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When you arrive back in Seattle or San Francisco, take time to explore those cities for even more vacation fun. Starting and ending in Seattle or San Francisco, an Alaskan cruise takes you to charming waterfront cities and villages like Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. In Alaska, also known as the Land of the Midnight Sun, you can see spectacular, icy glaciers by boat or seaplane, watch for whales and try your hand at dog sledding.
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Check our travelers page to learn more about specific issues you might face abroad. These include special considerations for older travelers, those with disabilities, women, and LGBTQI+ travelers. While not related to an ID, it's also a good idea to consider purchasing travel or cruise-specific insurance before departing.
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You will also need to have a passport size photo taken and pay the required fees. While this type of passport can be issued within as little as a day, it could take up to a week to receive it. 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. To make things even more confusing, you can get off the ship in port in Vancouver, British Columbia during an Alaska cruise without a passport, but to cross over into the Canadian province by rail, you'll need one.
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If your ship is not returning to the same port—for instance, if you are eyeing a one-way Panama Canal sailing from Los Angeles to Miami—you do need a passport. You will also be limited on some Caribbean itineraries, as select islands such as St. Bart’s and Martinique do require a passport, which means your cruise line will require a passport before you board the ship. It’s worth noting that although you can take a closed loop cruise with proper ID and your birth certificate, we recommend getting a passport. Passports are generally easier to check than other documentation and may save you time when boarding and deboarding.
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative dictates where you can and cannot sail without a passport, but most Western Hemisphere destinations are approved. Cruise lines worked behind the scenes during the pandemic, planning for their return to the world’s waterways. New ships, creative amenities, engaging shore excursions, a wide range of itineraries, and meticulous health protocols are now attracting first-time cruisers as well as long-time cruise fans.
Some people prefer to bring their passports in addition to other forms of identification, as it ensures they have covered all of their bases. You can use the passport card to reenter the United States at seaports of entry from Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. However, if you cannot return on the cruise ship for any reason, you will need a passport book to fly back to the United States. You can also cruise to the Mexican Riviera—destinations such as Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlán—without a passport.
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These voyages sail round trip from U.S. ports to destinations in North America such as the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexico, Central America, Alaska and Hawaii. They depart from such home ports as Miami, Seattle, Los Angeles, Galveston, Texas and New York City. Carnival’s six-day Bermuda from Norfolk cruise spends two days at sea and three days in Bermuda. Bermuda Bliss, a seven-day Oceana cruise from New York City, visits Hamilton and St. George in Bermuda and includes two days at sea.
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International travel documentation can be a confusing, contentious issue—particularly on cruises. 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. That is cheaper than a passport book, can get you on the ship but are valid for entering the USA by land and sea only.
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From mega-ships to smaller expedition vessels, there’s a voyage for every type of traveler. Explore beautiful spots spread across Maui, Kauai and the Big Island, and drink in the natural beauty only Hawaii delivers. On this exciting trip, you can deep sea fish for marlin, explore forest caves and waterfalls, soak up the sun on a black-sand beach and attend a traditional luau. U.S. departure ports for enjoyable Hawaiian cruises include San Francisco, San Diego, Long Beach and Honolulu. It's important to note that if you already have a passport, you should check the expiration date to ensure it will remain valid throughout your entire trip.
So, before you zip up your suitcase and bid farewell to your checked bag, let’s explore what items must remain out of sight during your journey. If your cruise itinerary involves any of the above destinations, you will be asked to show your passport before leaving the United States. On the other hand, an open-loop cruise begins in one U.S. port and ends in a different U.S. port. These cruises often require passengers to present a passport before the cruise starts and again after it ends.
With soft-sand beaches, vibrant coral reefs, and pastel-colored British colonial architecture, the Bahamian capital of Nassau makes a popular port of call for cruisers. In Freeport, you can shop till you drop at the Port Lucaya Marketplace or kayak through the mangroves at Lucayan National Park. At the south end of the island of Eleuthera, Princess Cays offers island resort living at its finest. Typically, that’s a passport stamp or electronic record of entry; for cruise passengers, it’s their onboard keycard or medallion that identifies them as a passenger of their ship. In these cases, the ship itself acts as a virtual passport, and it’s a decent one under normal circumstances—just not when situations turn irregular. U.S. citizens under the age of 16 are only required to present proof of citizenship.
Cruising is a wonderful way to explore incredible destinations while also enjoying luxury accommodations and onboard entertainment. However, before you step foot on the cruise ship, it is smart to understand the documentation requirements to ensure a smooth and stress-free experience. 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. That said, you generally do not need to bring your physical passport as you exit the ship at a port of call. That is because you have already registered with the ship, and they will present this information to any customs agents on your behalf. Another option for a cruise passenger is to keep their passport card on them while storing their passport book in their cabin safe.
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