Visa Requirements

[wwjd1947]

We are going on a Panama Canal cruise in March and stopping at Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Guatemala.  Do we need visas for any of these countries?

Thanks for any info.

[CruiserBruce]

That might depend on what country you are a citizen of...

 

Generally no, but a passport is required.

[wwjd1947]

Thanks.  Forgot to mention we are US citizens.

[LHT28]

 a good  site  to check for  information on requirements

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages.html

[njhorseman]

1 hour ago, wwjd1947 said:

We are going on a Panama Canal cruise in March and stopping at Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Guatemala.  Do we need visas for any of these countries?

Thanks for any info.

 

53 minutes ago, wwjd1947 said:

Thanks.  Forgot to mention we are US citizens.

 

No visas are required for US citizens. We've visited those countries on cruises a couple of times and are doing so again this winter.

[njhorseman]

36 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

 a good  site  to check for  information on requirements

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages.html

Unfortunately the US State Department website is very weak with regard to travel documentation required for cruisers. There are times when cruisers have less stringent requirements than other visitors to foreign countries as cruisers are often considered to be "in transit" when making a port call. The State Department often does not reflect that distinction when listing documentation requirements.

[zqvol]

Visas are not required for cruise passengers, and depending on starting and ending points OP may be able to cruise with a birth certificate and government issued photo ID.

[diane.in.ny]

13 hours ago, zqvol said:

Visas are not required for cruise passengers, and depending on starting and ending points OP may be able to cruise with a birth certificate and government issued photo ID.

 

While I agree that your statement is accurate, I always recommend a passport. 

 

If something happens and the OP has to fly home before the end of the cruise, I believe a passport will be required for re-entry into the US. 

[bob brown]

AFAIK, the only country in the entire western hemisphere requiring a visa from a US citizen is Brazil....

[lisiamc]

7 minutes ago, bob brown said:

AFAIK, the only country in the entire western hemisphere requiring a visa from a US citizen is Brazil....

What about Cuba?  

[bob brown]

4 minutes ago, lisiamc said:

What about Cuba?  

Oops...you're correct...need one there, too....

[lisiamc]

I think those are the only two, though.  I guess cruises that call at Cuba or Brazil are not included in the closed loop thing?  

Edited December 6, 2018 by lisiamc

[LHT28]

1 hour ago, lisiamc said:

What about Cuba?  

it is  a Tourist card

& most lines will provide one for  a fee

[Go-Bucks!]

17 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

it is  a Tourist card

& most lines will provide one for  a fee

 

What's the difference?  The cruiseline called it a visa when we went there last year.  The Cuban immigration people collected it from us when we arrived at the last port and gave us what they called a "tourist card" to carry around.  This was then turned back in to them when we left that last port.

[LHT28]

14 minutes ago, Go-Bucks! said:

 

What's the difference?  The cruiseline called it a visa when we went there last year.  The Cuban immigration people collected it from us when we arrived at the last port and gave us what they called a "tourist card" to carry around.  This was then turned back in to them when we left that last port.

https://www.howtotraveltocuba.com/cuban-tourist-card-and-visas/