For these cruises, you do not need a passport for re-entry into the United States. For U.S. citizens, a passport is not required for closed loop cruises. In Freeport, you can shop till you drop at the Port Lucaya Marketplace or kayak through the mangroves at Lucayan National Park. American citizens do, however, need: Keep in mind that, while you may not need a passport to embark on a closed-loop cruise and return home, you might need it to enter certain countries along the way. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. 6 Regardless of what the minimum requirements are for travel, we highly recommend everyone get a passport. Closed-loop cruises start and finish at the same United States port. Canadian citizens can present a valid passport, Enhanced Drivers License, or Trusted Traveler Program card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST). You are assuming that what is written in their FAQ's is policy. Not as much as shorts in the MDR but often enough. (Columbia is the one I know does require 6 months even for cruise passengers, don't book a cruise going to Columbia without meeting that requirement). 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 We were on the same cruise and my passport was 5 months and 28 days from expiry. Its the passengers responsibility to check with the appropriate government agencies and their cruise line to determine what documentation is required. But children passports are only good for 5 years so I want to wait as long as possible to renew. The Guam Visitors Bureau says U.S. citizens are required to showa U.S. passport, but photo ID and proof of citizenship may be accepted "on a case-by-case basis.". Voter registration cards or Social Security cards are not considered proof of citizenship. Is it on Majesty of the Seas? Have to agree with @twangsteron this one, if you search the boards you will find that this very subject has been debated to death. We advise checking with a travel agent, the U.S. Department of State website, or a cruise line representative before embarkation. Merchant Mariner documents if you are on official maritime business, U.S. Military I.D. We DO NOT require passports for The Bahamas if flying from Canada. Illness or Injury Depending on the severity of your illness or injury, you may have to be admitted to a local hospital overseas. We were even able to check in on the app using her passport. A closed-loop cruise is a sort of loop-hole in the passport requirement for a cruise. If you are considering travel on a cruise ship, please review the latest CDC guidance. Dont take chances that might ruin the vacation of a lifetime. As Britains oldest colony, Bermuda offers wonderful historic attractions and plenty of opportunities for fun in the sun. Unexpected circumstances can come up that make it impossible to return to the United States on the cruise ship. Routine wait times for a passport are anywhere from 10 to 13 weeks, according to the State Department. 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. 1. I will likely want to cruise again. It allows U.S. citizens to go on closed-loop cruises without needing a valid passport. For U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), you must have your photo ID plus your Permanent Resident Card (I-551/Green Card). 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. Not every passenger goes to the website to check for information. Security. If it doesn't say "Accepted" then the rest are not "Accepted". 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. By A stop in the charming fishing village of Halifax, Nova Scotia offers beautiful gardens, more delicious seafood and double-decker bus tours. Although you do not need a passport to visit these destinations as a U.S. citizen, Norwegian Cruise Line strongly recommends all guests to obtain a passport for their cruise vacation for the following reasons: Cruises up North Americas East Coast allow you to take in historical sights of early Americana, stand atop rugged cliffs on the coast of Nova Scotia or revel in the French culture of Quebec. If you look at Roysls site it says recommends and not requires. 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. Here's what to do, How long is a US passport good for? CRUISE HIVE LTD 2008-2023. No kidding. It was alot of fun! Along the way, stop by Catalina Island for a day packed full of outdoor enjoyment. 3. You are right, I do look at policies/procedures/laws/rules in black and white until something else comes along to gray it up a little with facts. 5. Why won't they let someone on that doesn't have at least 6 months left on their Passport but let someone on with just a birth certificate and DL? Check your cruise lines prohibited items list when considering what to take with you. We flew and sailed last month and my wife's passport expires in 5 months. Keep in mind that these requirements are for U.S. citizens only. A NEXUS application processing fee costs $50 for a five-year membership, and children under 18 can apply with no fee. WebRoyal Caribbean International - Identification Document What is a post-cruise address? Things You Need To Know About Passport Expiration For Minors, required to carry the following 2 pieces of identification, Key West Sunset Dinner Cruise With Tropical Buffet, Royal Caribbean Cruises Southern Caribbean. Use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology for Border Crossing, CBP Procedures for Processing Travel Documents at the Border, An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Many first timer cruisers want to know if you need a passport to take a cruise, and the answer depends on a few factors. Regardless of what the minimum requirements are for travel, we highly recommend everyone get a passport. and birth certificate is sufficient, however it says to check with each specific port. U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same port in the U.S.) will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, The birth certificate must be the original or a certified copy with the raised seal. This is an RCCL policy. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. Maybe youve never had the time, money or desire to travel abroad previously, or perhaps your old passport has expired. I guess we have dialed this down to what the definition of is is. But I bet the Contract changes, thereafter, really quickly. Your link has been automatically embedded. I did that with the page that is linked to. And I don't think I'm wrong here. If you break the law, you will be subject to the justice system of the host country, If youlose your passport, report it immediately to the nearest. Passport card. You might be wondering if you should get the passport card vs book. Therefore, always make sure to know whether you need your passport or not before going on your cruise. This keeps popping up every now and then. According to PA's website, that means that I got the Real ID license. Certain destinations, such as China and Russia, may require visas for arrival into the country by air or independent exploration ashore. For me, the peace of mind of a passport far outweighs bringing a birth certificate and ID along with you. This is my reason. Check with the destination countrys embassy or consulate about local laws regarding your prescribed medicines. Mainstream cruise lines operate a number of cruises along the U.S. and Canadian coast that dont require passports. It is recommended that passports are taken with you on the cruise as you may need them at a foreign port of call. The supervisors know what will and won't be accepted by CBP. An official website of the United States government. These depart from the ports of Bayonne, Baltimore, Boston, Manhattan and Brooklyn in New York City, and occasionally Norfolk. If you aren't on a close loop cruise, you have to have a passport and RCCL requires, by policy, that it must expire at least 6 months after you return to the U.S. U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same port in the U.S.) 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. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. The last 3 have nothing to do with this. I traveled internationally on a cruise with Royal with a passport that had five months left because the year when I renewed I had a lot of travel and that was the best window. U.S. citizens can enter the country with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. When you arrive back in Seattle or San Francisco, take time to explore those cities for even more vacation fun. A passport book can get you to so many more places internationally, and in the case of an emergency on a cruise, having a passport book allows you to make unexpected travel arrangements significantly easier. Okay, the horse is dead enough, again. If you are traveling to the Bahamas on a closed-loop cruise, which is a cruise that starts and ends at the same U.S. port, you may travel with a state-issued ID and an original U.S. birth certificate. The EDL isonly accepted at land and sea border crossings, not for air travel. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. Also, your cruise company may require you to have a passport, even if U.S. Customs and Border Protection does not. Original certificate of U.S. naturalization, U.S. Consular report of your birth abroad. Passports should be valid for at least six months after the last day of your trip. Photocopies are not accepted, only original documents. International sailings (cruises that begin outside the United States), U.S. citizens require a valid Passport and the corresponding visa required for entry and exit from the country. In an emergency, someone may need to know who you are. You can find this information on the govt website.. just search for closed loop cruise requirements. If your children dont yet have passports, the time has come to pay the fees, fill out the forms, and get their pictures taken. If you arent a Lawful Permanent Resident or a U.S. citizen, you must provide appropriate documentation to prove your citizenship, including a passport. Different ports will have different requirements. In neither state was I able to walk out with it. 2. These types of cruises are becoming more common with cruise lines. We are cruising to Cozumel, George Town (Grand Cayman), and Falmouth, Jamaica in April 2019 aboard Liberty of the Seas. Typically, closed-loop cruises may leave from Miami, Florida, and travel to Bermuda before returning to the same port in Miami. Theyprovide travelers with a low-cost, convenient alternative for entering the United States from Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean through a land or sea port of entry, in addition to serving as a permit to drive. If all of a sudden we had multiple people show up without photo ID and unable to produce something showing their name and picture , then the policy would tighten. You need a birth Certificate with a raised seal and a valid govt ID or license. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Many countries outside of North America do require a passport and visas are even required where they apply. You are also right, "itinerary" has a lot to do with the documents required/acceptable. A closed-loop cruise is one that starts and finishes at the same U.S. port and only sails to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or the Bahamas.1. Mexican citizens, including children, are required to present a passport with visa, or a Border Crossing Card. Powered by Invision Community. I've used my passport before for employment to satisfy both requirements in one document rather than the usual social security card and drivers license. Anl emergency could force you to end the cruise in a foreign port of call, and a passport will make getting home much easier. So if you're sailing it will get you onto a closed loop cruise but if you are outside the US, even if in Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, you can't use it fly back to the US. When traveling outside of the U.S. a passport is always recommended, but cruises are the exception to the rule. Those sailing to the Bahamas and Caribbean dont need to be concerned with fulfilling this requirement. I always carry our passports, as well as our trip and health insurance information with me when I leave the ship and go on foreign soil. But it doesn't say that a passport with less than 6 months remaining will also be accepted does it? I just looked and they have changed the language in their policy from what it was in January. What if I dont have the required documents when I travel to or return to the United States? We are required to take them off in Cuba but that is the only one for us so far. Consider storing your travel documents and othervaluables in a secure spot, such as a room or ships safe. Perhaps Pennsylvania uses a different verification of address but not everyone in the US can walk out with a Real ID licence. We will be traveling with Royal Caribbean in May. You can always call them to provide specifics. A supervisor might accept a photo work ID, a picture of an old DL, even a Costco card with the passengers photo has been accepted. What types ofmedical servicesyour ship can provide, such as basic or urgent care, hospitalization, dialysis, etc. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Caribbean, Alaskan, and Mexican cruises are extremely popular. For those unfamiliar with the term, we discuss what a closed-loop cruise is. To get ready for the application, use Passport Photo Onlineyoull be able to get perfect pictures for your children without leaving home. Passport cards cannot be used on cruises from international homeports. in the DMV that Monday. February 16, 2019 in Royal Caribbean Discussion. 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. We'll send you a weekly newsletter to your inbox. "In those instances, the cruise lines would require passengers to have a valid passport to board even if it is not a U.S. requirement,"the agency's website reads. The opportunities for adventure on a Caribbean cruise are endless.