Can you get off the boat on a cruise without a passport?

Asked by: Arely Effertz  |  Last update: September 19, 2022
Score: 4.1/5 (34 votes)

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.

Can you get off cruise ship without passport?

If you take closed loop cruises (meaning your trip begins and ends at a U.S. port), you can sail to a variety of dreamy destinations as a U.S. citizen without a passport. For “closed-loop” cruises, U.S. citizens will need to provide: A boarding pass. A government photo I.D.

Do you need a passport to get off a cruise ship in the Caribbean?

If you are aboard a Caribbean closed-loop cruise, (a cruise that departs and ends at the same U.S. port), you can travel with a state-issued ID (for example: your driver's license) and an original birth certificate. You must have both of these documents in order to be able to travel without a passport.

Can you get off the ship on a cruise?

If your ship is docked, you'll be able to simply walk off the vessel directly onto dry land via a movable ramp called a gangway. If it's anchored, you'll have to take a tender -- a small boat that ferries passengers ashore in groups.

Can you cruise to Mexico without a passport?

Non-US citizens must have a passport for a cruise to Mexico. The passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the arrival date.

How To Take a Cruise Trip without a passport. | Cruise without a passport

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What cruise does not need a passport?

Cruises That Don't Require a Passport
  • Alaska roundtrip from San Francisco or Seattle.
  • Canada & New England roundtrip from New York.
  • Caribbean roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale or New York.
  • Hawaii roundtrip from Los Angeles or San Francisco.
  • Mexico roundtrip from Los Angeles or San Francisco.

Can you cruise to Bahamas without passport?

If you are a US citizen, you can take a “closed-loop cruise” (one that begins and ends at the same port) to The Bahamas without a passport. Instead, you'll need to present another proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID.

Can you get off a cruise half way?

Guests can request to embark or disembark at a port of call other than the scheduled embarkation/disembarkation port. This is referred to as “down lining” and is on a request basis only, subject to consideration and approval by Royal Caribbean.

What do you need to get off a cruise ship?

  1. Cruise Card (or Band or Medallion) The one thing you will always need getting off the ship whether in a port-of-call or at final disembarkation is your cruise card, or alternate band or medallion as new technology emerges. ...
  2. Identification. ...
  3. Money. ...
  4. Phone. ...
  5. Camera. ...
  6. Sunblock. ...
  7. Water. ...
  8. Mosquito Repellent.

Can I get off cruise ship in Caribbean?

Cruising from the United States has resumed since the COVID-19 pandemic first halted operations in March 2020, and while most ports in the Caribbean and Bahamas are now open, others remain closed to all tourism or have tight restrictions when it comes to who can get off the ship.

What happens if you travel without a passport?

In most countries, you can travel anywhere within your nation's borders without a passport. The only exception is when you leave your home country to enter a foreign nation. However, even if you travel nationally, you will always need photo ID, such as a driver's license or National ID card to board a flight.

Where in the Caribbean can you go without a passport?

A Caribbean vacation isn't out of reach without a passport if you stick to the U.S. Virgin Islands: St. John, St. Croix and St. Thomas.

What is a closed loop cruise?

A closed-loop cruise is a cruise that departs and ends in the same U.S. port, for example, Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale, or round-trip to Alaska from Seattle.

Do you get searched on a cruise?

Boarding a cruise ship is similar to boarding an airplane. You can check your luggage and it will be delivered to your stateroom in a couple of hours. During the process, your carry-on baggage will go through a scanner just like the airport and anything prohibited will be confiscated.

Can you get off a Carnival cruise ship without an excursion?

Do I have to book a shore excursion through Carnival or can I go off on my own? You are not obligated to book shore excursions through Carnival in order to leave the ship. Public transportation is available at each port.

Do cruise ships turn around if you fall off?

Second, the cruise ship will turn around as soon as possible to reach the area where the person landed in the water. When a passenger fell off Oasis of the Seas in November 2015, the ship came to a stop in six minutes, traveling almost a mile from the site before it could turn around.

What happens if you go overboard on a cruise ship?

If a guest on a cruise ship falls overboard the cruise ship will stop and return to the location of the accident to look for the passenger. The ship will spend several hours looking for the missing passenger and other ships may also join in the search. It can take a cruise ship up to a mile to stop.

Can you bring your own liquor on a cruise?

Guests are not allowed to bring beer or hard liquor onboard for consumption or any other use. Alcoholic beverages seized on embarkation day will not be returned. Security may inspect containers (water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, luggage etc.)

How fast do cruise ships go?

Ordinary cruise ships travel at the speed of 21 to 24 knots per hour, but a high-speed cruise ship can go as fast as 30 knots or more.

Where can U.S. citizens go without a passport?

Best Places to Travel Without a US Passport
  • Puerto Rico.
  • US Virgin Islands.
  • Northern Mariana Islands.
  • American Samoa.
  • Guam.
  • Canada.
  • Alaska.
  • Mexico.

Does a cruise count as leaving the country?

U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL), a government-issued birth certificate (issued by the Vital Records Department in the state where he or she was born) or passport, and if 16 or older, a government ...

Can I use my birth certificate to go to The Bahamas?

As of December 24, 2018, birth certificates are no longer accepted, regardless of age. All U.S. citizens are required to present a valid U.S. passport to enter The Bahamas & reenter the U.S.

Can you cruise to Jamaica without a passport?

A passport is always required for international air travel.

While you do not need a visa for travel to Jamaica from the U.S. for recreational purposes for a period not exceeding 90 days, it is necessary to show proof of return to immigration officers when entering Jamaica.

What kind of ID do you need to go on a cruise to The Bahamas?

Here's a summary of what official identification a U.S. citizen needs to fly to or cruise to/from the Bahamas. Round-trip cruise from the U.S. to or including the Bahamas: A passport book, passport card or a government-issued photo ID and official Birth Certificate.