Cruise documents…what are they and which ones you need? To help you avoid any major mishaps, let’s walk through the basics and touch on some additional items you might want to bring along just in case. Boarding a cruise ship is different from boarding a domestic plane flight. Because cruises involve international travel, you won’t be allowed to sail if you don’t have the proper documents and identification. Therefore, you will want to know EXACTLY what to take with you. And then double and triple check your list to ensure you haven’t forgotten anything. The check-in process can be intimidating if you have never done it before. To make it easier, let’s explore exactly what cruise documents are, which ones you need and how you obtain them. With this information in hand, you will be all set for a successful and stress-free embarkation day. This post contains affiliate links, if you click and buy a product, I may make a commission, at no cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy for details. What are cruise documents? Necessary cruise documents include acceptable official forms of identification and your boarding pass. If you are visiting countries that require visas, you must also have those with you. These items must be presented upon arrival at the port. After port officials check and verify each these documents at the terminal, will you be permitted to board your ship. Many cruise lines are now providing online boarding passes. Take a screen shot or add it to your wallet on your phone for easy access. At a time when eco-friendliness is top of mind and nearly every traveler has a mobile phone, it’s easy to rely on apps to keep everything in one spot and avoid wasting paper. But…what would happen if your phone was lost, stolen or broken during your travels? For this reason, I always advise printing hard copies of anything you might need in a pinch. Try to use as little paper as possible. It’s better to be safe than sorry. ALWAYS…..pack all necessary travel documents in your carry-on luggage in an easy to access place. Also, be sure to carry on any medications and valuables, such as jewelry, car keys, glasses, etc. Documents needed for cruisers to board a ship Identification For most cruises, you’ll need a passport book that’s valid for at least six months from the day your sailing ends. In some cases, you can use a passport card instead of a passport book. This will only work if you are re-entering the United States via your ship from Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or the Caribbean. If your cruise is a closed-loop voyage, according to U.S. Customs & Border Protection, you can embark with an Enhanced Driver’s License, which is a state-issued driver’s license that provides proof of identity and U.S. citizenship; a government-issued birth certificate (issued by the Vital Records Department in the state where the person was born) or passport; and if 16 or older, a government-issued driver’s license or picture ID denoting photo, name, and date of birth. To qualify as a closed-loop cruise, the places these itineraries can include must be contiguous territories of the United States. That includes Mexico and Canada, because both share land borders with the U.S., and several of the islands of the Caribbean. The Enhanced Driver’s License allows you to re-enter the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean and is valid at land and sea border crossing but not airports. So, if you are boarding in Alaska and flying home from Vancouver, an Enhanced Driver’s License will not work. NEXUS card. If you are a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you may use a NEXUS or FAST Trusted Traveler Card for closed loop cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean and Bahamas, Pacific Coast, Canada, and the Panama Canal. For cruises to Europe and Transatlantic sailings, a passport is still required for travel. Different documentation is acceptable for minors under 16, including an original, notarized, or certified copy of their birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization. Voter registration cards and Social Security cards are not considered proof of citizenship, nor are school ID’s. If you do choose to take advantage of this opportunity to travel without a passport, there are a couple of warnings to keep in mind. If something goes wrong and you have to return to the U.S. by air, you will need a passport to board a flight. Also, if you miss the ship in one of the ports, you will have to make your own way home or to catch up with the cruise, which would be difficult without a passport. Additionally, if you are a U.S. permanent resident, you must carry your green card. You can use it instead of a passport on closed-loop sailings, but carrying a passport from your country of citizenship is highly recommended. Also note that if your green card is expired, you likely will not be allowed back into the U.S. You are responsible for contacting the embassies in the places you’ll be visiting to make sure there is no additional paperwork required. If you are a US citizen and want to apply for a passport, this is the link. Be sure to apply at least 6 months prior to departure from the USA. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply.html Boarding passes Just like a flight, a cruise boarding pass is the document that shows you’ve checked in for your sailing, set up an onboard account for purchases and chosen a boarding time. It will also includes important information like your name, booking number, cabin number and any packages you may have booked with or purchased, such as a beverage package. Most cruise lines are now using mobile apps that allow you to check in prior to arriving at the terminal. If you don’t plan on using the app, be sure to arrive with a printed copy of your boarding pass….having one will speed up the check-in process on boarding day. If , for some reason you arrive without aContinueContinue reading “Sail Smoothly: Must-Have Cruise Documents and Boarding Advice”