Advice to the wise: Take care of *ALL* paperwork before cruising.

 

For experienced cruisers, travel with a passport is second nature.  However, many people push back at this, saying that for closed-loop trips, passports are not required.  They can get on the ship carrying a drivers' license and an official copy of their birth certificate.  Experienced cruisers know better.  Most of us know of circumstances where travelers on closed-loop cruises have had their cruises cut short, or have had to return to a different port due to circumstances outside of anyone's control.  This month's post is meant to serve as guidance for the paperwork one must have in order to cruise without problems. 

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Most countries publish travel advisories for their citizens who wish to travel abroad. The US Government provides its guidance at the website below:

https://www.usa.gov/travel-abroad

Additionally, the US State Department has the 

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), 

a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals to enroll their trip abroad so the Department of State can accurately and quickly contact them in case of emergency. Its benefits are:

• Receive real time updates about health, weather, safety, and security in the country.
• Plan ahead using information from the local U.S. embassy.
• Help the embassy or consulate contact you if there's an emergency like a natural disaster, civil unrest, or a family emergency.

A recent example of one of the benefits of the STEP program was a recent alert sent to people planning to visit Honduras, notifying them of a new requirement which requires foreign nationals to show proof of Measles vaccinations before visiting the country.   This is one example of paperwork that must be taken care of before travel.  ETA (Electronic Travel Authorizations) and Visas are other requirements for which the US State Department publishes advisories.

Although many countries do not require US Citizens to have visas, countries outside of North America are imposing more stringent requirements for Americans traveling to these places.  For example, Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs) are now required for the UK (ETA - 2025), EU (ETIAS - 2026), Australia (ETA), and New Zealand (NZeTA).  Other countries such as Bolivia are joining on this bandwagon, as they want to know as much as possible about visitors before they reach their points of entry.  (Note: The US has an ETA which citizens of other nations must also apply for in advance.)

In most cases, applying for electronic entry authorization is very easy.  Find the appropriate site, fill out an electronic form, pay the fee, and wait for approval.  

Countries with Electronic Travel Authorizations (courtesy of Wikipedia):

• 

  United States:

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  The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is mandatory for travelers under the Visa Waiver Program. 
• 

  Canada:

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  The Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is required for
  visa-exempt travelers arriving by air. 
• 

  Australia:

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  The Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is an electronic authorization system for visa-exempt travelers. 
• 

  New Zealand:

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  The New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) is mandatory for some visitors from visa waiver countries. 
• 

  United Kingdom:

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  The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is gradually
  being rolled out for certain travelers, including those from
  the United States, starting in 2023 and 2025. 
• European Union (EU):

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  The ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) will be required for visa-exempt travelers to the Schengen Area, starting in 2025. 
• 

  South Korea:

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  The K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) is a
  system for foreign nationals from visa-exempt countries. 
• 

  Japan:

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  Japan is developing a similar system called JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization), which is expected
  to be implemented by 2030. 

There will soon be other countries that require an Electronic Travel Authorization, so double check travel requirements while planning one's cruise.  Each country has its own requirements, and the last thing one would want is to be rejected because of skipping this step, or by NOT researching the requirements for visiting a country.

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Even though many countries only require American citizens to have approved ETAs before travel starts, many countries still require Americans to apply for a visa. Each country has its own requirements and application process - way too many to list here. One acquaintance of mine had to apply for visas for each country she would visit on her South American/Antarctic cruise.  This is a pain, as one of these countries (Brazil) now requires Americans to show proof of financial status - which meant (at the time I write this entry) one had to show that s/he had a minimum of $2,000 in the bank with other verifiable income.  (Note: Brazil, like many developing nations is pushing back with visa requirements for Americans due to changed American requirements for citizens of these countries.)  The following site can be useful in determining whether an American needs a visa to travel to that country:

https://cibtvisas.com/visa-quick-check

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Once one has all required Visas and/or ETAs only then, one can assume one is set to cruise.  However, one must still be careful.  Cruise lines will allow a person who is ineligible to take a cruise to pay for one, and be rejected by one of the countries whose ports the ship will visit on the cruise.  For example, Canada considers DUI convictions to be felonies, and will reject a potential passenger once the manifest is sent to each country for processing.  Even the Alaskan ferry system has to refuse transit for American citizens traveling directly from Seattle to ports in Alaska, as the ship sails through Canadian waters to get there.

Some key things to note about passport requirements when cruising:

• Most nations require that passports expire no less than 6 months after one's travel in that country has ended.
  
  
• Many nations refuse to recognize the "X" (Non-Binary) Gender Marker on passports.  (Sadly, the US is now one of these countries.)
  
  
• If one plans to travel in the Middle East, it would be wise to hold a second passport which contains NO Israeli stamps in its pages.  The US recognizes this issue, and will issue a second passport good for only 5 years instead of the normal 10 for this purpose.
  
  
• US citizens leaving/entering the US must present their American passport at American ports, even if they have a second country's passport.  (The process is reversed when those citizens enter/leave their second homeland.)
  
  
• At some ports, the cruise ship is required to present your physical passport to their national customs authorities.  The passport will be returned to the cruiser as soon as the cruise ship is allowed to return it to the cruiser.
  

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With the exception of the immediate aftermath of the Covid Pandemic, I have not needed new vaccinations or to show proof of vaccination before cruising.  However, this doesn't mean that one shouldn't keep one's vaccinations up to date, nor does it mean one should not retain proof of all needed vaccinations. 

Lately, it was reported that the nation of Honduras instituted a requirement that all visitors show proof of vaccination against measles. Given the severity of the Covid Pandemic's affect on tourism, one could expect that more nations will take a similar proactive path to prevent future diseases from spreading within their countries.  This traveler's advice would be to keep all vaccinations up to date and to preserve proof of vaccination whenever possible - one might need it in the future.

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There are so many things that people new to international travel need to know.  And it may be advisable to consult with a good travel agent for information on current travel requirements as soon as the cruise is booked.  Who wants to see a ship sail away without them?

Cruising - Preparing for the cruise

There are many things one must do in preparing for a cruise, that are common to most forms of travel.  Some of these things are:

• Determining whether one needs to arrive in the cruise terminal’s city the day of the cruise, or a day or two before the cruise.
• Arranging transportation to/from cruise terminal, airport, or train station.
• Making sure all of one’s documentation is in order. (e.g.: Passports & Visas)
  
• Setting up Hold Mail service with the Post Office.
• Vaccinations needed for destination(s).
• Itinerary information to be packed in each bag, in case it is not delivered to the correct destination on time.  (This will aid in the recovery of lost bags and in the delivery of those bags to the cruiser.)
• Backup copies of all identification and credit cards being carried on the cruise.  (One never knows when one may need to call a credit card company about a lost or misplaced card.)
• Cruise Documents, such as Boarding Passes and Luggage Tags.
• Luggage Locator Tags (Apple Tags, Tile Tags, etc.)
• Confirming cruise terminal check-in time with the cruise line.
  
  
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Passports, Visas, Entry Permits, and Proofs of Vaccination.

One should take care of these items as early as possible before the cruise, as many people forget one or more of them, and have been unable to go on their cruises.

Passports are a requirement for most cruises.  However, many round-trip cruises from US ports do not require passports, as they only require a birth certificate for proof of US citizenship. This is not recommended, as a person’s cruise may end suddenly due to ship malfunction or individual illness.  Affected cruisers would then need to get a emergency passport from the nearest US consulate or embassy, something which can be a major hassle in an already stressful time. 

Assuming one is using a passport for international travel, one should make sure that it will not expire before 6 months after travel has ended.  Many nations require this for entry, and one can be kept off a cruise for this reason.  However, this might not be all that a traveler needs to cruise to/from many ports, as individual countries/regions may require visas or entry permits to enter.  For example, the US and EU already require entry permits for all non-citizens, separate from any visa requirements that may exist.  The UK is implementing its own entry permit system.  This may create a logistical nightmare for US citizens flying from New York to London for a round-trip cruise from Southhampton to the Norwegian Fjords. It is not just the US, UK, and EU that has visitor rules like this.  An acquaintance of mine had to apply for 3 separate permits for her trip to visit Antarctica.  So, one must be careful to secure all required permits and visas well ahead of the cruise.

Some countries (or regions) require vaccination proofs before entry.  For example, even though Australia lifted most Covid era vaccination requirements, one of its states still required proofs of vaccination.  As a result, several people were denied boarding their cruises, even though Australia (as a nation) allowed them to be on Australian soil.

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Dining Reservations:

As soon as you are able, make your dining reservations for any specialty restaurants in which you plan to dine.  Often, many preferred dining times get closed out before the cruise, and one must settle for second and third best choices. For example, I had 4 specialty meals included with my Hawaii cruise (2 from NCL’s “free at sea” package, and 2 from my loyalty status).  I was only able to book 2 of these meals before my cruise, and had to settle for 2 meals in restaurants which I would not have chosen had my desired choices had still been available.

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Shore Excursions:

Like dining reservations, shore excursions should be purchased as early as possible.  On several cruises, I was locked out of shore excursions because they were sold out before the cruise started.  Cancelling an excursion is not much of a problem, as most excursions can be canceled with 48 hours’ prior notice.

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Packing for the cruise.

I have found that a checklist is very useful when I prepare for a cruise.  One of the ones I have found useful can be found at:

https://www.smartertravel.com/the-ultimate-packing-list/

In addition, I always pack a printed sheet of paper containing my contact information and my travel itinerary, so that if my bag is misplaced and opened, it can be forwarded to me by the airline, cruise line, or other personnel that may mishandle my luggage.  This helped me on one return to New York, as I left some luggage in the trunk of the cab, and was able to retrieve the luggage with minimal difficulty.

Assuming that the weather is warm and the ship has a pool, one might want to consider packing a swimsuit in one’s carry-on bag.  This way, on Embarkation Day, one has the option of changing into the swimsuit and going for a soak before checked luggage is delivered to one’s cabin.

However, there are items that must be packed, as they will not be permitted on the ship.  Many are prohibited because cruise ships use a different electrical system than found on land. Some of these items are:

• Hair Dryers
• Power strips with surge protection.
  (There are special power strips available on Amazon that can be used.)
• Electric Blankets
• Bottles of Alcoholic Beverages.  (Applies to many ships, but not all.)

I would read the cruise line’s list of prohibited items before packing.  Please be aware that all cruise lines currently prohibit bringing cannabis on board, as they follow both US Federal Government law, the laws of the country whose flag the ship flies, as well as those laws of each port on the cruise’s route.  In a case reported by a Vlogger, a cruiser was banned for life because ship personnel found cannabis in the cabin.

Cruisers will usually not have problems with most prescription drugs. One should keep them in a carry-on or personal bag, as it may take some time for your larger suitcase to make it from the porter to your cabin door.  Although I have never needed to do so, one may need to keep their drugs in their original containers to avoid problems in some countries. When in doubt, check with appropriate authorities in each country the ship will visit to make sure that each medication is allowed.  In some cases, your physician may need to substitute medications to comply with the laws of foreign nations.

Not all medications are in pill form.  Some are liquids that may need refrigeration. You may need to keep your medication cold on the way to a cruise ship.  However, once in your cabin, you can request that your attendant remove all purchasable items from the cabin refrigerator, so that you can access your medications at any time.

Regarding medical equipment, most major “American” cruise lines have at least one North American Standard 110v/60hz power outlet. This may not be enough for many cruisers, as couples may have equipment such as “his and hers” CPAP units. Because of this, I always travel with a cruise ready power strip and an extension cord to allow me to set up my CPAP unit next to my bed.  In the case of CPAP units, I have never had a major problem requesting distilled water from my room attendant.  In the one case where I had a problem, he had to ask for help in translating “distilled water” so that he could fetch it from the ship’s stores.

One trick many people have found to access additional power outlets is to bring a travel adapter, so that they can use the European Standard 220v/50hz power outlet with North American equipment.  Although I have not needed to do this, it is something to consider when one just needs that one extra power outlet.

If you have not done so, load the cruise line’s app onto your cell phone before going on the cruise.  This is the ideal time to set it up and become familiar with it, because you may need it to do many things on the ship.  On two of the cruise lines that I have sailed on, their app allows the cruiser to reserve meal times at the onboard restaurants, reserve seats for the ship’s onboard entertainment, order drinks and much, much more.   Knowledge of how to use the app can make a cruise more pleasant than if one cannot use a cell phone as an information utility.