Cruises provide an exciting and often economic way to see the world. But what are the passport requirements when you go on a cruise? Do you need to take a passport with you, or can you turn up at the port without one? This is not such a clear-cut area, so read on to find out just what you need to take with you when you go on your dream cruise.

Open and Closed-Loop Cruises
There are two types of cruise: open loop and closed loop. An open-loop cruise is where the cruise starts in one place and finishes somewhere else. A closed-loop cruise is where the cruise starts and ends in the same US port.

What are the implications for you?

Well, if you go on an open-loop cruise you will almost certainly need a passport. But if you go on a closed-loop cruise a passport may not be necessary.

Closed-Loop Cruises
On a closed-loop cruise that stops off at countries in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) you are able to embark and debark in the US with nothing more than a photo ID (such as a driving license) and proof of citizenship (a birth certificate). For the other countries you visit you will normally just need to provide proof of US citizenship to disembark.

However, it is up to you to find out which countries on your cruise do not require a passport and which of them do. Remember that situations can change quite suddenly and you may find yourself experiencing problems if you fail to have a valid passport in your possession.

More Reasons to Take a Passport
Just because you don't require a passport to leave or reenter the US on board the cruise, there are situations where you may need one. For example, if you enter the country by air then a passport is required. Even if you are not planning on flying back to the US, you may face some emergency that means you have to return by air, and you don't want to face any delays upon arrival.

Passports: Your Responsibility
You should remember that the only person responsible for your travel documentation is you. Cruises will not hold any responsibility if you fail to take the right documentation and end up getting into difficulties. Cruises are a great way to see the world, but you still need to do some planning before you leave. If you don't want to take a passport then this means researching which countries require a passport and which do not. Remember that it's your job to find out about the current situation.

Be Safe: Take a Passport
The general advice is to always take a passport with you if you plan to go on a cruise, whether open loop or closed loop. All the major cruise companies recommend this, because you just never know what's going to happen. At least if you have a passport you won't have to worry about what will happen in the event that you need one. So apply for your passport and enjoy a worry-free cruise.

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