Passport requirement if not going to another country

[denmarks]

Let's assume there was an American registered ship that went from Los Angeles to San Francisco and sailed outside the territorial waters of the US. It stops at no foreign country. Since you are technically leaving and reentering the US is a passport required.

[kayhold]

You don't need one to cruise on a closed loop cruise that DOES visit another country, why would you need one for a cruise that doesn't visit another country?

[paul929207]

I would not think so. Flights to/from Alaska often fly over Canada on the way from/to another US city and a passport is not required.

[denmarks]

It is not a closed loop. LA-SF. Also I assume duty free items could be sold on the ship. Wouldn't customs have to be involved? This is just theory. I would assume if there was regular service it would stay within territorial waters and not worry about it.

[thinfool]

No, but your question is purely theoretical. There is only one large cruise ship, the Pride of America, that sails exclusively in Hawaii. (Closed loop)

As I understand, no passport is required to sail on it.


Probably a photo ID (drivers license) would be necessary.

[denmarks]

Originally Posted by thinfool

No, but your question is purely theoretical. There is only one large cruise ship, the Pride of America, that sails exclusively in Hawaii. (Closed loop)

As I understand, no passport is required to sail on it.


Probably a photo ID (drivers license) would be necessary.

It may not go outside of territorial waters.

[paul929207]

I think it would go out of US territorial waters. Otherwise no duty free sales and no casino.

[sail7seas]

The only way you can sail from a U.S. port and not stop at a foreign port is if you stop at no ports and return to where you started....... a cruise to no where.

PVSA (Passenger Vessel Services Act) governs and foreign flagged vessels (most cruise ships are) cannot do what you suggest without penalty.

[kayhold]

Originally Posted by denmarks

It is not a closed loop. LA-SF. Also I assume duty free items could be sold on the ship. Wouldn't customs have to be involved? This is just theory. I would assume if there was regular service it would stay within territorial waters and not worry about it.

While you're right about closed loop, the rules say starting and ending in a US port so it still applies

Sent from Tapa-Talk. Please forgive my brevity and lack of punctuation.

[denmarks]

Originally Posted by sail7seas

The only way you can sail from a U.S. port and not stop at a foreign port is if you stop at no ports and return to where you started....... a cruise to no where.

PVSA (Passenger Vessel Services Act) governs and foreign flagged vessels (most cruise ships are) cannot do what you suggest without penalty.

You did not read the complete question. It was just in theory and specifically stated an American flagged ship.

[paul929207]

Originally Posted by sail7seas

The only way you can sail from a U.S. port and not stop at a foreign port is if you stop at no ports and return to where you started....... a cruise to no where.

PVSA (Passenger Vessel Services Act) governs and foreign flagged vessels (most cruise ships are) cannot do what you suggest without penalty.

OP stated at the begining that if there was an American flagged vessel, would a passport be needed. It was a hypothetical question as there is no indication that NCL will move its ship from Hawaii to the west coast.

[thinfool]

This may help...from the folks who do small ship voyages in Alaska, US flagged, calling only at US ports...

http://www.innerseadiscoveries.com/faq

PASSPORTS / VISAS / IDENTIFICATION
Q. What kind of ID is required?
A. U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. traveling exclusively inside U.S. borders do not need a passport or visa for travel. We only require a government-issued photo ID such as your driver’s license.



Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada entering the U.S. are required to bring their passport.



For other nationalities, passports are required to enter the U.S. It is your responsibility to check with your local U.S. embassy/consulate to confirm visa requirements and to obtain the proper visa/U.S. alien card (green card).

[denmarks]

Originally Posted by thinfool

This may help...from the folks who do small ship voyages in Alaska, US flagged, calling only at US ports...

http://www.innerseadiscoveries.com/faq



PASSPORTS / VISAS / IDENTIFICATION
Q. What kind of ID is required?
A. U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. traveling exclusively inside U.S. borders do not need a passport or visa for travel. We only require a government-issued photo ID such as your driver’s license.



Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada entering the U.S. are required to bring their passport.



For other nationalities, passports are required to enter the U.S. It is your responsibility to check with your local U.S. embassy/consulate to confirm visa requirements and to obtain the proper visa/U.S. alien card (green card).

You must remember that this was hypothetical. Your quote states "traveling exclusively inside U.S. borders". I said traveling OUTSIDE territorial waters.

[thinfool]

Originally Posted by denmarks

You must remember that this was hypothetical. Your quote states "traveling exclusively inside U.S. borders". I said traveling OUTSIDE territorial waters.

You must remember that, to travel from Seattle to Alaska you must transit Canadian waters.

This is also true of the ferries on the Alaskan Marine Highway system. You might check their website regarding your scenario.

[sail7seas]

Originally Posted by denmarks

Let's assume there was an American registered ship that went from Los Angeles to San Francisco and sailed outside the territorial waters of the US. It stops at no foreign country. Since you are technically leaving and reentering the US is a passport required.

Originally Posted by paul929207

OP stated at the begining that if there was an American flagged vessel, would a passport be needed. It was a hypothetical question as there is no indication that NCL will move its ship from Hawaii to the west coast.

American Cruise Lines on the East Coast.
We've seen their small ships on our Canada/New England Itinerary.

[scottbee]

Originally Posted by denmarks

You must remember that this was hypothetical. Your quote states "traveling exclusively inside U.S. borders". I said traveling OUTSIDE territorial waters.

no passport is required. As someone pointed out it's like flying to Alaska (over Canada), but's it's domestic-domestic

However, there's only one US registered cruise ship

[Cruisin' Chick]

Originally Posted by paul929207

OP stated at the begining that if there was an American flagged vessel, would a passport be needed. It was a hypothetical question as there is no indication that NCL will move its ship from Hawaii to the west coast.

And if it did, it would lose its status as an American-flagged ship.

[jcl410]

Originally Posted by denmarks

You must remember that this was hypothetical. Your quote states "traveling exclusively inside U.S. borders". I said traveling OUTSIDE territorial waters.

I had this happen once; A 5 day crossing from San Diego to Honolulu on the QE2. There were about 500 people scheduled to board, but the seas were too high to tender. The QE2 sailed north to San Diego; I assume Cunard decided to pay the PSVA fines;

Any way, there was no Immigration or passport checks when we disembarked.

Aloha,

John

[njhorseman]

Originally Posted by denmarks

You must remember that this was hypothetical. Your quote states "traveling exclusively inside U.S. borders". I said traveling OUTSIDE territorial waters.

It doesn't matter if the ship cruises in international waters. If the ship makes no port calls outside the US its passengers are considered to have never left the US, so no immigration checks or passports are required. Your underlying assumption of "you are technically leaving and reentering the US" is wrong.

There are lots of casino boats that leave from ports in Florida and elsewhere. They all travel into international waters. All you need to board those boats is proper ID. The same is true for deep sea fishing boats.