Passport Needed?

[lmreddin]

Does a person need a passport for Alaska cruises that leave and return to Seattle?

[Calgon1]

This issue comes up from time to time. And, with all the changes in jurisdiction, it can be more than a little confusing. So rather than listen to rumors, or reports of the way it's always been in the past, I thought I'd (again) present the most recent policy:

Here is a direct quote from the U.S. Customs & Border Protection website:
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/74:

If you are traveling in the Western Hemisphere (Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America):

Air Travel: All U.S. citizens departing from or entering the United States from within the Western Hemisphere by air are required to present a valid passport, NEXUS card (if utilizing a NEXUS kiosk when departing from a designated Canadian airport). Merchant Mariner Document (for members of the U.S. armed forces traveling on official orders.) Note that children are also required to present their own passport when traveling by air.


Land or Sea Travel: U.S. citizens entering the United States by land or sea are required to present a valid WHTI-compliant document, which include:

• Passports
• U.S. Passport Cards
• Enhanced Driver's Licenses
• Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST)
• Military Identification Cards (for members of the U.S. armed forces on official orders)
• U.S. Merchant Mariner Document (for U.S. citizens on official maritime business)

Now, before you jump to the conclusion that since you're traveling by cruise ship, you can get away with using an Enhanced (not regular) Driver's License or Trusted Traveler Card; consider this ...

If, for any reason, you must leave the ship and return to the US via air ... You will have to have a US Passport or US Pass Card. The EDL or TTC are not valid for re-entry to the United States via air travel !

Birth certificates are totally irrelevant. The only thing they will do is help your nephew and his wife if they need to get a passport issued at a US embassy in some other country, so they can then re-enter by air ...
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And, If you are thinking of taking any shorex which cross into Canada (there are quite a few and they are really worth it), again ... you will need a passport or pass card.

[lmreddin]

I was just wondering because it doesn't seem like a person would ever be leaving the U.S. since Alaska is part of the U.S.

Thank you for the information.

[BSeabob]

I assume that since you live near Canada that you do cross over once in awhile and have some means of doing that. The issue is flying back to US if you must. A cruise to Alaska from a US port will take you into Canada at sometime or other due to Ships complying with US Law and this is not an issue if you have proper ID..

Of course a lot of Alaska Cruises leave from Vancouver so you'd have to get here also.

BUT passports are best.

[ShipMaven]

Does a person need a passport for Alaska cruises that leave and return to Seattle?

You've already received excellent replies. Let me add that your U.S. passport is the best identification you can have. If you consider that it's valid for ten years, the cost annually is minimal - less than the price of a couple of drinks.

[lmreddin]

Actually, I've never been to Canada. Crazy, huh?

I wasn't thinking about the ship going into Canada at all.

Thank you for the replies.

[Bruce Chaf]

I was just wondering because it doesn't seem like a person would ever be leaving the U.S. since Alaska is part of the U.S.

Thank you for the information.

If you take a cruise from Seattle to Alaska and back, it is very unlikely that you will be traveling on a US Flag ship.
As soon as your ship is outside the 12 mile limit from Seattle, you are legally in the country the ship is flagged to. If it is HAL, you are in Holland.　If it is Princess, you are in the Bahamas.
Several times during an Alaska cruise, your ship is sailing in Canadian waters; you are in Canada.
At least once in a Seattle to Seattle cruise on a non-US flag ship, you are required by US Law to visit a foreign port. Time constraints will most likely force you to go to Canada to satisfy that law.

[loving it]

The Us only requires you to have your photo I.D. and a copy of your Birth Certificate if you are sailing and returning from a U.S. port. Check with your cruise line because they sometimes strongly require you to have a passport. Some are more flexible than others.