Passports are required for all travelers, including citizens of U.S. and Canada, who enter or re-enter the United States by air, land or sea.

Regarding cruises to destinations in Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Bermuda, there is a notable exception to this US passport rule, pertaining to land and sea crossings for US Citizens:

US Citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end in the same U.S. port) and travel to destinations in Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Bermuda are able to re-enter the United States with proof of citizenship other than a passport or passport card. Acceptable proof of citizenship includes an original or certified copy of a government issued birth certificate (raised seal and signature) and a laminated government issued picture ID (typically, driver’s license), Consular Report of Born Abroad Certificate, or a Certificate of Naturalization. NOTE: Baptismal records and certificates issued by a hospital are not acceptable.

However; ALL major cruise lines (Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney) STRONGLY recommend that all guests travel with a passport that is valid for at least six (6) months beyond the end of the cruise for the following reasons :

• You may be required to present a passport to enter the foreign ports that your cruise is visiting.
• Guests may need to fly out of the United States to meet a ship at its next available port if they missed an embarkation.
• Guests that would need to fly home before the cruise ends due to medical, family, personal or business emergencies.
• Involuntary disembarkation from a ship due to misconduct or other reasons.
• Guests who miss the scheduled ship’s departure at a port of call.

NON-US Citizens, US Citizens on open-loop cruses (being and end in different ports) and passengers on cruises that stop at ports in South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and Antartica ALL require a valid passport, and in some cases a visa as well as a copy of your Alien Registration Card (Green Card).

Passport-Free Destinations

In general, cruise or no cruise, there are several U.S. territories and commonwealths with the luxurious feel of a faraway land that allow passport-free entry for U.S. citizens.

Puerto Rico is a United States commonwealth and all U.S. citizens can travel there and to its surrounding islands, Vieques and Culebra, without a passport. The same is true for a lesser known (and lesser populated) commonwealth, the Northern Mariana islands, composed of 15 islands in the northwest Pacific.1

If you’ve got your sights set on the US Virgin Islands, Guam, or American Samoa, all three U.S. territories are also all fair game for passport-less American citizens.

Take note though; just because you don’t need a passport to visit these destinations doesn’t mean you won’t need any official documentation. Make sure you have a government-issued photo ID, naturalization paperwork, or birth certificate.

Cruises That Require a Passport

If a cruise begins at one port and ends in another port, even if they’re both in the United States, passengers are required to have a valid passport. Similarly, if a cruise starts or finishes in a foreign port, travelers must come prepared with a current passport.

You will also need a passport for cruises traveling through the British Virgin Islands or Cuba. And of course, a valid passport is required for any cruise touring Europe, traveling across the Atlantic Ocean, or originating in other continents — where you won’t even make it onto the plane that will get you there without a valid passport.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Passport for Last Minute Cruises?

Standard Expedited Passport Processing

Whether you are a first–time applicant, or someone who needs to renew your passport by mail, you can count on two–week, door–to–door expedited processing. This will require you to pay an expedited processing fee, as well as an overnight return delivery fee. The expedited processing costs an extra $60, and overnight delivery costs another $15.45. These fees are payable in person for first-time applicants. All renewals are done by mail. The State Department strongly encourages the use of a traceable overnight delivery method. Clearly mark “EXPEDITE” on the envelope above the address, and make sure to mail the application to the expedited service post office box in Philadelphia. Include one check or money order made payable to “Department of State” for all fees.

Same–Day Processing

The Department of State runs 26 different Passport Agencies across the country, and these agencies are capable of same–day passport processing. The agency requires an appointment and proof of urgency, with strict guidelines. You must need a passport within two weeks for international travel, so you will have to purchase your cruise, print out the itinerary and bring it to your appointment. Call the 24–hour hotline at 1– 877–487–2778 to find the nearest passport agency and to make an appointment. Be prompt and expect to go through security. Processing can take hours, and you won’t be able to leave the office. Passport Agency fees were $135 for first–time applicants and $110 for renewals.

Required Documents

Gather up proof of citizenship, identification and a passport application. Renewals are easy. An old passport serves as proof of citizenship and identification, as long as it’s in your current name, was issued after you turned 16, is undamaged and less than 15 years old. Everyone else will have to prove citizenship and identification as a first–time applicant. The department accepts U.S. birth certificates, registrations of birth abroad and naturalization certificates as proof of citizenship, and any government issued photo I.D. as proof of identity. Passport applications can be printed off the department’s website or picked up for free at your local post office. First–time applicants use form DS–11, while renewals require form DS–82.

Required Actions and Application

Purchase a couple of passport photos at your local photo shop or pharmacy. First–time applicants also need to photocopy both sides of their identification. If you can’t fit both sides of the I.D. onto one side of the photocopy paper, make two separate copies. You can pay for two–week processing of your passport with a personal check or money order. Same–day Passport Agencies also accept credit and debit cards.