Cruise ships approaching Hawaii during Hurricane Lane

[kenobi_65]

Thanks for the clarification, Snnipe. The articles I was reading on the topic weren’t clear on that distinction.

[doreen]

@Snnipe_70E

And yes you do need your passport even if the ship returns to the same port. You will be asked for it as you go through customs and immigration. If you only have your birth certificate and photo ID and no passport you will not be allowed to get on the ship.

I’m not going to say the ship will allow you to board, nor will I say that non-US ports won’t require a passport to enter, but Customs and Border Protection says

U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as an Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL), a government-issued birth certificate (issued by the Vital Records Department in the state where he or she was born) or passport, and if 16 or older, a government issued driver’s license, picture ID, denoting photo, name and date of birth

Note: The Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) allows you to re-enter the U.S. from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. The EDL is only accepted at land and sea border crossings, not for air travel.