Back to Identification, Passports, Visa

Answer:

Immigration Questionnaire & Online Check-In: Each individual guest is required to complete the questionnaire in Online Check-In to obtain Express Docs. Please complete the Online Check-In process on our website prior to your sail date. After you complete the Online Check-In, your Express Docs including your Boarding Pass will be issued. Please do not forget to print them out prior to leaving home.

Please Note:

• Guests arriving at embarkation without complete and accurate documentation may not join the voyage and will not be entitled to a refund.
• Please complete the Online Check-In process at hollandamerica.com 72 hours prior to your sail date. Guests who wait to check in at the terminal risk being unable to sail even if they arrive at the terminal before the vessel leaves. You will be responsible for all costs you incur to join the vessel at the next port.
• If for some reason you have not completed your Online Check-in process at least 3 days prior to departure, you will still be able to print your Express Docs, including the boarding pass, up to the departure date. Guests who have not completed the required check-in prior to departure time are subject to denied boarding.

U.S. government security regulations require us to submit certain guest information to law enforcement authorities at least 60 minutes prior to departure. To meet this requirement, we must have the necessary information in our records at least 90 minutes prior to departure. If we do not have your information by this deadline, you will be unable to sail. Guests are urged to complete the Online Check-in process before leaving home. Guests who wait to check in at the terminal risk being unable to sail even if they arrive at the terminal before the vessel leaves. You will be responsible for all costs you incur to join the vessel at the next port.

PERSONAL TRAVEL IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Holland America Line highly recommends that all guests carry a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the completion date of your travel. Having a passport will enable you to fly from the U.S. to a foreign port in the event you miss your scheduled embarkation or to fly back to the U.S. if you need to disembark the ship mid-cruise due to an emergency.

Immigration and administrative rules may require the vessel to collect and safeguard guest passports and guests to complete landing cards prior to some ports of call. Further information will be provided on board.

PLEASE NOTE: It is your sole responsibility to obtain and have available the proper travel documents that are necessary for your travel, including all costs related to arrangements to obtain entry to countries you visit and re-entry to your destination country.

Boarding may be denied or fines may be levied against those guests without proper documentation. Payment of any fines levied is the responsibility of the individual guest.

For U.S. and Canadian Citizens Travel by Land or Sea:

Travel document requirements vary based on cruise itinerary and whether international flights are required. For voyages that are scheduled to end outside the U.S., a passport that is valid for six months beyond the completion date of your travel is required.

Passports or Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant documents are required for cruises to Alaska, Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean, Hawaii, and Mexico. U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 16 and above may present one of the following valid WHTI-compliant documents:

• Passport (recommended travel document) (valid for travel by air, land and sea)
• Passport Card (valid for land and sea border crossings only)
• State Issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) – (valid for land and sea border crossings only, not valid on Yukon Cruisetours due to air travel included in the Journey)
• Other documents approved by the Department of Homeland Security

For a list of approved documents visit:

travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/go/checklist.html

The EDL driver’s license, or non-driver photo identification, is offered in the U.S. states of Michigan, New York, Vermont and Washington and in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, to applicants that can prove identity and citizenship. Please note the EDL is not the same as an Enhanced (or Endorsed) Commercial Driver’s License.

U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises: U.S. citizens on cruises in the Western Hemisphere that originate and terminate in the same U.S. port are required to have proof of citizenship such as a valid U.S. passport or a U.S. government issued birth certificate combined with a U.S. government issued photo I.D. A clear, legible copy (photocopy) of a birth certificate that was originally issued by a U.S. government agency (state/county/city) or the Department of Health and Vital Statistics. The copy does not need to be notarized or certified.

Other approved proof of citizenship documents such as a passport card, an enhanced driver’s license (EDL) or certificate of naturalization along with a government-issued photo ID are also acceptable. A passport is still the preferred document. PLEASE NOTE –WHTI-compliant documents are acceptable for entry or re-entry into the United States. You may be required to present additional or different travel documents when entering foreign countries, including some countries in the Western Hemisphere.

Birth certificates from Puerto Rico issued prior to  July 1, 2010 are not valid forms of proof of citizenship that is accepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Guests from Puerto Rico either need to present a WHTI-compliant document or a government- issued photo identification with a validated birth certificate issued after July 1, 2010.

Children: U.S. citizen children under the age of 16 traveling on a closed-loop cruise (a cruise in the Western Hemisphere which originates and ends in the same U.S. port) will be able to present their government issued birth certificate or other proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a naturalization certificate or citizenship card to sail. Birth certificates can be an original or certified copy.

PASSPORT REQUIREMENT WHEN MINORS TRAVEL WITH ONE ADULT ON VOYAGES GOVERNED BY U.S. WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRAVEL INITIATIVE (“WHTI”) (includes travel within BERMUDA, CANADA, CARIBBEAN, MEXICO, UNITED STATES)

When minors are traveling with only one adult 21 years of age or older, Holland America Line requires that all guests must  be in possession of a valid passport. Holland America Line has implemented this requirement so that you all remain together should an emergency arise that requires one or more in your party to be disembarked in a non-U.S. port. Holland America Line cannot guarantee that all members of your party will be allowed to disembark with only a WHTI-compliant document or birth certificate.

NOTE: If you are not the parent or Legal Guardian of any minor  child traveling with you, you must present an original letter signed by at least one of the child’s parents. The letter from the child’s parent must provide contact information and authorize the traveling adult to take the child on the specific cruise.

For more information regarding passports and WHTI compliant documents, please visit travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/go/checklist.html or call the National Passport Information Center toll free at 1-877-487-2778 or TDD/TYY at 1-888-874-7793.

Travel by Air: Passports are required for all international air travel to and from the United States, regardless of age or citizenship. This includes air travel to and from Canada, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Mexico.

For Non-U.S./Non-Canadian Citizens: For Non-U.S./Non-Canadian Citizens: You must have and carry a passport valid for six months beyond the duration of your travel. Please carefully verify the existing identification requirements for your particular travel situation, including all destinations. In addition, non-U.S. citizens who have previously been admitted to the United States for permanent residence must carry their Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), commonly known as a Green Card. Resident aliens not in possession of this must obtain one at the nearest office of the U.S. Immigration Service. Note that while a passport for a Green Card holder is not required to return to the U.S., your destination country requirements may be different. Please verify your documentation requirements prior to sailing, but we highly recommend Green Card holders travel with their passport as an extra precaution.

Please Note: To allow us to expedite immigration clearances in the various countries you will be asked to surrender your passport to our staff upon check-in. Some clearances will require face to face inspections, details will be communicated to you onboard.

Rest assured that your passport will be fully secured by our staff. Regardless, it is always good practice, when traveling, to make copies of your passport pages before departing.

VISAS

Certain countries require that you obtain official authorization (called a visa) before entering the country, and some countries require that you obtain a visa regardless of whether you plan to go ashore in that particular port or not. Usually there is a fee required.

Guests are responsible for verifying and obtaining any necessary travel documents for entry and exit to the countries visited, as these requirements vary depending on the specific port and nationality of the traveler. This includes payment of all costs related to arrangements to obtain entry to the countries you visit. Boarding may be denied or fines levied against those guests arriving at the pier without the proper documentation, and those guests will not be eligible for a refund. Payment of any fines levied is the responsibility of the individual guest. Please note that fees and visa requirements are subject to change without notice. Tourist/visa requirements are determined by passport nationality, not by country of residence.

Visa Service Information:

Don’t put your travel plans at risk; Holland America Line recommends guests utilize a visa service to secure your required documentation. We have partnered with CIBTvisas as a service to assist with the collection of necessary documents. CIBTvisas also provides a concierge service should you wish to have a dedicated Concierge Specialist manage the entire process from start to finish while providing the expertise necessary to ensure your request is approved as quickly as possible. Our dedicated section on the CIBTvisas website can be found at www.cibtvisas.com/hollandamericaline.

You may reach CIBTvisas by phone at:

• U.S. and Canadian residents: 866 935 8472
• Netherlands residents: 0800-2524632 
• Germany residents: 8003202233 
• Australia residents: 1300964164
• United Kingdom residents: 0800 1218239
• Belgium residents: 0902 150 45
• Singapore residents: 6603 1096
• Spain residents: 902 113 829
• Switzerland residents: 41 (0) 22 884 18 70
• France residents: 0144107272

Residents of all other countries should contact the nearest representative embassy or consulate for proper information.

Visa Waiver Program Requirements: The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the U.S. without a visa for stays of 90 days or less, when they meet all requirements. ALL VWP travelers to the U.S. will be required to have an approved electronic travel authorization via Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Travelers who have not obtained approval through ESTA should expect to be denied boarding on any air carrier bound for the U.S. If you reside in the UK please visit cibtvisas.co.uk/hollandamerica.

Countries participating in the VWP are: Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

For more details please go to the U.S. Department of State’s Visa Waiver Program page.

Schengen Visa Holders: New requirements pertaining to proof of medical insurance coverage have been adopted for all Schengen visa holders. This requirement does not apply to U.S. or Canadian citizens. All guests should keep themselves advised of changes in government requirements. If you have questions about visa requirements, call CIBTvisas at 1-866-935-8472. You may also choose to send an email message to: hollandamerica@cibtvisas.com or visit their website at https://cibtvisas.com/hollandamericaline.

Cruise Documents: Holland America Line Express Docs Eco- friendly Cruise Documents

Preparing for your Holland America Line cruise is now easier, faster and more convenient than ever. With Express Docs, your cruise documents are available up to 15 days before your cruise departure date, and you can print part – or all – of your Express Docs when it’s most convenient for you, 24/7. This includes your boarding pass, itinerary, any applicable vouchers, and if you booked air with Holland America Line, air travel information. Your information is encrypted, secure, easily updated and ready to email or print for yourself, family and friends as often as you wish. No more waiting for printed cruise documents.

What’s more, since our eco-friendly cruise documents are delivered electronically, they help save paper and conserve precious fossil fuels.

Visit hollandamerica.com for more information.

To learn more about Holland America Line’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and conservation in all of our operations, visit hollandamerica.com/sustainability.