Passport-Only Cruise Travel: What You Need To Know

Travelling on a cruise without a passport is possible, but it is not recommended. While some cruises do not require a passport, it is best to have one in case of unforeseen circumstances. For example, if you need to return to your home country by plane due to a medical emergency, alternative forms of identification will not be accepted.

The type of cruise you book will determine whether or not you need a passport. Closed-loop cruises, which begin and end at the same port, often do not require a passport. However, some countries require a passport even for closed-loop sailings. On the other hand, open-loop cruises, which begin and end at different ports, typically require a passport.

In addition to a passport, it is recommended that travellers have travel insurance to protect their trip in case of emergencies.

Closed-loop cruises

If you're a US citizen and don't have a passport, you can still take advantage of what's called a "closed-loop cruise". A closed-loop cruise is one that departs and ends in the same US port, for example, Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale, or a round trip to Alaska from Seattle. These cruises have to meet certain criteria to qualify as closed-loop cruises: every voyage on a ship that's not US-flagged, departing from and returning to a US port, must, according to maritime law, visit at least one foreign port of call. To qualify as closed-loop cruises, the places these itineraries can include must be contiguous territories of the United States, including Mexico and Canada, because both share land borders with the US, and several of the islands in the Caribbean.

In most cases, you don't need a passport for a closed-loop cruise. However, it's important to note that different rules apply if you're a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the US. While the US government does not require you to have a passport, destinations on the itinerary may have different rules, so it's always advisable to check. If you are an LPR, you’ll need your I-551, or Green Card, to re-enter the US. And if you’re not a US citizen or a US LPR, you’ll need a passport regardless of whether you’re on a closed-loop cruise or not.

While you may choose to cruise without a passport, there are a couple of warnings to bear in mind. For example, if something goes wrong and you have to return to the US by air, you would need a passport to board a flight. Also, if you miss the ship in one of the ports, you’ll have to make your own way home or catch up with the cruise, which could be difficult without a passport.

• Fort Lauderdale to Perfect Day at CocoCay
• Boston to Maine & Canada
• Seattle to Alaska, the Inside Passage, and Dawes Glacier
• Fort Lauderdale to the Eastern Caribbean
• Cape Liberty to Bermuda
• Fort Lauderdale to Southern Caribbean

Alternative forms of ID

While it is recommended that you travel with a passport when going on a cruise, there are alternative forms of ID that you can use in some cases. These alternative forms of identification are only accepted at land and sea border crossings, and only for certain cruises. If you need to return to the U.S. by plane due to unforeseen circumstances, such as a medical air evacuation, you will not be able to re-enter the country without a passport.

For U.S. citizens 16 and older, a birth certificate (that meets certain requirements) and a government-issued photo ID are typically accepted on closed-loop cruises. Other acceptable documents for U.S. citizens include:

• State-issued enhanced driver's license (EDL)
• Trusted Traveler Program card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST)
• American Indian Card (Form I-872) or Enhanced Tribal ID Card
• Military identification cards (when traveling on official orders or in conjunction with official maritime business)

For U.S. citizens younger than 16, only proof of citizenship is required. This can include:

• Original, notarized or certified copy of a government-issued birth certificate
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by the U.S. Department of State
• Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Non-U.S. citizens, except for Canadian and Mexican citizens, are not subject to passport exceptions and must provide a valid passport. Canadian citizens can present a valid passport, Enhanced Driver's License, or Trusted Traveler Program card. Mexican citizens must present a passport with a visa or a Border Crossing Card.

Open-loop cruises

An open-loop cruise is one that begins in one U.S. port and ends in another. For instance, a 16-day cruise itinerary from Carnival Cruise Line that starts in Seattle and ends in New Orleans is not a closed-loop cruise.

For open-loop cruises, a passport is required. If you embark at port A but disembark at port B, you will need a passport. This is because open-loop cruises usually involve stops in countries that require a passport for disembarkation.

Even if you are on a closed-loop cruise, it is still recommended that you bring your passport. While it is possible to cruise without a passport in some cases, it can be risky. For example, if you need to return to the U.S. by plane due to unforeseen circumstances, such as a medical air evacuation, you will need a valid passport to re-enter the country.

Foreign ports

While it is possible to cruise without a passport, it is not recommended. A passport is the best form of ID when travelling between countries. It is also useful in the case of unforeseen circumstances, such as a medical air evacuation, which would require you to return to your home country by plane. Other forms of ID, such as a passport card or EDL, are only accepted at land and sea border crossings.

If you are travelling on a closed-loop cruise (a cruise that departs from a US port, visits other countries, and then returns to a US port), you may not need a passport. However, some foreign ports may require a passport for disembarkation. This is most commonly an issue for travellers on a closed-loop cruise in the Caribbean. For example, Labadee in Haiti is Royal Caribbean's private island and does not require a passport despite its location.

If you are travelling on a closed-loop cruise, check with your cruise line to see if any of the foreign ports you will be visiting require a passport for disembarkation. If so, you will need to have your passport with you at check-in. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your cruise ends.

If you are a US citizen, you may be able to travel on a closed-loop cruise without a passport by presenting a valid US driver's license and proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or certificate of US naturalisation. However, it is important to note that some destinations will not accept just a birth certificate. There is also a lot of misinformation out there about what forms of ID are accepted, so be sure to research the requirements of your specific cruise line thoroughly.

In addition, if you miss your ship at a foreign port, you will need a passport to get back to your home country. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you travel with a passport whenever possible.

Passport exceptions

While it is recommended that you travel with a passport, there are some exceptions to this rule. If you are a US citizen, you can go on a "closed-loop cruise", which starts and ends at the same US port, without a passport. However, you will need to provide a government-issued photo ID if you are 16 or older, and a certified birth certificate or certificate of US naturalisation.

There are several destinations where you can cruise without a passport on a closed-loop sailing. These include cruises to The Bahamas, Bermuda, New England, Canada, Hawaii, and Alaska.

For cruises departing from the US, some acceptable forms of ID for US citizens 16 and older include a state-issued enhanced driver's license (EDL), a Trusted Traveller Program card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST), or an American Indian Card (Form I-872) or Enhanced Tribal ID Card. US citizens younger than 16 are only required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, a consular report of birth abroad, or a certificate of naturalisation.

Non-US citizens, except for Canadian and Mexican citizens, are not subject to passport exceptions and will need to provide a valid passport. Canadian citizens can present a valid passport, Enhanced Driver's License, or Trusted Traveller Program card. Mexican citizens must present a passport with a visa or a Border Crossing Card.

Frequently asked questions