Passport Requirements

Because passport requirements and regulations are subject to change, we encourage you to visit travel.state.gov for the latest requirements and overseas information before you sail.

There have been many changes with the passport requirements over the past year.Â Here you will find the updatedÂ information the government has released.Â Top Cruise Club has a relationship with an expediter to ensure you will not have any problems receiving a passport in time for your cruise or land vacation. Please review over the passport requirements below. Should you have any questions, please contact your Member Concierge at myconcierge@osotravel.com or 1-888-392-5643.

What kind of travel documents, visa or passport do I need?

The following regulations are currently in effect.

CRUISING – FOR U.S. AND CANADIAN CITIZENS:

Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Alaska, Mexican Riviera, Or Canada & New England Cruises

All cruise guests must provide key personal information in advance of sailing. Top Cruise Club has made it easy for you.Â Go to our Online Check-In form page and click on the logo for the cruise line that you are booked on. Then follow the instructions from there. You will need to know your booking information to get started and/or your past passenger numbers.

For sailings that end by May 31, 2009, you need 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: an original or state certified copy of a U.S. or Canadian birth certificate, an original certificate of U.S. naturalization, original certificate of U.S. citizenship, or a U.S. Consular report of your birth broad.

Hawaii Cruises

Inter-island Cruising. There’s no need for a passport when you sail on any inter-island Hawaiian cruise. So if your ship never sails beyond the islands of Hawaii, all you need is a government-issued photo I.D. or a valid driver’s license with a photo.

Note: If you miss your ship at its scheduled U.S. departure port and need to travel outside the U.S. to meet your ship, or should you unexpectedly need to depart the cruise ship from a foreign port prior to the end of sailing, a passport would be required to leave or re-enter the U.S. by air.

As of June 1st, 2009:

For sailings that depart from and return to the same U.S. port, you need 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: an original or state certified copy of a U.S. or Canadian birth certificate, certificate of U.S. naturalization, original certificate of U.S. citizenship, or a U.S. Consular report of your birth abroad.

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 or Enhanced Drivers License, as well as have in your possession all relative visas that pertain to your travel itinerary. 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.

Note: If you miss your ship at its scheduled U.S. departure port and need to travel outside the U.S. to meet your ship, or should you unexpectedly need to depart the ship from a foreign port prior to the end of sailing, a passport would be required to leave or re-enter the U.S. by air. To that end, Top Cruise Club strongly recommends all Top Cruise Club members to obtain a passport for their voyage on any cruise ship.

Europe and South America Cruises
A valid passport is required and in some cases, a tourist visa is also required.

AIR TRAVEL – FOR U.S. AND CANADIAN CITIZENS:

For all air travel into the U.S. from Canada or any other international location, you’ll need a valid passport TO travel.

AIR AND CRUISE TRAVEL – FOR ALL CITIZENS OTHER THAN U.S. OR CANADIAN:

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 34 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries must have a machine-readable passport to enter the U.S. without a visa. Also, effective January 12th, 2009, all VWP travelers will be 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.

FOR ALL TOP CRUISE CLUB MEMBERS:

U.S. regulations pertaining to required travel documents are updated frequently. The information provided here is meant to offer some guidelines for travel, but please note that these details may not be complete. To be sure you have the latest information, check with your Member Concierge or the proper authorities (such as your local immigration office) before your cruise to make sure you have the proper documentation. Take notice, cruise refunds may not be issued if you’re denied boarding due to lack of proper documents.

It is also important that you provide us with your key personal information in advance of sailing. To do so, simply go to out Online Check-In Page and fill out the forms.

This will undoubtedly cause a backlog in getting passports as these rules take effect, so please obtain or renew your passports early. For information on obtaining or renewing a passport, visit the State Departmentâ€™s web site by clicking here.

You should avoid the rush and the possibility of not being able to travel where you wish without a passport.
A passport can open the doors to travel you may not have considered before, such as cruising in Europe, South America, Australia and Asia.
Passports are valid for ten years and if you are a frequent cruiser or a frequent traveler, the initial price of that passport ($97 for a new passport and $67 for a renewal) is amortized over time.

Last Minute Passports

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Click here for your passport application

Non-U.S. Citizens

You will need a valid passport and, in some cases, a visa. If you live in the U.S., you will also need the original copy of your Alien Registration Card (ARC or “Green Card”) and any other documentation the countries on your itinerary require due to your alien status.

Canadian Landed Immigrants

All Canadian Landed Immigrants (inclusive of those who are citizens of the British Commonwealth countries) who reside in Canada must have valid passports and US visas. Also required is the original copy of your Permanent Resident Card (PR Card) formally the IMM 1000 or with respect to any country on the itinerary any other travel documentation required because of alien status.

Visas

Please contact the Embassy (Consular Services) of each country on your sailing itinerary or the visa service of your choice for specific visa requirements, information, forms and fees for your nationality.

VISA WAIVER PROGRAM

Guest Citizens from the Visa Waiver Program countries of: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunel, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom seeking to enter the United States will be required to have in their possession a machine readable, biometic passport with a digital photograph valid for the duration of the voyage.

A machine readable passport is one having an alpha-numeric code on the bottom of the picture page. Example:

P<<UKDOE<<JOHN<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<1234567890M1234567890M1234567890<1234567890