Travel Document Requirements
Required Travel Document and Information For Cruise Vacations
What are Princess Cruise Line's Age Requirements?
Infants sailing onboard a Princess Cruise Line vessel must be at least six months of age at time of sailing. However, for voyages that have 3 or more consecutive days at sea, the infant must be at least 12 months old at time of sailing.
A minor is defined as an individual under 18 years of age at the time of embarkation.
A young adult is defined as an individual between the ages of 18 and 20.
Company policy dictates that a passenger under 21 years of age must be accompanied in the same or connecting stateroom by a passenger 21 years of age or older at the time of embarkation.
For passengers under the age of 18 traveling with an accompanying adult, who is not the minor's parent or legal guardian, a PARENT/GUARDIAN CONSENT RELEASE FORM that authorizes the minor's travel and further authorizes medical treatment in case of an emergency must be delivered to a Princess Cruise Line representative at the pier during check-in. Failure to produce this letter at embarkation may result in boarding being denied, with no refund of cruise fare provided.
Note: Two people under the age of 21 may travel together in the same stateroom if they are a married couple and provide proof of marriage to a Princess Cruise Line representative at the pier before embarkation.
Alcohol Consumption Policy
Passengers must be 21 years of age or older to purchase or consume alcohol.
Princess Cruise Line permits young adults to purchase and personally consume wine and beer only while onboard and with the consent of an accompanying parent. Authorization will be given only when the accompanying parent completes the Young Adult Alcoholic Beverage Waiver form. This form can be obtained and completed at the Guest Services Desk upon embarkation of the vessel. However, passengers 18 years of age or older are permitted to consume alcoholic beverages when sailing on roundtrip European voyages without having to complete the Young Adult Alcoholic Beverage Waiver form.
General Documentation and Visa InformationU.S. Citizens
Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Alaska, Mexican Riviera, Or Canada & New England Cruises
For round-trip sailings (cruises that depart from and return to the same U.S. port), you may sail with either a valid passport, proof of citizenship and a valid government-issued photo I.D. (driver’s license with a photo), or any other WHTI compliant document.
Proof of Citizenship examples include:
Baptismal paper, hospital certificates of birth, and Puerto Rico birth certificates issued prior to 7/1/10 are not acceptable.
A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 do not require a government-issued photo ID.
For open-jaw sailings (cruises that depart from one U.S. port and return to a different U.S. port), you are required to carry:
Air travel outside of the United States
All air travel outside of the U.S. requires a valid passport.
Persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by AIR between the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, The Caribbean, and Bermuda are required to carry a valid passport. Therefore, in order to either join or finally disembark a cruise vessel outside of the United States, a valid passport is required for travel.
Even if your cruise does not involve air travel outside the U.S., should you be required to unexpectedly depart a vessel prior to the end of the sailing, a passport would be required to re-enter the U.S. by air. As such, Princess Cruise Line strongly recommends that all guests are in possession of a passport to sail on an Princess Cruise Line cruise. More information regarding passport requirements is available at: www.getyouhome.gov.
Documentation Resources
To obtain an original or state certified copy of a birth certificate, you can contact your hospital of birth or the Vital Statistics Department of the County where you were born.
For more information on obtaining a passport, please visit: http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html, or Visa Central at http://www.visacentral.com/ncl
Every state issues identification cards, usually from the state's Department of Motor Vehicles. As an example, to obtain a Florida identification card you could visit: http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/ to find out more information.
Non-U.S. Citizens
All guests must carry a valid passport, and if necessary, a multiple entry visa is required for entry into the United States (i.e. B-2 Visitors Visa), or a visa waiver. Please be sure to check with the proper agencies and authorities (such as your local immigration office) before you sail because we can't board you without the proper documents. Travelers from the 38 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries* must have a machine-readable passport to enter the U.S. without a visa. All VWP travelers are required to obtain an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the U.S. under the VWP.
*ANDORRA, AUSTRALIA, AUSTRIA, BELGIUM, BRUNEI, CHILE, CZECH REPUBLIC, DENMARK, ESTONIA, FINLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, GREECE, HUNGUARY, ICELAND, IRELAND, ITALY, JAPAN, LATVIA, LIECHTENSTEIN, LITHUANIA, LUXEMBOURG, MALTA, MONACO, NETHERLANDS, NEW ZEALAND, NORWAY, PORTUGAL, REP. OF KOREA , SAN MARINO, SINGAPORE, SLOVAKIA, SLOVENIA, SPAIN, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND, TAIWAN and UNITED KINGDOM.
Alien Residents of the United States holding an Alien Registration Card (ARC or "Green Card") (Form I-551) may travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda (see Visa Restrictions on Bermuda) and the Caribbean with just their valid ARC and Proof of Identity. However, it is recommended that these guests also carry their passports from their country of citizenship if available. In some instances, ARC holders may still be required to have sailing permits and/or visas to enter countries Princess Cruise Line visits in these areas. Please note that travel anywhere else in the world requires a valid passport from the country you are a citizen of and subsequently subjects you to any documentation, visa and health requirements of all countries visited.
Electronic Travel Authorization
All Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers will be required to obtain an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to enter the U.S. under the VWP. Travelers, travel agents, or carriers must use the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) secure website at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov and complete an on-line application. Applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel, however, DHS recommends that applications be submitted no less than 72 hours prior to travel. In most cases you will receive a response within seconds:
Visa Requirements
Schengen States:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The Schengen Agreement came into force on 26th March 1995. It is an agreement between several member states of the European Union (EU), to remove immigration controls for travel within their collective territories. This creates a "borderless" region, known as the "Schengen Area" and therefore changes the procedures for entering or connecting in all of the Schengen States as well as for traveling between them. There are four types of Schengen visas, but type C is the one typically needed by passengers, which can be issued by any one of the Schengen states and is valid for all the others. Due to the type of itineraries in Europe, Scandinavia, and the Mediterranean, passengers who require Schengen visas must obtain a multiple-entry type visa prior to traveling. U.S. and Canadian citizens do not require a Schengen visa.
The Schengen Agreement that governs the European Union (EU) member states indicates that certain nationalities require a visa to enter the EU zone. Guests who are not US, Canadian, or European nationals are strongly encouraged to contact the nearest EU-member country embassy to determine if a Schengen visa is necessary.
VisaCentral provides visa application kits for U.S. residents or U.K. passengers who require visas on select itineraries. VisaCentral can also assist passengers to obtain other visas where required, and issue passports to U.S. citizens. The toll free number for Norwegian Cruise Line clients to use for visa inquiries and assistance with application forms is (1-866) 788-1100 or visit their website at http://www.visacentral.com/ncl. Guests are not obligated to use this service but it is recommended.
You must be able to satisfy all of the above criteria in order to sail onboard a Princess Cruise Line ship.
What are Princess Cruise Line's Age Requirements?
Infants sailing onboard a Princess Cruise Line vessel must be at least six months of age at time of sailing. However, for voyages that have 3 or more consecutive days at sea, the infant must be at least 12 months old at time of sailing.
A minor is defined as an individual under 18 years of age at the time of embarkation.
A young adult is defined as an individual between the ages of 18 and 20.
Company policy dictates that a passenger under 21 years of age must be accompanied in the same or connecting stateroom by a passenger 21 years of age or older at the time of embarkation.
For passengers under the age of 18 traveling with an accompanying adult, who is not the minor's parent or legal guardian, a PARENT/GUARDIAN CONSENT RELEASE FORM that authorizes the minor's travel and further authorizes medical treatment in case of an emergency must be delivered to a Princess Cruise Line representative at the pier during check-in. Failure to produce this letter at embarkation may result in boarding being denied, with no refund of cruise fare provided.
Note: Two people under the age of 21 may travel together in the same stateroom if they are a married couple and provide proof of marriage to a Princess Cruise Line representative at the pier before embarkation.
Alcohol Consumption Policy
Passengers must be 21 years of age or older to purchase or consume alcohol.
Princess Cruise Line permits young adults to purchase and personally consume wine and beer only while onboard and with the consent of an accompanying parent. Authorization will be given only when the accompanying parent completes the Young Adult Alcoholic Beverage Waiver form. This form can be obtained and completed at the Guest Services Desk upon embarkation of the vessel. However, passengers 18 years of age or older are permitted to consume alcoholic beverages when sailing on roundtrip European voyages without having to complete the Young Adult Alcoholic Beverage Waiver form.
General Documentation and Visa InformationU.S. Citizens
Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Alaska, Mexican Riviera, Or Canada & New England Cruises
For round-trip sailings (cruises that depart from and return to the same U.S. port), you may sail with either a valid passport, proof of citizenship and a valid government-issued photo I.D. (driver’s license with a photo), or any other WHTI compliant document.
Proof of Citizenship examples include:
- State certified U.S. birth certificate
- Original certificate of U.S. naturalization
- Original certificate of U.S. citizenship
Baptismal paper, hospital certificates of birth, and Puerto Rico birth certificates issued prior to 7/1/10 are not acceptable.
A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 do not require a government-issued photo ID.
For open-jaw sailings (cruises that depart from one U.S. port and return to a different U.S. port), you are required to carry:
- A valid passport
- U.S. passport card
- U.S. or Canadian Enhanced Drivers License
- Permanent residents of the U.S. are required to carry their valid ARC cards for boarding AND passport from their country of citizenship, if available.
Air travel outside of the United States
All air travel outside of the U.S. requires a valid passport.
Persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by AIR between the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, The Caribbean, and Bermuda are required to carry a valid passport. Therefore, in order to either join or finally disembark a cruise vessel outside of the United States, a valid passport is required for travel.
Even if your cruise does not involve air travel outside the U.S., should you be required to unexpectedly depart a vessel prior to the end of the sailing, a passport would be required to re-enter the U.S. by air. As such, Princess Cruise Line strongly recommends that all guests are in possession of a passport to sail on an Princess Cruise Line cruise. More information regarding passport requirements is available at: www.getyouhome.gov.
Documentation Resources
To obtain an original or state certified copy of a birth certificate, you can contact your hospital of birth or the Vital Statistics Department of the County where you were born.
For more information on obtaining a passport, please visit: http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html, or Visa Central at http://www.visacentral.com/ncl
Every state issues identification cards, usually from the state's Department of Motor Vehicles. As an example, to obtain a Florida identification card you could visit: http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/ to find out more information.
Non-U.S. Citizens
All guests must carry a valid passport, and if necessary, a multiple entry visa is required for entry into the United States (i.e. B-2 Visitors Visa), or a visa waiver. Please be sure to check with the proper agencies and authorities (such as your local immigration office) before you sail because we can't board you without the proper documents. Travelers from the 38 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries* must have a machine-readable passport to enter the U.S. without a visa. All VWP travelers are required to obtain an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the U.S. under the VWP.
*ANDORRA, AUSTRALIA, AUSTRIA, BELGIUM, BRUNEI, CHILE, CZECH REPUBLIC, DENMARK, ESTONIA, FINLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, GREECE, HUNGUARY, ICELAND, IRELAND, ITALY, JAPAN, LATVIA, LIECHTENSTEIN, LITHUANIA, LUXEMBOURG, MALTA, MONACO, NETHERLANDS, NEW ZEALAND, NORWAY, PORTUGAL, REP. OF KOREA , SAN MARINO, SINGAPORE, SLOVAKIA, SLOVENIA, SPAIN, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND, TAIWAN and UNITED KINGDOM.
Alien Residents of the United States holding an Alien Registration Card (ARC or "Green Card") (Form I-551) may travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda (see Visa Restrictions on Bermuda) and the Caribbean with just their valid ARC and Proof of Identity. However, it is recommended that these guests also carry their passports from their country of citizenship if available. In some instances, ARC holders may still be required to have sailing permits and/or visas to enter countries Princess Cruise Line visits in these areas. Please note that travel anywhere else in the world requires a valid passport from the country you are a citizen of and subsequently subjects you to any documentation, visa and health requirements of all countries visited.
Electronic Travel Authorization
All Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers will be required to obtain an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to enter the U.S. under the VWP. Travelers, travel agents, or carriers must use the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) secure website at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov and complete an on-line application. Applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel, however, DHS recommends that applications be submitted no less than 72 hours prior to travel. In most cases you will receive a response within seconds:
- Authorization Approved
- Travel Not Authorized: Traveler must obtain a nonimmigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate before traveling to the U.S.
- Authorization Pending: Traveler will need to check the ESTA website for updates within 72 hours to receive a final response.
- Required for all VWP travelers prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to enter the U.S. under the VWP;
- Valid, unless revoked, for up to two years or until the traveler's passport expires, whichever comes first;
- Valid for multiple entries; and Not a guarantee of admissibility to the United States at a port of entry.
Visa Requirements
Schengen States:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The Schengen Agreement came into force on 26th March 1995. It is an agreement between several member states of the European Union (EU), to remove immigration controls for travel within their collective territories. This creates a "borderless" region, known as the "Schengen Area" and therefore changes the procedures for entering or connecting in all of the Schengen States as well as for traveling between them. There are four types of Schengen visas, but type C is the one typically needed by passengers, which can be issued by any one of the Schengen states and is valid for all the others. Due to the type of itineraries in Europe, Scandinavia, and the Mediterranean, passengers who require Schengen visas must obtain a multiple-entry type visa prior to traveling. U.S. and Canadian citizens do not require a Schengen visa.
The Schengen Agreement that governs the European Union (EU) member states indicates that certain nationalities require a visa to enter the EU zone. Guests who are not US, Canadian, or European nationals are strongly encouraged to contact the nearest EU-member country embassy to determine if a Schengen visa is necessary.
VisaCentral provides visa application kits for U.S. residents or U.K. passengers who require visas on select itineraries. VisaCentral can also assist passengers to obtain other visas where required, and issue passports to U.S. citizens. The toll free number for Norwegian Cruise Line clients to use for visa inquiries and assistance with application forms is (1-866) 788-1100 or visit their website at http://www.visacentral.com/ncl. Guests are not obligated to use this service but it is recommended.
You must be able to satisfy all of the above criteria in order to sail onboard a Princess Cruise Line ship.
