Documentation Needed to Cruise

Do I Need a Passport to Cruise?

This question tops my list of frequently asked questions by prospective cruisers.

The image to the right was a Carnival Triumph itinerary in 2013.  The ship had mechanical issues and passengers had to disembark in Mexico.  If you were on Carnival Triumph that week and had to get home from Progresso, Mexico by air - could you? 

Do you have a valid U.S. Passport? 


If you are unsure of the answer to the first question, then you should read on. If your answer to the second question is no, you too should read the rest of this article. Getting home to the United States could depend on this information and your actions in response.

Don't Leave Home Without It

We recommend that all guests carry a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the completion date of your travel.

Having a passport will enable you to fly from the U.S. to a foreign port in the event you miss your scheduled embarkation or to fly back to the U.S. if you need to disembark the ship mid-cruise due to an emergency.  

Rules that went into force in 2009 mandate that  U.S. citizens entering the country by land, sea, or air must establish both identity and citizenship and therefore must possess one of the following: passport, passport card or other travel document approved by the Department of Homeland Security.

Travel by Land or Sea (for U.S. and Canadian Citizens):

Travel document requirements vary based on cruise itinerary and whether international flights are required. For voyages that are scheduled to end outside the U.S., a passport that is valid for six months beyond the completion date of your travel is required. Passports or Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant documents are required for cruises to Alaska, Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico and the Panama Canal. U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 16 and above may present one of the following valid WHTI-compliant documents:

• Passport (recommended travel document) (valid for travel by air, land and sea)
• Passport Card (valid for land and sea border crossings only)
• State Issued Enhanced Driver’s License (valid for land and sea border crossings only)
• Other documents approved by the Department of Homeland Security

The other travel documents include: Lawful Permanent Resident Cards; certain Native American tribe member cards; North American trusted traveler program cards, such as NEXUS (Northern Border program), SENTRI (Southern Border program), or FAST (Free and Secure Trade program); military ID with official travel orders; U.S. Merchant Mariner Documents; or enhanced driver's licenses (EDLs).

U.S. citizens taking “closed-loop” cruises are not required to have a passport but will need proof of citizenship and a government-issued photo ID, such as an original or certified copy of a birth certificate and a driver’s license.  It is still highly recommended that you travel with a valid passport.

See the Department of Homeland Security's Know Before You Go for more information on the changing travel requirements.

PLEASE NOTE: it is the passenger's sole responsibility to obtain and have available the proper travel documents that are necessary for your travel, including all costs related to obtaining proper documentation and costs to obtain entry to countries you visit and re-entry to your destination country. You’ve planned for this trip and want to be sure you aren’t denied boarding, nor do you want  problems when entering or exiting any country during your trip.

Entry Requirements of Foreign Countries

So far we have focused on getting on your cruise and getting back home to the United States.  Each foreign country has their own entry requirements.   Passports are still the best option there, but additional documentation, such as Visas, are often needed.  You place of residency dictates the documentation required as well.

• Consult Entry Requirements for the Destination(s)  - see Foreign Entry Requirements 
• View the “Entry/Exit Requirements” section of the State Department’s U.S. Visa Wizard for each country you plan to visit.
• See all Travel Alerts & Warnings

If a visa is required by the country you will visit, obtain it from the appropriate foreign consular representative before proceeding abroad.  Allow sufficient time for processing your visa application, especially if you are applying by mail.

We have an entire page devoted to these topics and more.  Please click on the International Travel tab.

 

National Plan A Cruise Month Promotions 

Cruise lines are offering special promotions and pricing on popular cruises to encourage consumers to plan their next cruise vacation now. We'll be featuring promotions on our website and social media.

Choose Cruise Month (click for mini-series)

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Sign-up for Exclusive Email Offers


Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday night for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat 

Disclaimer:   Information provided on this page is provided as guidance to the official government information which is contained on referenced websites.  

Links are accurate at time of publication and are subject to change.     Consult the home page of the appropriate governmental agency if the link cannot be found.

Documentation Needed to Cruise

Do I Need a Passport to Cruise?

This question tops my list of frequently asked questions by prospective cruisers.

The image to the right was a Carnival Triumph itinerary in 2013.  The ship had mechanical issues and passengers had to disembark in Mexico.  If you were on Carnival Triumph that week and had to get home from Progresso, Mexico by air - could you? 

Do you have a valid U.S. Passport? 


If you are unsure of the answer to the first question, then you should read on. If your answer to the second question is no, you too should read the rest of this article. Getting home to the United States could depend on this information and your actions in response.

Don't Leave Home Without It

We recommend that all guests carry a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the completion date of your travel.

Having a passport will enable you to fly from the U.S. to a foreign port in the event you miss your scheduled embarkation or to fly back to the U.S. if you need to disembark the ship mid-cruise due to an emergency.  

Rules that went into force in 2009 mandate that  U.S. citizens entering the country by land, sea, or air must establish both identity and citizenship and therefore must possess one of the following: passport, passport card or other travel document approved by the Department of Homeland Security.

Travel by Land or Sea (for U.S. and Canadian Citizens):

Travel document requirements vary based on cruise itinerary and whether international flights are required. For voyages that are scheduled to end outside the U.S., a passport that is valid for six months beyond the completion date of your travel is required. Passports or Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant documents are required for cruises to Alaska, Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico and the Panama Canal. U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 16 and above may present one of the following valid WHTI-compliant documents:

• Passport (recommended travel document) (valid for travel by air, land and sea)
• Passport Card (valid for land and sea border crossings only)
• State Issued Enhanced Driver’s License (valid for land and sea border crossings only)
• Other documents approved by the Department of Homeland Security

The other travel documents include: Lawful Permanent Resident Cards; certain Native American tribe member cards; North American trusted traveler program cards, such as NEXUS (Northern Border program), SENTRI (Southern Border program), or FAST (Free and Secure Trade program); military ID with official travel orders; U.S. Merchant Mariner Documents; or enhanced driver's licenses (EDLs).

U.S. citizens taking “closed-loop” cruises are not required to have a passport but will need proof of citizenship and a government-issued photo ID, such as an original or certified copy of a birth certificate and a driver’s license.  It is still highly recommended that you travel with a valid passport.

See the Department of Homeland Security's Know Before You Go for more information on the changing travel requirements.

PLEASE NOTE: it is the passenger's sole responsibility to obtain and have available the proper travel documents that are necessary for your travel, including all costs related to obtaining proper documentation and costs to obtain entry to countries you visit and re-entry to your destination country. You’ve planned for this trip and want to be sure you aren’t denied boarding, nor do you want  problems when entering or exiting any country during your trip.

Entry Requirements of Foreign Countries

So far we have focused on getting on your cruise and getting back home to the United States.  Each foreign country has their own entry requirements.   Passports are still the best option there, but additional documentation, such as Visas, are often needed.  You place of residency dictates the documentation required as well.

• Consult Entry Requirements for the Destination(s)  - see Foreign Entry Requirements 
• View the “Entry/Exit Requirements” section of the State Department’s U.S. Visa Wizard for each country you plan to visit.
• See all Travel Alerts & Warnings

If a visa is required by the country you will visit, obtain it from the appropriate foreign consular representative before proceeding abroad.  Allow sufficient time for processing your visa application, especially if you are applying by mail.

We have an entire page devoted to these topics and more.  Please click on the International Travel tab.

 

National Plan A Cruise Month Promotions 

Cruise lines are offering special promotions and pricing on popular cruises to encourage consumers to plan their next cruise vacation now. We'll be featuring promotions on our website and social media.

A Cruise Can Take You There (click for mini-series)

Follow Us On

Sign-up for Exclusive Email Offers

Where have you explored? 

#FoodTravelChat

Join us every Wednesday evening at 8pm EST for lively conversation about food travel brought to you by @FoodTravelist It's a tasty world & we're dishing it up!

Disclaimer:   Information provided on this page is provided as guidance to the official government information which is contained on referenced websites.  

Links are accurate at time of publication and are subject to change.     Consult the home page of the appropriate governmental agency if the link cannot be found.

Illinois - You Are Grounded

10 ... 9... 8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...

Real ID Deadline Approaching

As 2016 begins, the clock is running out for the State of Illinois to comply with "Real ID" law requirements for state issued drivers licenses. Back in 2005, a federal law was enacted requiring states to comply with various security measures to state ID and drivers license issuance procedures. Illinois applied for an extension, which runs out January 10, 2016.

The Department of Homeland Security could give notice (of at least 120 days) to the public that it would no longer accept the Illinois IDs. If that were done, Illinois could be "grounded" unless alternate procedures, which might include using a U.S. Passport for security screening, were put in place at airports across the country. Of course passports have always been accepted, but not everyone has a valid passport or typically carries them for domestic trips.

Thanks to the Identity Project for sharing the following:
"Don't be misled by TSA threats: You don't have to show *any* ID to fly, & that won't change: http://bit.ly/1PtPHxc"

UPDATED: Jan. 9, 2016

The Department of Homeland Security has given another reprieve to states, such as Illinois, that haven't met the REALID requirements.   The facts on #REALID: You can use your driver’s license from ANY state/territory to fly until Jan 2018. More at http://go.usa.gov/cRptx

On January 22, 2018,  unless granted another extension, residents of Illinois (and any other non-compliant states) will be back in this same situation where they'll need to use an alternate form of identification other than a state Drivers License.   (Note: technically NO ID is required to fly as mentioned above).

IMPORTANT DATES:

• Now Until January 2018 - Residents of ANY state can use a driver's license or other approved form of identification accepted by TSA See the full list on the TSA website

• Effective January 22, 2018, if you have a driver’s license or identification card issued by a state that does not meet the requirements of the REAL ID Act, unless that state has been granted an extension, you must present an alternative form of identification acceptable to TSA in order to board a commercial domestic flight.

• Starting October 1, 2020, every air traveler will need a REAL ID-compliant license, or another acceptable form of identification, for domestic air travel.

Please continue to consult the DHS website to monitor changes in requirements for your state.   

We always recommend our guests travel with passports, even on closed-looped cruises, where they aren't technically required.   If you have a passport for those international vacations, it wouldn't be an issue should they also be required for domestic travel.

Apply for a Passport

Apply for a U.S. Passport

Besides Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, and Washington are states that haven't yet adopted the Real ID specifications.  DHS has not announced when it might no longer accept those IDs.

If you are planning on traveling by air in 2016 or later, we would recommend obtaining a U.S. passport now before there's a mad rush to obtain one or be grounded (or perhaps subject to additional screening procedures).
 
Federal Building Entrance

One thing for certain, the law also applies to entrance to certain Federal buildings, so after January 10th Illinois IDs will not be valid for entrance to those buildings. This is another reason for obtaining a passport.

More information act can be obtained at the following link:

Real ID Public FAQs | Homeland Security

No Power No Travel

Attention iPhone, Android, and PC Users

Keep Those Devices Charged 
If You Are Flying

Last week, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson directed TSA to implement enhanced security measures at certain overseas airports with direct flights to the United States.

Inbound International Flights

In response to new threats of bombs in familiar devices, such as iPhones, Android phones, and laptops,  TSA has been instructed to carefully screen those devices.   It has always been the case that electronics, especially computers, were subject to careful scrutiny, but effective with the new instructions, closer attention will be given to phones as well.

Does the Device Power Up

According to TSA, "During the security examination, officers may also ask that owners power up some devices, including cell phones. Powerless devices will not be permitted onboard the aircraft. The traveler may also undergo additional screening.

Know Before You Go

This is the most recent change in security procedures announced by TSA.  Not all procedures are announced in this fashion.  Security is obtained by several levels of visible and invisible monitoring.

The TSA's Traveler Information tab is a source of good information when preparing for a flight.  When traveling internationally, be sure to check with transportation sights of the countries you are visiting as well.   There are much different security measures in other countries.

For example we once had to fly home for an emergency and flew from Oslo, Norway.   All suitcases and carry-on bags must be unlocked because they will undergo a screening by hand before you even check-in.

Additional Useful Links

Department of Homeland Security Aviation Security

Australian Transportation Safety Bureau
Canadian TSA (CATSA) Security
European Commission Aviation Security

For more links, just use keywords like "security transportation aviation" and country name in your favorite search engine for information relevant to your itinerary.   Your Cruise & Vacation Specialist, airline, or cruise line may also have additional information on their websites.