Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Upload or insert images from URL. If someone couldn't produce anything showing their name and photo (old passport, old DL, Costco card, employment ID, etc), then they probably would be denied boarding. If you cannot be discharged before the cruise ship is scheduled to depart, the cruise ship may leave without you. Please be aware that you may still be required to present a passport to enter the countries your cruise ship is visiting. A passport is not required. I found what I was looking for. Lawful permanent residents must continue to present a valid Permanent Resident Card. If you leave on a cruise No kidding. For U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), you must have your photo ID plus your Permanent Resident Card (I-551/Green Card). Dont Miss: Royal Caribbean New Years Cruise. One option is to take a closed-loop cruise -- a round-trip sailing that leaves from and returns to the same U.S. port. WebUnder such conditions, guests will need to present (a) a valid passport (b) a Royal Caribbean Cruises tour ticket and (c) one photocopy of passport page showing guest picture and personal information to the Russian Immigration officer as they depart the ship. To qualify, the ship must return to the exact same port they left from. The goal is to strengthen border security while facilitating entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate international travelers, making the process more efficient and convenient. BTW, there is no 6 month requirement given by the U.S. Government. That being said, there are certain types of cruises where youll be able to board with other types of documentation if you do not have either a passport book or passport card. That works yet supposedly a valid passport has to not expire within the next six months?. WebU.S. Okay, the horse is dead enough, again. Cruises that dont begin and end in the same port are not considered closed-loop cruises. Application processing takes 12 to 14 months,according to the Department of Homeland Security. For U.S. citizens, these are the top cruise destinations you can visit without one. How many formal nights on a Royal Caribbean cruise? Simply put, having a passport makes traveling significantly easier and simpler. We were on the same cruise and my passport was 5 months and 28 days from expiry. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The saying "you don't know what you don't know" refers to the notion you cannot take advantage of something without, When you are looking to pick the perfect Royal Caribbean cruise for your family, often you will find a few good choices, You might be wondering how many formal nights there are going to be on your Royal Caribbean cruise. It's one reason I had the various links of information available. For closed loop cruises, generally speaking it states a valid I.D. Do you tell him that the Contract "Recommends" A, but his retorts that the policy dictates "B"? garywatson, April 23 in Royal Caribbean International. Having a passport on a cruise means not just an easier embarkation and disembarkation process, but it protects you against an unexpected situation that may occur during the course of a cruise, such as: Certainly many guests will cruise without a passport and likely not run into any issues. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Regardless of what the minimum requirements are for travel, we highly recommend everyone get a passport. You can find this information on the govt website.. just search for closed loop cruise requirements. But, RCCL doesn't cruise there, so no need to list it. Passports for Canadian Citizens travelling to the US only need to be valid for the length of their stay. It is the only reliable travel document for international travel. An example would be one that starts in Florida and ends in the Bahamas. An original copy of your government-issued birth certificate or naturalization certificate and a government-issued photo ID, Fly out of the United States to meet a ship at the next available port should they miss the scheduled embarkation in a U.S. port. From Caribbean destinations to closed-loop travel, here are the spots Americans can go without a passport. 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. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! Canadian citizens can present a valid passport, Enhanced Drivers License, or Trusted Traveler Program card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST). If you are flying internationally you still need a passport. Better to be safe than sorry get a passport if you do not have one. It is recommended that passports are taken with you on the cruise as you may need them at a foreign port of call. Your previous content has been restored. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Therefore, always make sure to know whether you need your passport or not before going on your cruise. 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. 6 Carry awritten copy of all your prescriptionswith you in case a country requires it, or you need to replace your medications. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! All I need is the book. In Ensenada, the Cinderella of the Pacific, you can ride horses along mountain trails, tour the wine country, shop for souvenirs and taste the local tequila. Look on pretty much every TA's invoice and you will see the same thing. A closed loop cruise is a cruise that begins and ends in the same U.S. port. For those who have a longing to escape to a tropical destination or attend an exciting Alaskan adventure yet dont have a valid passport, you may want to consider a closed-loop cruise. If thats not useful try. I dont have to worry about damaging the birth certificate which is only as durable as the paper its printed on. In Freeport, you can shop till you drop at the Port Lucaya Marketplace or kayak through the mangroves at Lucayan National Park. You mean the contract that keeps getting longer and more complicated all for the purpose of reinforcing the notion that the customer has zero rights in any dispute with the cruise line? That does not mean it is required on every cruise. Check before leaving. You will enjoy it. The EDL isonly accepted at land and sea border crossings, not for air travel. Note: Onboard activities, shore excursions, and dining options may vary byshipand destination. This includes being ready to cover additional lodging costs, flight ticket change fees, and any other additional expenses they may incur due to the unexpected extension. In your experience, how does that person board? If you use a "Passport" it must meet the minimum requirements. It almost comes to a "what if" scenario at times but lets just say that "what if" is what the wife and I specialize in at our jobs so we always try to prepare for the worst case scenario. 1. Learn more about U.S. citizens passport validation cruise requirements. ALL PERSONS traveling by land and sea outside of the United States are required to present a passport book/card, or other valid travel documents to enter or re-enter the United States. We did this cruise last year AND I am in the process of booking it again for this coming May on Royal Caribbean again. The birth certificate must be the original or a certified copy with the raised seal. 3. Convenience is the main reason that people take closed-loop cruises. If they did not have the appropriate paperwork with them it would have been more of a pain than if they did. Passports are universally accepted because they combine identification and citizenship, whereas a driving-license-& -birth-certificate combo might get refused. Citizens of the United States dont require passport s on closed-loop cruises departing from American ports. Routine wait times are 10 to 13 weeks, and that doesnt include mailing times, according to the State Department. The only way youll board a ship without a passport is if your cruise does not require one. But, that doesn't have anything to do with RCCL's policy which is stand-alone. Have the right foreign visas for all stops on your cruise, if required, even if you do not plan to disembark in those locations. THAT I remember. WebIf you take closed loop cruises (meaning your trip begins and ends at a U.S. port), you can sail to a variety of dreamy destinations as a U.S. citizen without a passport. Plenty of cruisers make these sailings without a passport and without any trouble using just their driving license and birth certificate. No where in the new contract is there any language about passports. It also states that "some cruise lines" may have a 6 month requirement. Ensure shore excursions and purchases comply withU.S. regulations. 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. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Are you looking to cruise without a passport? Please be aware that you may still be required to present a passport to enter the countries your cruise ship is visiting. WHTI does not affect U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents, who are still required to present their permanent resident card (Form I-551) or other valid evidence of permanent residence status. An U.S. citizen under the age of 16 will be able to present either an original, notarized or certified copy of his or her birth certificate, aConsular Report of Birth Abroadissues byDepartment of State,(DOS) and/orCertificate of Naturalizationissued by U.S. Go on a Cruise. The, An U.S. citizen under the age of 16 will be able to present either an original, notarized or certified copy of his or her birth certificate, a. issued by U.S. We will be traveling with Royal Caribbean in May. The cruise ship takes care of the immigration process for passengers arriving in a foreign port. In this case, you would need a U.S. passport to fly home upon clearance from your doctor. The concern without having a passport is if an emergency occurs, only an official passport will allow you to easily and quickly fly from a foreign port to another port and/or back home. You can use the passport card to reenter the United States at sea ports of entry from Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. Many first timer cruisers want to know if you need a passport to take a cruise, and the answer depends on a few factors. Does the contract say how many bottles of wine you can bring aboard? Special Event: Q&A with Rudi Schreiner, President, Co-Founder & Co-Owner - AmaWaterways River Cruises. Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory and popular Caribbean destination, is about as easy to fly to as any state if you have a state-issued ID. While the passport card may protect you against certain scenarios and is superior to not having a passport at all, getting a passport book not only provides more coverage (such as flying internationally), but it allows you to travel beyond simply cruises. Worth Reading: What Is a Transatlantic Cruise? Oh people, I do check-in for both Royal and Celebrity. Medications that are legally prescribed in the United States are not always legal abroad. When traveling outside of the U.S. a passport is always recommended, but cruises are the exception to the rule. Web"U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same U.S. port) will be able to enter or depart the country with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. If you are a U.S. citizen and cruising out of the United States , then you do not need a passport. If you miss your ship at its scheduled U.S. departure port and need to travel outside the U.S. to meet your ship. The Department has been working with states to enhance their drivers licenses and identification documents to comply with travel rules under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), effective June 1, 2009. And as stated, I'm not going to try to justify what RCCL does or doesn't do, and I'm not going to discuss what Joe or Mary got away with 5 years ago. If you are flying directly to or from your cruise vacation, please enter the airport name or It is our preference to carry them anytime we are outside of USA, just in case. There are only a very few countries that actually have that requirement but because of that everyone involved in travel lists recommending that your passport be valid for 6 months as a CYA. Royal Caribbean Rookie Mistakes To Avoid! Different ports will have different requirements. Passports are required for all cruise travel to all other International destinations. And the ability to use a Birth Certificate and DL is an authorization given by the: https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-74?language=en_US. Though someclosed-loop cruisesmay not require a U.S. passport, we recommend bringing yours in case of an emergency, such as an unexpected medical air evacuation or the ship docking at an alternate port. Experience lighthouses, lobster bakes and craggy sea cliffs in Portland, Maine, and enjoy a trip to Saint John, a beautiful city on the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, Canada. For closed-loop cruises, U.S. citizens will need to provide: Starting and ending in Seattle or San Francisco, an Alaskan cruise takes you to charming waterfront cities and villages like Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. We DO NOT require passports for The Bahamas if flying from Canada. No problem at all as none all the countries only required a valid passport. What their procedures are in case ofemergency. Did you go to KoP? U.S. citizens can present a valid: U.S. Passport; Requirements for lawful permanent residents of the United States are not changed by the implementation of WHTI. Original certificate of U.S. naturalization, U.S. Consular report of your birth abroad. Sure, policies are ignored, or whatever, but am I going to bet thousands of dollars on it? On my browser it has a "find" feature. Not having a passport means you will need to travel to a U.S. embassy or consulate in a foreign country to apply for a temporary visa to re-enter the country. before it expires. We checked with a few lines for you. Birth certificate may be enough for the ship but will not help you in another country and will add a frustration to an already frustrating situation. My son's passport will expire 5 months after our cruise booked later in the year. I haven't seen the word "recommended" in the policy! The majority of these New England and Canada cruises are weeklong, fall sailings, but a handful depart at other times of year or are a touch longer, at eight to 10 nights. Yeah, I walked out with my Real ID in Jan. 2020 (I went to a REAL ID Center), but not all PA DMV can print them. Traveling by plane would be a different story. Remain vigilantand exercise normal precautions aboard a cruise ship and on shore, as you would whenever traveling abroad. However, ifyou board a cruise ship in San Diego, California, sail through the Panama Canal (stopping at a foreign port during the cruise), and end the cruise in Miami, Florida, you have not taken a closed loop cruise. In some cases, where youre arriving in a country by sea , the cruise line will handle visa procurement for you. Needing to fly to the U.S. before their cruise ends, because of medical, family, personal or business emergencies, missing a ships departure from a port of call, involuntary disembarkation from a ship due to misconduct, or other reasons. This is my reason. Located just southeast of Miami in the Atlantic Ocean, The Bahamas offers an ideal island getaway. A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 will be able to present either an original, notarized or certified copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issues by DOS, or Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. This includes countries in Europe, Asia, Central and South America. "If you are a U.S. citizen a passport is not required, but it still serves as the best identification when traveling,"the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism's website says. Paying a $60 fee can expedite the process, but travelers will still need to wait seven to nine weeks for processing. Birth certificate + government-issued photo ID*. I would politely let you know that your passport was about to expire, but for the purposes of your closed loop cruise, it still works. Come to find out once we got to the end someone in the group behind us slipped on the trail and went over the side of the trail and fell about 30 feet. Because they didnt have their birth certificates or other proof of citizenship, they werent permitted to board and they werent eligible for a refund.2, Recommended Reading: Ncl Los Angeles Cruise Port. However I find a definite answer whether or not passports are required. We've already, Have you ever thought you wish you knew then what you know now? Depart from the Californian cities of San Francisco, San Diego or Long Beach for a quick but memorable cruise to the Baja Peninsula in northern Mexico. Further, passports are also required for cruises that begin and end in different locations . The peace of mind of having the passport is worth far more than the effort to getting it. By If under 16, a U.S. citizen can present their birth certificate, certificate of naturalization or consular birth report abroad. To qualify as a round-trip cruise departing from the U.S., the cruise ship needs to meet a specific criterion. U.S. citizens can take advantage of closed-loop cruises where passports are not required. If you are a U.S. citizen traveling or from Hawaii, another U.S. territory , then you may also not need a passport. You can always call them to provide specifics. Of course, if you are traveling internationally, U.S. citizens will need a passport. Want to take a short cruise to an exotic island without the hassle? If you take closed loop cruises (meaning your trip begins and ends at a U.S. port), you can sail to a variety of dreamy destinations as a U.S. citizen without a passport. For closed-loop cruises, U.S. citizens will need to provide: A boarding pass. A government photo I.D. if 16 years of age or older. It's not. Looking for more tips about passports? U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL), a However, as we mentioned previously, you will have better protections in the event of an emergency or a change of travel plans simply by carrying a valid passport. They are not going to list every country and itinerary because there are multiple possibilities so they publish a general statement of what is acceptable. Even though youll be sailing on a no-passport-required cruise, youre still required to carry the following 2 pieces of identification: Proof of Citizenship AND Government-issued photo ID. If youre trying to fly to an international cruise port without a passport, you wont get past airline check-in. Consider downloading thisCruise Ship Travel Tips PDFto take with you while you travel. I can't think of any Close Loop sailings that RCCL goes to that has a 6-month requirement, other than possibly Columbia. Be sure to refer to Royal Caribbean's Travel Documentation page for specifics. If you are a U.S. citizen and cruising out of the United States (meaning your cruise begins and ends in the United States), then you do not need a passport. Passports do have an additional cost to them (especially for children), but we feel the advantages of having a passport far outweigh the cost and work required to get one. Childrens passports are issued for 5 years, adult passports for 10 years. New applicants can expect to spend $130 for a passport book, plus a $35 acceptance fee. Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. This keeps popping up every now and then. The big "what if". 27 days ago. In addition to making family travel much easier, the old and expired passports accumulated over the decades make for great memories. U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as a government-issued birth certificate and laminated government issued picture ID, denoting photo, name and date of birth. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Royal Caribbean Blog. You are assuming that what is written in their FAQ's is policy. The passport card is an option the United States government provides that is a lower cost alternative to the passport book. Any non-U.S. citizen must present a passport for each cruise they take, including a closed-loop cruise. It's not a "Contract", at least according to you. For an easy round trip, you can begin and end in a number of U.S. cities including New York City, Galveston, Mobile, New Orleans and Tampa. Cruises that depart from and then return to the same U.S. port and visit only Canada, Mexico, and/or the islands of the Caribbean are called closed-loop cruises. Not every passenger goes to the website to check for information. By Additionally, if travels need to fly to the U.S. before their cruise ends because of medical, family, personal or business emergencies, you will need a passport. Pasted as rich text. This case is closed unless something comes up to add material discussion. We flew and sailed this past March and my wife's expired 5 months from the date we sailed. I just looked and they have changed the language in their policy from what it was in January. We were even able to check in on the app using her passport. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? Therefore, you tend to see more cruise ships sailing with a foreign flag. For closed Passport Requirements for Royal Caribbean Cruises. 4. So I understand this is considered a closed loop cruise. This is the most popular summer travel destination:According to Google Flights, Unlimited cruises:Margaritaville at Sea launches Ultimate Paradise Pass. When the airlines say they require 6 months remaining on the passport for international flights - they mean it. Royal Caribbean emphasizes that Baptismal papers and hospital certificates of birth are not acceptable. The U.S. Customs & Border Protection indicates that citizens can enter the U.S. using a government-issued photo ID and a birth certificate. The goal of the pier side staff is to get all passengers onboard legally. I suspect that the language changed with the introduction of the new cruise contract that was just released. This will be challenging if you dont have your passport. All closed-loop cruises embark accept any of the following WHTI-permitted forms of US identification: a passport card, Enhanced Drivers License, Trusted Traveler Program ID (FAST, SENRI, and Nexus), or an I-872 American Merchant Mariner documents if you are on official maritime business, U.S. Military I.D. A lock ( What forms of ID are required for minors traveling on Royal Caribbean? A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 will be able to present either an original, notorized or certified copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issues by DOS, or Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship a For example, if your cruise begins and ends at the same port in Miami, then you are on a closed loop cruise. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Boarding closed loop tomorrow with ID+birth certificate, but lost ID today! What is written on the invoice that is personslized to every guest with the details of their booking and a link to yje guest contract certainly takes precedence over a blanket statement in a FAQ's section. Your cruise Consider a cruise. Have a plan in case you have to remain overseas longer than expected. Cruise lines with Canada and New England closed-loop sailings include Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival, Princess, Holland America and small-ship operator American Cruise Lines. Scarlson91 I stated clearly a couple of times that I will not discuss/debate what some people have gotten away with because of politics/lazy or untrained personnel/being good at hiding things/bad management/looking the other way/whatever. These itineraries, like Alaska cruises, may be possible without a passport book, as long as your plans dont include flying into or out of Canada and your cruise line allows you to cruise with either a passport card or other acceptable form of identification and proof of citizenship. At the time I was looking it definitely stated recommended as we knew that my wife's passport expired. LockA locked padlock A passport is required for all international flights and for any cruise that embarks or disembarks in a foreign country. The island does not require a passport among U.S. citizens. 2. Keep in mind that that is all I'm trying to get across. My license has the gold star on it. Also airports and cruise terminals are accustomed to processing a passport. Passport Not Required. Youll be glad you did. Not all cruises have the same passport requirements. Popular closed loop itineraries include not only the Caribbean but also the Mexican Riviera and Alaska. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message. It is discussed somewhere in the government's websites and it just states that some countries require 3 or 6 months. IRTPA, in part, required the DHS and DOS to develop and implement a plan to require all travelers, U.S. citizens and foreign nationals alike, to present a passport or other acceptable document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the United States. U.S. citizens can enter the country with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. garywatson, April 23 in Royal Caribbean International. Additionally, there must be a destination to a foreign location to qualify as a closed-loop cruise.