Do you take your passport on excursions?

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.



The general rule in 2026 is to leave your original passport in your ship's cabin safe and carry a high-quality color photocopy or a digital photo on your phone. Most cruise lines and tour operators only require your "Cruise ID Card" and a government-issued photo ID (like a driver's license) for re-entry to the ship. However, there are critical exceptions: if your excursion crosses an international border (e.g., a bus tour from Italy into Switzerland), or if you are visiting specific countries like Cambodia or Vietnam that require physical passports for land-based checkpoints. Some travelers prefer to carry their original passport "just in case" they miss the ship and need to fly out of the next port; while this is a valid concern, the risk of theft or losing the document during a beach or hiking excursion is statistically much higher. Many 2026 travelers use a waterproof "passport neck pouch" or a hidden money belt if they must carry the original.

People Also Ask

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.

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Always bring your passport in case of an emergency, such as an unexpected medical air evacuation or the ship docking at an alternate port in an emergency, even if your cruise says you won't need it.

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The cruise line will require you to enter your passport information during check-in, and then the airline will verify your passport to board the flight. For example, a transatlantic cruise from Barcelona to New York City requires a valid U.S. Passport because you'll have to fly to Europe to board the ship.

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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. You may be stopped by a police officer or need to show proof of I.D.

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Since the excursion is supposed to only take place within the allotted port time, the ship will wait for passengers coming from a cruise line excursion that's running late. However, if you've spent the day independently on your own, there are certain steps you must take to make sure you're not left stranded.

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On a cruise, you may not get a single passport stamp. Most ports do not require cruises visitors to pass through immigration. If you cherish passport stamps, you'll have to seek them out.

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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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Cruises to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, Canada, New England, Mexico, Bermuda, and Hawai'i all fit these criteria. Keep in mind the “closed-loop” bit. If your ship is not returning to the same port—for instance, if you are eyeing a one-way Panama Canal sailing from Los Angeles to Miami—you do need a passport.

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Guests are not allowed to bring beer or hard liquor onboard for consumption or any other use. Alcoholic beverages (beer, seltzer, or hard liquor) seized on embarkation day will be returned at the end of the voyage provided that they are in the original sealed package.

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Final word. On most cruises, you're welcome to wander the ship with a drink in your hand, at least in most areas. It's just like one large resort, so grab your favourite tipple and then find your perfect spot to enjoy it. Just make sure you ask for plastic glasses if you want to head over to a pool or hot tub.

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Most cruise lines allow each passenger to bring up to 2 bottles of wine. It's the best wine flask. Check your cruise line's rules. This kit allows you to fill your empty wine bottle with hard liquor, re-cork it and shrink wrap seal it.

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We recommend paying for on shore purchases that are over $10 with a credit card to reduce the amount of cash you need to carry when off-ship and for a good record of your purchase, and use pocket change or local currency for the rest.

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Never have anything in your back pockets, as this makes it very easy for pickpockets to target you. Some prefer to have fanny packs in leu of a crossbody during their shore excursions, which can be a great solution for carrying valuables and keeping money in a safe place.

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In the United States, anyone on a cruise ship whose last port of call was outside the US is required to pass through US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), unless if the last port of call was equipped with US preclearance facilities (in which case the ship will be treated as a domestic arrival).

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In the United States, anyone on a cruise ship whose last port of call was outside the US is required to pass through US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), unless if the last port of call was equipped with US preclearance facilities (in which case the ship will be treated as a domestic arrival).

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