Why do they require my passport to travel within the EU for a cruise ship?
I am a Spanish citizen, and next summer I will go on a cruise trip from Spain to France (only stopping in those countries). The organising company seems to be oriented to a USA public so they require the passport for the reservation/registration of the travel as well as the embarkation.
I asked them if I really needed the passport, given that my National ID lets me travel through all EU countries, and they replied that I do need to show my passport when I embark the ship.
Why do they require me to bring the passport?
UPDATE: after contacting the company a second time, they answered that the cruise line requires that I have my passport with me although this company is aware of my IDs grants
Best Answer
Look at it from the cruise line's point of view. There are two policies they could adopt:
- Accept all the credentials appropriate for every ports they visit and every country their passengers might hail from, which would entail researching the relevant laws, consulting with legal experts, training crew members in the rules, and dealing with complaints from customers who don't understand the final policy. And Heaven help them if a mechanical or logistical problem forces them to dock in a unplanned port and half the passengers don't have have the proper paperwork to go ashore.
- Require passports of everyone.
So (2) is the obvious choice.
And you can say they ought to make an exception for such a common case, an EU citizen traveling between EU ports -- and I am sure they have thought about doing so, but have decided against it.
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Are passports required on cruise ships?
You Need a Passport for Cruises To and From Foreign Ports If you are a U.S. citizen and your cruise embarks or disembarks in a foreign country, including Canada, you will always need your passport for the cruise (in some cases a passport card will suffice).Do you need a passport to go on a cruise to Europe?
As long as you book a closed loop cruise, you can travel to certain destinations without a passport. Because international cruises in Europe and Asia require air travel, these vacations also demand a passport.Do you need a passport to go on a cruise around England?
Absolutely. It is a condition of carriage that all guests embarking on a cruise holiday, even those visiting the British Isles, must hold a full and valid passport that conforms to the entry requirements of each destination visited.Can you go on a cruise with a foreign passport?
Non-U.S. Citizens are required to carry a valid, unexpired passport and a Multiple Entry Visa, if applicable. In addition, guests must contact the appropriate embassy or consulate of the countries they will be visiting for specific travel documentation requirements.TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION: Do You Need A Passport To Take A Cruise?
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Answer 2
While traveling from a Schengen port to a Schengen port, without planned stops, you should not even need to show your passport of ID card. But when traveling on a sea, unforseen things can happen and your cruise ship might need to call in at a port which is outside the area where your ID is valid.
And there is the possibility of an emergency evacuation, which might land you in a country that does not accept EU ID cards.
But it can also be a case of 'we set the rules, we stick to it.' Without good reasoning.
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Images: Matthew Barra, Matheus Guimarães, Inge Wallumrød, Kübra Arslaner