Aruba is a popular destination for cruise ships, with some of the world’s most prestigious and respected cruise lines choosing the island as their port-of-call in the Caribbean. The main port for these ships is Oranjestad, located on the southern coast of the island. The city, named after the Dutch royal house of Oranjestad, can handle up to five vessels at a time.
The Port of Aruba is conveniently located in Oranjestad, the main commercial harbor of Aruba, situated on the south-western end of the island. The port is open for day and night navigation, allowing vessels to enter and leave at any hour. While not officially closed to cruise tourism, Aruba has mandated new PCR testing requirements and turned away numerous cruise ships with COVID-19 cases onboard.
Visa requirements for passengers traveling to Aruba by cruise depend on how long they will spend in port. You can enter Aruba for up to 24 hours without a visa. The cruise port is located in Aruba’s capital, Oranjestad, and the city’s main cruise ship terminal is called Aruba Cruise Ship Terminal.
The Royal may have negotiated with Aruba to allow the ship casino to open the night of their departure. An extensive guide to docking in Aruba’s cruise port, in the city of Oranjestad, is available. The Aruba (Oranjestad) Cruise Port serves as the gateway to one of the region’s most popular vacation destinations, Aruba, in the Dutch Caribbean.
For the latest cruise ship schedules, visit the Aruba Ports Authority’s location route and check out the Aruba cruise port schedule 2024-2025-2026.
📹 EPIC Cruise Port Excursion in ARUBA!
During a cruise on the Norwegian Epic with my best friend, Aruba was our first stop, and it was such an exciting moment becauseĀ …
Can you walk around Oranjestad, Aruba?
Receive the islands’ local scoop during a 2.5-hour journey by foot in an engaging way, with Aruba Walking Tours.
This authentic experience takes you to over 30 amazing sites in downtown Oranjestad, while a Local Expert shares fascinating stories on the islands’ rich history & culture.
Stops are made to visit monuments & museums, sample Aruba’s local cuisine and even for a little shopping on-the-go. During the Aruba walking tour plenty of ‘photo ops’ and even encounters with Aruba’s charismatic locals are provided. Making your way through the city was never this entertaining!
The daily group tour is available daily at 9 AM. For customized experiences and other departure times you can book a private tour for couples, families and corporate groups.
Does Aruba have a dock for cruise ships?
Oranjestad offers everything you need if you want to go on a shopping spree. Walk from the Lloyd G. Smith Boulevard all the way to the Renaissance Marketplace. Check out all the local goods and souvenirs that are for sale at the shops and market stalls.
Follow the tram tracks to Havenstraat, Schelpstraat, and Main Street. These streets are sometimesforgotten, which is a shame because you can find some lovely shops and boutiques here. They run parallel to the boulevard and are within walking distance from the Aruba cruise ship port.
Surfside Beach is a smaller beach that is the closest to the Aruba cruise port. It takes about 15 minutes to walk to this sandy beach.
Is Aruba open to cruise ships?
Aruba is honored that the world’s most prestigious and respected cruise lines choose our island as a port-of-call in the Caribbean. Some of these cruise lines visit our port year-round, while others choose Aruba as a port-of-call during selected seasons.
The Port of Aruba is conveniently located in Oranjestad, within walking distance of restaurants and shops. Here, right outside the Aruba Cruise Terminal, you can join a shore excursion around our happy island and get a taste of the local Aruban vibe.
Spending time on the island on your cruise vacation.
Is port Vila open for cruise ships?
After two long years of border closure, followed by the re-opening of the borders on the 1st of July, we are excited to announce that we are finally reopening our borders to Cruise Tourism!!
If you are looking for exciting to do while in Port Vila, Luganville, Champagne Beach, or Mystery Island, click on the different itineraries you will find below.
EFATE ISLAND. Port Vila is the perfect base for a full-day tour in Vanuatu. With a lagoon on one side and a tropical harbor on the other, it is a stone’s throw away from excellent snorkeling spots, relaxing beaches, or adrenalin-pumping ziplines and hikes.
What Caribbean islands do not allow cruise ships?
There are a handful of smaller islands of limited infrastructure where cruise ships never visit, year-round. Among the crowd-free destinations: Anegada, Saba, St. Eustatius, Montserrat, Marie-Galante, Mustique, Carriacou, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.
How far is Oranjestad from Cruise Port?
From Oranjestad Cruise Port to the City Center. The Oranjestad Cruise Port is conveniently located about a half mile from the city center, making it easily accessible by foot. For those who prefer not to walk, there are several other options. Ride-sharing services like Uber are available, offering a quick and convenient way to get around. Alternatively, shuttle services and taxis are readily available at the port.
Taxis in Oranjestad are regulated with set rates, typically costing around $10 to $15 to the city center. Alternatively, public transportation is also an option, with buses running regularly and costing approximately $2 per ride. If you opt for a bus, the main bus terminal is conveniently located across the street from the cruise terminal. If you aim to visit the city center, however, your best option is to take the trolley, which is FREE.
The Oranjestad Trolley. A great thing about this cruise port is its Oranjestad Downtown Trolley, which offers a convenient and free transportation option for cruisers in the downtown area of Oranjestad, Aruba. The trolley offers a scenic ride through the city, stopping at popular attractions, shopping areas, and historical sites. It is a great way for visitors to explore the city center without any cost, and it’s a “hop-on, hop-off” trolley, so cruisers have the freedom to explore the sites they want and for however long they want and skip the ones that don’t interest them.
What documents do I need to cruise to Aruba?
Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements Upon arrival in Aruba, you must have: a U.S. passport valid for the duration of your stay; a completed Embarkation and Disembarkation Card (ED-Card); a return or onward ticket.
A U.S. passport valid for the duration of your stay;; a completedEmbarkation and Disembarkation Card (ED-Card);; a return or onward ticket; proof of sufficient funds to cover your accommodations and food expenses during your stay.;
As of March 1, 2018, Aruba requires that passengers from select countries have proof of vaccination against yellow fever. Review the following page for more details.
For stays longer than 30 days, see Aruba’sextension of stay upon entryrequirements.
When should you avoid cruising the Caribbean?
When is hurricane season for cruises? Hurricane season in the Caribbean runs from June 1 to November 30. The peak of hurricane season occurs between mid-August and early November.
If you think it’s best to avoid booking a cruise vacation during hurricane season, there are certain factors to consider that may change your mind. In fact, cruising during hurricane season may actually be an advantageous time to cruise.
Hurricane season in the Caribbean runs from June 1 to November 30. The peak of hurricane season occurs between mid-August and early November.
The Eastern Caribbean tends to see more hurricanes toward the beginning of the peak season, while peak season in the Western Caribbean islands stretches throughout the entire period. Some East Coast cruises might be affected by a hurricane in the Northern Atlantic.
Can I walk to a beach from cruise port in Aruba?
The closest beach to the port is Surfside Beach, about a 15-minute walk away. This is one of the smaller and narrower beaches in Oranjestad, but the calm waters make it very popular with local families. The nearby Kwihi trees provide plenty of shade so you can start your trip with a little relaxation as you watch the ships go by.
If you’re willing to go a little further, Eagle Beach is only a 10-minute cab ride away from the port or about an hour on foot. Eagle Beach, the largest beach on the island, is considered to be one of the best and most gorgeous in the entire Caribbean. Even if you’re not in the mood to take the trip out to Eagle Beach when you first arrive in port, we highly recommend taking the time to visit at least once during your trip. When you’re sitting in the soft sand underneath the fofoti trees, it’s nearly impossible to be anything but relaxed.
To make the most of your next trip to Aruba, check out our Aruba Oranjestad Blue Horses Self-Guided Walking Tour, or sign up for Action+ to gain access to over 100 tours for a single yearly price.
What is the least safest island in the Caribbean?
The Most Dangerous Caribbean Destinations, According To ResearchNassau, Bahamas. … Tiger Beach, Bahamas. … Dominican Republic. … Cuba. … Belize City, Belize. Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock. … The Abacos, Bahamas. pics721/Shutterstock. … St. Kitts and Nevis. … How we determined the most dangerous Caribbean destinations. LuLuraschi/Shutterstock.
When planning a trip to the Caribbean, travelers should feel joyous at the thought of digging their toes into sugar white sand, splashing about in crystal clear seas, and exploring tourist sites without care. While plenty of Caribbean tourist destinations are worth having on your radar, a handful are best avoided. Whether they are riddled with crime, prone to shark attacks, or lack quality health care, you should be cautious when visiting the most dangerous Caribbean locations. Also, choose your timing wisely.Natural factors such as weather can cause hazardous conditions, so don’t visit a place in the hurricane belt (i.e., the Bahamas’ Abacos Islands) during hurricane season, which spansJune through late November.
Despite their weak points, most places on this list have many redeeming qualities, so ifyou visit them, simply stay vigilant. No matter where you’re heading, don’t vacation to the Caribbean before you know all the crucial details, like which places to stay away from at night (i.e.,Nassau’s Fish Fry).Avoid sketchy areas, leave fancy jewelry at home, don’t accept food or drinks from strangers, and stay in a group when traveling outside the resort. Wondering how we chose the places on this list? We delved deep into official research, examining warnings from the U.S. Department of State and other government agencies. We also consulted the Global Peace Index, looked at official crime statistics, examined detailed weather reports, and studied research on shark attacks.
Haiti shares its lush island with the Dominican Republic, its beautiful beaches caressingboth the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Sadly, this country has been plagued by poverty (it’s the Western hemisphere’s poorest country), natural disasters, and political unrest. Today, Haitiis considered a no-go zone due to a massive spate of gang violence. In early March 2024, the country’s government declared a state of emergency after gangs freed over 4,000 prisoners from two major prisons and attacked the international airport(via the Associated Press). The U.S. Department of State has instated a level 4 travel advisory, the highest of all, recommending tourists “do not travel” to this crime-filled country.
📹 CRUISE WITHOUT PASSPORT
Did you know you can cruise without a passport? I just took my first no passport cruise. In this episode, I provide travel and cruiseĀ …
I have been on 11 cruises and have never used a passport. I have never had an issues with using just my license and birth certificate – no delays or any other problems. I just now got a passport because of all the covid craziness – I did not want to take a chance in a foreign country. I will say I recently cruised on the carnival Sunshine out of Charleston and the strange thing is we didn’t even have to go through customs when when returned to port after our cruise. Got off ship and we went right to the parking lot. How strange – I’ve had to go through customs on my last 10 cruises so not sure why it changed.
I commented earlier that I got my passport Pick Pocketed in Rome . It was a giant pain to go through the process of getting another. I did get a bit of information from the American Embassy that might be helpful to other travelers. We now take a photo copy of our passports and put them in our carryons, this makes the emergency replacement process much quicker if we misplace our original passport.
Here in Massachusetts we have the option to have a enhanced driver’s license. Supposedly to be able to travel within the US,Canada, Mexico and most of the Caribbean without a passport or birth certificate. I never trusted it. I always have my Passport for travel, the only exception is flying completely domestic. Very informative article. Thanks
This was the first time my DH and I embarked and disembarked in New Orleans. We have nothing but praise for the whole set up. It was a very smooth process, and the workers were smiling and polite. We have been to a few other ports and let’s just say you feel like herded cattle. It’s nice to know what is entailed in cruising without a passport. As usual Tony, you explained it very well. Bottom line, if you do not have a passport then get one. It makes it easier and safer to do. Thanks for sharing!!
You know…My father always said that I was born a woman because I was born in Japan and my Birth Certificate says US Citizen born…abroad…Yes Folks I will be here all week! Try the Veal! But True story! Our first two cruises we did with birth certificates. Actually when I travel in the US I only us my passport. It is just easier to me. Great show as always Tony!
Thank you so much for the information. My first cruise is next month and didn’t want to spend the money on a passport if I happened to find out I didn’t like cruising. this article is super helpful! (to explain: I am usually a camper….out in the woods, isolated, etc. I have high anxiety and bipolar) so, if I do happen to enjoy cruising, I will get my passport……we shall see…..and btw, all your articles have been amazing and so helpful! thanks.
Not all states use a raised seal. Another Youtuber ran into an issue a few months ago trying to board I think it was the Margaritaville ship. His BC was official, but didn’t have a raised seal and they initially denied him boarding. WA for example, has a color changing stamp. Mine from CA also isn’t a raised seal, but it’s still an official copy.
Grateful for this article! We are going on the Breakaway in March. This is our first time cruising. We didn’t have enough time to get our passports. Thought it would be okay for our first cruise, to see if we like it. We are only taking excursions with the cruise line, to ensure we don’t miss the ship. But I have been very anxious about it. This helped relieve some of that anxiety! Thank you! We will definitely be investing in passports in the near future.
I got a passport back in the 1990s and used it a couple of times and then didn’t do much traveling after that. Over the years and moving, I had no idea where it was. I went on my first cruise to Bermuda on NCL last year and used my birth certificate & state ID. I did decide to apply for a new passport after that. I thought I might have trouble because I didn’t have my old one but it was easy. I had an extra form to fill out. I didn’t ask for rush processing and got it 5-6 weeks later. I’m going on my second cruise in April and it will definitely be easier dealing with one piece of ID rather than 2.
Yikes! I am in the exact same situation… Waiting for a passport renewal that may or may not arrive! Did the expedited, in person service at my local USPS on Jan 25 for a cruise that departs Mar 4 (NCL). So delighted to learn about the closed loop thing. (Who knew?!) Calling NCL to make sure I can do my cruise just in case my renewal is not back. Whew… Once again, La Lido Loco saves the day! (Or at least a lot of angst.) Thanks!!
Yet another good reason to use a passport: Just got off the Valor this weekend, and oh my, that bc/id line was LONG. Like all the way back to the escalators. I felt sorry for those folks! No line at all for a passport, and you don’t even have to show it to them with the facial recognition (yes, the do have it in NOLA). A couple of people in my roll call got off the ship at about 9:30 and didn’t make it through that line until after 11.
I’m in a similar situation. I have a valid passport that expires in August of this year and had planned on renewing when I returned in early January from our Panama Canal trip. However, my global entry also was expiring this year in April and I was able to get a renewal appointment for end of January and needed my passport for that appointment. I’m cruising on Feb. 25 on a 7 day closed loop cruise on Princess out of Ft. Lauderdale. My passport, while still valid, won’t be valid for the full 6 months beyond the last date of the cruise, so I’m taking my certified birth certificate just in case. I plan on renewing my passport as soon as I return. Hard to schedule the renewal of the passport when you travel a lot!
Tony, we lost our passports after our Alaska cruise. Bob from Jenny’s office told us we could use our birth certificate. We have another trip soon that will require our passport. We made a article about the process. We posted it just before we left for the Vlogger’s Extravaganza. Let’s just say we do NOT recommend losing your passport! It was quite an expensive learning experience.
Tony, you covered it well. In fact, you did better than your cruise line did as they didn’t mention the ability to get an emergency passport thru the State Department. The benefits of traveling on a passport, even when not required, are huge. You don’t see it until/unless something goes wrong. We don’t travel nearly as much as you do, but we still play the game of “when can we renew the passport without messing up travel plans.” Fortunately, we found that the time estimates on the web site are very generous. We renewed my daughter’s passport in 2022. The web site said 11 weeks, but the new one arrived in 6!
Good information. Suggestion for a future article…. a review of the New Orleans Cruise Terminal. Very difficult from bag drop off up until the actual cruise check in. It appears that taxis and ride share drivers drop off at a different location and people have to walk a long distance in traffic and across rail lines – then it is quite confusing after you cross the tracks to figure out which line, etc. I felt bad for people with mobility issues navigating through that mess. For me… once in Norwegian’s check in line – all was good.
I tried to explain to my Granddaughter she couldn’t cruise without a passport (since I’m so worldly with 5 past cruises) and she just boarded Carnival today from Miami for Cozumel…so I needed your message earlier so I wouldn’t be wrong AGAIN with the grandkids!! Oh well…better to be loved than always right!
Yes totally agree!!! I have clients traveling on cruises all the time and I let them know upfront if something happens you can not fly back. What you went through with NCL i never heard of other lines doing that. Its Definitely not what others are doing. And virgin does close loop cruises and still require a passport to cruise.
I work at a Carnival cruise terminal and we have passport and birth certificate lines for passengers at debark. We don’t have stickers or even letters like you had at embark. That must be an NCL process. At check-in I always suggest passenger should get a passport in case or emergency. States with enhanced drivers licenses don’t need a Birth certificate. That would be New York, Vermont, Michigan, Minnesota and Washington state.
Tony, Matt had to use his birth certificate on the breakaway as well! He had to send his passport to China for approval for an upcoming work trip, and we did not get it back in time. It made me a little nervous, but everything went smoothly. although we did not get one of those documents stickers! 🤔
Good info Tony. I’m glad the cruise line was letting people know that if they get stranded in a foreign country, flying home would be a challenge. Not everyone watches your website for this awesome info. I won’t cruise without a passport AND Travel insurance, thanks to you and Don. BTW, would travel insurance help cover the cost of a flight from one of those foreign countries that you may get stranded in?
For any permanent residents of the USA, we do it and we use our Green Cards with no passport, it has to be a closed loop cruise. So far our 2 cruises have not given any issues but you cannot do pre checking on the app, you have to do it in person. Before anyone says “why not get a passport?”, I come from the crappy country of Venezuela and there is no embassy to renew my passport in the USA so that is why we do it this way. Edit: Unlike the birth certificate for Americans, you can in fact fly back to the USA with just your green card (Is on the CBP website)
If you are traveling without a passport you are counting on absolutely nothing going wrong that requires another means of travel back to the U.S.A. I can think of many things that would require that, a medical emergency, ship running aground (which happened recently), missing the ship for any reason. Don’t be a pier runner if you don’t have a passport! I simply wouldn’t cruise without one. My passport expires later this year. We have nothing booked right now. I already submitted a renewal application so I will have one by the time we cruise again.
Every cruise we have gone to so far, has not required a passport. We live in Texas, and we cruise out of Galveston. Most of those cruises do NOT require a passport. š That being said, you definitely get to get through a lot of lines much faster than those just using a Birth Certificate. We have done it both ways and prefer having the passport. Galveston uses facial recognition, which makes it all fast too.
I watched a couple get hassled in Ensenada Mexico trying to go through customs to get back on the ship. They were screaming and yelling (which is always helpful) saying they were told they didn’t need their passports. Customs didn’t care. Like others are saying, no need to risk it. Also, just a reminder that kids passports do not last as long. We found this out the hard way, we just didn’t realize how much time had passed.
Hey Tony, perhaps do a vid walking folks through the ‘Passport renewal process’. I’m guessing that you might not have filmed it but perhaps you could do a ‘re-creation’ if you didn’t. I harken back to your great Covid online test vids. I can’t tell you how much perusal you do the EMed testing process eased our minds before we did it ourselves for the very first time. (And go watch both of your vids… nervous Tony dropping the test in #1; confident and experienced Tony in #2! See how that can help folks?) Well, Passport renewal is coming up in a year for us. Getting ‘Tony re-educated’ on the process would be fantastic.
Would highly recommend passports for cruising. We have been on numerous cruises that did not require passports. However they cruise lines recommend them. Last summer cruised out of San Francisco with a return to San Francisco and a passport was required so glad we had them. Others were turned awAy at the port. At this point little to no refund as you were warned and told passports recommended.
I’ve never had a passportā¦ I could have sworn we only needed a COPY and not the original “official” passport. I agree that the “in case of an emergency” reasons have always been a concern. I’ve only been saying since we started cruising, “I gotta get a passport!”ā¦ it’s only been like 12 or 13 years of cruising nowā¦😅🤦🏼āāļø🤷🏼āāļø😬 We have only cruised Carnival, so I can’t speak for any other cruise linesā¦.
In this particular case, since you renewed online, you still had a passport. It sounds like it would not yet have expired by the time you took your cruise. While your passport is technically cancelled when you start the online renewal process, it would have still worked as proof of citizenship and as an ID for embarkation. I was in this same situation, where I renewed online on January 5th, took my cruise on March 26th using my “cancelled” passport, and received my new passport around April 5th. In fact, some cruise ports will let you use your passport up to 10 years after it has expired, provided that it doesn’t have the two holes punched in the back cover. In any case, whenever you cruise with a questionable passport, always bring your birth certificate and drivers license, just in case.
I’ve been told that if you are in the renewal process, make sure you have a copy of your “old” passport in your phone that way if you get stuck in another country they can access the information and it makes it easier to get an emergency one. True or not, no idea BUT it’s always something to have during that time just in case. JMHO.
My 10 yr old son’s passport expires while we will be on our next cruise (closed loop). At this point, it’s too late to get a new passport so I’m getting him a state ID, bringing the passport and his official birth certificate. Jamaica is the only port I’m not sure will allow him off the ship. We shall see!
I have actually never used a passport to cruise. I have only cruised with Carnival, however (I have only been on 4 cruises), and they do not make you jump through as many hoops as NCL. I have never had to sign an additional form and neither have I had to wear a document sticker lol!!! The disembarkation process is the same as you described with the 2 lines when entering back with customs though. I do plan on getting my passport this year before my next cruise though, just so that I do not have to worry about it.
I always bring it but on my last 2 cruises I never needed it. I used it for embarkation but my state-issued ID would have been acceptable. The ports we stopped at did not ask for a passport when we returned to the ship. And, like in your case, 2 of the 3 ports didn’t even ask for a picture ID at all. All we needed was the ship card. At the port in Miami it was facial recognition upon disembarkation. Again, no passport needed. Of course, there’s always the chance they will ask to see it but it was never required and I could have theoretically left it home.
It depends on what cruiseline you cruise on. Holland requires a passport for all travelers based upon which ports they’re going to. A birth certificate is only valid depending what the ports you’re going to AND in some cases, you’re not allowed off the ship at that specific port. We’re just encountering this right now and it’s a huge headache…🤯🤯
I will have to renew my passport before April 2024 and I’m stressing already. I have my original birth certificate, but being a woman, it doesn’t match the name on my license. I’m in my second marriage, and I don’t have a copy of my first marriage certificate. Getting a copy is a huge hassle. Men have it easy.
Tony, I just found out, as in 2 weeks ago, I could NOT cruise without a passport because I was born overseas. I went to renew my passport, sent it off back in Nov and I finally got it 16 Feb. I called carnival and they said I MUST have a passport. I called the US State Dept and the National Passport Center. They too said I MUST have a passport to even board the ship. I’m well aware of the “closed loop” rule but that does NOT apply to those of us born overseas. If you need any further info, please feel free to PM me.
First time I started cruising as an adult, I got the passport card because it seemed like it was geared towards cruising and that’s the only international travel I do so I did that. There weren’t really any notices back then about the issues with passport cards. Then checking in (ironically in New Orleans as you just did) got into a circular argument with the person at the check in desk. She’s holding my passport card and she kept asking where’s your passport, I’m like you’re holding it, and she just kept saying it over and over. Finally I’m like what are you asking for and she’s like this isn’t a passport do you have a passport, then she finally handed me that same paper you had a screenshot of. Needless to say, I have a normal passport now. Just not worth it. Not sure what the point of the passport card is at this point, just seems to add extra confusion where none is needed. Best to just get the normal passport even if all you do is cruise closed loop cruises.
thanks so much for this article! awaiting my online renewal to be completed as well for a cruise the end of april. hope that gives them plenty of time. such a great thing reminding everyone about what happens if you get stranded or sick in a foreign place…thanks for all the great info. how long exactly did it take for you to get yours using the online process….
Just a side note not all certified birth certificates use a “raised seal”. Mine from Idaho and my kids from Indiana they use security paper instead now. On Royal we didn’t have to sign a paper because we didn’t have a passport. We also did not have to wear a sticker either but we did have the separate line.
I have a CLOBAL ENTRY card that I use going into Mexico so that I don’t have to carry my passport, I got it after a trip to Roma where I got Pick Pocketed. I havent tried it in other countries yet, but we are going to Australia in april and I’ll try it there.( Don’t worry I’ll have my Passport too} .
We have a passport and a passport card. The card can be used in place of the passport for cruises to Mexico, Caribbean and Canada. We did this once when we needed visas for another trip and we had a cruise booked. Passport to visa service and card for the cruise. Also my card does not expire the same time as my passport.
Hello Tony we have the same problem here in Sydney we are on Ovation in March we always travel with a passport but our sons lapsed and he has to use a State ID we had trouble entering details on the check-in in the app had to ring RCCL they told me it is an issue and to enter the number beneath the passport field all good now. We will never let a passport lapse again.
You seem pretty knowledgeable about cruises. Heres my question. My friend ans i booked a cruise with msc. We bought all rhe insurance. 3 daya before the cruise my friend became deathly ill, needless to say qe had to cancel. I have submitted all the paperwork requested, ans received an acknowledgement They got it all. We got a note from her dr. Stating she was roo sick to travel. Do you think msc will honor any if it? So dar we have not heard even a whisper, but its only been a week.
I am part of a cruise FB page and almost daily there is a discussion about passport vs BC. Most people say leave the passport on the ship and thats what the cruise lines recommend. To me I don’t want to be stuck without it or having to rely on the cruiseline to empty out my safe and room. What are your thoughts on taking the passport off the ship? Mine stays with me the whole time in a waterproof pouch. But now I am second guessing myself.
I had 2 different friends that had only their birth certificates both out of Long Beach one had to go to a different line that just took a few minutes longer, the other one actually had border patrol escort him off the ship. I waited outside for almost an hour when he finally came out and he told me they went through all of his belongings. I never experienced anything like that, but he did and that was actually his last cruise he took.
The passport acceptance office here where I live is ridiculous – first come, first served, NO appointments, and only open weekday mornings and up to four hour wait time. And I need to get my kid his first passport, so I have to go in person. I’m too much of a worry wart to cruise without a passport for all of us… so I am actually thinking of going to another acceptance office 3 hours away because they do appointments.
Love your shows, however, I believe your information may be misleading for many closed-loop trips. I understand about the closed-loop, but it doesn’t always work. Many countries will not let you in without a valid passport. If that is the case the ship will not let you board without one. Our upcoming closed-loop trip from Fort Lauderdale includes stops in central and South America. Princess requires a valid passport to board. Recently there was a news article that stated Princess would not let dozens of people board because they did not have passports with them. They misunderstood the closed-loop scenario. Princess stated that passport information was in the important notices, provided to the passengers, but apparently failed to read them. I personally would never travel outside our country with my U.S. passport. Keep up the good work!
No password cruises work OK for men. But for a woman without a passport can be a very big Pain in the U Know What. In 2022 my girlfriend was refused boarding on a Princess cruise with me because she did not have her Marriage and her Divorce papers with her. Maiden names and married names ain’t the same, especially with multiple Marriages Los Angeles cruise ports use Third Party Company to process you. Six months prior to our cruise. Not just one Princess rep, but her supervisor BOTH told us it was just fine for her to cruise with a LA county certified birth certificate. . Cruise lines will lie there asses off to take your money, Then say SORRY, its MY responsibility to check the laws, and refuse except any responsibility and refuse to give any credits or refunds. Buyer Beware. Never cruise without a passport . NO EXCEPTIONS. I just hope my experience can help other cruisers to not have go through what we went through. .
This is something I really don’t understand. …or rather; I don’t understand what the problem is?!? If a US citizen is cruising out of Florida to the Carribean for example, they don’t NEED a passport with them… is that correct? So having read the comments to this article, it seems that this has caused a lot of problems for cruisers. If it has, why not bring your passport with you in the first place?!? Why is it so important for people to NOT bring their passport on a cruise? It can’t be for financial reasons (passports cost money!), because cruisers have already paid $1000s for the cruise itself, so to buy a passport lasting 5 or 10 years cannot be that much of a financial strain… I am not asking this to try to be ‘funny’ but I genuinly try to understand what the problem is? In short, why is it so important for people to not have to bring a passport?