Passport/Visa Question:

[ScottyZkaaayk]

Hey everyone, first time cruiser here. (Also brand new to CruiseCritic!)

 

Best friend and I will be cruising on the Carnival Sensation in September of this year (2017).

 

I know that you are required to have a government issued photo ID and your birth certificate prior to boarding but are you required to have both the passport and Visa as well? If not, what is the difference between the two?

 

Thanks for all your help!

[sanger727]

If you are a US citizen traveling on a closed loop (you begin and end at the same port) Caribbean cruise you can cruise with either:

 

1. A government issued ID AND a birth certificate

OR

2. A passport

 

You need either or, not both. If you are traveling abroad some countries require a visa. This does not apply to any stops on a Caribbean cruise. Now if you start cruising South America, Africa, Australia, or Asia you may start getting into ports that will require a passport and visas.

 

A passport is a document issued by the US (assuming u r a us citizen still) proving you are a US citizen. Outside if the closed loop Caribbean cruise exemption and some other exemptions related to land/sea travel around North America; another country won't let you in without seeing your passport. They want to know where you are from and that you are able to go back there. Ultimately though the main purpose of your passport is to get back into the US by proving you are a citizen.

 

A visa is a document (or e document) issued by the country you are traveling to granting you permission to go to that country. They often carry a fee. Some are basically automatic and can be issued upon arrival at the airport and some require a complicated application process. If you are traveling internationally it's your job to check if you need a visa for any of the countries you go to. Again, in general as a US citizen you don't need to get a visa for anything in North America (including Caribbean - except for Cuba) or Europe (at least not in UK or EU countries). Many countries that do require visas waive that requirement for a cruise stop since you are only there for less than a day.

 

 

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Edited February 11, 2017 by sanger727

[ScottyZkaaayk]

If you are a US citizen traveling on a closed loop (you begin and end at the same port) Caribbean cruise you can cruise with either:

 

1. A government issued ID AND a birth certificate

OR

2. A passport

 

You need either or, not both. If you are traveling abroad some countries require a visa. This does not apply to any stops on a Caribbean cruise. Now if you start cruising South America, Africa, Australia, or Asia you may start getting into ports that will require a passport and visas.

 

A passport is a document issued by the US (assuming u r a us citizen still) proving you are a US citizen. Outside if the closed loop Caribbean cruise exemption and some other exemptions related to land/sea travel around North America; another country won't let you in without seeing your passport. They want to know where you are from and that you are able to go back there. Ultimately though the main purpose of your passport is to get back into the US by proving you are a citizen.

 

A visa is a document (or e document) issued by the country you are traveling to granting you permission to go to that country. They often carry a fee. Some are basically automatic and can be issued upon arrival at the airport and some require a complicated application process. If you are traveling internationally it's your job to check if you need a visa for any of the countries you go to. Again, in general as a US citizen you don't need to get a visa for anything in North America (including Caribbean - except for Cuba) or Europe (at least not in UK or EU countries). Many countries that do require visas waive that requirement for a cruise stop since you are only there for less than a day.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Okay, thank you so much; you really helped a lot! I appreciate it.