We are asked all the time, "Do I need a passport to take a cruise?", and the answer is no, but also yes.
The vast majority of ocean cruises leaving out of the U.S. are considered "closed loop cruises", meaning that they leave and return to the same port. If you are a U.S. citizen, the U.S. government does not require you to have a passport for "closed loop cruises" and that is true for the cruise lines as well. For these cruises, a copy of your birth certificate and picture ID will suffice.
If, however, a cruise leaves and returns from different ports, even if both ports are U.S. ports, you will be required to have a passport.
Let's go back to the "closed loop cruise" scenario for a moment. We said it is not required to cruise, but that does not mean that you should not have one. The purpose of the passport is not only for entering other countries during ports of call, but also allows you to fly home from outside of the U.S. if an emergency arose or if you somehow missed your ship's embarkation and wanted to meet it at the next port. In our book, we vote in favor of the passport. Like the saying goes... Better safe than sorry.
Will a passport card work instead of a book?
A passport card is designed to be used for land border crossings as well as sea crossings, but there can be complications and confusion here. A passport card will not be accepted if you need (as in a missed ship embarkation) or choose to fly internationally. If you're going to go through the effort of applying for a passport, it's best to spring for the real deal. You'll only have to do it once every 10 years.
I've got my passport. Am I good to go?
If it will be valid for at least six months after you travel, you're all clear.
Anything else I need to know?
.Yes. None of this is intended to be legal advice. Policies change. It is the responsibility of the traveler to make sure that you have all the proper documentation for your trip. Check with your cruise line as well as the U.S. government website on international travel for verification.
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