Foreign travellers and passport control

[chrisuletz]

Hi, we'll go on our first ever cruise with a couple of friends (also their first time) who are not American citizens - just have temporary visas. Do they check for passports when you disembark in ports? Because there's quite a short time to get in touch with all the embassies and check on visa requirements.

 

The ship will stop in Cozumel (Mexico), Grand Cayman, Belize and Honduras. My thinking is that they won't actually check for passports... that would slow disembarkation too much. And honestly, once someone is in US, why would they pay the full price of a cruise just to defect to Mexico or Honduras, when there are easier and cheaper ways?

 

But can someone enlighten me?

[sail7seas]

Passports and any required Visas are checked at the time you check in at the ship. If a guest's documents are not in order and they do not have all requirements met for every port the ship will stop, the guest will be denied boarding.

 

You don't say where your friends are citizens. They may not need any visas for the ports you are visiting.

 

Be sure your friends have all required travel documents or they won't be traveling on the ship.

[wrp96]

They will check when you are boarding the ship at the beginning to make sure they have the appropriate documents to visit all your ports. If you don't have them, they will deny you boarding at the beginning of the cruise.

[chrisuletz]

Thanks for the replies, but what if they'd have a problem with only one port? Mexico says your passport must be valid for 6 months after the day of entry... and one of their expires in 3 months.

[boulders]

I cruised on my Canadian passport which had 3 months left on it, but I had a green card and was in the middle of getting U.S. citizenship. So, even though my passport was not sufficiently up to date, my green card was. This was 4 years ago. Don't they need a valid passport to keep their visa valid?

 

There was someone who posted on cc a while ago who had travelled to South America to board a ship, but was denied boarding because they didn't have the proper visa to visit a second South American country that was on the itinerary. There were evidently quite a few U.S. citizens who were denied boarding.

[room010]

Thanks for the replies, but what if they'd have a problem with only one port? Mexico says your passport must be valid for 6 months after the day of entry... and one of their expires in 3 months.

 

The "6 month rule" is applies in many countries so they will have to renew the passport before they travel.

[Fattony]

This might help, regarding the U.S. at least: http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/niv/sixmonth.html

 

Overall, I'd suggest they get a new passport now. If they need a U.S. visa they should verify if it needs to be transferred or if they just need to carry both the old and new passports.

[paul929207]

Your friends need to be certain they will be allowed to enter EVERY country they will visit and be allowed to re-enter the US. If they do not meet these requirements, they will probably be denied boarding and receive NO refund.

[Betsy's Mom]

If Mexico says six months, Mexico means six months. It is their law, has nothing to do with US law. They can be denied boarding and you will sail without them. I have seen it happen on a flight!

B.

[WeBeGone]

Belize is a country that requires passports. Holland America requires even US citizens to have passports when the itinerary includes Belize. Your friends need to do their homework or they may be denied boarding.

[moniquet]

We are UK citizens and use the ship card in every port mentioned, including Belize. Just the same as US citizens.

 

I think the 6 month rule for passports may apply to the USA too.

[sail7seas]

The rules/laws apply to all.

The Officials don't want to hear anyone's tale of woe or lame explanations and excuses. They need to have current, valid documents exactly as specified by each country to be visited. They will not 'take pity' on them and waive them through.

 

The best answer here is your friends should get their paperwork in order or plan to not travel.

[kitty9]

Hi, we'll go on our first ever cruise with a couple of friends (also their first time) who are not American citizens - just have temporary visas. Do they check for passports when you disembark in ports? Because there's quite a short time to get in touch with all the embassies and check on visa requirements.

 

The ship will stop in Cozumel (Mexico), Grand Cayman, Belize and Honduras. My thinking is that they won't actually check for passports... that would slow disembarkation too much. And honestly, once someone is in US, why would they pay the full price of a cruise just to defect to Mexico or Honduras, when there are easier and cheaper ways?

 

But can someone enlighten me?

 

 

If your friends do not have all their visas and a passport that's valid for at least 6 months, they will not be allowed on the ship, and they will not get a refund of their cruise fare. Rules for non-US Citizens are very different for cruises, for example your friends will have their passports taken and kept by the cruise line and in each port the local agents will come on board and review those passports to see if they have the visas. The person checking in your friends at the embarkation terminal will check to see if everything is in order in terms of passport validation and visas, and if they don't have all the required things, they're out of luck.

 

And, they cannot just say that they won't get off the ship in those ports that require visas because once a person is in the territorial waters of a country, they are considered IN that country, regardless if they touch soil or not.

 

Your friends need to get a new passport and they need to get their visas, or else they won't be cruising.

[Donray]

If Mexico says six months' date=' Mexico means six months. It is their law, has nothing to do with US law. They can be denied boarding and you will sail without them. I have seen it happen on a flight!

B.[/quote']

 

Mexico does not care if you have a paasport if you walk across the broder or come by cruise ship.

[paul929207]

Also, travel insurance would not cover any losses due to lack of proper documents, so they would be out the cost of the cruise, and any other expenses.

[kitty9]

Mexico does not care if you have a paasport if you walk across the broder or come by cruise ship.

 

 

Sorry, but you are wrong on that, and requirements are different for citizens of countries other than the US. But, you cannot walk, fly or drive to Mexico without a passport, passport card, enhanced driver's license, Sentri or FAST card and you need those things even if you're a US citizen. It's the same for travel into and out of Canada---if you fly or drive to Canada you need a passport, passport card, enhanced driver's license, Nexus card, Sentri card or FAST.

[Aunty Pat]

Here is a link to the US State Department web site listing the entry requirements for all countries http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html

 

Aunty Pat

 

 

Barefoot Windjammer - Phantom ‘81

K&D German Rhine Line ‘84

NCL - Norway ’85, Pride of America ’05, Southward ’87, Star ’97 & ‘05, Starward ’92, Sun ’02 & Windward ’93

RCCL - Song of America ‘89

American Hawaiian - Independence ‘98

HAL - Volendam ’99, Noordam ’06, Oosterdam ’07 & ‘09, Statendam ’02 & ‘08, Prinsendam ’03 & ’06, Westerdam ‘09 & Zuiderdam ’04, ’06 & ’07

Carnival - Spirit ‘05

Celebrity – Summit ‘05

Cruise West - Yorktown Clipper ‘06

Princess - Golden Princess ‘07

A & K - East Queen ‘07

Cunard - QM2 ’08

Crystal – Serenity ‘09

[paul929207]

Here is a link to the US State Department web site listing the entry requirements for all countries http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html

 

Aunty Pat

 

 

Barefoot Windjammer - Phantom ‘81

K&D German Rhine Line ‘84

NCL - Norway ’85, Pride of America ’05, Southward ’87, Star ’97 & ‘05, Starward ’92, Sun ’02 & Windward ’93

RCCL - Song of America ‘89

American Hawaiian - Independence ‘98

HAL - Volendam ’99, Noordam ’06, Oosterdam ’07 & ‘09, Statendam ’02 & ‘08, Prinsendam ’03 & ’06, Westerdam ‘09 & Zuiderdam ’04, ’06 & ’07

Carnival - Spirit ‘05

Celebrity – Summit ‘05

Cruise West - Yorktown Clipper ‘06

Princess - Golden Princess ‘07

A & K - East Queen ‘07

Cunard - QM2 ’08

Crystal – Serenity ‘09

I believe this site only applies to US passport holders and what they need to enter other countries.

[bluesea777]

There was someone who posted on cc a while ago who had travelled to South America to board a ship, but was denied boarding because they didn't have the proper visa to visit a second South American country that was on the itinerary. There were evidently quite a few U.S. citizens who were denied boarding.

 

Yes, the country on the itinerary was Brazil - this is the country where US citizens need to obtain visas BEFORE they can go there.

[njhorseman]

I believe this site only applies to US passport holders and what they need to enter other countries.

 

Correct.

[Donray]

Sorry, but you are wrong on that, and requirements are different for citizens of countries other than the US. But, you cannot walk, fly or drive to Mexico without a passport, passport card, enhanced driver's license, Sentri or FAST card and you need those things even if you're a US citizen. It's the same for travel into and out of Canada---if you fly or drive to Canada you need a passport, passport card, enhanced driver's license, Nexus card, Sentri card or FAST.

 

You are wrong; you are discussing the requirement to get into the USA.

Mexico does not require anyone walking into Mexico to have a passport.

How often have you walked into Mexico? I have done it at least 20 times in the last five years. Mexican officials don't even ask for any identification.

You are mixing up what is required to get back into the USA from Mexico or Canada with what either Mexico or Canada require to enter their county.

[njhorseman]

You are wrong; you are discussing the requirement to get into the USA.

 

Mexico does not require anyone walking into Mexico to have a passport.

 

How often have you walked into Mexico? I have done it at least 20 times in the last five years. Mexican officials don't even ask for any identification.

 

You are mixing up what is required to get back into the USA from Mexico or Canada with what either Mexico or Canada require to enter their county.

 

Looks like there may have been a change in the rules on March 1:

 

http://portal.sre.gob.mx/usa/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=111&op=page&SubMenu=

Effective March 1, 2010 U.S. citizens traveling to Mexico as tourists must present a valid passport or passport card to the immigration authority at the point of entry to Mexico.

 

U.S. citizens living in the border area with Mexico may cross the border without these documents. Nevertheless, they should present them if they are traveling 20 miles or more, beyond the border into Mexico, in the designated checkpoints.

 

U.S. citizens entering Mexico by sea may enter without such documents if they are visiting port towns for a short visit. They should present a valid passport or passport card if they travel beyond these port towns.

[fann1sh]

The OP and friends appear to be travelling on Carnival Valor April 18.

 

Whether the friends can get their renewed passports before sail date will depend on what citizenship they hold. Plenty of time to get a Canadian passport renewal...but...the turnaround time for other countries can be quite different (talk about stating the obvious, huh?)

[Cruise or Lose!]

Since it appears that the OP has not returned to the discussion, they may ignore the advice they have received here and try their luck (press their luck?) anyway. They'll find out they're wrong the hard way...:-|

[kitty9]

You are wrong; you are discussing the requirement to get into the USA.

Mexico does not require anyone walking into Mexico to have a passport.

How often have you walked into Mexico? I have done it at least 20 times in the last five years. Mexican officials don't even ask for any identification.

You are mixing up what is required to get back into the USA from Mexico or Canada with what either Mexico or Canada require to enter their county.

 

Sorry, but there was a major change as of March 1, 2010. You most certainly DO need a passport, passport card or the enhanced drivers license to get INTO Mexico unless you're on a cruise and not venturing farther than a certain number of miles.