# Do Caribbean cruises involve exit and re-entry of the United States (from an immigration standpoint?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 26, 2022, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598 "2022-07-26T15:47:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598/1 "2022-07-26T15:47:58Z")
For any Dopers who’ve done a Caribbean cruise before (which I may this November): Suppose you depart from, say, Florida, and hit up Bahamas and a bunch of other small foreign nations on your cruise, before returning to Florida. Did you have to go through Immigration/CBP re-entry (passport, everything) upon return just like as if you had flown directly on a plane from a foreign nation to America? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598/2 "2022-07-26T16:18:06Z")
Of course. In fact, when we go to St Martin (by air) we go through customs/immigration leaving and returning. Additionally, when we take a ferry from St Martin to the neighboring island of Anguilla, a 15 minute ferry ride, we go through customs/immigration on arrival in Anguilla and then again on return to St Martin. I’ve kayaked about halfway to Anguilla from St Martin and wonder what kind of trouble I’d get into if continued and I landed on a beach in Anguilla, avoiding customs/immigration. ETA: on a cruise, since you are arriving and departing multiple ports, there is a guy on your ship who handles “document checks” for everyone on the ship. Before the ship enters a port, a tender comes out to inspect and approve paperwork. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598/3 "2022-07-26T16:22:45Z")
I think there is a special loophole Cruise lines have negotiated with immigration that a closed loop cruise is “sort of” not considered leaving, and does not require a passport: [https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-74?language=en\_US](https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-74?language=en_US) We wanted to join my in-laws on a cruise and then take some time in the Carribean, not on a cruise (cos my wife and I not a huge fan of cruises we’d actually like to see the countries we visit). This is a huge hassle to arrange as it breaks the “closed loop”. It was a moot point in the end as the combination of hurricanes and getting pregnant meant the cruise never happened 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598/4 "2022-07-26T16:26:50Z")
Nevermind… ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598/5 "2022-07-26T16:27:02Z")
This has been my experience. You still have to go through customs (for declaring any souvenirs you picked up along the way), but ID and birth certificate are all that are required. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598/6 "2022-07-26T16:37:26Z")
I’ve gone through this several times as a Canadian citizen. I did need to have my passport, but as noted above, this isn’t currently required for US citizens. But it’s usually also been one of the quickest trips through customs. The only reason I’ve ever had to wait is just because of the volume of people they’re processing. Even as a non-American, I’ve never gotten more than a brief glance, unlike going through customs when I fly, where they sometimes make a point of asking a lot about your plans. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598/7 "2022-07-26T16:48:58Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > Well, technically, the cruise did happen… just without you on it. Unless it was coincidently canceled for some other reason. Well the cruise didn’t happen due to the hurricane, but we wouldn’t have been on it even if it had as my wife was expecting (and this was the midst of Zika so we were not keen to visit the tropics) ---
**Author:** ![Snipe70e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/51bf81/32.png) [@Snipe70e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snipe70e)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598/8 "2022-07-27T00:44:27Z")
If you go on a cruise that will include non US port you will be required to have your passport before you even get on the ship, That has been the case on the several cruises we have been on. And on reaching the last port we went through both immigration where we had to show our passport and declare any purchases made outside the US. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598/9 "2022-07-27T11:52:02Z")
That depends on the itinerary and your citizenship status. For US citizens on a cruise that begins and ends in the same US port, ID and proof of citizenship ( birth certificate, certificate of naturalization , passport card or enhanced drivers license) is good enough - for the US government. That doesn’t mean that the cruise line or one of the ports can’t require a passport. As far as Customs goes - yes, you will go through Customs. But in some ports facial recognition is used where you just walk past a screen if you are traveling with a passport- you will have to wait in line if you have proof of citizenship and an ID. I don’t remember what people who exceeded the duty-free allowance had to do. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598/10 "2022-07-27T17:58:10Z")
Even though it’s not technically required that US citizens have a valid passport it’s a really bad idea to go on a cruise without one. If anything happens and you need to fly back to the US you’ll run into major problems. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598/11 "2022-07-27T20:45:21Z")
When you leave the U.S. and go on a Caribbean cruise, you give your passport to the cruise line (the purser on the ship) who keeps it until it’s time for the ship to return to the U.S. In between, you use an ID card issued by the cruise line to leave and reenter the ship. You don’t actually have to show your passport or go through customs (at the island) when you visit a foreign island. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598/12 "2022-07-27T20:51:01Z")
When was the last time you took such a cruise? The last one I took was in January and I didn’t give my passport to anyone - I kept it the entire time. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598/13 "2022-07-27T20:54:52Z")
To the Caribbean, it was around 2017-2018? ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598/14 "2022-07-27T21:04:52Z")
I took Caribbean cruises in 2018 and 2019 as well - not only did I not turn my passport over, US citizens don’t even need a passport for closed-loop Caribbean cruises. You are correct that you don’t need it to get on and off the ship in ports , but you don’t give it to the cruise line either. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598/15 "2022-07-27T21:13:45Z")
Maybe I’m confusing it with a transatlantic cruise. Or maybe different cruise lines do it differently. I defer to someone with a better memory than mine!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598/16 "2022-07-27T21:38:47Z")
It varies depending on the cruise line. Some hold onto them. Most don’t. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598/17 "2022-07-27T23:34:41Z")
Since this is FQ, can you provide a cite of any that do? ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2022, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598/18 "2022-07-28T00:12:36Z")
Only anecdotal stories of people that have had it happen to them. [Like this.](https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i10703-k5045789-Passport_retention-Cruises.html). I know of no definitive list. I’ve only cruised with Carnival and Holland America and neither of them did. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2022, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598/19 "2022-07-28T01:03:05Z")
Not a cruise, but twice while traveling I have given my passport to someone else who handled customs/immigration officials: 1. On an overnight train from Paris to Florence the conductor held our passports so that we did not have to be woken up to clear passport control while going through Switzerland (non-Schengen country). 2. On an overnight trip from Belize to Guatemala and back our guide took our passports into the office at the border and had them stamped for us, then handed them back immediately after. Same process both directions. So both times for our convenience. Maybe some cruise lines or some ports have a similar convenience arrangement with the local authorities? ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2022, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-caribbean-cruises-involve-exit-and-re-entry-of-the-united-states-from-an-immigration-standpoint/968598/20 "2022-07-28T01:11:03Z")
According to [this](https://emmacruises.com/the-cruise-line-may-keep-your-passport-heres-when-where-and-why/), it depends on the itinerary as much as the cruise line.