Where Can I Cruise Without a Passport? Top Cruise Destinations

Table Of Content

• Cruises Without a Passport: Here’s Everywhere You Can Cruise Without a Passport in 2024
• Popular cruise itineraries without a passport
• Why Many Cruise Passengers Want to Sail Without a Passport
• Cruises That Do Not Require a Passport
• Cruise To Stunning Hawaii
• Can you go on a Caribbean cruise without a passport?
• Where Can I Cruise Without A Passport? The Best Closed-Loop Sailings From US Ports.
• The 1-item upgrade you need for a better cruise ship cabin experience (it’s already in your house)

Instead of a passport, passengers will need to carry a valid U.S. driver’s license and proof of citizenship (a birth certificate or certificate of U.S. naturalization should suffice). Closed-loop Hawaii cruises that don't require passports come in two varieties. The short option is to fly to Honolulu and take a seven- or 10-night cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America. This is the only large cruise ship allowed to operate entirely within the Hawaiian Islands without visiting a foreign port. Part of America but still exotic enough for an ideal getaway, Hawaii offers black-sand beaches, volcanic vistas, surfing opportunities, amazing food and, of course, hula dancing.

Cruises Without a Passport: Here’s Everywhere You Can Cruise Without a Passport in 2024

Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Otherwise, you'll be denied boarding and the cruise will be cancelled without a refund. Regardless of what you decide, you should always bring some form of official photo I.D. Whether it is a beach day, high-energy thrills like zip-lining through lush jungles, rum sampling, a foodie tour or a historic walkabout, there are tons of memorable excursions to be had throughout the Caribbean. Often seen as part of the Caribbean, Bermuda is actually 650 miles east off the coast of North Carolina off on its own in the North Atlantic, and its geography and history make it a truly unique island.

Popular cruise itineraries without a passport

Check with your cruise line to ensure you have the appropriate documents. Yes, you can take a cruise out of the country without a passport if it’s a closed-loop cruise, a specific type of itinerary that major cruise lines offer, which begins and concludes at the same U.S. port. These cruises, operating under an international agreement called the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, permit U.S. citizens to travel to destinations within the Western Hemisphere without a passport. While cruising with a passport is always recommended, it's not required by law in certain circumstances. Closed-loop cruises from U.S. ports that visit Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico are part of an international agreement that allows U.S. citizens to cruise without a passport. In these cases, government-issued identification and proof of U.S. citizenship are acceptable alternatives to a passport book.

Why Many Cruise Passengers Want to Sail Without a Passport

Cruise Radio prioritizes well-balanced cruise news coverage and accurate reporting, paired with ship reviews and tips. Starting and ending in Seattle or San Francisco, an Alaskan cruise takes you to charming waterfront cities and villages like Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. 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. In our homeport of Boston, you can learn more about the founding of the United States by trekking the Boston Freedom Trail.

Cruises That Do Not Require a Passport

The good news is that you can cruise to quite a few popular destinations without a passport, including Alaska, the Bahamas, Mexico, Bermuda, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Canada, and New England. Just be sure that your cruise begins and ends in the same U.S. port, and double check your identification and proof of citizenship documents. The most popular U.S. embarkation port for Alaska cruises is Seattle. Though, there are also roundtrip cruises from Vancouver and one-way itineraries.

Cruise To Stunning Hawaii

22 Amazing Places to Travel Without a Passport - Los Angeles Times

22 Amazing Places to Travel Without a Passport.

Posted: Mon, 17 Jul 2023 17:09:59 GMT [source]

If you’re not a U.S. citizen, you will need a passport to take any cruise, regardless of the destination. And in case of a family or business emergency, you will be permitted to disembark the ship earlier than expected and fly back to the US if you have a valid passport. You can shop around for Bahamas cruises at all the major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Carnival, and Disney. In addition, Holland America, Celebrity, and MSC Cruise offer closed-loop cruises to the Bahamas as well. There are also seasonal Mexico cruises on the Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess, Disney, and Holland America cruise lines that depart from the West Coast. Several 3-15 day closed-loop cruises depart from ports like Miami and Galveston to Mexico’s stunning Pacific and Caribbean coastal regions like Progresso and Cozumel.

Can you go on a Caribbean cruise without a passport?

Some itineraries will sail to Bermuda and the Caribbean and/or Bahamas, too, giving you more places to check off of your bucket list. Despite the long list of exotic destinations you can travel to without a passport, it’s best to have one. What would you do if the ship accidentally left you behind while visiting an international port?

Where Can I Cruise Without A Passport? The Best Closed-Loop Sailings From US Ports.

The necessity of a visa depends on the cruise itinerary and your nationality. From urban destinations like Boston and Halifax to picturesque destinations like Bar Harbor, Maine, and Saint John, New Brunswick, cruises like these trade palm trees and sunscreen for evergreens and rain jackets. This itinerary on Celebrity's Celebrity Summit ship doesn't require a passport because of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. Cruises to Bermuda are almost always closed-loop sailings from a U.S. port, save for a few transatlantic trips. This means you can visit the British territory without the worry of having a valid passport.

The 1-item upgrade you need for a better cruise ship cabin experience (it’s already in your house)

If you’re looking for cruises that don’t require a passport, take a round trip sail to Bermuda from New York City, Baltimore, Charleston or one of two Florida ports of call. As Britain’s oldest colony, Bermuda offers wonderful historic attractions and plenty of opportunities for fun in the sun. Pink-sand beaches, beautiful blue waters and colorful coral reefs deliver the perfect recipe for sunning, swimming, sailing and snorkeling. Cap off a day of adventure in Bermuda with a sunset rum-tasting cruise.

If your ship is not returning to the same port—for instance, if you are eyeing a one-way Panama Canal sailing from Los Angeles to Miami—you do need a passport. You will also be limited on some Caribbean itineraries, as select islands such as St. Bart’s and Martinique do require a passport, which means your cruise line will require a passport before you board the ship. 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. Even if you're on a closed-loop sailing, certain islands in the Caribbean – Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Barts, Barbados and others -- require a passport for entry.

These islands usually offer included food, beach access with loungers, and other amenities. 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.

Here’s where your birth certificate and government-issued photo ID come in handy, or better yet, an Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL). Most Caribbean islands participate in the WHTI, but it's always best to check the details specific to the ports of call included in your itinerary. Don't forget that islands such as Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix are U.S. territories, so visits never require passports for U.S. citizens. If you're interested in cruising to Alaska without a passport, look for itineraries that begin (and end) in Seattle, San Francisco or southern California ports, such as Los Angeles or Long Beach, California. The most common length for these closed-loop Alaska cruises operated by the major cruise lines is seven nights.

Don’t have the right documentation to cruise, according to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative and the U.S. Erica Silverstein is a cruise and family travel expert, who has been covering the industry for more than 15 years. Her articles have appeared on Cruise Critic, Porthole, TravelAge West, and USA Today. A staunch advocate of cruising as an ideal family vacation, she has, on occasion, banned her own children from cruising with her. Opponents argue that the chance of you missing the ship is low, and it’s more likely that your passport will get lost or stolen while you’re exploring in port.

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. Along the way, stop by Catalina Island for a day packed full of outdoor enjoyment. Kayak in and out of secret coves, zip line through the trees or try parasailing. 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. Regent Seven Seas features the Wonders in the Caribbean cruise that departs from Miami with stops in the Cayman Islands, Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and Key West.