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Again, the passport card opens up one-way possibilities, assuming you aren't flying and your cruise only includes Canada and the U.S. If you're interested in cruising to Alaska without a passport, look for itineraries that begin (and end) in Seattle, San Francisco or southern California ports, such as Los Angeles or Long Beach, California. The most common length for these closed-loop Alaska cruises operated by the major cruise lines is seven nights. Cruises early or late in the season might be only four or five nights, and trips departing from LA are usually 14 nights. Before we go further, let's clarify that when we talk about cruising without a passport, we're referring to pricey passport books that some travelers do not wish to purchase.
Do you always need a passport card or passport booklet to cruise?
If you are on a longer cruise that visits other Caribbean islands, you’ll want to check with your cruise line about any passport requirements. If you’re not familiar with a passport card, it’s a government-issued I.D. A passport card is different than a passport book, the multi-page booklets that customs officials stamp as you enter a country.
Grab That Passport and Book Your Cruise!
When embarking on adventures by sea that don’t require a passport, make sure you have the proper cruise documentation. While cruising with a passport is always recommended, it's not required by law in certain circumstances. Closed-loop cruises from U.S. ports that visit Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico are part of an international agreement that allows U.S. citizens to cruise without a passport. In these cases, government-issued identification and proof of U.S. citizenship are acceptable alternatives to a passport book. You have options to cruise without a passport because not every sailing requires them.
Places You Can Go on a Closed Loop Cruise (Without a Passport)
We strongly recommend that all guests present a passport as their form of ID on boarding day, and for some guests a passport is required. As we’ve mentioned above, a closed loop cruise is a cruise that departs from and returns to the same port in the United States. To help eliminate any chance of losing your passport while on the ship, we recommend keeping it in your stateroom or suite. The in-room safes are easy to use and will keep your passport in a secure place at all times. When you’re on your cruise, there is no need to carry a passport on you since you’ll use your Sea Pass card for all transactions.
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Passport cards can also be used for identification when cruising in all the places we are about to discuss; these cards are a low-cost alternative to traveling with your driver's license and birth certificate. Whether or not you need a passport to get on a cruise ship depends on several factors, such as your nationality, the cruise itinerary, and the ports you will be visiting. As a general rule of thumb, if your journey starts and ends at the same U.S. port, you will likely be fine without a passport. This is called a closed-loop cruise, and it allows you to visit several international destinations without ever needing to present your passport. Cruising is a wonderful way to explore incredible destinations while also enjoying luxury accommodations and onboard entertainment.
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. Apart from a few isolated cruises stopping in Bermuda as they come or go from other destinations, there are no one-way Bermuda cruises to confuse the situation.
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Caribbean cruises to the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico are a safe bet for those who don’t have a passport. You can cruise Alaska either on closed-loop sailings from Seattle that stop in Canada along the way, or fly to Alaska and take a cruise that remains within the state. Citizen, you can take advantage of the benefits of no-passport cruises for itineraries that begin and end at a U.S. Of course, all of these options suppose that you have the time to get a new passport before your cruise. As you can see below, it can take several weeks before you can expect yours to arrive after ordering.
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Closed-Loop Cruises: The One Passport-Required Exception
U.S. departure ports vary widely; they include Baltimore, Bayonne (Cape Liberty), Charleston, Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Galveston, New York (Manhattan), Miami, New Orleans, Orlando (Port Canaveral) and Tampa. Los Angeles and Norfolk also offer occasional one-off, closed-loop sailings to the Caribbean. For anyone who'd prefer a passport-not-required destination that can be explored during a short amount of time in port, cruising to Bermuda is a natural fit. It's a fairly small island, and since several itineraries offer overnights (some that span more than one night), you'll have time to learn your way around, have dinner in town and check out the nightlife. If your cruise itinerary does not necessitate a passport, you must show other valid documentation. If your cruise itinerary does require a passport, and you don’t have one, you will be turned away from the ship and not allowed to board.
Norwegian will take you from Los Angeles to a variety of ports that will offer you a combination of adventure and relaxation that you could not get anywhere else. Sail aboard some of our newest ships, including Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy. You’ll be living on island time in no time with the Bahamas' close proximity to the US mainland!
You won’t run into any passport requirements on tried-and-true routes from U.S. ports such as those that visit Puerto Rico and the U.S. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John—which are all part of the United States. You can also fly in to embark on cruises from these destinations. 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. Princess Cruises and Holland America require that at least one parent carry a passport, even if you're on a closed-loop sailing.
A passport necklace is similar, but is worn around your neck and inside your shirt instead. It’s not usually as discreet as a money belt, but is often more convenient and allows for easier access to your travel documents and money. Figuring out if you need a passport to go on a cruise isn’t quite as straightforward as you might think. The answer largely depends on the destination of your cruise, which port you’re embarking and disembarking from, and which forms of ID you already have.
Would function like a passport and you would not need additional documentation. Belize and Honduras, which are sometimes included on these itineraries, also waive their passport requirements for cruise ship passengers. U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same U.S. port) are able to enter the United States with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID.
Some cruise lines also offer one-way cruises in both directions between Canada and New England. These itineraries, like Alaska cruises, might be possible without a passport book. So while you don't need a passport of passport card to cruise to Alaska from Seatlle or other U.S. ports, you will need this idenfitication as the cruise must stop in Canada on its way. Without these required documents, you will not be able to board your cruise or get back into the United States.
What if it's only a three-night cruise to the Bahamas, and the passport application fee is almost as much as the cruise fare? Or, maybe you have children nearing age 16 and can't justify paying for passports that will only be good for five years. If there is a passport requirement, each person needs to have one, including infants and toddlers. Luckily, a little known law helps most people from having to deal with the time or expense of getting a new passport for their cruise.
These cruises, operating under an international agreement called the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, permit U.S. citizens to travel to destinations within the Western Hemisphere without a passport. Legally, while closed-loop cruises don’t require a passport, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) mandates proof of citizenship and identity. Here’s where your birth certificate and government-issued photo ID come in handy, or better yet, an Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL). U.S. citizens booked on those sailings can leave and enter the country with proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate and – if 16 or older – a government-issued photo ID, according to U.S.
They’re also a godsend for family travel — because we all know getting passports for the whole gang can be as fun as a sunburn. Embarking on a no-passport cruise is like finding a golden ticket inside your chocolate bar — it’s all about serendipity and convenience. These cruises eliminate the hassle of passport renewal and are perfect for last-minute travel plans, when time is tight, and governmental red tape is a no-go. Mexican Riviera voyages are a great choice for passport-less would-be cruisers who live on (or cruise from) the West Coast. Not only does Mexico offer some spectacular food and culture, but sailings to the region tend to be more affordable than those to Hawaii, a region that's also frequently accessed via West Coast homeports.
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