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I Have Booked a Cruise, Do I Need A Passport?
Yes, and no, cruises arriving back at the embarkation port in the U.S. Are not required to carry a passport. The department of Homeland Security has been in the process of changing this, so it is best to contact your travel agent for exact requirements for the cruise you will be taking. Cruises to a different port after visiting a foreign country are required to carry a passport. However, it is advised that you carry a passport regardless of where you are traveling to, or returning to.
The reason it is recommended that you carry passports and Visas, whether required or not, is that there are circumstances that may arise that would require one. If you are on a cruise to a foreign destination and miss your boat, you will need to charter a flight to the next ship destination, and this would require a passport. If for some reason you need to fly back home from a foreign country because of a medical emergency you will need your passport. So to take the chance on cruising without a passport would be foolish to say the least.
The department of Homeland Security does issue special passports just for cruises that do not disembark at their origination point within the United States. These cruise passports will allow you to travel without worries on your cruise. However, they do cost about half the price of a regular passport, so unless you are in an unusual circumstance I would certainly recommend getting a normal passport with the credentials that will allow you to travel anywhere at anytime.
There are many cruises that do not return to the same port of call that they disembarked from, so carrying passports and Visas are certainly a good idea when looking to book a cruise. Although you may be able to re-enter the United States with just an ID card and birth certificate by land or sea, you will not be allowed to re-enter, without a hassle, by air. The Homeland Security Act has made it close to impossible to re-enter without a passport or Visa when flying into the United States. Although this is a good thing in attempting to prevent terrorist attacks on U.S. Soil, it certainly hampers the American citizen when traveling abroad. To avoid these hassles please make sure that your passport or Visa is valid and will not expire within six months of your cruising date.
If your passport or Visa is expired or you do not have one, you need to take the necessary steps to get a valid passport before even booking a cruise. The reason for this is that the agencies that issue passports and Visas is extremely swamped and you could be waiting 6 months to a year for your passport to be approved. Renewal times can be faster, but only if you have not let your passport or Visa expire.
If you are in a hurry to receive your passport or Visa, you can use different services that “guarantee” a passport or Visa to United States citizens in as little as 24 hours. I do not have personal experience with these agencies and do not know of anyone who has used them, but if there is an emergency at hand and you need to take extreme measures, they might be worth a try.
So make sure when you are planning a cruise or air vacation, that you have your passport or Visa, and that it will not expire within 6 months of the last day of your vacation, otherwise you may encounter big problems when it comes to re-entry to the U.S. Always be sure to plan ahead for these vacations, and take every precaution, to ensure that you have a safe and happy vacation.
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I Have Booked a Cruise, Do I Need A Passport?
