Is there immigration on cruises?

You have to submit proof of citizenship before you board. In theory, you can be required to be checked by immigration when you finish the cruise, but they just do a face ID check now. You generally don't go through an immigration check for port stops.



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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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Domestic Cruises Non-U.S. Citizens are required to carry a valid, unexpired passport and a Multiple Entry Visa, if applicable. In addition, guests must contact the appropriate embassy or consulate of the countries they will be visiting for specific travel documentation requirements.

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For Americans, some popular cruise destinations, such as Russia and Australia, require visas. Check with your cruise line because individual country policies can vary.

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It's not uncommon for cruise ships to spot refugees or assist in rescue operations while at sea.

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Often in these situations, the refugees will be checked over by the onboard medical team and provided water and food. In many cases, the cruise ship will wait for the US Coast Guard to take over and rescue the refugees.

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A cruise line may keep your passport for the duration of your cruise or certain segments to make it easier for immigration to check passports when travelling between different countries.

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Immigration officials will often come onboard cruise ships to check documentation and the process of keeping the passports centrally makes it much easier and faster for the cruise line and passengers. It's worth noting though that on the majority of cruises the cruise line will not keep your passport.

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You must declare all items you purchased and are carrying with you upon return to the United States, including gifts for other people as well as items you bought for yourself. This includes duty-free items purchased in foreign countries, as well as any merchandise you intend to sell or use in your business.

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Bottom line Cruise documents provide the verification you'll need to board your vessel on embarkation day. They include identification, boarding passes, health forms and any required visas, which you should always keep handy in your carry-on bag or personal item.

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Depending on your itinerary, the ship may collect your passport to speed up the clearance formalities at each port of call. We suggest you bring with you a few photocopies of your passport's personal page which includes the picture, and that you carry one of these photocopies with you each time you leave the ship.

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In addition to luggage screening, cruise lines also have other security measures in place to ensure the safety of all passengers on board. This can include passenger screening before boarding, onboard security personnel, and surveillance cameras throughout the ship.

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Entering a country via its seaports because you're traveling on a cruise is considered “arriving in a cruise.” In this situation, the visa requirements for each country can be different from one another and they can even be different from that same country's requirements for travelers entering via plane.

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Of the 212 overboard incidents mentioned earlier, 48 of those (roughly 28%) were rescued alive, CLIA reports. That amounts to four or five rescues each year. Any time an overboard occurs, cruise lines offer assistance to friends, family or other travel companions traveling with the passenger in question.

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There are also millions of stateless people, who have been denied a nationality and access to basic rights such as education, healthcare, employment and freedom of movement. There are diminishing prospects for refugees when it comes to hopes of any quick end to their plight.

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