Can you cruise with a passport card

Even on a closed-loop sailing out of the U. To protect yourself against emergency situations, go with a passport book, which covers all international travel -- by air, sea or land.

There's also a price difference. Both passport books and cards are valid for 10 years. Although not required on "closed loop" sailings, which call at foreign ports but sail roundtrip from the U. Both passport cards and books are also acceptable on shore excursions -- such as the White Pass and Yukon Route train ride from Skagway, Alaska, and 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. Tip: During your cruise, keep your passport card or book in your cabin safe, and simply carry a photocopy of it when walking around in port, in case of an emergency.

For travelers on tight budgets, who cruise roundtrip from the U. A passport card also could be useful for Alaska cruises, as long as all border crossings into Canada are done by land or sea. But if you have the money to spare or anticipate traveling more frequently and internationally , a passport book is always the best choice. For example, Martinique requires cruise passengers to show a valid passport to come ashore. You would be allowed onboard your ship without a passport, but you would miss out on one of the ports of call.

We recommend that whenever you are traveling to an international destination, you take a passport book, so you are more prepared for unexpected situations.

You might also want to have a passport on hand for certain excursions. Travelers of any age who are flying internationally to or from their cruise will need a passport book. This includes children and babies. For closed-loop cruises from the U. Consular reports of birth abroad or naturalization certificates are acceptable alternatives. They do not need an additional photo I.

Older teens will need to show a valid passport or the same two forms of I. Terms Apply. Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. Many of the credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear.

This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Skip to content. Passengers who are not fully vaccinated are more likely to get COVID, which can spread more easily on cruise ships. While the U. Passengers may be subject to mandatory quarantines by local authorities if they test positive for COVID Unexpected delays or quarantines may result in unexpected expenses for travelers.

Have a plan in case you have to remain overseas longer than anticipated. This includes being ready to cover additional lodging costs, flight ticket change fees, and any other additional expenses they may incur due to the unexpected extension.

Downloadable PDF card to take with you while you travel. Ensure shore excursions and purchases comply with U. Bring enough cash to cover your stay. This includes hotels, restaurants, taxis, souvenir shops, etc. Check travel.

We recommend that everyone taking a cruise from the United States have a passport book. Also, your cruise company may require you to have a passport, even if U.

Customs and Border Protection does not. You can use the passport card to reenter the United States at sea ports of entry from Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. However, if you are not able to return on the cruise ship for any reason e. Unexpected circumstances can come up that make it impossible to return to the United States on the cruise ship. Here are some examples:.

Subscribe to get up-to-date safety and security information and help us reach you in an emergency abroad. Check passport expiration dates carefully for all travelers! Medications that are legally prescribed in the United States are not always legal abroad. You are about to leave travel.

Department of State. Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. If you wish to remain on travel. Cancel GO. Skip to main content. This delay was disappointing, but all was not lost yet. Princess Cruises agreed to allow the couple to board the ship in Montego Bay.

And JetBlue would transport them there free-of-charge because of the delay. That is if they both had the required ID to enter Jamaica. The U. The couple would not be enjoying a tropical vacation after all. They were going back home. Although Princess Cruises strongly recommends passengers travel with a passport, its terms and conditions clarify that it is possible to cruise with just a passport card — with considerations.

Although US and Canadian passport holders are not currently required to sail with a passport on most domestic or closed-loop itineraries including Alaska, Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean, Hawaii, and Mexico and Panama Canal , Princess Cruises highly recommends that passports are carried.