Will I need our passports when getting off in Caribbean ports? (Canadian citizenship)

[robtulipe]

In the Caribbean and most other ports that doesn't require a passport I always use my last, therefore expired driver's license as the port security, even if they ask for government ID, aren't concerned about if it's current. They just check if the name is the same as the one on your ship's card and the photo is of you.

One could also use an expired passport so if either it or the DL were lost it wouldn't be a major concern to me.

I just renewed my DL so the photo is now only 5 years out of date.

[robtulipe]

You don't even need a passport on a closed loop Caribbean cruise

That only applies to American for close loop Caribbean cruise out of a US port. American who cruise from a non-American Caribbean port even if it's a closed loop need a passport. We've done cruises out of Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Aruba that had American on them.

Canadians, which the OP is and other nationalities must have a valid passport to board the ship even if it is a closed loop one from a US port which usually isn't an added burden as one is needed to enter the US by air anyway.

Even if a Canadian or Mexican does their entry to the US by land with other acceptable ID, enhance DL, nexus, etc., they still need to have a valid passport to cruise.

Edited November 20, 2016 by robtulipe

[Langley Cruisers]

I think this thread is taking a bit of a beeline (as threads will do! LOL) but OP's question was answered early on, so I hope they won't worry about it. The latter replies might be confusing to someone who asked the simple question:

 

We have Canadian citizenship so we will require our passports in the various islands when disembarking? (Antigua, Aruba, Bonaire, St. Kitts, Nassau, San Juan)

 

And the answer is NO, you do not. Have done it many times without incident or problem. :)

[cruisinfanatic]

That only applies to American for close loop Caribbean cruise out of a US port. American who cruise from a non-American Caribbean port even if it's a closed loop need a passport. We've done cruises out of Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Aruba that had American on them.

Canadians, which the OP is and other nationalities must have a valid passport to board the ship even if it is a closed loop one from a US port which usually isn't an added burden as one is needed to enter the US by air anyway.

Even if a Canadian or Mexican does their entry to the US by land with other acceptable ID, enhance DL, nexus, etc., they still need to have a valid passport to cruise.

And no American can get to those places without a passport to begin with

[jaspercat]

I think this thread is taking a bit of a beeline (as threads will do! LOL) but OP's question was answered early on, so I hope they won't worry about it. The latter replies might be confusing to someone who asked the simple question:

 

 

 

And the answer is NO, you do not. Have done it many times without incident or problem. :)

 

Karen, it's definitely taking a nose dive:D.

 

To the OP -- the correct answer has been posted earlier -- have a great cruise!

[lucywestie]

Logged back in today and the thread really took off!

 

Thanks for all the responses from the "strangers" lol.

 

Only cruised Alaska and west coast before so this is all great info

[robtulipe]

And no American can get to those places without a passport to begin with

It's not those Caribbean places, most anyway, that require American have a passport. It's the USA that require all have a passport to enter by air including their own citizens. :D

[mollyeilis]

Your right it doesn't say passport but what other document do you think that the majority of people would be travelling with that proves their citizenship?

 

It said photo ID *or* something that proves citizenship.

 

I brought up a Compass page from a day in Sint Maarten, and it said the same thing. And almost everyone around was disembarking with a driver's license. Not passports. Even the ones with non-American accents. :)

[cruisinfanatic]

It's not those Caribbean places, most anyway, that require American have a passport. It's the USA that require all have a passport to enter by air including their own citizens. :D

Didn't say it was. You just can't fly to those places without a passport

[Ken at the beach]

I've never seen Royal recommend that you keep your passports in your safe.

 

In the cruise compass on port days it states, "Bring your picture identification or proof of citizenship and seapass card"

 

It said photo ID *or* something that proves citizenship.

 

I brought up a Compass page from a day in Sint Maarten, and it said the same thing. And almost everyone around was disembarking with a driver's license. Not passports. Even the ones with non-American accents. :)

 

You need go to back and read all the posts starting at post 17 to get the context of the discussion as I did quote directly from the cruise compass.

[KuffMUp]

I believe it was in Nassau we had to show our passports to get back on the ship. A couple in front of us didn't have theirs and had a hard time getting back on. I believe it was in the Cruise Compass that informed us we HAD to have our passports to re-board. That was the only time we had to do that.

[robtulipe]

I believe it was in Nassau we had to show our passports to get back on the ship. A couple in front of us didn't have theirs and had a hard time getting back on. I believe it was in the Cruise Compass that informed us we HAD to have our passports to re-board. That was the only time we had to do that.

We've been on cruise stops to Nassau and the Bahamas many times and all that was required to get off and on the ship was government issued photo ID and your ship's card. The cruise line provided the Bahamian Customs and immigration with the passengers information and Americans don't even need a passport for a closed loop cruie that stops there out of a US port.

There are a few countries that require a visitor to have their passport with them at all times but the Bahamas is not one of these.

Edited November 21, 2016 by robtulipe

[KuffMUp]

Out of 18 ports I have been on, I have had to have my passport at 2. One was in Canada and the other in the Caribbean. I thought it was odd that we were told to take it but we did and the people in front of us getting back on board didn't have theirs and were given quite a bit of grief. I didn't think they would get back on the way they were being grilled. They asked to have one of them re-board to retrieve the passports and bring them back. After several minutes (less than 5 but still too much) they were allowed to re-board. Perhaps it was a one time thing and it was the first time I saw it in the CC to take it.