Going on vacation is something that everyone looks forward to doing. Going on a cruise raises that level of excitement even more, as it is often the first and only time that people are going on a boat this large and actually leaving the country. However, anyone doing this should know the new travel laws that require expedited United States passports for cruises.

The best indicator of the necessity of passports for a cruise is whether or not the cruise is international. In short, passports are needed for international travel and are not needed for domestic travel. Passports are never mandatory for domestic travel, but passport laws can vary for different types of international travel.

First rule of thumb for any travel should be to make sure that they know what the current travel and passport laws are. Since June 2009, many laws have changed as they pertain to both passports and travel. The government is making a distinct effort to make sure that our borders are well protected and not knowing these laws may mean you end up wasting money on a vacation that cannot be fully enjoyed.

Obviously, anyone that is physically crossing the border into another country on a one way trip would need a passport, but they are also required in various other scenarios as they pertain to cruises. Even destinations that never required passports before are asking for them, but there are still some exceptions that can be noted.

Additionally, any cruise that starts in another country would require the use of a passport. This should be pretty obvious because a cruise starting in another country often requires international air travel. There are never exceptions for the need of a passport when it comes to air travel. Passports are also now required for all border crossings, so a passport is necessary for any cruise departing from an international port.

Currently, there are trips that are called “closed loop” cruises. They are nothing new to the industry and probably what you or your friends have traveled on before. This is a trip where the traveler boards in a port like Miami, travels to different areas and then returns to that very same port. Trips like this can present an exception to all other passport laws.

Passports for closed loop voyages may not always be required. This break in passport regulations pertains to very few places when traveling from a United States port and it recommended that you double check before traveling to make sure that you can get on and off the boat without a valid passport. However, even though they may not be required, it is always a safe bet to have it, just in case.

It is always smart to read up on where the trip is going to see if U.S. passports for cruises are required for that specific trip. Now as we said, even if expedited United States passports are not required, it may be a smart move to at least have a passport card when traveling anywhere outside the United States. It is better to be safe than sorry and having extra documentation is never a bad thing for a traveler.

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