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Also, contact the guest relations department on your cruise ship so they can provide guidance on how to handle the rest of your cruise before you get your replacement passport. If you take a closed-loop cruise to Bermuda, you can leave your passport at home and travel instead with a state-issued ID and an original birth certificate. Cruises are a popular way to travel and there are many options to choose from. Whether it's a tropical beach vacation, a river trip in Europe or a glacier cruise in Alaska, there's something enjoyable about kicking back on a ship, exploring a handful of ports and taking it easy for a few days.
Guide to Cruise Passport Policies for U.S. Travelers
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Rushed service can be completed within 14 days—also not including mailing times. Again, to avoid potential delays with the postal service, you could make an appointment at the nearest Regional Passport Agency. Currently, routine passport processing is about 6 to 8 weeks, expedited processing takes about 2 to 3 weeks and rushed expedited processing is possible within 14 days. As for travel visas, it is the guest’s responsibility to identify and obtain all the necessary travel visas before embarking on the cruise. For instance, a week-long cruise around the Western Caribbean & Perfect Day, which begins and ends in Miami, Florida, is a closed-loop cruise. It visits several countries like the Bahamas, Jamaica, Haiti, and Grand Cayman, but returns to the original U.S. port.
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There are some advantages to traveling with a passport card rather than a passport book, mainly cost and portability. Currently, a passport card costs only $65 to issue, while issuing a passport book is $145. If you are a U.S. citizen and your cruise embarks or disembarks in a foreign country, including Canada, you will always need your passport for the cruise (in some cases a passport card will suffice). You'll also need a passport for a cruise that begins and ends in different U.S. ports.
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List of Passports for Cruises FAQ
Another option for a cruise passenger is to keep their passport card on them while storing their passport book in their cabin safe. In either scenario, you must still bring your passport when boarding the ship. Again, you could board the ship with an enhanced driver’s license or a valid government-issued photo identification and a birth certificate. This ensures that the name on the ticket matches the person boarding the ship. On the other hand, if you are boarding a domestic cruise in a country where you do not hold citizenship, you will need to bring your passport. Everyone will need to present an accepted form of identification to board the ship.
Do you need a passport to go on a cruise? It’s complicated
The DHS requires cruise lines to provide a final passenger manifest at least an hour before departure. The deadline is one reason why cruise lines have encouraged passengers to provide their personal information well in advance of sailing via online check-in. For Americans, some popular cruise destinations, such as Russia and Australia, require visas. Check with your cruise line because individual country policies can vary. For instance, in Russia, if you plan to purchase a ship's shore excursion, the visa requirement is waived. If you choose to tour with a government-approved independent tour operator, you may also bypass the visa restriction.
Information for U.S. Citizens in the Middle East
It can come in handy if you need an emergency medical evacuation or the ship has to schedule an emergency docking at a different port that's not on your itinerary. If you don't have a passport, these documents may also be sufficient to show customs officials in some Caribbean islands. Apply for a passport as soon as you know you’ll be taking an international cruise. The cost will be greater if you apply for a passport within three weeks of travel time and need an expedited application.
You Need a Passport for Cruises To and From Foreign Ports
For domestic travel, Delta, American and several other U.S. carriers charge economy class passengers $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for the second bag. Baggage to some international destinations is free, while other locales carry a surcharge. Child equipment (strollers, car seats) and wheelchairs can usually be checked free of charge. We always recommend carrying a passport book or a passport card while vacationing on a cruise. That being said, there are certain types of cruises where you’ll be able to board with other types of documentation if you do not have either a passport book or passport card. If you’re traveling by land or sea to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean, you can bring a U.S. passport card instead of a passport book.
However, a passport card does not work for air travel into Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, or the Caribbean. If you’re traveling on a closed-loop cruise to Alaska that starts and ends in the same U.S. port, you can travel with a passport card or a state-issued ID (such as a driver’s license) and an original birth certificate. If you’re doing any international air travel to get to your cruise, then you are required to bring a valid U.S. passport book in order to board the plane. While the passport cards are cheaper, if you miss the cruise ship departure in a foreign port, you’ll still need a passport book to fly back to the United States. The U.S. Customs & Border Protection agency states that if you're cruising without a passport, you'll need proof of identity and U.S. citizenship in the form of a state-issued birth certificate. It also requires a government-issued driver's license or a photo ID with your name and date of birth.
Either of these two offices can arrange for a temporary passport (Limited Validity Passport) to get you home. But it could take a few days, especially if you contact either government office over the weekend. You may also present an Enhanced Driver’s License (allows you to re-enter the U.S. only by land or sea and only from Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean) or a Passport Card. In a pinch, the check-in desk can look up your reservation in the system when you arrive, but it will add to the time you spend in the terminal before boarding your ship and beginning your vacation. First-time passport books costs $110, plus a $25 acceptance fee, for a total of $135.
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. The most popular way to keep your passport safe while on a cruise is to store it inside a money belt or passport necklace. A money belt is a soft pouch with a zipper that can fit your passport, some cash, and a couple of credit cards. The pouch is connected to a belt that sits comfortably around your waist.
If you choose to use your birth certificate as a form of ID on a closed-loop cruise, there are some things to keep in mind. While most cruise lines will accept a copy of your birth certificate, it has to be an official copy issued by a local health and vital statistics department. To help you understand your passport requirements, we will cover different types of cruises and whether you need a passport to board them.
Any cruises where you need to fly to or from a foreign country, including Canada, will necessitate a passport. You may be surprised to learn that U.S. citizens don't need a passport to sail on "closed-loop" cruises with lines like Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and others. Otherwise, keep it stowed away in a dedicated section of your bag (if you keep it in the same place every time, you won’t ever scramble to locate it). In-room safes or safe deposit boxes at the concierge front desk are generally good options, but if neither is available, you’ll need to decide how to keep your passport secure. You might consider keeping it in an under-clothing money belt that you wear, or leaving it in the room but locking it in your suitcase with a TSA-approved lock.
If you had an emergency and were forced to disembark due to illness or other reason in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, the Bahamas, Bermuda or Canada you would need a passport to return home by plane. On the rare occasion of a ship evacuation or a diversion to another country to disembark, a passport would also be essential for getting home. For instance, you won't need a passport to fly to and cruise out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, or St. Thomas in the U.S. If you're planning a cruise and have questions about where you can travel without a passport, here's everything you need to know before you go. Events can occur during your cruise that prevent you from returning to the U.S. on your cruise ship.
If you're flying in, I suggest packing a small roll of duct tape in your bag and attaching the tags after you land so they aren't accidentally ripped off during transit. Gear up for a successful and stress-free embarkation day, and make sure you have all the necessary items on hand and ready to go with this guide. If you want both the book and the card, it’s $140, plus the $25 acceptance fee, for a total of $165. Getting a passport isn’t that difficult, but it can be a bit of a hassle as there are several steps to take. It also helps to prove your identity if there is a mishap while on shore.
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