Closed-Loop Cruises Do Not Require Passports

While I think a passport is one of those required life documents, and one that you should have long before you need it, there is an exemption for cruise passengers that many people may not be aware of.  It’s called the “Closed Loop” exemption, and is a refinement of an existing definition regarding cruises that depart and return from the same U.S. port.

Here’s how it works:

• If your cruise itinerary originates and terminates in the Unites States, and only visits contiguous territories or adjacent islands, you are not required to have a passport for travel.
• This applies for ships visiting Canada, Mexico (contiguous territories) and 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 (adjacent islands).
• Passengers on closed-loop cruises still have to have two forms of official ID:  a valid (not expired), government issued photo ID (like a drivers license) along with proof of citizenship (birth certificate).

Many cruises leaving from the U.S. are closed loop, but remember – it must DEPART and RETURN to the same US port.  If it’s a different port (i.e., going through the Panama Canal from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles) or begins or ends outside of the U.S. (i.e., Los Angeles to Acapulco), a passport is still required.

I still think that getting a passport is an important thing to do, but with so many last minute cruise bargains out there, not having one doesn’t have to keep you from snapping up a great deal.

Photo credit:  SXC