Passport- one way cruise to San Juan

[katyringo]

Hello Dis board!

So first of all- I am not asking if we should have passports. I am working on getting them because I already know you should.

I am asking if anyone has personal expirence with or direct knowledge of the one way San Juan cruises and not needing a passport.

Disney's website very clearly states that for these cruises a valid passport OR birth certificate/ID is needed- so a passport isn't required.

However any research online leads you into a pool of arguments about the matter. My understanding is that PR has an exemption and this is why it's possible.

Research online also leads to many folks yelling in all caps they are 100% certain Disney's website is wrong and Disney won't care because it's up to the government.

If we don't have our passports - would we at least find out when we try to do check in 30 days before?

 

[Skippyboo]

Puerto Rico is US territory so a passport isn’t needed for entry for US citizens. The trouble with no passports is if have to get off the ship at Nassau or Disney islands which are the Bahamas so you need a passport to fly back back home if you have an emergency.

 

[PAsFab5]

As stated above, it’s US territory you don’t need a passport. We go to Puerto Rico often and none of us have passports. Have fun!

 

[katyringo]

As stated above, it’s US territory you don’t need a passport. We go to Puerto Rico often and none of us have passports. Have fun!

While I appreciate this response- this isn't what I am asking.

If a cruise starts in Florida and goes through the canal and ends in San Diego a passport is required- it has something more to do with the route and not ending where it began- however the San Juan one way cruises seem to have an exemption - but it's very hard to find someone with knowledge to confirm it other than Disney's DCL travel guidance webpage.

 

[enzy65]

There was discussion of this a long time ago, from what I can recall since it wasn’t a closed loop cruise you needed a passport. It was a lively discussion and some said no you don’t. I never really found out the correct answer. I don’t know if the DCL reps actually know either as sometimes there answers are all over the place.
We only cruise with BC/DL and have thought about this one way also but could never get a clear answer, so we have just stayed with the PC to PC closed looped ones.

 

[Skippyboo]

https://plandisney.disney.go.com/question/need-passport-cruise-starts-puerto-rico-ends-fort-566620/

This says no passport is needed. The DCL website says same thing.

 

[NephieRN]

I have done 3 one way cruises to or from San Juan in the last 6 years and while I had passports, numerous people in the various cruise groups confirmed that they only used birth certificates. Most recent was NYC to San Juan in November 2023.

 

[katyringo]

I have done 3 one way cruises to or from San Juan in the last 6 years and while I had passports, numerous people in the various cruise groups confirmed that they only used birth certificates. Most recent was NYC to San Juan in November 2023.

Thank you. This is what I am looking for.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Thank you. This is what I am looking for.

No disrespect to the OP, but it’s hearsay and shouldn’t be relied on. One way cruises generally require a passport. San Juan is not an exception. The passport requirement is based upon the countries you’re visiting, so it will vary from itinerary.

Best advise is to contact DCL or your travel agent, you will get an answer.

 

[Mathmagicland]

While I appreciate this response- this isn't what I am asking.

If a cruise starts in Florida and goes through the canal and ends in San Diego a passport is required- it has something more to do with the route and not ending where it began- however the San Juan one way cruises seem to have an exemption - but it's very hard to find someone with knowledge to confirm it other than Disney's DCL travel guidance webpage.

Here is a link to the US Customs and Border Protection info on passports and when they are/are not required.

https://www.help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article1378?language=en_US

 

[katyringo]

Here is a link to the US Customs and Border Protection info on passports and when they are/are not required.

https://www.help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article1378?language=en_US

Yes I have read this.

I am attaching email response from Disney this morning. This is why it's so interesting and confusing.

 

[katyringo]

No disrespect to the OP, but it’s hearsay and shouldn’t be relied on. One way cruises generally require a passport. San Juan is not an exception. The passport requirement is based upon the countries you’re visiting, so it will vary from itinerary.

Best advise is to contact DCL or your travel agent, you will get an answer.

See my post above this one.

 

[katyringo]

No disrespect to the OP, but it’s hearsay and shouldn’t be relied on. One way cruises generally require a passport. San Juan is not an exception. The passport requirement is based upon the countries you’re visiting, so it will vary from itinerary.

Best advise is to contact DCL or your travel agent, you will get an answer.

See my post above this one.

Yes I have read this.

I am attaching email response from Disney this morning. This is why it's so interesting and confusing.

Wow my picture came through terrible:

Copy paste me email:

Dear Katy,

Thank you for choosing a Disney Cruise Line vacation!

I would be happy to assist you.

The required document information listed below is for Guests traveling on the following one-way or repositioning sailings to the Caribbean:

San Juan ending in Galveston
Galveston ending in San Juan
San Juan ending in Fort Lauderdale
For Lauderdale ending in San Juan
The following guidelines are based on government regulations, which are subject to change at any time. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have all the proper documentation to board the ship and enter each of the countries on the ship's itinerary.

Travelers can visit the U.S. State Department's website or call the United States National Passport Information Center at (877) 4USA-PPT (487-2778) for more information. All documents must be valid for the entire length of the voyage, unless otherwise noted. Guests without proper citizenship documentation will be denied boarding. When dropping off luggage upon arrival please keep all documents in possession to present during check-in at the terminal.

• Original valid U.S. Passport
• Original valid U.S. Passport Card

OR

• Original state-issued birth certificate AND a physical Government-issued photo ID (digital/mobile state-issued IDs are not acceptable to sail).
  1. Puerto Rico birth certificates issued prior to 7/1/2010 are not acceptable
  2. Hospital-issued birth certificates are not acceptable

Please Note: Children 15 years of age and younger are required to present one of the documents listed above, but do not need to present a Government-issued photo ID.

Social Security Cards and Global Entry are not acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship for purposes of traveling outside of the U.S.

If you need any more help with any other questions, please feel free to reply to this email, or you can call us.

For Guests residing in the United States, you may reach Disney Cruise Line by calling (800) 951-3532. If you reside outside of the United States, please click here for contact information.

 

[stkgator]

While I appreciate this response- this isn't what I am asking.

If a cruise starts in Florida and goes through the canal and ends in San Diego a passport is required- it has something more to do with the route and not ending where it began- however the San Juan one way cruises seem to have an exemption - but it's very hard to find someone with knowledge to confirm it other than Disney's DCL travel guidance webpage.

Federal law prohibits foreign-flagged cruise ships from making consecutive stops at two U.S. ports, with an exception for Puerto Rico. Consequently, all other DCL departures from a U.S. port include a foreign port stop before returning to the U.S., including Panama Canal transits. This regulation also explains why DCL departs from Vancouver for Alaskan cruises. The Disney Wonder's upcoming repositioning cruise through Hawaii will first stop at Vancouver before heading to San Diego.

 

[SnowWhite2]

I'm on the March cruise from Galveston to PR and I have done several one way cruises to and from PR. I always have a passport but I don't recall anyone saying they were denied boarding without a passport. That would have been a big discussion on the facebook page if it happened. It doesn't mean it is a fact, just that I didn't hear about it. I suggest you get a response from DCL in writing.

 

[katyringo]

So get this-

I confirmed with Disney and they say no passports
I reached out to customs and boarder patrol myself via email and they say passports needed for open looped cruise.
I sent Disney their response. Disney doubled down saying no passports.

No wonder people get confused!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Federal law prohibits foreign-flagged cruise ships from making consecutive stops at two U.S. ports, with an exception for Puerto Rico. Consequently, all other DCL departures from a U.S. port include a foreign port stop before returning to the U.S., including Panama Canal transits. This regulation also explains why DCL departs from Vancouver for Alaskan cruises. The Disney Wonder's upcoming repositioning cruise through Hawaii will first stop at Vancouver before heading to San Diego.

Not exactly. The law (Passenger Vessel Services Act) states that a foreign flagged ship cannot carry a passenger from one US port (embarkation) to a different US port (debarkation) without a stop in a DISTANT foreign port.

A distant foreign port is described as any port that is NOT in:

North America
Central America
The Bermuda Islands
The West Indies EXCEPTION: Leeward Islands of the Netherlands Antilles,i.e., Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao

It has nothing to do with the order of the ports.

A round trip cruise (begins and ends in the same US port) only requires a stop in any foreign port.

Regarding a cruise that begins in a US port and ends in Puerto Rico (or vice versa) the PVSA also states:

The PVSA does not apply to:
• American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the U.S. VirginIslands.
• The transportation of passengers between a port in Puerto Rico and another port in the United States.
Note: This exception does not apply to the transportation of passengers between ports in Puerto Rico. Such a transportationwould be a violation of the PVSA.

 

[hrhdhd]

Federal law prohibits foreign-flagged cruise ships from making consecutive stops at two U.S. ports, with an exception for Puerto Rico. Consequently, all other DCL departures from a U.S. port include a foreign port stop before returning to the U.S., including Panama Canal transits. This regulation also explains why DCL departs from Vancouver for Alaskan cruises. The Disney Wonder's upcoming repositioning cruise through Hawaii will first stop at Vancouver before heading to San Diego.

Shmoo has already corrected this, but I've been on cruises that begin in Florida and have a first stop in Key West. While a foreign port is required (sometimes near, sometimes distant, depending on the cruise), the sequential stops in the U.S. can happen.

Consider that this cruise wouldn't be allowed at all without a distant foreign port if San Juan didn't have an exemption, and you'll see why there's no passport required.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I've been on cruises that begin in Florida and have a first stop in Key West. While a foreign port is required (sometimes near, sometimes distant, depending on the cruise), the sequential stops in the U.S. can happen.

We took a cruise this past summer that started in Boston. First stop Bar Harbor, Maine.

Also, our South Pacific cruise started in San Diego, first port Honolulu; second port Hilo, HI. And then there was our DCL Hawaii cruise that was from the west coast with stops only in Hawaii, except for the final port call in Ensenada before returning back home.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Federal law prohibits foreign-flagged cruise ships from making consecutive stops at two U.S. ports, with an exception for Puerto Rico. Consequently, all other DCL departures from a U.S. port include a foreign port stop before returning to the U.S., including Panama Canal transits. This regulation also explains why DCL departs from Vancouver for Alaskan cruises. The Disney Wonder's upcoming repositioning cruise through Hawaii will first stop at Vancouver before heading to San Diego.

Not all Alaskan cruises sail from Vancouver though. Many sail from Seattle. The year we cruised DCL to Alaska was the one year that the Wonder sailed from Seattle, 2012.