If you don't get off a cruise ship do you need a passport?

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The answer is Yes and No actually. Yes in that you still need ID showing proof of citizenship to get back into the US. No in that it doesn't have to be a Passport until January, 2008 for sea travel (for air travel, it was January of this year). Proof of citizenship however means an original birth certificate or state certified copy (recommended getting a copy and not take the original).

There is a misconception about a cruise Passports. They aren't used to get into other countries, they are used as ID's showing proof of citizenship within the US so you can get back INTO the US. Other counties use them as proof of ID that you are a US citizen (most also use a drivers license with photo for ID)

So whether you get off the ship or not, you still have to show proof of citizenship to get back into the US. When you register to get on the ship (at the embarkment port) you will be ask to show your proof of citizenship (Passport or Birth Certificate).

Also, for a little information, your proof of citizenship is checked when you return to the US from the Bahamas, not in the Bahamas. When you return you go through Immigration and if you have a Passport, you walk through the what I call "wave-through" while those with original or certified birth certificates get pointed over to the "let's have a question and answer session" line.

TrippingJudy

No, not for cruises to the Caribbean. At least not yet. The new passport requirement only affects people traveling by air (until next year).

"Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.

As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries."

banana

even if you weren't to ever get off the ship- in the event of an emergency and the ship had to be evacuated- you wouldn't get off the ship? How would you return home? You have to have one anyway since you are traveling outside of the states- but an interesting question.

dogman54

I am in the travel industry, and yes you need a passport because you are actually in a foreign country's body of water. You'll definetly want to get off the ship.

missanglgrl

until Jan 08 all that is required to travel to Mexico, Canada, Caribbean, and Alaska are birth certificates only if your cruise starts and ends in the US. If you cruise starts or ends in Canada you will need a passport if you fly into Canada.

mababischkin

NO!!!! NO!!!! NO!!!!

Whether you get off the ship or not isn't the issue here...

Based on the current law you do NOT need a passport if you take a cruise to the Bahamas, it DOES NOT matter if you get off in the Bahamas or not.

The current law requires a passport if you FLY into the US from any nation, BUT on a cruise ship passports are NOT required until 2009!

When the law goes in to effect you WILL be required to have a passport whether you disembark the ship in the Bahamas or not. The cruise line will deny your boarding at the port of embarkation if you do not have proper documentation.

Either way it is strongly recommended that you get your passport even though it's not required. In case there is an emergency and you must disembark the ship in the Bahamas or any other foreign port (say due to injury) you would need to get special permission from the US embassy to return to the US if you don't have a passport. This could delay your return home.

wolf

Yes you do.

beaner

Yes

williamsv

no after jan 8 2008 every one will be required to have a pass port .but if your cruising to caribbean and mexico not this year it doent matter if you leave the ship or not .

Yes.

Passengers of cruises to the Bahamas will also need a passport to board the cruise ship and enter the Bahamas. It is usually a good idea to make copies of your passport in case it is lost, along with keeping it in a locked safe or other secure location on the cruise ship. You will also need your passport to reenter your country of origin. Be sure to also hang onto all of your receipts for any goods you purchase in the Bahamas and plan to bring back with you. Most customs departments will require that you declare all purchased items when coming back home.

http://www.destination360.com/caribbean/bahamas/cruises.php

auntienaw

Yes.

RzrLens

Yes because you still pass through customs when you get off of the ship at the end of your cruise. Whether or not you get off of the boat is indifferent. The US Customs considers you leaving American soil once the ship has left the American port.

luv3dbb

Yes, you are still traveling out of the country.

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