Going on vacation is something that everyone looks forward to doing. Going on a cruise raises that level of excitement even more, as it is often the first and only time that people are going on a boat this large and actually leaving the country. However, anyone doing this should know the new travel laws that require expedited United States passports for cruises.

The traveler that is only traveling within the United States borders will still not need a passport. International travel, regardless of where it goes, will generally require that every passenger has a passport in order to be able to get off of the boat in the varying countries. It is always best to do some research and see exactly what travel laws are pertinent to the trip that is being considered.

First and foremost, everyone needs to understand that many of the travel laws have changed quite dramatically over the last year or so. Prior to June 2009, there was no need to have a passport to travel to places like Mexico or Canada. Because of many of the events over the last ten years or so, these rules have now changed.

Obviously, anyone traveling to a foreign country, meaning a one way trip, would need to have a passport. However, there is still some flexibility in play for round trip cruises, depending on the destination. In most cases, the rules of the trip will be posted on the same pages that the cruise is listed on. If it is not, it would be best to check with the travel agent directly.

Additionally, people who are traveling to a different country to start their cruise are going to need a passport. For instance, someone taking a cruise to Italy would not be leaving out of Miami. Because they may have to travel to Spain or Greece from the outset to get on their ship, a passport would be required to get into the other country and of course, to return home.

Currently, there are trips that are called “closed loop” cruises. They are nothing new to the industry and probably what you or your friends have traveled on before. This is a trip where the traveler boards in a port like Miami, travels to different areas and then returns to that very same port. Trips like this can present an exception to all other passport laws.

Passports for closed loop voyages may not always be required. This break in passport regulations pertains to very few places when traveling from a United States port and it recommended that you double check before traveling to make sure that you can get on and off the boat without a valid passport. However, even though they may not be required, it is always a safe bet to have it, just in case.

It is always smart to read up on where the trip is going to see if passport applications for cruises are required for that specific trip. Now as we said, even if expedited United States passports are not required, it may be a smart move to at least have a passport card when traveling anywhere outside the United States. It is better to be safe than sorry and having extra documentation is never a bad thing for a traveler.