Do you go through customs when you get off a cruise ship?

When your cruise ship arrives at its disembarkation port, local immigration officials need to clear the ship before anyone can disembark. Ships that terminate in U.S. ports may require passengers to fill out Customs forms and show their passports to border control in the cruise terminal.



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Most of the time you will not need to show your passport when going ashore, however, it is still sensible to take some form of identification with you and I suggest bringing a photocopy of your original passport.

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It takes several hours to clear a ship of thousands of passengers. You might also have to clear customs. Then you have to get to the airport, which might involve navigating through heavy traffic, and waiting in security lines along with hundreds of other cruise travelers, fresh off their ships.

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If you are a U.S. citizen and your cruise embarks or disembarks in a foreign country, including Canada, you will always need your passport for the cruise (in some cases a passport card will suffice). You'll also need a passport for a cruise that begins and ends in different U.S. ports.

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Taking Your Passport Should you take your passport with you on shore excursions? No, you shouldn't bring your passport, unless your tour requires it. We recommend bringing your driver's license as a form of ID instead. You don't want to risk losing your passport ashore.

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You won't be able to leave the ship without your cruise card, nor will you be able to return to the ship without it, so keep it close to you at all times. In most ports, you won't need your passport, so leave it locked up in your room's safe.

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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.

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The choice is totally yours. You can go ashore on a tour, explore the cruise port on your own or stay onboard and relax by the pool, book a (usually discounted on port days) spa treatment or take advantage of other activities on your ship during the day.

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Disembarkation: This is when you leave the ship at the end of your trip. Embarkation: It's when you board your cruise ship at the beginning of your trip. Port of call: A port of call is a destination on your cruise and where you'll likely be able to enjoy shore excursions.

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Strategy #1: Opt for the “Self Assist” program. There will be no porters onboard or ashore to assist with your luggage, and since you're the first group called, you can often be off the ship by 7:15 or 7:30 am. If you don't mind an early departure and can handle your bags, it's a great way to get a jump on the crowds.

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Once the ship realizes you have not returned, they'll often enter your stateroom to remove any essential items like passports and leave the items with the port agents on land. Keeping these items in an easy-to-find place (like the safe) can help crew members locate the items quickly in an emergency.

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On disembarkation day, Guests are typically asked to vacate their staterooms by 8:00 a.m. so the Crew can begin preparing for the next cruise. You will have the option to enjoy one more magical meal before you leave the ship—the location and time of your breakfast correlate to your Rotational Dining schedule.

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Ships that terminate in U.S. ports may require passengers to fill out Customs forms and show their passports to border control in the cruise terminal. Some passengers might be required to meet with immigration officials on board prior to getting off the ship.

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