What's a closed-loop cruise?


What's a closed-loop cruise? A closed-loop cruise is a cruise that departs from and returns to the same U.S. port and remains in the Western Hemisphere. As such, it does not require the passengers to have a U.S. passport—even if the itinerary visits some international ports along the way.


Do closed loop cruises go through customs?

If you are on a closed-loop cruise that begins and ends at the same port in the United States and visits Canada, Mexico, or much of the Caribbean, you do not need a valid passport. According to CBP, all you need is documentation proving you are a U.S. citizen.


What is an example of a closed loop cruise?

A closed-loop cruise is a cruise that departs and ends in the same U.S. port, for example, Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale, or round-trip to Alaska from Seattle.


What is the difference between open and closed loop cruises?

Cruises that don't begin and end in the same port are not considered closed-loop cruises. An example would be one that starts in Florida and ends in the Bahamas. Typically, closed-loop cruises may leave from Miami, Florida, and travel to Bermuda before returning to the same port in Miami.


Is a closed loop cruise considered leaving the country?

A closed-loop cruise is an itinerary that begins and ends in the same U.S. port. For U.S. citizens traveling to Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean islands and Mexico, closed-loop cruises are an exception to typical U.S. Customs and Border Protection passport requirements.


Can a non US citizen go on a cruise to The Bahamas?

Citizens from countries other than the U.S. and Canada are required to present a valid passport To enter The Bahamas, which must be current up to your travel period, and some countries are also required to have a Bahamas visa.


Does Royal Caribbean require a passport?

For U.S. citizens: Royal Caribbean strongly recommends that all guests travel with a valid passport. For Round Trip cruises from the U.S. that DO NOT include Panama or Colombia, U.S. citizens 17 and under will be able to present either an original, n...