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From East Coast ports, cruise ships visit the Yucatan Peninsula’s Costa Maya and the island of Cozumel in the Caribbean Sea. From West Coast ports, destinations along the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez include Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, Manzanillo, Loreto, La Paz, Guaymas, and Topolobampo. To apply for a passport, you'll need to fill out an application form, provide proof of U.S. citizenship, provide photo identification, and pay a fee. The current fee for a first-time adult passport book is $145, and the processing time is typically 4-6 weeks. If you need your passport more quickly, expedited processing is available for an additional fee. Cruising is one of the most popular forms of travel, offering a unique way to explore the world's oceans, rivers, and waterways.
Alaska-Canada
While U.S. regulators allow surface travel without passports for now, that situation could change with the geopolitical situation and the outcomes of ongoing risk assessments. Should the security situation change in the U.S. because of terrorist events or deteriorating diplomatic relations, documentation requirements could change with little notice. These documents will permit you to receive a temporary passport to be used for reentry into the United States.
Bermuda
Cruises with several major lines depart San Diego, San Pedro port in LA and Long Beach for voyages lasting anywhere from three to 10 nights. Like most tropical cruise destinations, the top draws are the beaches and the ocean; however, cruise ports in Mexico also give you access to ancient Mayan ruins, delicious cuisine and an abundance of land activities. Technically, if you have one of those forms of ID but not a passport book, you can take a one-way Alaska cruise — as long as you don't have to fly to or from Canada. What if an opportunity pops up on short notice, and you don't have a passport yet?
What Caribbean destinations don't require a passport?
This means that Alaska cruises are one instance when the passport card would be a handy alternative to traveling with both an ID card and a birth certificate. One option is to take a closed-loop cruise -- a round-trip sailing that leaves from and returns to the same U.S. port. For that, you need only a birth certificate and a driver's license (or other acceptable, government-issued photo ID). You can also get a passport card, which is like a lower-cost, limited version of a passport book (which is what a traditional passport is).
Destinations You Can Visit Without a Passport on Major Cruises - Business Insider
Destinations You Can Visit Without a Passport on Major Cruises.
Posted: Wed, 19 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
If you book a closed loop cruise in your home country, you will not need a passport. While a cruise can offer a wonderful mixture of relaxation and adventure, you must ensure that your packing list contains everything you need. Right at the top of that list should be your mandatory forms of proper identification. If your cruise itinerary does not necessitate a passport, you must show other valid documentation. If your cruise itinerary does require a passport, and you don’t have one, you will be turned away from the ship and not allowed to board.
While nobody likes to think about the worst-case scenario when planning a vacation, being prepared is always a good idea. Sudden medical emergencies requiring you to be transported to a nearby country for treatment are always smoother if you and your travel companions have valid passports on you. If you need a new copy of your birth certificate, you can request a new one from your local or state vital statistics department for a fee.
If you are age 16 and up, and without a passport, you will also need to present a photo I.D. If you are wary about taking advantage of this benefit (perhaps some people in your party have a passport and others don’t), consider a cruise to U.S. island territories instead. Traveling by plane or ship to these island paradise destinations is considered a domestic trip. Cruises to Bermuda are almost always closed-loop sailings from a U.S. port, save for a few transatlantic trips.
Carnival offers many Caribbean cruise options including sailings that depart and return to U.S. ports like Baltimore, Norfolk and New Orleans. Depending on where you are traveling and your nationality, you may also require an entry visa to board the ship or enter certain countries the ship will visit. While most cruise lines are happy to provide this information, it is ultimately the passenger’s responsibility to ensure they have all of the necessary visas before they board the ship.
4 Caribbean Islands That Don’t Require a U.S. Passport - AFAR Media
4 Caribbean Islands That Don’t Require a U.S. Passport.
Posted: Wed, 10 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Other lines and ships offer there-and-back Hawaii itineraries from ports like San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco. This is also the one example of where you can take a cruise without a passport and without adhering to the closed-loop itinerary rule. You can technically take a cruise to Canada and not return to the same U.S. port, just as long as you don’t try to fly anywhere. The amicable relationship between Canada and the U.S. means you can cross Canada-U.S. Borders via sea or land (not air) without a passport, if you have other valid identification, such as a NEXUS card or FAST card. However, if you don't have a passport, or don't wish to get one, you can still cruise — you're just limited to North American cruises sailing round trip from U.S. departure ports.
The rules for sea travel were established under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. Cruises to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, Canada, New England, Mexico, Bermuda, and Hawai‘i all fit these criteria. If you get the urge to cruise and your passport has expired, or you have made a last-minute decision to take the kids and they don’t have passports, you may be wondering, do I need a passport to go on a cruise? Whether you should cruise without a passport is another matter (there are some risks that we’ll get into below).
Because of its proximity to the U.S., there are often shorter three-night cruises from Florida that make it easy to snag a good deal on a whim. You probably guessed it – you’ll need a passport if you have booked an international cruise. This could be a cruise departing from or returning to a port outside your home country, or it could refer to a cruise that features international ports of call in its itinerary. Closed loop cruises are similar to domestic ones, but the voyage will always start and finish in the same port.
Freestyle Travelers is the ultimate resource for cruisers seeking to explore the seas. As the leader in all things related to cruising, our travel blog provides expert guidance and valuable information to enhance the cruising experience. We have earned our position as the top search result for cruising by providing unparalleled resources, insights, and inspiration to our over 1 million readers every year. With 23 sailings, 87 ports of call, 128 days at sea, and voyages across 6 different cruise lines, we have firsthand knowledge and experience to share with fellow cruisers. To further complicate matters, there are some countries that require a passport for entry, regardless of whether you're arriving by air, land, or sea.
Norwegian Cruise Line offers a seven-day Hawaii inter-island cruise that boards in Honolulu and visits Maui, Hilo and Kona on the Big Island, and Kauai before returning to Honolulu. If you’re looking for a different kind of cruise, explore parts of New England and Canada with New York City as an exciting starting and ending point. Spend a day soaking up history in Boston, Massachusetts, and tour the Charles River aboard an amphibious duck vehicle. 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. A stop in the charming fishing village of Halifax, Nova Scotia offers beautiful gardens, more delicious seafood and double-decker bus tours. After you pull into port in the Big Apple, make sure to see a Broadway show, visit the Empire State Building and take a stroll through Central Park.
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