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Guests are responsible for figuring out and getting all required travel visas before their cruise starts. Travelers should reach out to the embassy or consular services of each country they’ll visit on their cruise to understand specific visa requirements, details, forms, and fees. Furthermore, even if your cruise doesn’t require a passport, the international destinations you visit might. Some countries mandate a passport for entry, regardless of how you arrive—land, air, or sea.
Bermuda
A laminated photo ID will usually work, as will a government-issued birth certificate. There was a time when regulations were a little more relaxed when it came to cruises and certain other forms of travel, but over time, the borders have been tightened, for better or worse. You have the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative to thank for the fact that you’re going to need a passport in order to make certain cruises. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians for the purpose of international travel. The cost for a first-time passport holder is $165, plus the photo fee; the steep fee alone is why many Americans choose to go without one. The good news is that an adult passport is valid for 10 years – and you can travel to most places in the world with just a passport and no visa.
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If you are on a longer cruise that visits other Caribbean islands, you’ll want to check with your cruise line about any passport requirements. Tourists visiting from cruises ships need their passports or proof of citizenship when they enter the ship in the U.S. before embarkation and when leave the ship at debarkation back into the U.S. They generally need only their shipboard ID—which is given to them when they enter the ship—in order to visit individual islands during brief daytime visits on the cruise.
What to Know About U.S. Passports
The company boasts a fleet of 28 ships, including the world’s five largest cruise vessels. Royal Caribbean Cruises journeys to over 300 destinations in more than 60 countries across 6 continents. They provide a plethora of onboard activities, top-notch dining options, captivating entertainment, and luxurious accommodations that are tailored to both adults and families.
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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. If you are a U.S. citizen and your cruise embarks or disembarks in a foreign country, including Canada, you will always need your passport for the cruise (in some cases a passport card will suffice). You'll also need a passport for a cruise that begins and ends in different U.S. ports. If you live in the U.S., you will also need the original copy of your Alien Registration Card (ARC or "Green Card") and any other documentation the countries on your itinerary require due to your alien status. While some cruises may not mandate a passport, it’s always smart planning to carry one. A valid passport acts as your ticket to a hassle-free and enjoyable cruising experience.
While traveling abroad with a group can create lasting memories, organizing such trips can be challenging—especially when everyone needs passports. In our experience, the easiest and most convenient solution is to hire a passport expediting service. Customs and Border Protection, some countries require a notarized consent letter for children traveling without both parents or a legal guardian. It’s important to check the specific requirements of the destination country by contacting its embassy or consulate in the U.S. Holland America Line, founded in 1873, operates 11 ships offering over 500 cruises to 470+ ports in 98 countries. Their cruises range from short trips to 128-day voyages, covering all continents.
You won’t run into any passport requirements on tried-and-true routes from U.S. ports such as those that visit Puerto Rico and the U.S. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John—which are all part of the United States. Passports are required for all travelers, including citizens of U.S. and Canada, who enter or re-enter the United States by air, land or sea.
A Passport Can Make the Situation Easier in an Emergency
Open-loop cruises start in one U.S. port and conclude in a different U.S. port. An example would be a 16-day Panama Canal cruise that sets sail from Seattle and ends its journey in New Orleans. Open-loop cruises require guests to present and carry a valid passport book with (typically) at least 6 months of validity remaining after the last date of their cruise. Both passport cards and books are also acceptable on shore excursions -- such as day trips to Anguilla from St. Maarten -- that require you to show ID because you will be crossing a land or sea border into a foreign country. Even on a closed-loop sailing out of the U.S., if you're forced to disembark unexpectedly, need to fly home from a foreign port and only have a U.S. passport card, you can expect delays getting home.
On this exciting trip, you can deep sea fish for marlin, explore forest caves and waterfalls, soak up the sun on a black-sand beach and attend a traditional luau. U.S. departure ports for enjoyable Hawaiian cruises include San Francisco, San Diego, Long Beach and 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.
If needed, U.S. citizens can find travel visa requirements in the ‘Notices’ section of their Travel Summary. Visas can be acquired directly from the embassy or consulate of the countries to be visited. The requirements for visas and other documents can differ based on the destination and may change without any advance notice. Guests should double-check the visa requirements with the consulate 14 to 30 days before the cruise starts. If you’re looking for cruises that don’t require a passport, take a round trip sail to Bermuda from New York City, Baltimore, Charleston or one of two Florida ports of call.
If you’re applying for your first passport, the cost is $145 – $110 for the passport and $35 for fees. Either of these two offices can arrange for a temporary passport (Limited Validity Passport) to get you home. But it could take a few days, especially if you contact either government office over the weekend.
You will also be limited on some Caribbean itineraries, as select islands such as St. Bart’s and Martinique do require a passport, which means your cruise line will require a passport before you board the ship. Royal Caribbean International strongly recommends that all guests travel with a valid passport during their cruise. For information about obtaining a passport or passport card for the first time, or about renewing a passport or passport card, click here to visit the CIBT Web site. The Canadian government strongly recommends that its citizens travel with a passport valid for six months after the arrival date. It is the only universally accepted identification document, and it proves that they have a right to return to Canada. A lost or stolen passport is also easier to replace when outside of Canada than other evidence of citizenship.
If you are a U.S. citizen and cruising out of the United States (meaning your cruise begins and ends in the United States), then you do not need a passport. In all cases, traveling with a valid passport book is highly recommended, as unexpected situations may arise requiring you to leave the ship. Passports should be valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of your travel and contain blank pages for endorsements and visas.
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