Ask a Travel Editor: Expert Reviews & Travel Tips by AFAR - Dailymotion

Expert Gear Reviews & Travel Tips

Transcript

00:00 Did you know that American citizens don't technically need a passport to go on an international cruise?

00:05 All you have to do is get on what's called a closed-loop cruise.

00:09 And basically these are cruises that a) depart from and return to the same US port and b)

00:15 stay in the Western Hemisphere for the entire duration of the cruise.

00:19 And these do not require US citizens to carry a passport with them

00:23 even if it stops in international ports along the way.

00:26 So say for example you wanted to take a cruise from Seattle up to Alaska and back

00:31 but it stopped in a few Canadian ports along the way.

00:35 Technically you wouldn't need a passport because it's a closed-loop cruise.

00:38 You can visit destinations like Canada, Mexico, Belize and a bunch of Caribbean islands using one of these cruises.

00:45 Now you'll want to keep in mind that you will need alternative proof of citizenship to board

00:49 so you'll need to carry your driver's license or a birth certificate.

00:52 It's also worth noting that some Caribbean islands do require passports independently of these cruises

00:58 so just double check that before you leave.

01:00 Naturally most cruise lines are going to tell you to bring your passport just in case

01:04 for example if something happens and you need to leave the cruise early.

01:08 But if those passport wait times are just killing you, which is fair,

01:12 and you just need to scratch that international itch,

01:14 there are ways to travel internationally without a passport.

01:17 We've got a full rundown on the rules and a list of closed-loop cruises on our website.

01:22 check it out and let us know if you've ever tried one of these.