Passport- one way cruise to San Juan

[obsesseddisneyfan]

Have you called the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 1-877-487-2778? I bet they could give you a more up to date answer then anyone on the internet. But I would not trust Disney's website. There was an instance this summer of someone being denied booking in Europe because the visa requirement changed. Disney tries to keep them updated but it is the travelers job to make sure they have the proper travel documents.

 

[LandonM170]

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.

Alaskan cruises from Seattle that are closed-loop always stop in Victoria, BC, Canada, because a foreign port is required. Disney did this too

 

[RedHead0186]

It's not just about where you start and end, it's about the port stops. That's why a one-way cruise from Florida to LA requires a passport even though it starts and ends in the US, because you visit other countries along the way. Because San Juan is a US territory you don't need your passport to enter that country. But, you might need your passport for a different stop/country.

If DCL gave you guidance specific to your sailing/itinerary, you should go with that.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

It's not just about where you start and end, it's about the port stops. That's why a one-way cruise from Florida to LA requires a passport even though it starts and ends in the US, because you visit other countries along the way.

A one-way cruise that begins in one US port and ends in a different US port always requires a passport. Regardless of what the other stops are.

Yes, it's true that a port stop may require passport, even if the cruise itself doesn't require one.

 

[RedHead0186]

A one-way cruise that begins in one US port and ends in a different US port always requires a passport. Regardless of what the other stops are.

Yes, it's true that a port stop may require passport, even if the cruise itself doesn't require one.

Okay, thanks for clarifying. Does Puerto Rico count as a "US port" in this case? If so, then based on your first statement, a one-way cruise to Puerto Rico would require a passport, then, correct? Or am I missing something?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Okay, thanks for clarifying. Does Puerto Rico count as a "US port" in this case? If so, then based on your first statement, a one-way cruise to Puerto Rico would require a passport, then, correct? Or am I missing something?

No, one way cruises to Puerto Rico from (or to) a US port have an exception under the PVSA. They do not require a passport. See post #17.

 

[katyringo]

If you take this cruise without a passport are you still able to get off the boat in the Bahamas?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If you take this cruise without a passport are you still able to get off the boat in the Bahamas?

Generally, yes.

BUT, you should check the passport requirements for all your port stops.

 

[katyringo]

One more question-

If we don't get our passports in time- when we do online check in 30 days before will we find out then for sure.. since I understand it you upload copies of things then.

This whole thing stresses me out.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

One more question-

If we don't get our passports in time- when we do online check in 30 days before will we find out then for sure.. since I understand it you upload copies of things then.

This whole thing stresses me out.

Sadly, that won't really tell you. It's possible for someone not to have that information on their online check in date, and it can be done at port check in.

 

[obsesseddisneyfan]

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!

Looks like you got your answer. Customs and boarder patrol is who will let you on the boat or deny your booking. Disney is very clear that the information they give you is a guideline and that you always need to double check current government requirements. Glad you looked it up and got the correct info. On a side note someone from my cruise facebook page called the passport office and wrote they were told the same thing that Boarder Patrol told you. It's a shame that Disney is keeping this confusing.

 

[lanejudy]

No, one way cruises to Puerto Rico from (or to) a US port have an exception under the PVSA. They do not require a passport. See post #17.

It is confusing. PVSA states nothing about passports. The exception in PVSA pertains to the one-way itinerary being allowed.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) dictates passports needs for US cruises and it does not give any exception for 1-way cruises to/from PR.

 

[katyringo]

I guess my questions is

Then why aren't passports needed. We can debate it all day- but I've connected first hand with people who did these one way cruises without them. Disney states repeatedly you don't need them and many have not. And yet- you cannot find anything or anyone on the government side that confirms it.

Such a crazy thing.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

It is confusing. PVSA states nothing about passports. The exception in PVSA pertains to the one-way itinerary being allowed.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) dictates passports needs for US cruises and it does not give any exception for 1-way cruises to/from PR.

Hmmm.....good point.

Will travelers from U.S. territories need to present a passport to enter the United States?​

No. U.S. territories are considered a part of the United States. U.S. citizens traveling directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the country and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative/faqs


That said, I question the "US citizens traveling directly from a US territory are not considered to have left the country" part. Meaning, directly from one US port to another US port with no stops? So if the cruise stops at a foreign port between embarkation and debarkation you would need a passport, since that could be considered not traveling directly?

 

[Mommb]

I found this statement on the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative page (https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative), but is is from 2018 and has a note saying it may be outdated:
What types of documents are accepted for entry into the United States via land and sea?

• U.S. citizens can present a valid: U.S. Passport; Passport Card; Enhanced Driver’s License; Trusted Traveler Program card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST); U.S. Military identification card when traveling on official orders; U.S. Merchant Mariner document when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business; or Form I-872 American Indian Card, or (when available) Enhanced Tribal Card.
• U.S. and Canadian citizen children under the age of 16 (or under 19, if traveling with a school, religious group, or other youth group) need only present a birth certificate or other proof of citizenship. The birth certificate can be original, photocopy, or certified copy.

If this is still correct, then an Enhanced Driver's License would be sufficient to re-enter the US but a "regular" driver's license would not be.

However, this is inconsistent with what people have heard from Disney Cruise (who says that any driver's license is sufficient) and what people have heard from Customs and Border Patrol (who say that a passport is required). It is possible that the passport rules are different for people returning on cruises that stop only at ports in the Caribbean than for people returning on cruises that stop at ports in Central and South America (as on the Panama canal cruises mentioned in the CBP page linked to earlier). If that's the case, it sure would be helpful if it were explicitly mentioned somewhere.

 

[lanejudy]

If you take this cruise without a passport are you still able to get off the boat in the Bahamas?

If any one port on an itinerary requires a passport, the passport is required of all passengers to embark the cruise ship. There is no ability to cruise without a passport and say “I won’t get off at X port.”

One more question-

If we don't get our passports in time- when we do online check in 30 days before will we find out then for sure.. since I understand it you upload copies of things then.

This whole thing stresses me out.

Unfortunately I don’t think you will get a solid confirmation. According to the laws (CBP and WHTI) a passport is required for a one-way cruise, no exceptions for any specific port. Why passport hasn’t been checked at San Juan seems to something of a wink at the actual rules.
In your situation I’d be looking into getting passports expedited. That is the only way to eliminate any worry. If the passports don’t arrive in time you have anecdotal evidence of others not having to show a passport for San Juan cruises. Most likely you will be fine.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Hmmm.....good point.

Will travelers from U.S. territories need to present a passport to enter the United States?​

No. U.S. territories are considered a part of the United States. U.S. citizens traveling directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the country and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative/faqs


That said, I question the "US citizens traveling directly from a US territory are not considered to have left the country" part. Meaning, directly from one US port to another US port with no stops? So if the cruise stops at a foreign port between embarkation and debarkation you would need a passport, since that could be considered not traveling directly?

What your statement that you quoted from the webpage you linked is just saying that because a U.S. territory is considered part of the U.S. you're not going out of the country and because of that you don't need a passport to enter the U.S. (in the wording itself it is saying FROM U.S. territories though this works the same if you're leaving mainland U.S. and flying to a U.S. territory directly you don't need to present a passport to do so because it's not considered international).

That's not really pertinent to the OP's question, it just means for example if they fly back directly from Puerto Rico (which we have personally done as in flown to and from there and did not use our passports to travel) they don't need to go through the process of showing their passport once back into mainland U.S. or to Puerto Rico if they are a U.S. citizen; your normal documentation you would use to travel around the U.S. will suffice then; another Q&A also explicitly states that on the link you posted.

Not the same as an open loop cruise, a closed loop cruise is treated differently.

 

[RedHead0186]

No, one way cruises to Puerto Rico from (or to) a US port have an exception under the PVSA. They do not require a passport. See post #17.

So it's the PVSA that controls/dictates the passport requirements?

 

[katyringo]

I'm not looking for a reprimand that we should have had passports..


But I wanted to follow up and say we did the one way magic sailing Galveston to San Juan with birth certificate and IDs Only. Disney's statement on the required documents is true and we were not required to have a passport for this specific one way cruise.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'm not looking for a reprimand that we should have had passports..


But I wanted to follow up and say we did the one way magic sailing Galveston to San Juan with birth certificate and IDs Only. Disney's statement on the required documents is true and we were not required to have a passport for this specific one way cruise.

I’m not surprised, I can’t see why a passport would be needed. My daughter just flew to PR without a passport.

And as a follow up to the comment regarding getting back on the ship in the Bahamas, you do not need a passport, your license will do. Tons of people take cruises to the Bahamas with license and birth certificate .