Six Months passport validity

[Deniuh]

Hello, my family is sailing Utopia in November, 2024 on a closed loop weekend cruise to the Bahamas. My hubby and I just noticed that our passports expire April & May 2025 and we do not have six months validity on our passports. I have checked RCCL's travel requirements online which state otherwise, but I have also called RCCL directly and my TA has as well. All agents have confirmed that the six month validity rule does not apply in this instance and they have made a note on our reservation. We are trying to get an appointment with a local passport agency to renew but can't get an appointment as we are not within the 14 day window. Do you think we will have any issues boarding this ship?  See excerpt below from RCCL's site. There's too much contradiction and I don't want to be denied boarding the day of the cruise.  I already did a search and most of the posts are outdated. Thanks for your time.

Do I need a passport to cruise?

A

 

 

Everyone will need to present an accepted form of identification to board the ship. We strongly recommend that all guests present a passport as their form of ID on boarding day, and for some guests a passport is required.

The passport must be valid for six months after the day your cruise ends. The name on your passport should match the name on your reservation. What if my name doesn’t match?

While some other forms of ID may be accepted for your cruise, a passport is the very best option and here’s why:

• A passport is the hassle-free, gold standard for traveling between countries.

• Boarding and disembarking through customs with a passport is usually faster than other types of ID documents.

• If you have an issue while exploring a foreign port (such as missing the ship), it’s best to have a passport with you.

Guests who do not bring required documents may be denied boarding.

 

[CruiseGus]

Your on Utopia, so sailing from USA, don't worry about the passport expiration.  You will not be denighed boarding, and as long as the passport is still valid CBP will let you back in.

[Ryan79]

Just bring your DL and birth certificate with you just in case….problem solved. You will be just fine as-is, but if you are just a little worried then bring those

[Ampurp85]

I sailed this May with a passport that expired in September. No issues. I did bring ID and birth certificate but all they cared about was it wasn't expired.

[FOB]

Assuming you are a US citizen the rules regarding DL and BC work. If you are not a US citizen then the rules about 6 month validity will apply so you will need to get them renewed before you can sail (and apply for new ESTAs as these are attached to the passport number and so will lapse when the passport is renewed)

[Atlantix2000]

12 hours ago, FOB said:

Assuming you are a US citizen the rules regarding DL and BC work. If you are not a US citizen then the rules about 6 month validity will apply so you will need to get them renewed before you can sail (and apply for new ESTAs as these are attached to the passport number and so will lapse when the passport is renewed)

6 month validity ONLY applies IF you are visiting a country that has such a rule.  The most common caribbean itineraries do not visit any such countries.  There are many threads here that will confirm this.  Your passport just has to be valid while you are on the cruise.

[smokeybandit]

The six month rule is a CYA rule for RC since 6 months is the global maximum for places RC would visit.

But in all likelihood you're not visiting a country with a 6 month rule.

[AshleyDillo]

On 10/20/2024 at 10:30 PM, Ampurp85 said:

I sailed this May with a passport that expired in September. No issues. I did bring ID and birth certificate but all they cared about was it wasn't expired.

I did this when mine was within the 6-month expiration date.  I had my BC and ID just in case, but they didn't ask for it.  You can go on the cruise with just a BC and ID since it's a closed loop, but I'd still bring the passport just in case something happens and you're out of the US. 

[cruisellama]

My grandson was in that situation on a closed loop out of Galveston last week.  We brought his birth certificate (BC) as a backup.  When we arrived we presented both the BC and the passport (which only had 3 months of life left).   The agent said, the passport was fine.   This was not an issue with the CBP at Galveston. (But we prepared for the worse case).

I believe the stated RCL policy mimics the DoS travel note  that many countries will not accept a passport with expiration of <6 months at time of travel completion.  It's a conservative position for a closed loop Caribbean cruise (where certain islands/countries do not require US passports), but at the same time, may push guests to ensure they retain more robust travel documentation.   With the new facial recognition tech tied to passports, it really makes embarkation/disembarkation process go fast. 

[Poolside]

Does anyone have a partial or complete list of countries in the Caribbean that are strict (requiring 6 months before Passport expiration)?

I know Cuba is one of them (from my 2018 cruise to Havana), but I don't know any other Caribbean countries.

Thanks,

Poolside

[WAAAYTOOO]

I think Columbia is one

[TXcruzer]

2 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I think Columbia is one

As is Martinique

[Pattycruise]

The sailing I did that went to Columbia required passports, we sailed round from the states.  Lots of disappointed people at the port when they only had birth certificates’  royal MAY have fixed that issue by now, I recall my Greenland cruise (roundup from NJ) You could only select passport as your travel document.  

[Deniuh]

We don’t have US birth certificates as we are immigrants. So am worried. 

[KristiZ]

On 10/27/2024 at 10:20 AM, Deniuh said:

We don’t have US birth certificates as we are immigrants. So am worried. 

Your US passports will be fine, even without the 6-month validity. Bermuda requires US citizens to have a US passport "valid for the duration of your travel to Bermuda", which yours will be. Enjoy your cruise!