Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Florida, are popular ports for Celebrity Cruises. . From Real ID FAQs on the Department of Homeland Security, Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). Just a few things on this post. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Paste as plain text instead, Oasis-class ships are the biggest ones in the world. Thanks. With the important information we have provided here, youll be an informed traveler who can make the best decision for yours and your familys next cruise. Explore the rugged coasts of Alaska on a closed loop cruise from cities like Seattle and San Francisco. I'll be laying low in Mexico. ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS: U.S. citizens traveling by air to and from Panama must present a valid passport when entering or re-entering the United States. My parents are planning (and paying) for a cruise for their anniversary (60th) and taking my brothers and our spouses. Amongst their popular itineraries is a Hawaiian closed-loop cruise from Honolulu, that tours around the Hawaiian Islands. Uspassporthelpguide.com is a privately owned website. Complete information for American citizens is available on the Passport Information page at travel.state.gov or by calling 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778) for information on applying for a passport. Instead, it determines whether a person can travel from the US through various means to their destination of choice. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Closed-loop cruises travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda but start and end at the same U.S. homeport. As a result, the process is much more straightforward. As a result, the process is much more straightforward. An EDL is only offered in a handful of states and costs an additional $30. #1 Posted March 21, 2019 Did my online check in today, entered my passport, and RCI's website "strongly encouraged" me to ensure that my passport is valid for six months after my trip, which it is. Two main things indicate if your cruise is closed loop and you wont need a passport (but dont forget you need other valid identification): In order for it to be considered a closed-loop cruise that you dont need a passport for the ship must leave and return to the same exact American port. That's not to say you never feel motion -- you are on a moving ship, but in central areas, it's not noticeable. When it comes to stability during bad weather, bigger ships offer more of it. What Is a Cruise Ship "Flag Of Convenience" -- And Why Does It Matter? And while you might face slightly rougher seas as a cruise line tried to return a ship to a northeast port, what happened to Carnival Sunshine is very rare. The port of Civitavecchia in Rome, Italy, also offers a number of return trip cruises. Upload or insert images from URL. Receive full access to our market insights, commentary, newsletters, breaking news alerts, and more. There you can explore marine sanctuaries, interact with endangered animals and learn more conservation efforts. However, there is often a west coast cruise itinerary each year, like from San Diego. Enjoy the rides before playing all of the classic carnival games there's even a roller coaster on Pleasure Pier! All closed-loop cruises embark accept any of the following WHTI-permitted forms of US identification: a passport card, Enhanced Driver's License, Trusted Traveler Program ID (FAST, SENRI, and Nexus), or an I-872 American Indian ID in place of a passport book. The sense of history is incredible. If you are starting in a US port and returning to the same port, then yes, it would be considered to be closed loop. Contact Visa Central: Email: rci@visacentral.com. Travel Documents - Royal Caribbean Discussion - Royal Caribbean Blog Rather, youll see terms like return trip cruise or two-way cruises. Check each itinerary very closely. Any thoughts. Youll also need a passport to fly there at an international airport. Thrills are always in the forecast with a plunge down The Perfect Stormwaterslide duo. Yes, she lives in Ohio. There are many, especially if you dont have a passport! Are those "Wanna Get Away" prices on Southwest? I see some places require 6 months left on the passport. Real ID will get you on an airplane, but will not work for cruisingunless accompanied by a birth certificate. No. I would call RCCL and ask for clarification. I hate to throw a wrench in to this, but a cruise going to Panama is, Sequim88 stated that the brother is very cash strapped and that he probably would never use the passport again. Visit the historic coastal towns of Skagway, Sitka and Juneau, and see iconic wildlife, from orcas and whales to brown bears and bald eagles. His passport expires 1 month after cruise date. If the port requires one you would not be allowed to board. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. The majority of Holland America Line (HAL) closed loop cruises leave Fort Lauderdale and head to the Caribbean. Are you asking because you want to take the cruise without a passport? Keep a few things to keep in mind if you travel on a closed-loop cruise without a passport. Enhanced Driver's license to board closed loop cruise? - Royal While these ocean trips on the high seas require a passport, you can access many more countries. That itself is a bucket list item. Disclosure: This page has affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission if you click the link and proceed with a purchaseat no cost to you. Even though most Caribbean islands do not require more than a photo ID from U.S. citizens to visit on a cruise, they might require a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) to have one, along with a visa, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. I would suggest having all of the paperwork lined up just in case, but I would just have her bring her birth certificate and take pictures of the other documents in case they are needed (which they may not be, since she had to submit paperwork to change the name on her license). 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. If you are a felon and want to go on an open-loop cruise, you will need a passport as you leave the country. In order to understand the significance of closed-loop voyages. Once called the Wall Street of the South, this charming commercial hub, along with the neighboring East End Historic District, is home to mansions-turned-museums, the Grand 1894 Opera House, plus loads of unique shops and cozy cafs. They are very cash strapped and highly unlikely to ever use the passport again. Southwest for me on my upcoming Panama Canal eastbound. Castaway Cay, Disney's private island, is an incredibly popular destination that only Disney Cruise Line sails to. While its true that you dont need a passport for most US closed-loop cruises, you must present two forms of ID to board a closed-loop cruise ship. Passports are not required for cruise passengers (US Citizens specifically) (who are generally considered to be "in transit") in any of the ports on the Jewel's itinerary. Without geographic restrictions, ships with an open itinerary can travel farther and often stop at more ports. How about a trip through the entirety of the Panama Canal? The main disadvantage is that fewer ports of call are available to you. The definition of adjacent islands is much broader and features a wider variety of locations. Waves swept over decks and flooded in crew quarters, destroying the crew bar, and forcing some passengers to be evacuated into the theater as Carnival Sunshine got hit by inclement weather during a trip back to its homeport in Charleston, South Carolina. The answer is yes and no. It might not get here before our September 4 cruise. There are too many people on this board that insist on everyone needing a passport. Seafood is king on Galveston Island Gulf shrimp, blue crabs, snapper and grouper come fresh off the boat. And if you prefer wet-and-wild thrills, Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark is a must. Exactly what are the passport requirements to cruise? We have the first one. U.S. departure ports are plentiful, from coast to coast. Woof! CHECK SHORE EXCURSIONS IN Galveston, Texas, *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions, Unlock the shores of the western Caribbean on some fan favorites from our award-winning fleet. Its not great for traveling with kids but if youre adults, its a wonderful option. Which cruise is leaving Miami and going through the PC? Documentation Needed for Cruises to the Bahamas | USA Today Departing and ending at Rotterdam, in The Netherlands, youll get to explore this true wonder of the world. Its important to check the itinerary for your trip because there are a few places, even on a closed-loop cruise, that do require a passport to disembark. Choose from a 7-night adventure onboard Allure of the Seas. You might see some rain during the summer, though most storms blow through quickly. My husband and I just got ours. Hmmm thats like partially doing an item on my bucket list. They allow it in certain sections . We are cruising to Cozumel, George Town (Grand Cayman), and Falmouth, Jamaica in April 2019 aboard Liberty of the Seas. In the pool, you could see water sloshing from side to side, and by dinner time, the waves had picked up, and you could feel the ship move. Chances are her passport won't get back in time, My husband's passport was due to expire in Sep 2022. Cruise lines with Canada and New England closed-loop sailings include Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival, Princess, Holland America and small-ship operator American Cruise Lines. Do Kids Need a Passport to Go on a Cruise? if 16 years of age or older And a certified birth certificate or certificate of U.S. naturalization Alaska Adjacent islands include the British Virgin Islands, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, Haiti, Trinidad, Tobago, Jamaica, Miquelon, and more. Ohio introduced the EDL in October 2020. It will really suck for your daughter to be denied at the port. The OP didn't say they didn't have a passport nor whether they planned to carry it or not they were just verifying the "closed loop" definition :cool: I am curious as to which port requires a passport though:confused: there are NO countries in the Caribbean that require a US citizen to have a passport when arriving by cruise ship AND on a closed loop cruise. The most popular closed-loop itineraries leave from Port Canaveral and Miami, where they sail to the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Galveston Island Trolley buses run approximately every 30 minutes on two routes through the downtown and seawall districts. More importantly their explanation of this status says that although the renewal was submitted much earlier, it takes at least 6 weeks for actual receipt and scan ( their official receipt date) andplease allow another 8-10 weeks for review and to receipy of the new passport and passport card!