Do You Need A Passport To Go On A Cruise?

As a travel advisor, this is one of the most frequent questions. Many would-be cruisers want to be sure they have the proper documentation before they book their cruises. This is wise; nobody wants to get excited about a trip only to be denied boarding at the gate.

While I wish the answer were a simple yes or no, as with most things in life, the answer is “it depends.”

Let’s dive in and see which situation applies to you; you’ll be ready to set sail in no time!

Do You Need A Passport To Go On A Cruise To The Caribbean?

If you are a United States citizen and your cruise starts and stops at the same US port, this is called a closed-loop cruise, and you do not need a passport to sail. For these itineraries, you will need a birth certificate (make sure it’s a real birth certificate and not a hospital certificate of birth) AND a valid ID.

An example of a closed-loop cruise to the Caribbean would be a cruise that starts in Miami, sails to Nassau, Grand Turk, and Half Moon Cay, and ends in Miami.

You will need a passport for this cruise if you are not a US citizen.

Exception to the rule: All sailings with Virgin Voyages require a valid passport, regardless of the itinerary.

Do You Need A Passport To Go On A Cruise To Alaska

Most cruises to Alaska leave from Seattle, Washington, or Vancouver, British Columbia. If you are a US citizen sailing from Seattle, you will not need a passport for this cruise.

However, if your cruise starts in Vancouver, you will need a passport to cross the border into Canada to begin your cruise.

Exception to the rule: One of Alaska’s most loved shore excursions is from the port of Skagway. The White Pass & Yukon Train is a gorgeous scenic ride that must be on your Alaska Cruise. This excursion passes into Canada; you will need a passport to participate.

If you are doing a cruise tour through your cruise line, you will also need a passport before booking.

An example of a cruise tour is an itinerary that starts in Seattle and sails to Juneau, Ketchikan, and Whittier. Instead of returning to Seattle, you would debark the cruise ship, stay in a cruise line-sponsored hotel, and participate in a few more days of excursions, such as exploring Denali National Park.

Additional Requirements for Alaska Sailings

Due to passing through Canada on all Alaska sailings, you will need to follow their entry requirements. If you are being sued for back child support and have a felony conviction (including DUI), you may be denied entry into Canada.

Some passengers think they can still sail but stay in the ship in Canadian ports such as Victoria, but this isn’t the case. In most instances, this means you are ineligible for the cruise, and you will be denied boarding.

You need to do your due diligence and talk to the Canadian Border Services Agency to discuss your specific situation. This is not something to leave up to chance or leave up to your travel advisor. You must do the research for yourself.

I’ve had a client not disclose his DUI to me and be denied entry at the port, ruining a vacation and causing the family significant financial loss.

Do You Need A Passport To Cruise To Europe?

Yes, if you are a United States citizen, you will need to have a valid passport before booking a cruise that sails in Europe.

Your passport should not expire within 6 months of your cruise and should have empty pages in it.

This rule is for all US citizens cruising to and through Europe, The Mediterranean, South Pacific, and Asia.

This rule also applies to cruises that start in the US and end somewhere else. These cruises are called relocation or repositioning cruises. Cruise lines sell these cruises as one-way options, often with more sea days than ports when they are moving a ship to a new home port.

For example, some ships spend summers in Alaska and transition to the South Pacific during the winter. This allows the cruise lines to make money year-round and offers cruises to different areas.

Cruise Document Requirements

Now you know whether you need a passport or not, you must ensure you have all the required documentation.

Let’s run through a few more important things you should think about.

Passports

While passports aren’t always required, I highly encourage my clients to have a valid passport when traveling. If something were to happen on vacation, such as an injury, or you missing the ship in port, you would need to have a valid passport to make travel back to the United States as quick and easy as possible.

Children

Children under 16 only need valid birth certificates to sail, as long as they are with their parents. If the child is over 16, they will need valid ID such as a driver’s license or state ID, and birth certificate.

While not mandatory, if you are a parent who shares custody, it is highly recommended that you have a notarized letter from the other parent acknowledging the child has permission to travel outside the country.

I’ve never been asked for these documents, but when my boys were under 18, I ensured I had them with me, just in case.

Marriage

I have many clients who book cruises to celebrate honeymoons. If this is what you are planning and the cruise is right after the wedding, you’ll want to be sure to book the cruise with the bride’s maiden name. It’s important that the ID matches the booking; you likely won’t have time to get a new ID or passport with the new name, so booking under a maiden name is usually the best option.

Travel Insurance

While travel insurance isn’t required, I highly recommend it. Travel Insurance can help with lost bags, missed flights, last-minute cancelations, and injuries/illnesses. The cost is usually minimal compared to the financial burden if you do not have it.

On my recent cruise through the Mediterranean, I got extremely sick. I tried to fight it off for a few days, but eventually had to go to the ship’s medical center. After tests, treatment, and medication, I was given a bill for over $2700. I was able to upload the bill to my travel insurance, and they reimbursed me within a few days. I will never travel without this assurance.

⚓️ Click Here To Shop For The Best Rates On Travel Insurance

Travel Visas

Some countries require extra documentation prior to disembarking your cruise. Sometimes, your cruise line will help you with this, and other times, you will need to do it yourself.

A few examples of this were when I was disembarking in Istanbul; our cruise line handed us travel documentation that we had to keep with us at all times. We didn’t need to do anything to get this document; it was all taken care of. However, on a repositioning cruise to Australia, I was responsible for obtaining a tourist visa on my own.

You can always check to see the requirements for each country here.

Passport Requirements For Cruising

If you need a passport, I highly recommend applying for one as soon as possible. Sometimes, receiving it can take a few months, and you don’t want to be stressed out over waiting for your passport to arrive.

Always ensure your passport matches the name on your booking exactly, is valid for at leat 6 months post-cruise, and has empty pages inside.

Bon Voyage!