Americans without a passport can still take a cruise as long as they choose a closed loop voyage. According to passport statistics published by the Department of State, there are currently over 102 million U.S. citizens holding a passport. This means that approximately 67% of the U.S. population still doesn't have one.
Passport Requirements for Closed Loop Cruises
A valid passport is a requirement for international air travel including flights to or from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. On the other hand, U.S. citizens can still travel to some destinations by sea without a passport, thanks to an exemption called a closed loop voyage. Unfortunately, Canadians and all other non-U.S. citizens must have a passport when taking a cruise from any international port, including from United States ports of call.
Alternatively, the required travel documents for U.S. citizens on closed loop voyages includes a proof of citizenship such as a government-issued birth certificate along with a laminated government-issued photo I.D. such as a driver’s license. If the name on one document is different than the other, proof of name change (such as a marriage certificate) is recommended, as well.
What is a Closed Loop Cruise?
As defined by the Department of Homeland Security, a closed loop voyage departs from a U.S. port and returns to the same U.S. port at the end of the cruise. Additionally, these U.S. based cruises must be returning from contiguous territories or adjacent islands.
To be specific, adjacent islands are the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean islands. And, contiguous territories are countries that share a common border with the United States, meaning Canada and Mexico.
One major issue is if the cruise makes a call in a port that is not a contiguous territory such as the countries of Panama, Costa Rica, and Belize. Cruises that include a stop in a country that is not a contiguous territory may require a passenger to provide a passport upon initially boarding the ship.
Examples of Closed Loop Cruises
- Caribbean cruises that sail roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, Miami, San Juan (Puerto Rico), New York, Galveston or Jacksonville
- Bahamas cruises that sail roundtrip from Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale or Miami
- Alaska cruises that sail roundtrip from Seattle or San Francisco
- Hawaii cruises that sail roundtrip from Honolulu or Los Angeles
- Canada/New England cruises that sail roundtrip from New York
- Mexican Riviera cruises that sail roundtrip from Los Angeles, San Francisco, or San Diego
Although Americans can travel without a passport on closed loop cruises, cruise lines strongly recommend that all passengers are in possession of a valid passport. Should a passenger be required to unexpectedly depart a vessel prior to the end of a cruise, a passport may be required to re-enter the U.S. by air.
In addition, if a passenger is not able to produce the required identification at the time of the cruise, then the cruise line may deny that passenger boarding without any refund.
Renee Ruggero - Renee is a published travel writer and cruise industry insider with more than 1,000 days on cruise ships, visiting over 50 countries.
