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Traditional expedited service can take up to 3 weeks—not including mailing times. To skip potential postal service delays, you could make an appointment with a local passport application acceptance center; however, this option may not get you a passport in 3 weeks. If you’re an adult traveling with a minor (under 16 years old)—by land, air, or sea—you must be able to prove that you are the parent or legal guardian of the child. Otherwise, you must present and carry a notarized minor travel consent form that has been signed by the minor’s parents or legal guardians. Also, if you plan to cruise while pregnant, many cruise lines require written approval from a doctor. If children under the age of 16 are traveling internationally by air, they will need a valid U.S. passport.
Passport Policies for Cruises – FAQs
Likewise, check to see if any of the destinations you're visiting requires specific inoculations for entry; if they do, carry proof that you've received them. Similar to what you'd need for a flight, a cruise boarding pass is the document that shows you've checked in for your sailing, set up an onboard charge account for purchases and chosen a boarding time. It also includes relevant information like your name, booking number and cabin number. Necessary cruise documents include acceptable official forms of identification, proof of your booking number and boarding information, and confirmation that you aren't ill. Regardless of what the minimum requirements are for travel, we highly recommend everyone get a passport.
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However, when minors are traveling with only one adult, Holland America requires all passengers to have a valid passport book. Additionally, if an unforeseen situation arises where guests have to take a flight to or from the U.S. during their cruise, not possessing a valid passport book could result in substantial delays and challenges. One exception to the passport or passport card rule applies to "closed-loop" cruises -- itineraries that begin and end at the same U.S. port. Note that for kids younger than 16 years of age, a birth certificate (or its equivalent) alone will suffice. Some cruise lines, like Holland America and Princess Cruises, require any minor traveling with only one adult to carry a valid passport. Please check with your specific cruise line to confirm travel documents and age requirements for infants and children.
Permission to travel
Even though passports aren’t currently required for U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line strongly recommends traveling with a valid passport book. This is because a passport book is the most reliable form of identification. Also, if travelers need to fly to or from the U.S. unexpectedly during their cruise, they may face significant delays and complications without a valid passport book. For U.S. citizens, passports are necessary for travel by land, sea or air anywhere outside the United States. Passport Card when traveling by land or sea (not air) between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean.
However, this is rapidly changing as facial recognition comes into play at many US cruise ports. Even something as simple as not getting back to the ship on time and getting left behind could be an issue without having a passport. If the cruise ends abruptly because of a mechanical issue and you don’t have a passport, the cruise line will work with the consulate or embassy to ensure you make it back into the United States without issue.
You don't have to wait for a passport to travel: What to know about closed-loop cruises - USA TODAY
You don't have to wait for a passport to travel: What to know about closed-loop cruises.
Posted: Thu, 13 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Cruise Rules and Regulations, Plus Travel Documents and Information
Additionally, visas or travel permits may be required to enter some countries. Holland America Line, founded in 1873, operates 11 ships offering over 500 cruises to 470+ ports in 98 countries. Their cruises range from short trips to 128-day voyages, covering all continents. They’re known for their quality service, excellent food, elegant decor, and diverse entertainment. Their ships feature modern amenities like high-tech shows and extensive art collections.
Accepted Identification for European Citizens
An abundance of cashPacking an abundance of cash in your checked baggage is ill-advised for several reasons, particularly concerning security and potential legal complications. While no specific TSA regulations limit the amount of cash you can carry domestically, travelers entering the U.S. must declare amounts exceeding $10,000 to customs officials. However, regardless of the amount, carrying a significant sum of cash can attract attention from TSA agents, who have the authority to question you about the source and purpose of the money.
If you're pregnant, most cruise lines require you to disclose that and provide a note from your doctor verifying your due date and that you're fit to travel. No cruise line will allow you to sail if you are more than 24 weeks along before the conclusion of the voyage. Although most cruise lines have rescinded their COVID-19 vaccination mandates, a handful of lines still require passengers to show proof that they have received their shots. Check with your cruise line directly for the most current details, and be sure to have your original vaccine card on hand if your sailing requires verification.
It's the best way to prove your identification and citizenship and is an essential item if you unexpectedly get stranded abroad. It's also less cumbersome than carrying the required documents and papers with you wherever you go. On such a closed-loop cruise and without a passport, U.S. citizens will be able to enter or depart the U.S. with certain proof of citizenship.
Regardless, we always recommend traveling with a U.S. passport book, in case there are any inconveniences during your trip. If you are cruising to Mexico on a closed-loop cruise, (a journey that starts and ends at the same U.S. port), you can enter without a passport and show a state-issued ID and an original birth certificate instead. U.S. and Canadian citizens under 16 (or under 19 if traveling with a school, religious group or other youth groups) only need to present a birth certificate or another proof of citizenship.
While nobody likes to think about the worst-case scenario when planning a vacation, being prepared is always a good idea. Sudden medical emergencies requiring you to be transported to a nearby country for treatment are always smoother if you and your travel companions have valid passports on you. Closed loop cruises are similar to domestic ones, but the voyage will always start and finish in the same port. If you book a closed loop cruise in your home country, you will not need a passport. If your cruise is listed as domestic, you will not need a passport, as you will not be disembarking into a foreign country during the voyage. Instead, you will be boarding the ship in a domestic port and returning to a domestic port, even if they are not the same.
And government authorities may require you to have a visa or meet other requirements. Guests are responsible for figuring out and getting all required travel visas before their cruise starts. Travelers should reach out to the embassy or consular services of each country they’ll visit on their cruise to understand specific visa requirements, details, forms, and fees.
Open-ended sailings can be voyages that begin and end in different US ports and voyages that depart from a US port but end in a foreign port or vice versa. The cost for a first-time passport holder is $165, plus the photo fee; the steep fee alone is why many Americans choose to go without one. The good news is that an adult passport is valid for 10 years – and you can travel to most places in the world with just a passport and no visa.
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. If you need a passport immediately, most medium to large cities will have businesses that expedite the process — some claiming within 2-3 days. Simply search for your city name plus “passport” in Google to find companies in your area that offer expedited service. You can apply for your passport at a passport agency, located in major cities around the country. To apply here, you need to setup an appointment, pay the expedited fee, and have proof of immediate travel.
The passport card won’t work if you take an international cruise or flight. Guests without passports who want to go on an Alaska cruise should choose to sail roundtrip from Seattle or San Francisco. Below are some regions where many closed-loop cruises sail from within the United States and don’t require a passport. This changes if you take a one-way cruise from San Juan to the United States. This falls under the one-way voyage category, where a passport to cruise is required. As of 2024, visitors to the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe must possess a valid passport.
Taking a cruise abroad is an unforgettable experience and an amazing way to see the world. To help you better prepare for your voyage, here are a few passport tips and best practices to follow when planning your international cruise. It is the individual guest’s responsibility to confirm travel visa requirements with the destination’s embassy or consulate. 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. Carnival Cruise Lines currently offers 13 cruise destinations for guests to choose from.
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