Do you need an ETSA for a Caribbean cruise? You don't need a visa or ETSA to go on a Caribbean cruise as you can enter visa-free. Instead, you'll only need your passport. However, if you're going to be in transit or setting off from a US port, you must apply for an ETSA for entry to the United States.
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Non-US citizens require a valid machine readable passport and a valid, unexpired US Multiple Re-entry Visa, if applicable, to travel on all cruises.
Do I need a passport? We recommend that everyone taking a cruise from the United States have a passport book. Though some “closed-loop” cruises may not require a U.S. passport, we recommend bringing yours in case of an emergency, such as an unexpected medical air evacuation or the ship docking at an alternate port.
Visa-free cruise destinationsIf you're heading to the USA or Canada, you won't need a visa, but you must complete an ESTA application for a visa waiver. UK passport holders don't need a visa or a waiver if you are going on a Caribbean cruise unless you are embarking or disembarking in a US port.
For citizens of the United States, many cruises to other countries will not require visas at all. For instance, cruises to Mexico or the Bahamas usually do not have specific visa requirements for entry; however, some countries such as Egypt, Myanmar, and Qatar have requirements that you'll need to prepare for.
Pay the fees: The total cost is $21. When you apply, you will pay a $4 processing fee. If you are approved to travel to the U.S., you must pay an additional $17 authorization fee. Learn about the payment options available to pay ESTA fees.
More often than not, the answer is no. U.S. citizens don't need a passport if the cruise starts and ends in the same U.S. city. This is known as a closed-loop cruise. That said, some may require a passport if you want to disembark at ports in any Caribbean destination.