Cruising to Alaska/Stopping in Victoria

[PekingeseLady]

My question can I get off the ship in Victoria, Canada if I am traveling without a passport.  I booked this cruise last minute and am traveling with our birth certificates and DL's. 

 

Thanks in advance :-))

[Aesop081]

The Government of Canada website states, "If you are a citizen of the United States, you need a passport to fly to or transit through a Canadian airport, but not to enter Canada by land or by boat. You must carry proof of your citizenship, such as a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization, or a Certificate of Indian Status, as well as photo identification. If you are a permanent resident of Canada or the U.S, you should bring your Permanent Resident Card with you. If you are a member of a Trusted Traveller program, see Visitors to Canada."

 

The Dept. of Homeland Security web site states " U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same U.S. port) are able to enter the United States with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. Please be aware that you may still be required to present a passport to enter the countries your cruise ship is visiting. Check with your cruise line to ensure you have the appropriate documents..

 

So I guess you have it all set.  So long as the cruise line doesn't have it's own little rules.

 

If you have one (a passport) why not bring it...they're not big.

 

P.S.   welcome to Victoria, you're going to love it here!  BTW I'll be in the crowd waiting to get on the Ruby when you return from your trip.  I'll wave...lol

Edited January 29, 2019 by Aesop081

[gdisney]

We've only ever taken our driver's license (and cruise card) when getting off in Victoria, and have not had an issue.

[Colo Cruiser]

Even though you can enter Victoria without one you still have 2 months to get a PP. Just sayin.

It is nice to have.

 

 

[PekingeseLady]

I do plan on getting a Passport this summer, but since this was to Alaska, I thought I might just put it off a bit, lol

[Qcruise]

We took a cruise and were there this past September.......ported all day in Victoria with no issues getting back on board with only cruise cards.......you'll have a twenty minute walk into town or fishermans warf area......we walked it.

[Pierlesscruisers]

On 1/29/2019 at 11:50 AM, PekingeseLady said:

My question can I get off the ship in Victoria, Canada if I am traveling without a passport.  I booked this cruise last minute and am traveling with our birth certificates and DL's. 

 

Thanks in advance :-))

 

Yes, you can get off in Victoria even if you don't have a passport. Your birth certificate will be sufficient. If you're allowed to get on the ship at the start of the cruise, you will be able to get off in Victoria. Even if you are from a country who is required to have a Canadian visa to go on the cruise (such as India, Belarus or Chinaa or one of the other 146 countries that have to have one) you'll be able to get off the ship and go into town. Even if you are from one of those countries who have to have a Canadian visa you will not have to get your passport to go into town.  I say that last statement because those people will have their passports taken from them at check-in and will be held by the ship until after the Canadian officials come onto the ship when it comes into Victoria and be checking those passports while everybody is off in Victoria.

 

Tom