Why do cruise ships have to stop in Mexico?

If you've ever wondered why cruise ships always stop in a foreign country during the trip, this rule is the answer. The rule states that if a passenger sailing a foreign vessel is on a trip only to one or more American ports, then it is a violation of the law for them to get off the ship.



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U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL), a government-issued birth certificate (issued by the Vital Records Department in the state where he or she was born) or passport, and if 16 or older, a government ...

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As long as the ship you are taking departs and returns to a U.S. port, these are some of the cruises that don't require a passport. Passport-free, you can visit ports like: Cancun. Cozumel.

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Since the cruise ships are built outside the United States, they cannot be flagged as an American vessel. American shipyards are not equipped with the experience building modern cruise ships, nor do they have the capacity or supply chain to assemble cruise ships.

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Money makers on the ship are drinks, casino, and shops - they need that income. The costs of staying in port are very high between fees, dock rental and employees who come with that, security, taxes, etc. Many ports don't have enough cruise ship docks to have some come in an stay a few days either.

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If you miss the ship, you'll have to either meet it in a subsequent port of call or call it a wash and head home. Your cruise line, travel agent or travel insurance provider might be able to help you make the plans; otherwise, you'll have to make arrangements on your own.

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Most cruise lines don't offer roundtrip Hawaii sailings. This is because foreign-flagged cruise ships sailing between U.S. destinations need to include a foreign port in their itineraries to comply with passenger shipping laws.

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Avoiding the Cruise Ship Crowds in Cozumel
  1. Keep a low profile. Stick close to the beach and pool when more than two ships are in port.
  2. Time your excursions. Go into San Miguel for early breakfast and errands, then stay out of town for the rest of the day. ...
  3. Dive in. ...
  4. Drive on the wild side. ...
  5. Frequent the other downtown.


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Children aged 17 years and under will require a passport or Birth Certificate to travel or government issued photo ID. Children under 16 years of age, who do not have a passport or Photo ID, must have a copy of their birth certificate or their parents Medicare Card.

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A closed-loop cruise is a cruise that departs and ends in the same U.S. port, for example, Fort Lauderdale to Fort Lauderdale, or round-trip to Alaska from Seattle.

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