Do You Need a Passport for an Alaska Cruise
You’re finally going to plan that long-awaited Alaska cruise. One question I’m often asked is, “do I need a passport for an Alaska cruise?” The answer is easy: yes. And no.
Alaska cruises are different. Your destination is America’s 49th state. Why would you need a passport for an Alaska cruise? Let’s break it down to the different cruises and itineraries.
Do I Need a Passport for an Alaska Cruise?
On a “closed-loop cruise” – one that begins and ends in a US port – technically you don’t need a passport book. For example, an Alaska cruise roundtrip from Seattle or a Caribbean cruise roundtrip from Miami.
All you need for this type of cruise is a government-issued photo ID and a birth certificate with a raised seal. But is that a smart decision? IMO, no. Here’s why…
If your ship breaks down in a foreign port or if you have a medical emergency, to fly home to the USA asap, you need a passport book for re-entry. Plain and simple.
Without a passport, you’d have to get in contact with the local US embassy or consulate and apply for an emergency passport. This can take days, especially if it happens over a weekend.
Cruises to Alaska from Seattle or San Francisco
As I mentioned above, you may not need a passport for an Alaskan cruise. For example, on a round-trip closed-loop cruise to Alaska from Seattle or San Francisco, you may not need a passport. A government issued photo ID and a birth certificate are accepted.
Either north or southbound, unless the laws change, your ship will stop somewhere for a service call in Canada before returning to Seattle or San Francisco. Still, you don’t need a passport.
But it’s always best to have an up-to-date passport that doesn’t expire within 6 months of your trip return. However, it isn’t mandatory to have a U.S. passport on this type of closed-loop cruise from the Lower 48 to Alaska and back.
Remember though, if an emergency should happen and you need to fly back to the U.S. from Canada, unless there’s some kind of work-around, you will need a U.S. passport to re-enter the United States.
Also, cruise lines could require that you have a passport, even for a closed-loop Alaska cruise from the Lower 48. Be sure to follow your cruise line’s requirements and that you allow enough time to get a valid passport if needed.
When a cruise ship cruises the Inside Passage to Alaska departs from a US port, the ship must…MUST stop in a foreign-flagged port before returning to the US. Why?
First of all, almost every large cruise ship that departs from a US port was built and flagged in a foreign country. Cruise lines erroneously site the reason for stopping in for example, Vancouver or Ensenada, as the Jones Act of 1920.
This Act states that only vessels built, crewed and flagged in the US may carry cargo between US ports. It was a protectionist Act aimed at preventing foreign-flagged ships from moving their goods between US ports. But that’s not actually the reason.
RELATED: Take the Alaska Marine Highway Instead of a Cruise Ship
Why Must Cruise Ships Stop in a Foreign Country?
The Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 (46 U.S.C. 289) states that “No foreign vessels shall transport passengers between ports or places in the United States, either directly or by way of a foreign port.” Done. Archaic? I’d say yes.
Since most of the cruise ships departing from U.S. ports are foreign-built, flagged and crewed, they have to include a foreign port call in all itineraries. That’s why even round-trip Hawai’i cruises leaving from Los Angeles or San Diego stop at Ensenada (Mexico) on their way back from the islands.
Cruises to Alaska from Vancouver, Canada
If your Alaska cruise begins or ends in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, think about how you arrive and depart from Canada. Unlike me, nearly everyone else flies into Vancouver.
If, like I do, you take Amtrak from Seattle, you will still need to show your passport book to the immigration police at the Canadian border.
RELATED: How to Take an Amtrak Train from Seattle to Vancouver, Canada
Entering Canada by Land or Sea
Canadian law requires that all persons entering Canada carry both proof of citizenship and proof of identity. As of this writing, a valid U.S. passport, passport card, or NEXUS card satisfies these requirements for U.S. citizens. Children under 16 need only present proof of U.S. citizenship.
Leaving Canada by Air or Sea Back to the U.S.
When traveling by air from Canada back into the United States, U.S. citizens are required by U.S. law to present a U.S. passport book. There are a few exceptions to this rule.
A full list of documents that can be used at land and sea borders are provided on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website.
When You Don’t Need a Passport for an Alaska Cruise
You can use a passport card or passport book to reenter the United States at sea ports of entry from Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. However, if you are not able to return on the cruise ship for any reason (again, emergency evacuation or ship breaks down), you will need a passport book to fly back to the United States from those countries.
Also, if you don’t care about being able to go home to the United States, you can enter Canada with an official birth certificate and photo ID.
Small Ship Alaska Cruises Could be an Exception
Let’s say you are planning a small ship cruise through Alaska’s Inside Passage. Your flight is non-stop from Seattle to Juneau, Alaska where you’ll board your expedition ship.
Same for the return, say from Sitka to Seattle. Technically, on a cruise exactly like this, you don’t need a U.S. passport.
But, if your cruise has a shore excursion planned that includes a motor coach ride into the Yukon, British Columbia, then once again, you will need a passport book to re-enter the United States. If your expedition cruise includes this excursion, don’t pass up this trip.
Bottom line
Remember the Eagles song, “Hotel California“? “You can check out any time you like, But you can never leave!” To paraphrase, without a passport book, you cannot re-enter the United States from Canada, unless you are on a closed-loop Alaska cruise from Seattle, San Francisco or anywhere in the Lower 48 and your cruise line and intended shore excursions into Canada do not require a passport.
What are you waiting for? Get your passport book and start to plan your Alaska cruise. Especially if Skagway is on the itinerary and you plan to ride aboard the White Pass & Yukon Railroad into Canada for the afternoon!
READ MORE: Do I Need a Passport for a Caribbean Cruise?
Hi Kathleen,
Thank you for reading my article and taking the time to ask your question. On my past experience aboard Amtrak from Seattle to Vancouver BC and back, I’ve had to present my passport to the official who boards the train to check passports. On what is called a “closed loop cruise” ex. roundtrip from Seattle to Alaska and back to Seattle, you would still need a government issued photo ID (driver’s license) and a birth certificate with a raised seal. I’m a little concerned about the advice you received from Holland America. If you have a current passport (that doesn’t expire before 6 months of your return, I would bring it.
From what I understand from this article: https://www.dhs.gov/enhanced-drivers-licenses-what-are-they an Enhanced Driver’s License will get you back into the U.S. but the article doesn’t say if it will allow U.S. citizens to enter Canada. If you fly from the U.S. to Canada, you need a passport to enter Canada.
If I were you, I would double check about entering Canada with an EDL. You could even call Amtrak as they might know too.
Either way, thank you again for writing and have a fun Amtrak ride (sit on the left side of the train if possible) and a wonderful cruise to Alaska.
I have only a Washington state Enhanced Driver License and was told by Holland America that it is acceptable for cruising round trip from Vancouver, BC, Canada. I live in Seattle and will take the train to Vancouver on the day of departure. Please confirm, once again, that this info is correct. Thank you!
Hi Carie,
Thank you for reading my article. For a short while several years ago, I worked at cruise line check-in at a port just so I could better understand the rules. It is very possible that if your birth certificate with a raised seal and government-issued photo ID names do not match, you could be asked to show additional proof, as you mentioned. I am going to assume that your Alaska cruise is from Seattle, not Vancouver.
And yes, a passport is always recommended, even on a closed-loop cruise, in case of accident or some reason to need to fly home from a non-U.S. port.
I’m glad you’re taking the extra step to be sure and not have your mom denied boarding at the departure port! And good idea to get a passport for her!
Have a wonderful cruise to Alaska! Thank you again for taking the time to write your comment. Much appreciated.
I just read that if your name on your BC and ID don’t match, you also have to have your marriage license or divorce decree to show the reason for the names not matching. We had to order a marriage license for my mom to cruise to Alaska. When we get back we are applying for her passport!
Thank you for your comment. An Enhanced Driver’s License alone is NOT sufficient. I suggest that your friend read this information from Princess Cruises’ website: https://www.princess.com/learn/faq/pre-cruise/prepare-for-your-cruise/
This information from Princess clearly defines when a birth certificate with a raised seal + a government-issued photo ID IS accepted; certain closed-loop cruises that begin and end in the U.S. There are exceptions when a passport is required (ex. an Alaska cruise/tour that extends into Canada).
I always recommend a current passport book even on a closed-loop cruise, in case of an emergency return to the U.S. (ex. Caribbean cruise from Ft. Lauderdale).
Thank you for taking the time to send your comment.
You should revise this information because Princess Cruise line will not allow a birth certificate + state license/id for travel. You must have a US Passport or Enhanced Driver License. I quoted this information to a friend and it turned out to be wrong.
Thank you for reading my article and pointing out this sentence. I’ve re-worded the paragraph so that it reads easier with less confusion about needing or not needing a U.S. passport on a closed-loop cruise to Alaska from the Lower 48.
The following statement you made in your post is not true for closed loop Alaskan cruises:
“To paraphrase, without a passport book, you cannot re-enter the United States from Canada.”
You can enter the US with a birth certificate and photo ID is the cruise begins and ends in the same port.