8 Cruise Destinations That Don’t Need a Passport

March 9, 2023 Bangkok

After a few years of choppy seas, the cruise industry has returned. During the epidemic, cruise lines labored behind the scenes to prepare for their return to the world’s waterways. Modern ships, unique amenities, fascinating shore excursions, a wide selection of itineraries, and strict health measures are now drawing first-time cruisers as well as long-time cruise lovers. There is a cruise for every kind of tourist, on everything from mega-ships to tiny exploration ships.

If you’ve been considering taking a cruise, whether because you were invited by a friend to go on a trip or because you found a last-minute cruise deal, you should make sure you have all of your travel paperwork in order. Your passport can be out of date if it has been lying unused for the past two years. Do you think you won’t be able to go on the trip as a result? What you need to know about taking a cruise without a passport is that it’s not necessarily the case.

As long as you have identification with a government-issued photo and proof of citizenship, you can travel by cruise ship to a number of locations without a passport. A state-certified U.S. birth certificate is one of many papers that can be used as evidence of citizenship. The U.S. offers a comprehensive list. Customs and Border Protection also outlines the conditions for boarding a cruise without a passport in a new publication. It’s crucial to remember that at present time, just a handful of states give upgraded driver’s licenses, so you shouldn’t assume that yours counts as identification and evidence of citizenship.

A “closed-loop” cruise is one that starts and ends at the same U.S. port. One-way cruises that embark in one U.S. port and disembark in another do not count. On a closed-loop cruise, you are allowed to enter and exit the country with the proper identity and proof of citizenship, but you should be aware that some of the destinations on your itinerary might need a passport. It’s still a good idea to carry your passport on a cruise if it’s up to date, but if it’s not, we’ve got you covered (your cruise operator should supply that information when you book your trip).Here are eight destinations that you can cruise to without a passport (and don’t forget to renew your passport so you’ll always be ready to travel).

Alaska

Most closed-loop Alaskan cruises depart from and return to Seattle. The Southeast Alaska cruise, on the other hand, departs from Juneau and returns there after stopping at Glacier Bay and a number of Alaskan villages.

A seven-day voyage on the Norwegian Bliss departing from Seattle and making stops in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Glacier Bay, and Victoria before sailing back to Seattle is available from Norwegian Cruise Line. The seven-day Arctic Explorer cruise by Holland America Line leaves from Seattle and travels through Stephens Passage.

Bahamas

Disney Wish at Port Canaveral — COURTESY OF DISNEY

The bulk of closed-loop cruises to the Bahamas depart from Florida’s ports of Miami, Port Everglades (near Fort Lauderdale), and Port Canaveral (approximately an hour east of Orlando). In addition to those departure ports, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line both offer sailings to the Bahamas from the Florida ports of Jacksonville and Tampa, as well as from Baltimore, Tampa, Cape Liberty, and Galveston.

A three-night Bahamian cruise on the magnificent Disney Wish departing from Port Canaveral includes a day in Nassau and a day at Disney Castaway Cay before returning to Port Canaveral.

Mexico

Celebrity Constellation — COURTESY OF CELEBRITY CRUISES

From Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, and Galveston, closed-loop cruises to Mexico leave. Cruise ships sail to the Caribbean island of Cozumel and the Costa Maya on the Yucatan Peninsula from ports on the East Coast. From West Coast ports, travelers can go to Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, Manzanillo, Loreto, La Paz, Guaymas, and Topolobampo as well as other locations along the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez.

The 12-night New Orleans & the Caribbean cruise from Celebrity Cruises departs from Tampa and returns there after calling at Honduras, Key West, Costa Maya, and Cozumel. A seven-day Mexican Riviera with La Paz cruise from Princess Cruises visits Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, and La Paz.

Bermuda

Carnival Magic — COURTESY OF CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE

Bermuda, which may easily be reached by cruise ship from the East Coast ports of New York City, Baltimore, Charleston, Boston, Port Canaveral, Miami, and Norfolk, Virginia, is situated 570 miles east of North Carolina in the Atlantic Ocean.

A six-day Carnival cruise to Bermuda departing from Norfolk includes two days at sea and three days in Bermuda. Two days are spent at sea on Bermuda Bliss, a seven-day Oceana cruise that departs from New York City and stops in Hamilton and St. George.

Hawaii
Cruises from the mainland to Hawaii and back need four to five days at sea in each direction due to the Hawaiian islands’ approximate 3,700-mile distance from the West Coast. From Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and San Diego, closed-loop cruises leave. Honolulu is the starting point for some cruises that visit other islands.

The Hilo, Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui stops on Princess Cruises’ 16-day Hawaiian Islands journey departing from San Francisco are followed by five days at sea and a stop in Ensenada before the ship returns to San Francisco. A seven-day Hawaii inter-island trip from Norwegian Cruise Line departs from Honolulu and stops in Maui, Hilo and Kona on the Big Island, and Kauai before sailing back to Honolulu.

The Caribbean

Regent Seven Seas Grandeur — COURTESY OF REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES

Tampa, Miami, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, Galveston, Baltimore, New Orleans, and New York City are among the ports of departure for closed-loop Caribbean cruises. Moreover, cruises leave from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Wonders in the Caribbean cruise, offered by Regent Seven Seas, departs from Miami and calls in the Cayman Islands, Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and Key West. The Southern Caribbean Holiday cruise by Royal Caribbean departs from San Juan and stops at Barbados, Trinidad, Tobago, St. Vincent, and St. Maarten.

Canada and New England

Norwegian Escape, outside of New York City — COURTESY OF NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE

When traveling on itineraries that start in Boston, New York City, or Cape Liberty, New Jersey, Canada and New England are frequently combined.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a seven-day Canada & New England voyage from New York City with visits to Halifax, Nova Scotia; Saint John, New Brunswick; and Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine, before a day at sea and a return to New York City.

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