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For example, let’s imagine you are sailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, rather than Seattle, and you are cruising. To reach the cruise port, you will therefore need to travel to Canada by rail, automobile, or airplane. No, in most circumstances, although it’s still very strongly advised.Unfortunately, nothing is clear-cut. I’ll go over the specifics later, but in summary, traveling to Alaska via ship is far simpler when you have a passport.
Booking an Alaska cruise? Know your cruise lines and best time to go - USA TODAY
Booking an Alaska cruise? Know your cruise lines and best time to go.
Posted: Sat, 27 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Departure Ports
Remember though, if an emergency should happen and you need to fly back to the U.S. from Canada, unless there’s some kind of work-around, you will need a U.S. passport to re-enter the United States. Let’s break it down to the different cruises and itineraries. However, checking with the cruise lines is always a good idea, as some may have different requirements.
Do You Need a Passport When Cruising to Alaska?
Closed-loop cruises travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda but start and end at the same U.S. homeport. However, there are some caveats you'll need to know about ID requirements. When traveling to Alaska you will need to bring one of the below documents with you. U.S. citizens traveling to and from U.S. ports are required to travel with at least one Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative compliant document.
APPLYING FOR A VISA
Total cost of visas will be clearly listed for you on the downloadable instruction form located on the Visa Central site. Consular fees are subject to change without advance notice at any time by various governments. Please note that whether or not you choose to use Visa Central, consular fees must be paid to the consulate for completion of your visa. Whether you’re a U.S. citizen or a traveler from abroad, having the right identification is not just a formality; it’s necessary for a smooth and enjoyable journey. Also, carefully check the cruise line regulations you choose for your Alaska trip. However, most cruises from Seattle through Alaska Inside Passage have stop in Vicotria, Canada.
U.S. regulations pertaining to required travel documents are updated frequently. The information provided here is meant to offer some guidelines for travel, but please note that these details may not be complete. To be sure you have the latest information, check with your agent or the proper authorities (such as your local immigration office) before your cruise to make sure you have the proper documentation.
Accepted Identification for U.S. Citizens & Permanent Residents
Imagine facing a medical emergency that requires you to disembark in a foreign country for treatment. Without a passport, not only will you face difficulties with local authorities, but re-entry into the U.S. will also become a complicated process. Without a passport, your options for shore excursions are severely limited. Many Alaska cruises offer excursions that cross into Canadian territory, and without a passport, you’ll have to skip these adventures. When you’re cruising to Alaska, proper identification is more than just a formality—it’s a necessity.
The surprising takeaway from a recent study on the best time to cruise to Alaska
A passport is required for land and air travel into Canada. As a Canadian citizen, you might not need a passport book if your cruise is a closed-loop, returning to the same port. Children under 19 can use these same documents only if they are traveling with a school, church group, or other organization with adult supervision. You must have some type of citizenship documentation, such as an official birth certificate or passport since you will be making a stop in a foreign nation. You won’t get away with only a driver’s license or other photo ID (OK, with the new “Enhanced ID” in a few select cases). In most cases, no a passport isn’t required, but it is a good idea.
You might consider keeping it in an under-clothing money belt that you wear, or leaving it in the hotel or vacation rental but locking it in your suitcase with a TSA-approved lock. Regardless, we always recommend traveling with a U.S. passport book, in case there are any inconveniences during your trip. If you are cruising to Mexico on a closed-loop cruise, (a journey that starts and ends at the same U.S. port), you can enter without a passport and show a state-issued ID and an original birth certificate instead.
Accepted Identification for Canadian Citizens & Permanent Residents
Additionally, it's a good idea to check entry requirements of all individual ports in your itinerary, as you might need a visa as well. For U.S. citizens embarking on a closed-loop Alaskan cruise that begins and ends at the same U.S. port, such as Seattle or Vancouver, a passport may not be required. Instead, a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, and a certified birth certificate may be sufficient for re-entry into the United States.
Cruise refunds may not be issued if you’re denied boarding due to lack of proper documents. Please be sure to check with the proper agencies and authorities (such as your local immigration office) before you sail because we can’t board you without the proper documents. Also some ports of call may require a passport to enter even if you don’t need one to board your cruise. It’s always wise to research your itinerary and find out what kind of documentation each country requires of U.S. citizens in order to enter. While some cruises don’t require you to travel with a U.S. passport book, we always recommend you bring one on your trip, even on a closed-loop cruise.
That’s definitely the case for Alaska, where the cost of arranging travel to all the ports you visit would be considerably higher for most people than taking a cruise. That said, in general you’ll find that a trip to Alaska will be more than a cruise to the Caribbean. Maybe you’ve sailed the Caribbean, but we can tell you that the experience of sailing Alaska is completely different in what you see, the experience onboard, and even your other passengers. In fact, there are many people who may not have any interest in cruising, but do consider taking a trip to Alaska. Some cruise lines also offer closed-loop cruises from San Francisco or Los Angeles. These cruises are typically longer due to the greater distance but offer the same benefit of not requiring a passport for U.S. citizens.
And while there’s plenty to do on the ship when sailing in Alaska, the atmosphere is decidedly more subdued. In other words, if you’ve ever wanted to experience the state, there is no better way to do it than by cruise ship. When it comes to cruising, there is nothing quite like sailing to Alaska. It’s difficult to explain exactly what it’s like to sail to the 49th state, surrounded by mountains, wildlife, and amazing natural beauty.
But even if you don’t get one (they are more expensive), you will have plenty of opportunity to see the scenery. Ships have lots of open deck space for you to watch the mountains and water go by, so it’s not a huge loss if you don’t have your own private balcony. As well, with the long daylight hours, an interior cabin (which gets plenty dark) may help you sleep better.
27 First time Alaska cruise tips (2024) Cruise.Blog - Cruise Blog
27 First time Alaska cruise tips ( Cruise.Blog.
Posted: Tue, 13 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
You can visit Alaska on a round-trip Seattle cruise without a passport. But if you wish to book a rail journey excursion on the White Pass & Yukon Route, which takes you from Alaska into Canada, choose the shorter White Pass Summit tour; you'll need a passport for the longer trips. The Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 (46 U.S.C. 289) states that “No foreign vessels shall transport passengers between ports or places in the United States, either directly or by way of a foreign port.” Done. This Act states that only vessels built, crewed and flagged in the US may carry cargo between US ports.
First, one (if not both) of the ports are often located further from an airport. Below is an example of an itinerary onboard Princess Cruises' Sapphire Princess where you would need a passport. It is both an open-jaw sailing and one that ends in Canada, as the cruise departs from Anchorage (Whittier), Alaska and ends in Vancouver, Canada. This is an example of a closed-loop Alaska cruise onboard Celebrity Solstice, as the 7-night itinerary cruise both begins and ends in Seattle, Washington.
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