Table Of Content
Closed-loop cruises are those that begin and conclude in the local harbor in the United States; for instance, traveling around Fort Lauderdale would qualify as an instance of a closed-loop trip. A closed-loop cruise is one that does not need you to have a passport for the majority of its passengers. This is among the main reasons why people choose to go on these kinds of vacations. There are a few things to be aware of if you decide to take advantage of this chance to travel without a passport. For instance, let’s say something goes wrong and you have to take a plane back to the United States.
What Documentation Is Needed For A Closed-Loop Cruise?
Whether it’s a Baja California cruise from San Diego or L.A., or a cruise to Cozumel from the East Coast, Mexico is a great closed loop cruise destination. Discover ancient temples and architecture, sample classic Mexican cuisine, sunbathe on amazing beaches and partake in endless outdoor adventures. The main disadvantage is that fewer ports of call are available to you. Along with this, depending on your taste and travel preferences, your experience diving into different cultures and historical sites is lessened if you can only explore closed-loop cruise options. Most Disney Cruises in the United States set sail from the East Coast, with the most popular ports being Port Canaveral and Miami.
Luxury Caribbean Cruise That Answers Your Vacation Prayers
They can also use an enhanced driver’s license, which denotes both proofs of identity and citizenship, though those are available only in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington for now. Travelers can reenter the country from Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico with an EDL, but the documents are valid for border crossings only by sea or land. These kinds of one-way cruises require all passengers to have a valid passport. However, valid identification to board the ship is required; you must also show that identification upon reentry to the US.
Expedited Passport For International Trip
In general, Caribbean islands only require photo ID from a U.S. citizen. For U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), you must have your photo ID plus your Permanent Resident Card (I-551/Green Card). She tried once before to study abroad but was dissuaded by long wait times, and traveling internationally for fun wasn’t on her radar. Additionally, without a U.S. passport, getting home or catching up with the trip could be challenging if you miss the ship in one of the ports.
They’ll help you understand terminology on whichever cruise line you choose to sail. Yes, convicts are permitted to go on cruises with either a closed or open loop, depending on the kind of voyage. On the other hand, the prerequisites for going on an open-loop cruise are far more stringent than those for closed-loop cruises.
From a space for you to breathe fresh air by yourself to your medication, everything is present on a cruise, providing you with the utmost enjoyment and safety of the tour. Angel Portillo is an experienced tourism professional who has worked in the travel industry for many years. He has extensive knowledge of the different destinations that are popular among tourists, and is able to provide tips and advice on how to make the most of your visit. His passion for travel is evident in her writing, which is full of interesting and descriptive details about the different places he's visited.
You don't have to wait for a passport to travel: What to know about closed-loop cruises - USA TODAY
You don't have to wait for a passport to travel: What to know about closed-loop cruises.
Posted: Thu, 13 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Should I Take a Cruise? [Tips and Advice for Cruise Travel]
Following that, you will spend a whole day gently sailing the 30-mile Endicott Arm Fjord. You may also go canoeing, sail and dive trips, or even have a therapeutic treatment with a real shaman if that sounds more your speed. Chacchoben Ruins, which are located within a short distance from the port, are home to Mayan artifacts and history.
Princess Cruises
As a Caribbean island nation, it’s an excellent place to visit without a passport on closed loop cruises. Departure ports include Baltimore, Charleston, Jacksonville, Miami and other southeastern U.S. cities. When traveling outside of the U.S. a passport is always recommended, but cruises are the exception to the rule. As long as you book a closed loop cruise, you can travel to certain destinations without a passport.
You don't have to wait for a passport to travel: What to know about closed-loop cruises
Here are a few cruises that qualify as closed-loop according to the WHTI guidelines. Outside of the Americas, there are other countries within the boundaries of the Western Hemisphere. The following countries or territories are also within and available for cruising from a U.S. port. To have reduced regulations impacting their operations, virtually all cruise companies have their ships registered in tax havens such as the Bahamas. Department of State website, or a cruise line representative before embarkation. If travelers get stuck at a port of call, there will be “a lot of red tape you have to get through” to make it home without one, Daly said.
Before we move on to the visa requirements, it’s important to understand the role of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when it comes to international travel. CBP is responsible for securing the U.S. borders and facilitating legitimate travel and trade. When you’re returning from your cruise, CBP officials will ask to see your passport and any other required travel documents.
Luxury and premium cruise lines such as Silversea, Oceania, Cunard, or Regent Seven Seas also offer closed-loop cruises. However, their fleet of ships is usually limited, with fewer options for itineraries. Specifically, on a closed-loop cruise, U.S. citizens were required to have only a birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID. Additionally, there must be a destination to a foreign location to qualify as a closed-loop cruise. Therefore, you tend to see more cruise ships sailing with a foreign flag. Passports can be used as your form of identification but the fact that they aren’t mandatory is why closed-loop cruises are popular.
The Mexican Riviera cruise season is year-round, with the winter months of December to April considered peak season. Several parts of the initiative deal with citizens from Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda, in addition to the United States. For those on the Visa Waiver Program, you can use the I-94W (your immigration stamp received when first entering the United States) when you re-enter at disembarkment. Your cruise must end before the 90-day period for admission has passed. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. Daly also recommended taking a photo of your government IDs, which can be helpful backups when dealing with officials.
Mexican Riviera and Hawaii closed loop itineraries are accessible from the West Coast, departing from the cities of San Pedro and Long Beach, San Francisco, and San Diego. Perhaps you’d prefer to explore beyond the destinations of a closed-loop cruise. Instead, it determines whether a person can travel from the U.S. through various means to their destination of choice. Any islands that border the Caribbean Sea are called adjacent islands by the US Customs and Border Patrol. The definition of adjacent islands is much broader and features various locations.
