers, no matter the itinerary, including Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Azamara, Windstar Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Oceania Cruises and Seabourn. 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. While some cruises don’t require you to travel with a U.S. passport book, we always recommend you bring one on your trip, even on a closed-loop cruise. If you need to fly back to the United States during your cruise, you’ll only be able to board a plane with a passport book. 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.

Do I need a passport book or card for a domestic cruise?

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. If neither of these two choices fits your short timeline, we recommend using a trusted professional passport expeditor to get your new passport in as few as 24 to 48 hours. A professional expeditor can easily navigate the passport application process on your behalf and make sure that you get your new passport in time for your trip.

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Guide to Cruise Passport Policies for U.S. Travelers

Passport cards do not allow you to travel by air to any foreign destination, and cannot be used to enter a majority of the world’s 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. A valid passport book will allow you to travel anywhere, including any cruise vacation. With a passport and the appropriate travel visas, you will be able to explore any port of call and board from any country in the world.

If you want to cruise to the Bahamas

Open-loop cruises start in one U.S. port and conclude in a different U.S. port. An example would be a 16-day Panama Canal cruise that sets sail from Seattle and ends its journey in New Orleans. Open-loop cruises require guests to present and carry a valid passport book with (typically) at least 6 months of validity remaining after the last date of their cruise. For example, you may wish to reference the World Health Organization (WHO) or the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In many cases, you’ll need a valid passport, but even if you don’t, we really recommend traveling with one. You never know when the unexpected might happen – like leaving your ship before the end of your cruise – and it’s always better to be prepared. This is because the majority of cruises that you’ll find taking off from the U.S. and heading down to the Bahamas operate on a closed loop.

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passport card for cruise

Established in 1965, Princess Cruises, a prominent name in the cruise industry, began its journey with a single ship heading to Mexico. Today, it boasts a fleet of 15 state-of-the-art ships, offering a variety of onboard amenities and top-notch service, serving millions of passengers annually. Always check with your cruise line and the countries on your itinerary to understand the specific requirements.

List of Passports for Cruises FAQ

The check-in process can be intimidating if you haven't gone through it before. You might be wondering what, exactly, cruise documents are, which ones you need and how you obtain them. Traveling with a passport cover is also wise since it helps to keep your passport in pristine condition.

Closed-loop cruises are those that take off from a U.S. port, visit at least one foreign port of call and then return to that same port. Additionally, visas or travel permits may be required to enter some countries. A passport card, however, cannot be used when traveling by air to foreign countries or returning by air to the U.S. from an international destination. If the cruise makes any stops in countries where a passport card will not be accepted, you need to make sure you bring a passport book. Failure to do so would mean you could not exit the ship during those ports of call. Even though passport cards have relatively limited flexibility, enjoying a cruise vacation with this type of document is still possible.

For more information on travel requirements for Carnival Cruise Lines, visit the What travel documents do I need to bring? 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. In some ports, the ship anchors offshore and guests transfer to shore by water shuttles. When a water shuttle is required, guests using mobility devices will not be transferred into or out of the water shuttle, if lifting in excess of the above limitation is required.

Passport cards, however, can only be used going through a land border or seaport in Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. For example, if you’re planning a Mediterranean cruise, you’ll need to use a passport book. A passport book is a small booklet available to U.S. citizens and non-citizen nationals that can be used for international travel by air, sea or land. For travelers age 16 or older at the date of issue, the books are valid for 10 years. Younger travelers are given passports that are valid for five years. How should you decide if you should get a passport card or a passport book?

The Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app is a free & efficient alternative to Global Entry. Their Regent Seven Seas and Oceania Cruises, in particular, are renowned for their luxury. Founded in 1968, Royal Caribbean International is a leading cruise line brand and a subsidiary of the Royal Caribbean Group. Based in Miami, it’s the largest cruise line by revenue and the second-largest by passenger count.

We strongly recommend you hand-carry all valuables and breakables, including jewelry, electronics and cameras as well as any medications. Please read the Passage Contract for limitations and responsibilities for lost items and baggage. Princess Cruises has established the following air flight guidelines for guests who choose to purchase air from a source other than Princess. Please select the port(s) of embarkation and/or disembarkation from the list below to view the air flight guidelines. †No charge penalty until 45 days prior to departure for Flexible fares only.

Both a passport card and passport book can serve as identification that border agents can accept as proof of your American citizenship status. You can apply for both a passport book and passport card at the same time using the same application. When completing your form, let us know if you would like to apply for one or both documents. The U.S. passport card is a wallet-sized, plastic passport that has no visa pages.

For specific travel requirements, it is always best to check with the cruise line. Many countries require passports be valid for six months after the completion of your travel. Check your passport to verify it will be valid for this period of time. Additionally, make certain that your passport contains blank pages for entry and exit endorsements and any visas that may be required. If necessary, allow sufficient time to renew your passport and/or obtain additional pages. (It may take longer than you think it will!) U.S. and Canadian passport holders sailing on a domestic cruise should ensure passports or other travel documents are valid through the completion of travel.

Additionally, all staterooms feature Medallion touchless entry, which unlocks the door as you approach. Guests are advised not to bring any prohibited items to the ship. Prohibited items will not be allowed or stored on board the vessel with no exceptions. Guests are fully responsible for either storing these items ashore or disposing of them prior to embarkation. For information regarding WHTI-compliant documents, visit the US Customs and Border Protection website.

For those who are unfamiliar with cruising or the Caribbean, the Bahamas is a frequent destination for these behemoth ships. This nation of islands is conveniently located just off the coast of Florida, near Miami, which makes it an easy destination no matter the length of your cruise. If you choose to apply for both passport options in one application rather than applying for them separately, you’ll save $35 since you’ll only pay one acceptance fee. Regardless of document type, all first-time applicants must pay a $35 acceptance fee, which is included in the price.

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