Do You Need a Passport to Cruise?
We asked a travel expert whether or not you need a passport to sail away on your next cruise trip.
You've heard it from a school teacher, or perhaps a family member or friend: No question is a silly question. But there are some instances in which you might feel hesitant to ask someone for clarification, because it feels like you should already know the answer.
While that's just your (very normal and very human!) insecurity speaking, we're here to answer one of those silly-sounding questions when it comes to cruises. While almost every traveler knows what the passport requirements are when flying, many actually wonder whether or not you need a passport to cruise, and whether there is a difference between cruising domestically and internationally.
To help clear this up, we asked a travel expert all about it. Here's what they said.
Do you need a passport to cruise domestically?
A good rule of thumb when it comes to cruise ID requirements is to follow air travel guidelines. If you fly domestically, you don't need a passport—and the same goes for cruises.
Basically, if you're on a cruise that only stays within US borders and territories, you don't need to bring a passport with you.
"You don't necessarily need a passport if you are visiting a US territory, like Puerto Rico," explains Katy Nastro, travel expert at Going. However, she clarifies, "it is always best to check with your cruise ticket provider before purchasing, especially if you don't already have a passport."
Do you need a passport to cruise internationally?
In short, the answer is yes. When you travel internationally, whether it be via plane or via cruise, it's best to bring a passport with you—or else, in most cases, you won't be allowed to cross the borders. While there are a select few international destinations that might allow for a different combination of documents instead of a passport on a closed-loop cruise (meaning you both depart from and end your vacation in the US), experts like Nastro say it's a bad idea to go without.
"Hopping aboard a cruise can be no different than air travel in terms of requiring a passport when visiting places beyond our borders," says Nastro. "If you are cruising into foreign waters and plan to leave the ship to go ashore, you are required to have a passport."
Like Nastro, cruise companies strongly encourage guests to bring a passport, even when it's technically not required. According to Royal Caribbean's guidelines, "a passport is the very best option" in terms of forms of identification, as it's "hassle-free" for traveling between countries. Royal Caribbean also points out that, in case of emergency (such as missing the ship while in a foreign port), having a passport will make things much easier for you.
For those who remain committed to cruising without a passport, keep an eye out for additional rules and don't assume a simple state ID will do, as many cruise lines choose to require additional documents. Carnival Cruise Line, for example, requires guests without an American passport on a closed-loop cruise to bring both a government-issued photo ID and a certified birth certificate or certificate of US naturalization.
Keep in mind, however, that not all cruise destinations accept passport-free travel, even if you choose a closed-loop itinerary. Therefore, checking in with the cruise line ahead of your trip is always the most sensible action to take.