FirstTimeCruisette

Sorry. I never noticed the "special Groups" section on the site. I am new to this you guys. I'll shut up now.

Time and MONEY and if she doesn't have $135 for a passport, how will she come up with the cash for one while she's in a foreign country (ie $250 once you factor in all the expediting costs) plus airfare and everything else?

These are all things that I have considered but I do have family in Bermuda so that's the difference between having a place to stay in case of emergency (while waiting for a passport). As stated before, not traveling with a passport is a chance I'm willing to take. I know very well the risks involved with not traveling with a passport.

My main purpose for signing up with CruiseCritic.com was to help me answer some questions, in this case being "Do I need a passport to cruise to Bermuda." Almost all of you have said that I do not and have lead me to some government issued information and sites to check out.

One thing that continues to be most confusing to me comes from the Western Hempishere Travel Initiative's website. This site states

"Starting June 1, 2009, U.S. citizens returning home from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda, by land or sea, are required to present one of the travel documents listed below.

U.S. Passport – This is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies a person’s identity and nationality. It is accepted for travel by air, land and sea.

U.S. Passport Card – This is a new, limited-use travel document that fits in your wallet and costs less than a

U.S. Passport. It is only valid for travel by land and sea.

Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) – Several states

and Canadian provinces are issuing this driver’s license

or identification document that denotes identity and citizenship. It is specifically designed for cross-border travel into the U.S. by land or sea.

Trusted Traveler Program Cards – Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST enrollment cards can speed your entry into the U.S. and are issued only to pre-approved, low-risk travelers. The cards are valid for use at land or sea; the NEXUS card can be used in airports with a NEXUS kiosk."

Basically this is saying I need a passport or passport card to return home by land OR sea. Now, wouldn't that apply to me? What I don't understand (and really hoping someone can help me with this) is, if the WHTI states that I need a passport/passport card to return home by Sea, why would the cruise line not tell me that? The cruise line told me I only need a BC and ID. Or is this information voided for a closed-loop cruise because the WHTI site does not say anything about closed-loop cruises.

Someone please help! I need a straightforward answer because if I absolutely NEED a passport, I need to get one ASAP as my cruise is in May.

You can take 3 or 4 night cruise for under $300. A new passport costs a minimum of $135...about half of the cost of the cruise...a huge percentage increase in the cost. It certainly could mean the difference between affording the cruise and not.

It made a huge difference for me. I know that it's smarter to have a passport for emergency reasons and just in general. But, I am taking advantage of the fact that I don't need a passport with this closed loop cruise. If I needed a passport, I wouldn't have been able to afford the trip. Being a college student, I live on a budget and without a passport, I could afford this trip. If I were to have to get a passport, it would mean the difference of me not going because I wouldn't have as much time to save up for the other cost's of the trip. It's really just a huge convenience for myself. Once again, I'm not against Passports, it's just incredibly convenient for me that I don't need one for this cruise.

I know I'm beating a dead horse here but... on Bermuda's website it say's...

"Residents of the United States, including infants and children, must have a valid U.S. passport to return to the country."

But that doesn't apply to me because I'm part of a closed-loop cruise, correct? I'm assuming that's just for air travel. I just don't want to board the boat back home and not be able to re-enter the U.S. because I don't have a passport. I know I'm probably all set but I just really want to be 100% sure!!!

Yes, NCL doesn't impose anything beyond the minimum legal requirement of a birth certificate and drivers license. The same is true for the other large mass market cruise lines including Royal Caribbean, Carnival and others. quote]

 

Have you traveled with Norweigan? Did you like it?

However, the cruise line actually can decide to impose a requirement that's more stringent than the minimum requirement imposed by law, so in theory it can say you're required to have a passport to cruise on their ship even if the law only requires a birth certificate and drivers license.

I'm sure it won't be long before all cruise lines adopt this policy. I'm traveling on the Norweigan and they specifically told me that all I need is a Birth Certificate and I.D. so I'll go with that!

Ok so regardless, I'm thinking about just getting a Passport ard. That will suffice because it's for land and sea travel so at least I know I'll be fine for the cruise that is. I know if an emergency occured I would be out of luck without a passport but like I said, that's a chance I'm willing to take.

But it would be of major importance to those traveling without a passport who come under the terms of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, a law of the United States.

 

So those are the people who would care because it will determine whether or not they are allowed to board the ship for their cruise.

Correct. But doesn't it depend on the cruise line? Because the Cruise line said all I need to board is a Certified Birth Certificate and Drivers License and also that because we're staying in the Western Hempishphere on a closed-loop cruise, that's why I don't need one.

I'm sorry for all the posts. I didn't mean to upset anybody about posting so much. I just signed up with this website for some answers from the people who have experience in cruising and for those who may have the same questions as me.

In the opinion of many travelers, it is better to have a passport. Then you won't have to worry about "what if.........". And, why on earth would anyone want to get details on what hemisphere they are sailing in? Oh my!

I think it's smarter to just have a passport of course, but my trip to Bermuda via Cruise was very last minute and funds wise I can't afford a passport. I know I don't need one but I just wanted to make sure FOR SURE I didn't for my trip.

Lucky for me, I have a relative that lives in Bermuda so even though I'm taking my chances (say, if I had an emergency and needed a passport) I would have a place to stay.

Yes that's just by air. The cruise requirements are exactly as have been stated. Exceptions for cruise passengers are common...in fact universally so in the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexico.

Okay, thank you! It's so difficult because all these websites say different things for traveling. One say's you need a passport, another say's you dont. It's quite annoying.

Thanks everyone! You have been very helpful.

TravelState.gov also says....

"ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR U.S. CITIZENS: All persons travelling between the United States and Bermuda are required to present a passport to enter Bermuda or re-enter the United States. Travelers with questions concerning travel to Bermuda may contact the British Embassy in Washington DC or any one of the British Consulate Generals across the U.S. Visit the British Embassy website for the most current visa information."

I'm assuming that's just by air?

On the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Site it states:

"U.S. citizens who board a cruise ship at a port within the United States, travel only within the Western Hemisphere, and return to the same U.S. port on the same ship may present a government issued photo identification, along with proof of citizenship (an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization). Please be aware that you may still be required to present a passport to enter the foreign countries your cruise ship is visiting. Check with your cruise line to ensure you have the appropriate documents."

When I talked to Norweigan Cruise line, they said that I shouldn't need a passport to enter. Has anyone been to Bermuda recently and know for sure that you don't need one? Because it really depends on location.

Do not take any advice from that person in the future.

I will be sure not to, Johneeo!

Thank you for all your posts. I don't have a passport so I just wanted to make sure I would be all set. I understand that I would need a passport in case of emergency like to fly home - but that's a risk I am willing to take.

I know that I don't need one to board the ship. But I just wanted to make sure they didn't require that I have one to get on the island (they as in Bermuda). The only reason why I was confused was because someone told me that Bermuda wouldn't allow me to leave the ship without one. I really don't understand where they got that information from.

Welcome to Cruise Critic,

 

The only situation where you could need a passport is if air travel became necessary. I.e. if you missed the ship's sail-a-way out of Boston you would need a passport to fly to Bermuda to meet the ship. Likewise if you wanted to leave the cruise early while docked in Bermuda (i.e. family member becoming sick, injury etc.) it would not be possible to fly back home early without a passport. So long as an emergency such as this does not arise, you will not need a passport. As for the birth certificate please make sure it is an official government issued birth certificate and not the certificate of birth that hospitals sometimes hand out.[/quote]

 

Yes! I have a Certified Birth Certificate with a raised seal! Thanks for your wonderful information.

Thanks everyone. My reason for posting was peace of mind. I figured I didn't need a Passport to get on the island but someone recently told me that it changed and they checked for a passport before you could get on the island. It confused me so much. So, I wanted to make sure! Oh and, I'm not sure where that person got their information!

Great. Thank you!

Hello all,

As you can tell by my username, this is my first cruise experience! I'm going to Bermuda on a cruise in May and it's leaving from Boston and coming back to Boston (closed-loop) so my cruise line does not require a Passport. So, I'm taking my certified Birth Certificate and Drivers License with me to board.

My question: Do I need a passport to leave the ship to go onto the island (Bermuda) or do they just check a photo ID? I don't want to cruise to Bermuda if I can't explore the island!

Thanks! :)