Do You Need Passport For Closed Loop Cruise?

A closed-loop cruise typically doesn’t require a passport as it begins and ends in the same U.S. port, but there are some exceptions. Open-loop cruises begin in one U.S. port and end in a different U.S. port, and some cruise itineraries include foreign ports that require a passport for disembarkation. For closed-loop Caribbean cruises, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, St. Barts, and Trinidad and Tobago all require U.S. citizens to present a valid passport.

American citizens do not need a passport for closed-loop cruises, but they can use their passport or passport card as an ID if they have one. If traveling under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), your I-94W (immigration stamp) is required. All you need is your drivers license and your ship room card as your ID. Carnival offers many Caribbean cruise options including sailings that depart and return to U.S. ports like Baltimore, Norfolk, and New Orleans, which don’t require a passport as they are closed-loop sailings.

All guests will need to present an accepted form of identification to board the ship. We strongly recommend that all guests present a passport as their form of ID on boarding day, and for some guests a passport is required. The passport must be valid for six months after the day your cruise departs.

For example, a birth certificate or government-issued photo ID is fine as long as your Caribbean cruise isn’t visiting Martinique or Guadalupe. If your cruise is hitting those two, you would need a passport. You can disembark in port and explore just fine.

US citizens on closed-loop cruises, meaning beginning and ending in the same U.S. port, do not require passports. U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises can enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as an Enhanced Drivers License. Citizens of the United States don’t require passports on closed-loop cruises departing from American ports. If you hear about an international cruise where a passport isn’t required, that’s most likely a closed-loop cruise.

Can I get off the ship on a closed loop cruise without a passport?

As luck would have it, you’ve suddenly got a few open days in your schedule and a yearning to travel somewhere exotic. Don’t let your lack of a passport stop you. Consider a cruise. 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. if 16 years of age or older
• And a certified birth certificate or certificate of U.S. naturalization

Starting and ending in Seattle or San Francisco, an Alaskan cruise takes you to charming waterfront cities and villages like Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. In Alaska, also known as the Land of the Midnight Sun, you can see spectacular, icy glaciers by boat or seaplane, watch for whales and try your hand at dog sledding.

A stop in Victoria, British Columbia offers a whole new set of adventures. Visit castles, take a ride on a horse-drawn trolley, stroll through beautiful Butchart Gardens or get your fill of shopping and dining downtown. When you arrive back in Seattle or San Francisco, take time to explore those cities for even more vacation fun.

Do you need a passport on a closed loop cruise to Alaska?

If you are a U.S. Citizen and your Alaska cruise begins and ends in the same US port (Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles) you are not currently required to travel with a passport to Alaska. All cruise lines and WMPH Vacations highly recommend you carry a valid passport.

Do you need a passport for a closed loop Royal Caribbean cruise?

Everyone will need to present an accepted form of identification to board the ship.We strongly recommend that all guests present a passport as their form of ID on boarding day, and for some guests a passport is required.

The passport must be valid for six months after the day your cruise ends. The name on your passport should match the name on your reservation. What if my name doesn’t match?

While some other forms of ID may be accepted for your cruise, a passport is the very best option and here’s why:

A passport is the hassle-free, gold standard for traveling between countries.;

Do I need a passport for a closed loop Disney cruise?

Although Disney Cruise Line does encourage Guests to carry a passport with them during their voyage, if you’ll be boarding a Round Trip (or “closed loop”) voyage, that is, a cruise that leaves from and returns to the same United States port, US Citizens in your travel party don’t need to have a passport in order to set sail. What they’ll need instead for their travel documentation would be an original or copy of their state-issued birth certificate AND a physical Government-issued photo ID.

Please note that digital or mobile state-issued identification will not be sufficient – Guests will need to have a real/physical photo ID card with them. Also, if there are any non-US citizens in your party, they’ll need to carry their passports with them.

If there are any children 15 years of age and younger in your travel party, they don’t need to present a photo ID – they only need to present an original or copy of their state-issued birth certificate if they don’t have a passport.

Do I need a passport to go on a closed loop cruise to the Bahamas?

Though most foreign travel requires that you have a valid passport to come back home, cruising makes it easier to enjoy your vacation without worrying about this paperwork. 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.

Of course, if you have a valid passport, you are welcome to use it on your cruise as well.

Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, with your family or with a group of friends, you’re sure to find the perfect port of call in The Bahamas:

Do guests need to go through customs and immigration at the cruise port?

DHS also manages the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, in charge of processing passengers as they disembark the ship back in the U.S. For clearance, you’ll be required to fill out a customs form and present your passport to immigration officials, either on the ship or in the cruise terminal. Be sure to hold on to receipts in order to declare goods purchased aboard, and to adhere to allowances for purchases of popular items like alcohol, cigarettes and cigars.

U.S. citizens and permanent residents looking for a shortcut on the customs line can apply for the Global Entry card ahead of their sailing, which allows for expedited customs clearance via an automated kiosk; at press time, however, note that Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale is the only cruise port equipped to accept Global Entry passengers. Also at Port Everglades, cruisers can opt to speed up their entry through customs by downloading the free official Mobile Passport app, which allows them access to a specially designated (and often short) passport control line.

Note that local custom and immigration officials in other countries have their own clearance procedures in place for debarkation, which can vary based on the port of call and the nationality of disembarking passengers; your cruise line will provide related instructions for local protocol and practices aboard the ship, ahead of arrival.

Do you need a passport for a cruise if you stay on the ship?

• Make sure you review the latest CDC guidance on cruise ship travel.
• Read ourTraveler’s Checklist.
• Check ourcountry information pagesfor the countries you will be visiting to learn about important health and safety precautions to take. Write down thecontact informationfor the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in case of an emergency.
• Always carry your passport book with you in case of an emergency. You may need your passport in the event of an unexpected medical evacuation or if the ship docks at an alternate port. You should bring your passport even if your cruise says you won’t need it.
• Apply early for yourpassport, or make sure your current onewill be valid at least six months beyond your travel dates and has two or more blank pages. Your cruise company may also require you to have a passport even if U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or foreign port of entry does not.
• Have the right foreign visas for all stops on your cruise, if required, even if you do not plan to disembark in those locations.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). You will get important safety and security info. Follow us @TravelGov on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for travel and security information.
• Make sure you have medical and emergency evacuation insurance that will cover your trip. Consider buying supplemental insurance. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid do not cover medical costs overseas.
• You may also need other insurance for unexpected travel expenses when abroad. Check with your cruise line or travel agency to see if they provide such coverage. You can also check with your health or homeowner’s insurance providers and credit card companies, which sometimes provide this coverage overseas. If not, consider buying supplemental insurance.
• Have a contingency plan for returning homeif you must remain in a foreign country longer than expected. Make colorcopiesof your passport photo page, foreign visas, and itinerary. Leave one copy with a trusted family member or friend and carry one separately from your actual documents.Make sure to take a photo of your travel documents with your phone to have electronic copies as well.

• Check with your doctor to make sure that traveling abroad to your destinations ismedically safefor you and whether you need anyvaccinations and/or assistive deviceson your trip.
• Check with the foreign country’s embassy in the United States. They can tell you whether your medications are legal in each country you visit. Also, find out if there are limits or special instructions for bringing them in. For some medications, you may need a letter from your doctor. Carrying it in the prescription bottle might not be enough “proof.”Remember, you are required to follow the local laws of the countries you visit, including with respect to medications, even if those laws differ from the laws of the United States.
• Ensure you have enough of your prescription medications to last beyond your trip dates, in case of possible delays. Some countries may not have equivalents of your prescription and over-the-counter medications.
• Carry a written copy of all your prescriptions with you in case a country requires it, or you need to replace your medications.

• What their procedures are in case of emergency.
• How family members can contact you in an emergency, such as cell or satellite phone coverage and/or an e-mail address for emergencies.
• What types of medical services your ship can provide, such as basic or urgent care, hospitalization, dialysis, etc.
• Check your cruise line’s prohibited items list when considering what to take with you.

Do you need a passport to go on a cruise from Miami to The Bahamas?

Visit theBahamas Immigrationwebsite for the most current visa information. U.S. citizens are generally required to present a valid U.S. passport when traveling to The Bahamas, as well as proof of anticipated departure from The Bahamas. Those traveling to The Bahamas on a cruise may use anotherWestern Hemisphere Travel Initiative(WHTI) compliant document, such as a U.S. passport card. However, we strongly recommend you obtain a passport before travel in case of an unforeseen emergency that requires you to disembark and return by air. U.S. travelers coming for tourism will not need a visa for travel up to 90 days. All other travelers will need a visa and/or work permit.

The Bahamas requires compliance with regulations to divert child abduction similar toU.S. policies. Review those policies before traveling.

Crime:The Department of State rates the criminal threat level in New Providence Island (includes Nassau and Paradise Island) as critical. The vast majority of crime occurs on New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport) Islands. Criminal activity on the outlying Family Islands does occur, but to a much lesser degree than on New Providence or Grand Bahama. In Nassau, exercise caution in the “Over the Hill” area (south of Shirley Street). Violent crime such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults occur, but generally not in tourist areas. For the latestsecurity messages, visit our website.

Do you need a passport for a closed loop?

Do I need a passport for a closed-loop cruise? In most cases, you don’t need a passport for a closed-loop cruise. This is one of the reasons why these itineraries are so popular. You can, of course, use your passport or passport card as an ID if you have one.

Sail round-trip from Fort Lauderdale to the sunny Bahamas on a getaway that includes the award-winning private island of CocoCay. Depending on the itinerary, you’ll also have time in either Nassau, Bimini, or Key West.

Historic Nassau combines fascinating colonial-era architecture, like the limestone-carved Queen’s Staircase and the candy-pink Parliament Building, with dreamy beaches and a thriving culinary scene.

Join a rum tasting at John Watling’s Distillery, shop for locally made trinkets in the Straw Market, and relax on the long, sandy sweep of Cable Beach.

What is considered 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.

Sail round-trip from Fort Lauderdale to the sunny Bahamas on a getaway that includes the award-winning private island of CocoCay. Depending on the itinerary, you’ll also have time in either Nassau, Bimini, or Key West.

Historic Nassau combines fascinating colonial-era architecture, like the limestone-carved Queen’s Staircase and the candy-pink Parliament Building, with dreamy beaches and a thriving culinary scene.

Join a rum tasting at John Watling’s Distillery, shop for locally made trinkets in the Straw Market, and relax on the long, sandy sweep of Cable Beach.

Do you go through immigration on a closed loop cruise?

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 …

Do I need a passport for a closed loop cruise to Haiti?

Certain Caribbean nations require cruise passengers to have a valid passport in order to enter: Barbados, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, St. Barts, St. Martin, and Trinidad & Tobago.4If you don’t have a passport, you still can sail on a cruise that calls on these islands — you’ll just have to stay on the ship while it’s in port.

Of course, a valid passport is required for any cruise touring Europe, traveling across the Atlantic Ocean, or originating in another country. You won’t even make it onto the plane that will get you there without a valid passport.

Can I Go on a Cruise With a Real ID?. A Real ID is an upgraded, more secure driver’s license that’s required for domestic flights as of May 7, 2025. (A passport or Enhanced Driver’s License can also be used for identification on domestic flights).