For many cruises departing from ports in the United States, passports can be optional under certain circumstances. This doesn’t mean you should cruise without one. In fact, always cruising with passport is highly recommended.
Cruises that depart from and return to the same U.S. port (known as closed-loop) have an exemption for requiring passports. Just about every cruise to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Alaska, Bermuda and Canada/New England will fall under the closed-loop category. Cruises that are one-way or are repositioning from one home-port to another are not considered closed-loop.
If you can cruise without a passport, why spend the money on getting one?
It’s great to hope that your cruise goes as planned, but it’s the unplanned scenarios that can cause the trouble.
One such real-life scenario could be an emergency at home that requires you to cut your cruise short and fly home from your current port of call. While you could board your ship at embarkation and go ashore, flying back home is a different thing. In order to fly home from a foreign destination, you are required to have a passport. Since you cruised without one, you’ll now need to seek out an embassy or consulate where they can issue you a temporary one. This will take time and cost you more money than if you just got a passport in the first place.
Another possible scenario that would have the same ramifications is if you miss your ship either at embarkation or in a port of call. Having to get the next port of call will require flying and once again, you’ll need a passport in order to do so. Sure, we all like to think we won’t be the one who misses the ship, but what if you get injured and need to be admitted to a hospital, there’s no way to plan for that possibility until it happens, and having your passport will be one less thing to worry about if it does.
Tips for keeping your passport safe while traveling
- Make a copy of your passport photo page and bring a copy with you when you get off the ship and leave a copy with family or friends back home
- Leave your passport in the room safe on your cruise ship
- Create a digital version of your passport (photo or scan) and store on your smartphone in a secure app. Check out Files Pro available on the App Store
Special Requirements for non U.S. Citizens
The closed-loop passport exemption only applies to U.S. Citizens. Foreign nationals will require a valid passport for all cruise departing the United States. U.S. permanent residents may be able to cruise with just their “green card”, but it’s best to also have a passport from their country of citizenship.
The length of time to apply and receive passports in the United States has been drastically reduced over the past several years. You’ll still want to give yourself enough time before your cruise departure date to get your passport done.
U.S. Department of State – Passport Website
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports.html
Government of Canada – Passport Website
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/passport/