bthorn1108

Passports are required to fly into or out of US territory. The only exception is the close loop cruises which really are the vast majority of cruises. Are passports needed for such cruises? The answer is no. The authorities after careful consideration have determined that passports are not required for this type of cruise because the risks to the US are very low. Think about it. The person is already in the US on this type of cruise and is merely coming back in. The manifest of all the names on the cruise is submitted to Homeland security. DHS decided that our safety is not compromised by such an exception and this was a Bush era exception I believe. I won't lose sleep over this exception and if it means some more people will cruise its ok with me personally but others can reasonably disagree.

I don't disagree with the information you have provided, however, are you aware of the new definition of a closed loop cruise? Any port stops to a Central American country (Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, Colombia, or Panama), disqualify the cruise from this exception, they are not considered closed loop cruises.

This amended definition of a closed loop cruise was made on 12/22/08, and has not been widely discussed. Even the cruiselines are not aware of it yet. However, many of their itineraries go to Belize and Honduras.

Will things change between now and June 1 as far as this definition goes, who knows. However, if you have a cruise planned that visits any of the ports I have mentioned, you may want to check with your local passport office, to verify if you will need one.

you don't need a passport if its a roundtrip to the same final US port. If its a one way to another US port you do...or a foreign port you are going to fly back from.

This information has been updated by the Customs and Border Protection Dept. I have copied/pasted a copy of a FAQ that address "closed loop cruises".

Closed Loop Voyages- Frequently Asked Questions

(12/22/2008) A “closed loop” voyage or itinerary occurs when a vessel departs from a U.S. port or place and returns to the same U.S. port upon completion of the voyage. Initially, the definition of “closed loop” came from the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) rule making process. Per the WHTI Land and Sea Final Rule, travelers on “closed loop” voyages are not subject to the same documentary requirements for entry to the United States as other travelers.

Q: Is this definition the same as what is being used for the modified processing of cruise passengers?

A: No. The definition was further refined to be in compliance with our statute and regulations.

Q: What is the definition of closed loop in the context of modified processing of cruise passengers?

A: Closed-loop cruises are defined as U.S. based cruises with itineraries that both originate and terminate in the United States, returning from contiguous territories or adjacent islands.

Q: What does contiguous territories or adjacent islands mean?

A: Contiguous Territories are any country sharing a common boundary with the United States. Canada and Mexico are contiguous to the United States.

Adjacent Islands as follows: Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Marie-Galantine, Martinique, Miquelon, Montserrat, Saba, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Christopher, Saint Eustatius, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Maarten, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and other British, French and Netherlands territory or possessions bordering on the Caribbean Sea.

Q: How was it determined that these locations are “Adjacent Islands”?

A: Adjacent Islands are defined by statutes and regulation. (Immigration and Nationality Act § 101(b)(5) and 8 Code of Federal Regulations §286.1).

Q: Why was the “contiguous territories or adjacent islands” added to the definition of “closed loop” for modified processing of cruise passengers?

A: The modified processing of cruise passengers includes utilizing the I-94W issued as a multiple use document for the readmission of VWP visitors after departure to contiguous territory or adjacent islands. See 8 C.F.R. § 217.3(b).

Q: Which definition is applicable to the Electronic Travel Authorization (ESTA) process for closed loop cruises?

A: It has been determined that the requirement for verification of an ESTA authorization is not required for cruise itineraries meeting the definition of closed loop, as utilized for the modified processing of cruise passengers.

Since this information is not very clear, and I have a cruise scheduled going to Belize and Roatan, I decided to go directly to the source and ask my question. Below is my question and their reply.

Customer 03/26/2009 09:45 AM

There has been much confusion lately about which documentation is required for a cruise, which leaves and returns to the Port of Miami. One particular itinerary I had in mind was one which visits the Island of Roatan and Belize City. They are not included on the list of "Adjacent Islands", so I am unsure if a passport is required for a cruise with includes these port stops. Please advise.

Response (Andrea) 04/01/2009 07:19 AM

Assuming you are a US Citizen.

The Island of Roatan and Belize City are not in the Western Hemisphere and therefore you will not be on a closed loop cruise. You will be required to have a valid US passport for sea travel.

I assume since Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia are not on the list of "Adjacent Islands", this would apply to cruises that include those port stops also. I hope this helps clarify the issue.

As stated sailing 2/10 cabin 5222. Noticed some mentions about the balconies on this ship as they seem to be terraced, so what is the deal with them, the wife is becoming worried , this is second cruise we did the Glory on feb 07, loved sleeping with balcony door open at night. Also has anyone been in the cabins just above the lifeboats, can you see over them. New to board, lurked for a while, but glad to be here.:D

 

 

 

We are in a cabin on the deck just over the lifeboats, those are the category 7A cabins. I haven't seen it yet, but I've seen pictures and the life boat doesn't even come up to the top of the plexiglass. Therefore, if you're sitting down, you probably cannot see anything but lifeboat, but if you stand up, you can definitely see over the rail.

Fee for service babysitting is available in Camp Carnival from 10:00 pm until 2:00 am. Otherwise, your child is to young to be left at Camp Carnival. In cabin babysitting is not available.

While I would not consider cave tubing strenuous, I would not recommend it for a pregnant woman, regardless of how far along she is. It can get very hot and humid and there are areas on the walk through the rainforest that can become VERY slippery. While I have never fallen, I have slipped several times and I wouldn't want to take the chance if pregnant.

CRUZN BUCKEYE - 0HIO

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JBHCW-Jane-North Carolina

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ahoys-only one ahoy--Kathy from Florida

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bthorn1108 - Florida (by way of Massachusetts)