Required Travel Documentation
Carefully read the documentation that each guest must present at the pier prior to boarding. Travel to some destinations require special visas and travel authorizations. The information below explains what is required when traveling to each destination and how to obtain this documentation.
Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination
For vaccination requirement details, please visit Sail Safe.
For country specific requirements, please visit Cruise Travel Requirements by Country.
| U.S. Citizens | For Cruises Leaving From a U.S. Port to the Caribbean, Bahamas & Florida, Bermuda, Alaska, Mexican Riviera, Canada & New England, Pacific CoastalYou’re required to carry: A Valid Passport OR Proof of Citizenship (see below) AND Government-issued photo ID
OR WHTI (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative)-compliant documents (click here to for more information.) Norwegian Cruise Line strongly recommends all guests to obtain a passport for their cruise vacation for the following reasons:
If you need to obtain a passport quickly, please contact VisaCentral at 844-834-5702 and reference account 75006 for discounted VisaCentral service fees. VisaCentral can obtain a passport in as little as 48 hours. Hawaii CruisesThere's no need for a passport when you sail on any Hawaii inter-island cruise. If your ship never sails beyond the islands of Hawaii, all you need is a government-issued photo I.D. which includes a passport or a valid driver's license with a photo. Panama CanalValid passports are required to board the ship for all Panama Canal sailings. No passport cards, birth certificates or other form of proof of US citizenship will be accepted. Failure to present a valid passport at check-in will result in denial of boarding. For Cruises Leaving a Non-U.S. port (Europe, Asia, South America, Australia itineraries)You’re required to carry a valid passport, not expiring within six (6) months of the return of your cruise. Specific visas may be required for entry into some European, Asian, Australian and South American ports. Some must be obtained in advance; some can be obtained onboard. Click here for visa requirements and info on obtaining visas. Domestic Airline Travel ID Requirements for U.S. CitizensBeginning May 3, 2023, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States. REAL IDs are marked by a star on the top of the card. Between now and the effective date of the new regulations, we encourage all travelers to check their IDs and obtain a REAL ID if they don’t already have one. To obtain a REAL ID requires documentation beyond what is required for most standard drivers' licenses. Prepare to collect and present several documents to DMV officials that prove residency and identification. Guests should take this into consideration when planning travels for their cruise. To find out if your state is in compliance, please click here. To learn more about REAL ID, please click here. For more information, including other acceptable forms of identification, please click here. | |||
| Non-U.S. Citizens | ALL GUESTS MUST CARRY A VALID PASSPORT. All Non-U.S. Citizen Guests Must Carry A Valid Passport, (Not Expiring within (6) Months of Return Of Your Cruise). In addition, a tourist visa may be required for entry into certain countries/ports of call. To confirm the specific documents required, please be sure to check with the proper authorities (such as your local immigration office) for each port that you are entering. You can also contact VisaCentral to answer your questions. U.S. Alien Resident Card (ARC) Holders U.S. Alien Residents holding an Alien Resident Card (ARC), also known as a "Green Card" must be in possession of the ARC in order to sail. U.S. Alien Residents who do not have their ARC with them at check in will be denied boarding. It is recommended that these guests also carry their passports from their country of citizenship if available. In some instances, ARC holders may still be required to have travel permits and/or visas to enter countries Norwegian Cruise Line visits in these destinations. Canadian Residency Permit (CRP) holders Canadian Residency Permit (CRP) holders who are NOT in possession of their permanent resident papers or a valid Temporary Resident Visa will be denied boarding if the ship visits any Canadian port during the cruise. In addition, the Canadian resident can be refused re-entry into Canada without their proper resident documentation. Important Information for Chinese Citizens Cruising in the United States Effective November 29, 2016, all Chinese passport holders that have a 10 year B1/B2 non-immigrant visa are now required to fill out an Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) enrollment in order to enter the United States. All Chinese guests with a 10 year B1/B2 visa must complete their EVUS enrollment prior to arriving to the pier. Proof of EVUS enrollment must be shown at check-in and is required to board the ship. This applies to all U.S. ports. For more information, please visit www.evus.gov. | |||
Important Information for Guests Cruising and/or flying through Canada:
(Applicable for Alaska, Pacific Coastal, Hawaii & Canada New England Itineraries departing from a Canadian Port City – ie: Vancouver and Quebec City)
New Entry Requirements Effective September 29, 2016: Visa-exempt foreign nationals who enter Canada by air, must obtain and have in their possession a Canadian Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
The eTA is not required by the following:
- US passport holders
- Canadian passport holders
- Dual citizens (citizens of Canada and a visa-exempt country)
- Canadian permanent residents (Guests with permanent residency status granted by the Canadian government which are not citizens of Canada)
- Passengers arriving in Canada by land or sea
To apply for a Canadian eTA, please click on the following link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta-start.asp. Guests may be denied boarding by the airline carrier or Norwegian Cruise Line without having proper documentation upon check-in.
For additional information regarding Canada’s new eTA requirement, please visit the following website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp
Visa Restrictions for Canada
Based on Canadian entry requirements, some passengers may require a valid Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) in order to visit or travel through Canada. Click here for more information.
Travel Visa Requirements
Norwegian Cruise Line has partnered with VisaCentral to provide our guests with comprehensive, accurate information regarding travel visas. Some of VisaCentral’s guest travel services include visa application kits and assistance with obtaining other visas where required. Visit the Global Visa Support Center on the VisaCentral (http://visacentral.com/Norwegian-cruise-line-splash?login=103407) page for assistance with visa applications.
Electronic Travel Authorization - for Citizens of Visa Waiver Program Countries (VWP) Entering the United States
Per the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) requirements, all VWP travelers must obtain an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a travel carrier to enter the United States. This can be done by completing the online application on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s website. Applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel. However, DHS recommends that applications be submitted no less than 72 hours prior to travel.
Schengen Visas - for Entry to the European Union for Applicable Nationalities
The Schengen Agreement (effective March 26, 1995) is an agreement between several member states of the European Union (EU) to remove immigration controls for travel within their collective territories. This creates a "borderless" region known as the Schengen Area, which changes the procedures for entering, connecting or traveling between any of the Schengen States. Click here for more information.
There are four types of Schengen visas; Type C is the one typically needed by passengers, which can be issued by any one of the Schengen states and is valid for all the others. Due to the type of itineraries in Europe, The Schengen Agreement maintains that certain nationalities require a visa to enter the EU zone. Guests who are not US, Canadian, or European nationals are strongly encouraged to contact the nearest EU-member country embassy to determine if a Schengen visa is necessary.
Some European itineraries require a Multiple Entry Schengen visa because the ship leaves and re-enters the Schengen Zone.
| U.S. and Canadian Citizens | Visas Are Required for All U.S. and Canadian Citizens Traveling to Asia, Australia, and New ZealandA specific visa may be required for entry to certain countries. SOME VISAS MUST BE OBTAINED IN ADVANCE and some CAN BE OBTAINED ONBOARD. For All U.S. and Canadian Citizens Traveling to Asia, New Zealand, and Australia: Visasmust be obtained in advance of departure if your cruise is visiting any of the destinations listed below:
Contact the embassy of the countries listed above or visit VisaCentral, a full service agency, for assistance with obtaining any visas that are required in advance of your cruise. US and Canadian Passport holders require a visa to enter the countries listed below. Norwegian Cruise Line will obtain visas on your behalf if you have not done so before the cruise. Costs (ranging from $69 USD - $89 USD per visa) will be charged to your onboard account:
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Anyone who does not carry a passport from Australia or New Zealand must have an Australian visa to go on any cruise that calls to an Australian port or they cannot sail.
Click here for more information
Visa Restrictions for
Based on Bermuda’s immigration regulations, some passengers may require a visa to visit the country. Effective March 1st, 2014, guests who require a visa for Bermuda may enter Bermuda visa-free as long as they have a valid multiple-entry U.S. visa or U.S. Residence Card.
Passport holders from the following countries do not require a visa to visit Cambodia. Passport holders from all other countries will be charged $89 per person for a Cambodian visa upon arrival into Cambodian ports. This visa is mandatory and will be charged to the onboard account for all guests onboard the ship who do not already possess a Cambodian visa. The visa is required for both guests who go ashore and guests who choose to remain onboard. The cost of the visa will not be waived for guests who remain onboard in Cambodian ports.
Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.
Please note that electronic visas “e-visas” obtained online are only valid to enter Cambodia by air or land. These visas cannot be used to enter Cambodia by sea onboard cruise ships.
Click here for more information on Cruising and/or flying through Canada.
Passports holders from the below mentioned countries do not require a visa to visit China.
Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brunei, Ecuador, Fiji, Grenada, China, Japan, Macau, Mauritius, Qatar, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Taiwan, Tonga, United Arab Emirates
Passport holders from ALL other countries require a visa to go ashore in Chinese ports of call.
The 144-hour visa exemption policy does not apply to guests visiting Chinese ports as ports of call. The only guaranteed way to be granted permission to go ashore in China is to obtain a Chinese visa from a Chinese embassy or consulate.
On cruises that visit Shanghai as the first Chinese port of call, our tour operator can apply for a 15-day visa on behalf of guests who are booked on a Norwegian Cruise Line excursion. The 15-day visa does not apply for overland tours that include transportation by train or plane to another city in China. The 15-day visa is also not guaranteed to be granted by Chinese immigration in Shanghai, and we will not know if it has been granted until the ship arrives. Passports must be valid for a minimum of six months to participate in the 15-day visa option on sailings where applicable.
The 15-day visa can only be arranged if Shanghai is the first Chinese port visited. Cruises that visit another mainland Chinese port (not including Hong Kong) before visiting Shanghai are not able to take advantage of this visa option. A Chinese visa issued by a Chinese embassy or consulate is required to go ashore if the ship does not visit Shanghai as the first port of call. All guests who do not have a Chinese visa or who are not granted a 15-day visa will be detained onboard while the ship is in Chinese ports.
Passport holders from the following countries require a visa to visit Egyptian ports. This visa must be obtained in advance. Egyptian authorities have the right to refuse guests from the below nationalities from going ashore, even if the visa is obtained. Anyone from these countries who does not possess an Egyptian visa must remain onboard in Egyptian ports.
India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Maldives (women only), Palestine, Philippines, Sri Lanka
Passport holders from the following countries do not require a visa for Fiji:
Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook islands, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Estonia, Germany, Micronesia, Finland, France, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Vatican, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Macau, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Nauru, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Ireland, Marshall Islands, Romania, Russia, Samoa, Serbia, Slovakia, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom & Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Passport holders from all other nationalities not mentioned above are eligible to apply for a visa on arrival. The visa cost is $99 and will be charged to the onboard account for all guests onboard the ship who do not already posses a visa for Fiji. The visa is required for both guests who go ashore and guests who choose to remain onboard. The cost of the visa will not be waived for guests who remain onboard in Fiji ports.
Passport holders from the following countries do not require a visa to go ashore in French Polynesia ports. Passport holders from all other countries not listed below will require a visa for French Polynesia prior to the cruise.
Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Benin, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Cyprus, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mata, Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Vatican, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Timor, Thailand, Kingdom of Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Venezuela.
Please refer to this website for the most updated visa policies to visit Hong Kong by cruise ship. Anyone who requires a Hong Kong visa and is unable to present one at check in on embarkation day will be denied boarding. This visa cannot be arranged onboard the ship. It must be done through a Hong Kong embassy or consulate prior to sailing. Passport validity of 6 months is strictly enforced. Any guest whose passport will expire in less than six months may be denied boarding on embarkation day.
Click Here for More Information
Passport holders from the below listed countries do not require a visa to go ashore in Irish ports. Passport holders from all other countries not mentioned below will require a visa prior to the cruise issued by an Irish embassy or consulate. Guests without a valid visa will be denied boarding on embarkation day. It is not an option to remain onboard in Irish ports without a visa. A Schengen visa or United Kingdom visa is not valid for travel to Ireland.
Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Nauru, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City.
Certain nationalities may be eligible for the visa waiver program if they meet certain requirements, these include the following nationalities Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, India, Kazakhstan, China, Thailand, Uzbekistan.
Passports holders from the following countries can purchase an Israeli visa onboard the ship for $119 per person.
Angola, Antigua & Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Comoros, Cook Islands, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire), Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Guyana, India, Ivory Coast, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor Leste, Togo,Tonga, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Bank, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Passport holders from the following countries must obtain a visa from an Israeli embassy or consulate prior to their cruise. Guests who do not possess the Israeli visa must remain onboard in Israeli ports.
Bahrain, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, Qatar, Somalia, Tunisia
Passport holders from the following countries are restricted from entering Israel. Guests from these countries must remain onboard in Israeli ports.
Afghanistan, Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
Anyone who does not hold a passport from India requires a visa to visit Indian ports. The visa can be an embassy-issued visa sticker or an electronic visa. Both types of visas must be obtained in advance, prior to the beginning of the cruise. Guests without the Indian visa must remain onboard in Indian ports.
Passport holders of the following countries require an Indonesian visa to visit Indonesia. This visa cannot be arranged onboard the ship. It must be done through an Indonesian embassy or consulate prior to sailing. Anyone who requires a visa for Indonesia and does not have one will be denied boarding on embarkation day.
Afghanistan, Israel, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Somalia, Yemen.
Passport holders of the following countries are eligible to apply for visa on arrival:
Colombia, Iran, Montenegro, Syria.
All other nationalities not mentioned above may take this cruise without requiring an Indonesian visa.
Please refer to this website for the most updated visa policies to visit Japan by cruise ship. Anyone who requires a Japanese visa and is unable to present one at check in on embarkation day will be denied boarding. This visa cannot be arranged onboard the ship. It must be done through a Japanese embassy or consulate prior to sailing.
A visa is not required to visit Madagascar by cruise; this applies to all nationalities.
Passport holders from the below listed countries require a visa to go ashore in Malaysian ports. Guests from these countries that do not have a Malaysian visa must remain onboard in Malaysian ports.
Montenegro, Serbia
Passport holders from the below listed countries are required to have yellow fever vaccine certificates in order to be given clearance to go ashore in Malaysian ports, without it guests will be detained onboard.
Angola, Argentina, Benin, Brazil, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burindi, Cameroon, Central Afrika Republic, Chad, Congo, Colombia, Djibouti, Ecuador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Guyana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guniea Bissau, Guniea Equat, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Suriname, Sierra Leone, Sudan Somalia, Trinidad & Tobago, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Zambia, Zaire.
Passport holders from the below listed countries are required to have plague vaccine in order to be given clearance to go ashore in Malaysian ports, without it guests will be detained onboard.
Bolivia, Peru, Madagascar, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire.
All guests will receive visa upon arrival to Maldives free of charge.
A visa is not required to visit Mauritius by cruise, this applies to all nationalities.
Travel insurance is required for all guests visiting New Caledonia.
Passport holders from the following countries do not require a visa to visit New Caledonia by cruise.Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, Dominique Islands, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Marianne Islands, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papa New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Salvador, Samoa, Seychelles Islands, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Island, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu Islands and Venezuela.
Passport holders from Bahrein, Belarus, China, India, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine and United Arab Emirates are visa exempt if the restricted national is a Multiple Entry Schengen Visa holder with a validity of 6 months or more.
Passport holders from all nationalities not listed above require a valid visa issued from a French Embassy or Consulate prior to the cruise. Any restricted national that does not have a valid visa for New Caledonia will be detained onboard and not granted shore leave.
Guests of all nationalities will not require a visa to go ashore in New Caledonia ports, this strictly applies only to sailings that begin and end in Australian ports or New Zealand ports.
The government of New Zealand has recently launched an electronic visa called the NZeTA that will be required for all guests not holding New Zealand or Australian passports to obtain prior to their cruise.
The NZeTA visa will be available for purchase via New Zealand's immigration website, or their mobile app, called NZeTA. Guests will also have to pay what is called the International Visitor Conservation And Tourism Levy (IVL) which is done at the same time as the visa application.
VISA COST:
NZeTA visa will cost 9 NZD if purchased via the mobile app, and will cost 12 NZD if purchased via the website. The IVL will cost 35 NZD, and price remains the same whether purchased through the mobile app or website. Therefore, total cost will be either 44 NZD or 47 NZD per person to get both the NZeTA and IVL.
WHO NEEDS THE NZeTA VISA?
All guests who do not hold passports from New Zealand or Australia require the NZeTA visa to enter New Zealand by sea (for cruises that start and end in Sydney). Australian permanent residents who do not hold Australian passports also require the NZeTA. All nationalities are eligible to enter New Zealand by sea on a ship with the NZeTA. However, only the visa waiver countries can obtain an NZeTA visa to enter New Zealand by air (for cruises that start in Auckland). Guests from all nationalities that are not part of the visa waiver program (except for New Zealand and Australian passport holders) must get a visitor visa to enter New Zealand by air. This is a separate visa that is also obtained online.
All guests MUST have the NZeTA or visitor visa in order to take any cruise that visits New Zealand ports. It is not an option to detain a guest onboard in New Zealand ports if they do not have the required visa. For cruises that begin in Sydney, we will check for the NZeTA confirmation email from every guest at check in so please print or have the confirmation email available on your phone. Anyone who has not yet applied can do so at the pier, but will not be boarded if they do not receive approval before the ship sails.
Click here to view countries and territories that are visa waiver countries.
HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET THE VISA:
It is recommended that everyone applies for the NZeTA at least 72 hours prior to travel, as it can take up to 72 hours for the visa to be approved for certain individuals.
Guests who are flying into New Zealand (for cruises beginning in Auckland) who are not from visa waiver countries, must get a New Zealand visitor visa prior to travel. This visitor visa is now obtained online by all nationalities, and it takes an average of 14 business days to be processed. The visitor visa can also be used to enter New Zealand by sea, so if a guest already has a visitor visa and is entering New Zealand by sea, it is not necessary for them to also get an NZeTA.
More information on the NZeTA can be found at www.immigration.govt.nz/nzeta.
Guests from the following countries require a visa to go ashore in Nicaraguan ports. If a guest does not have a visa, immigration in Nicaragua may allow the guest to go ashore if they purchase a visa for $64 USD. It is not guaranteed that the option will be given for guests to purchase a visa upon arrival to Nicaragua.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, China, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Timor Leste, Vietnam, Yemen
Guests from the following countries must have a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate in order to go ashore in Nicaraguan ports, unless they are permanent residents of another country, not mentioned below.
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, and all African countries except Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia and Tanzania.
Guests of all nationalities except for Israel will receive a visa upon arrival to Oman arranged by the shipboard team. If the ship is in Oman for only one day, the visa is free of charge. If the ship is in Oman for 48 hours or more, the visa cost is $29 per person, which will be charged automatically to all guests' onboard accounts. The visa cost will not be waived for guests who choose to remain onboard in Oman.
Passport holders from the following countries require a visa to visit Reunion Island issued from a French Embassy prior to the cruise. Any guest without a visa for Reunion Island will be detained onboard: Albania, Algeria, Anguilla, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Benin, British Virgin Islands, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Georgia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Moldavia, Mongolia, Morocco, Territory of Montserrat, Namibia, Oman, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Thailand, Turkey, Turks and Caicos, Tunisia, Vietnam.
All guests may cruise with or without a Russian visa. Guests from nationalities that require a Russian visa may go ashore on an organized tour, but cannot go ashore independently without a visa. Passport holders from the following countries do not require a visa to visit Russia and can go ashore independently or on a tour with no visa.
Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macau, Maldives, Mauritius, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nauru, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, South Africa, South Korea, Tajikistan, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela.
Guests from the below mentioned countries can obtain a Russian electronic visa online before the cruise. Guests who obtain a Russian electronic visa may go ashore independently. All guests with an electronic visa must print the visa on paper and bring it with them to provide to Russian immigration officials upon arrival to Russia. The Russian electronic visa application can be found at https://evisa.kdmid.ru/en-US/Account/Register. Please note the electronic visa is only valid for travel in St. Petersburg and the surrounding towns. The electronic visa cannot be used to enter or depart Russia from any other city apart from St. Petersburg.
Austria, Andorra, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, Vatican City
Passport holders from countries not listed above must receive a visa from a Russian embassy or consulate prior to their cruise in order to go ashore independently, or may go ashore on an organized tour without a visa.
A visa is not required to visit Seychelles by cruise. This applies to all nationalities.
Passport holders from the following countries require a visa to enter Singapore. This visa must be arranged at a Singaporean embassy or consulate. Singapore visas cannot be issued upon arrival. Anyone who requires a visa for Singapore and does not have one will be denied boarding on embarkation day.
Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh (except diplomatic/official/service passport holders), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia (except diplomatic/service passport holders), Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Egypt, Georgia (except diplomatic/official/service passport holders), Ukraine (except diplomatic/official/service passport holders), India (except diplomatic/official/service passport holders), Iran, Iraq, Jordan (except diplomatic/official/service passport holders), Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Morocco (except diplomatic passport holders), Nigeria (except diplomatic/official/service passport holders), North Korea, People's Republic of China (except diplomatic/service/public affairs passport holders), Pakistan, Saudi Arabia (except diplomatic passport holders), Somalia, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia (except diplomatic/official/service passport holders), Turkmenistan (except diplomatic/official/service passport holders), Yemen.
Passport holders from the following countries require a valid visa for South Africa issued from an embassy or consulate prior to the cruise. Any guest who requires a South African visa and does not have one will be denied boarding on embarkation day: Albania, Algeria, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Comoros, Croatia, Cuba, Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Republic of Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ivory Coast, Republic of Kenya, Liberia, Lithuania, Republic of Mali, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Niger, Republic of Nigeria, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Slovakia, Syria, Taiwan, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, Vietnam.
All passengers are required to obtain an electronic ETA visa prior to arrival to Sri Lanka. This visa is free of charge and must be obtained online at least 48 hours in advance. Anyone who does not obtain the ETA visa in advance must remain onboard in Sri Lankan ports. This visa must be obtained using this link http://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/ and click on “Transit ETA” to complete application.
Passports holders from the following countries do not require a visa to visit Thailand on NCL cruises.
Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bahrain, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Peru, The Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vietnam.
Diplomatic/Official passport holders from the following countries do not require a visa to visit Thailand on NCL cruises.
Albania, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia (diplomatic only), France (diplomatic only), Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Laos, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, The Netherlands, Oman, Pakistan (diplomatic only), Panama, Peru, The Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain (diplomatic only), Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Vietnam.
Passports holders from the following countries can purchase a Thai visa on arrival onboard the ship for $20 per person. Cruises that visit Thailand more than one time (itineraries that visit Thailand, leave to go to another country, and return to Thailand again) will have a $35 per person fee for the visa.
This visa is mandatory and will be charged to the onboard account for all guests onboard the ship who do not already possess a Thai visa. The visa is required for both guests who go ashore and guests who choose to remain onboard. The cost of the visa will not be waived for guests who remain onboard in Thai ports.
Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.
Passport holders from all nationalities not listed in one of the above categories require a Thai visa issued in their passports by a Thai embassy or consulate prior to the cruise. Any guest who requires a Thai visa and does not have one will be denied boarding on embarkation day.
A visa is not required to visit Turkish ports in transit by cruise. However, passport validity of 6 months is strictly enforced. Any guest whose passport will expire in less than six months must remain onboard in Turkish ports.
Passport holders from the below listed countries require a visa to go ashore in United kingdom ports. Guests from these countries that do not hold a United Kingdom Visa on embarkation day will be denied boarding. This visa must be arranged prior to your cruise through an embassy or consulate. A Schengen Visa or Irish Visa is not valid for travel to United Kingdom.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Zaire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Sao Tome e Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Surinam, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkeminstan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Passport holders from the following countries do not require a visa to visit Vietnam. Passport holders from all other countries will be charged $69 per person for a Vietnamese visa upon arrival into Vietnamese ports. This visa is mandatory and will be charged to the onboard account for all guests onboard the ship who do not already possess a Vietnamese visa. The visa is required for both guests who go ashore and guests who choose to remain onboard. The cost of the visa will not be waived for guests who remain onboard in Vietnamese ports.
Belarus, Brunei, Cambodia, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Norway, The Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom.
Passport holders from Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Israel, Jordan, Liberia, Mozambique, Oman, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Uganda, and Zimbabwe will be granted a visa upon arrival for $69 per person if the ship visits Vietnam more than 4 days after the first day of the cruise. If the ship is in Vietnam less than 4 days after the beginning of the cruise, a $50 fast track fee will also be charged to the guest’s onboard account in addition to the $69 visa fee.
Passport holders from Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen require a visa prior to the cruise, issued by a Vietnamese embassy or consulate. Guests who do not have a visa will be detained onboard while in Vietnamese ports.
Passport holders from the following countries will receive a visa upon arrival to the United Arab Emirates free of charge. Passport holders from all nationalities not listed below require a UAE visa issued in their passports by a UAE embassy or consulate prior to the cruise. Any guest who requires a UAE visa and does not have one will be denied boarding on embarkation day.
Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Mauritius, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, People’s Republic of China, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vatican City.
Travel Documentation Resources
Birth Certificates
To obtain an original or state certified copy of a birth certificate, you can contact your hospital of birth or the Vital Statistics Department of the County where you were born.
Passports
For more information on obtaining a passport, please visit the U.S. Passports & International Travel website, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, or VisaCentral.
Government-issued Photo I.D.’s
You can usually obtain a state-issued photo I.D. from your local driver’s license/Division of Motor Vehicles office. Contact your local office or visit your state’s DMV website for more information and instructions. You can also refer to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to access their list of State Departments of Motor Vehicles.
Electronic Travel Authorization
Per the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) requirements, all VWP travelers must obtain an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a travel carrier to enter the United States. This can be done by completing the online application on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s website. Applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel. However, DHS recommends that applications be submitted no less than 72 hours prior to travel. In most cases you will receive a response within seconds. Potential responses include:
- Authorization Approved
- Travel Not Authorized: Travelers must obtain a nonimmigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate before traveling to the U.S.
- Authorization Pending: Travelers should check the ESTA website for updates and final response.
An approved travel authorization will be:
- Required for all VWP travelers prior to boarding a travel carrier to enter the United States under the VWP.
- Valid unless revoked, for up to two (2) years or until the traveler's passport expires, whichever comes first;
- Valid for multiple entries but not a guarantee of admissibility to the United States at a port of entry.
Visas
Norwegian Cruise Line guests can contact VisaCentral for visa inquires or assistance with the visa application process. Norwegian Cruise Line guests receive discounted VisaCentral service fees. Be sure to access the VisaCentral website at http://visacentral.com/Norwegian-cruise-line-splash?login=103407 or calling (844) 834-5702 and reference account 75006 when calling to receive the discounted rates.
Age Requirements for Travel
Traveling with Infants:
- At least six (6) months of age on the day of boarding
- At least twelve (12) months of age on the day of boarding if your cruise has 3 or more consecutive days at sea.
Traveling with Minors and Young Adults:
Norwegian Cruise Line’s policy dictates that a minor or young adult must be accompanied in the same stateroom (or connecting stateroom) by a passenger 21 years of age or older at the time of boarding.
- Minors – an individual under the age of 18 on the day of embarkation/boarding.
- Young Adult– an individual between the ages of 18 and 20.
Traveling with Minors Unaccompanied by Parent or Legal Guardian*:
For passengers under the age of 18 traveling with an accompanying adult, who is not the minor's parent or legal guardian, a Parent/Guardian Consent Form that authorizes the minor's travel and further authorizes medical treatment in case of an emergency must be delivered to a Norwegian representative at the pier during check-in. Failure to produce this letter at embarkation may result in boarding being denied. Both living parents/legal guardians must sign and complete this form and attach a copy of his/her driver's license or other government issued identification. Minors of the same parent(s)/legal guardian(s) may be listed on the same form:
- Download and Complete theParental Consent Release form(PDF)
- Copy of both parents/legal guardians Driver’s License or other Government Issued ID
*If travelling to Canada, you’ll need the following document in addition to items #1 and 2 (Alaska, Pacific Coastal, and Canada/New England Itineraries):
Canadian entry requirements stipulate that a child under the age of 18 traveling alone, or with person(s)other thanboth parents, should be inpossession of a letter (preferably notarized) from the parents or legal guardian containing:
- Authorization for the child to travel with another person and to be outside the country;
- The name and a 24-hour contact telephone number of the parents or guardian;
- The destination and length of stay in Canada.
Travel Sanctions and Regulations
OFAC Sanctions/Regulations
The United States Department of the Treasury through the Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") has issued a series of comprehensive sanctions against various countries, specifically:
- Crimea
- North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea)
- Cuba
- Sudan
- Syria
- Iran
- Russia
- Belarus
These sanctions limit the ability of cruise lines to conduct business with these countries and their citizens, which includes allowing certain citizens of those countries to sail onboard our ships. Accordingly, it is Norwegian’s policy that if you are a citizen or resident of one of these sanctioned countries, we will be unable to accept your cruise reservation unless you can satisfy the following conditions:
- Provide proof of citizenship in a non-sanctioned country; OR
- Provide proof of residency in a non-sanctioned country AND evidence that you are funding the cruise, including all onboard charges, through a bank associated with a non-sanctioned country.
You must be able to satisfy all of the above criteria in order to sail onboard a Norwegian Cruise Line ship.
FAQs
What documents are required for a cruise? ›
Citizens may sail using their: Official US Birth Certificate and a supporting Government Issued Photo ID, like a driver's license or an identity card.
Is a passport required for a cruise? ›Do I need a passport? We recommend that everyone taking a cruise from the United States have a passport book. Though some “closed-loop” cruises may not require a U.S. passport, we recommend bringing yours in case of an emergency, such as an unexpected medical air evacuation or the ship docking at an alternate port.
What cruise line does not require a passport? ›You may be surprised to learn that U.S. citizens don't need a passport to sail on “closed-loop” cruises with lines like Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and others.
Can I get off the cruise ship in Mexico without a passport? ›If you are cruising to Mexico on a closed-loop cruise, (a journey that starts and ends at the same U.S. port), you can enter without a passport and show a state-issued ID and an original birth certificate instead.
What documents do I need for a cruise to the Bahamas? ›If you are a US citizen, you can take a “closed-loop cruise” (one that begins and ends at the same port) to The Bahamas without a passport. Instead, you'll need to present another proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID.
Do you need original birth certificate for Carnival cruise? ›Birth Certificate Information
A clear, legible copy (photocopy) of a birth certificate that was originally issued by a government agency (state/county/city) or the Department of Health and Vital Statistics. The copy does not need to be notarized or certified. Birth Certificate Card.