What are passport and Visa requirements?
Guests are responsible for ensuring they fulfil all passport and visa requirements for all countries visited during the cruise and when travelling to and from the port of embarkation/disembarkation. EU citizens need a biometric passport issued by an EU member state valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of completion of the cruise (also applicable for children of any age). A passport is also required for all European sailings (Exception: citizens of Schengen States may travel with a valid identity card if the booked cruise does not leave the Schengen Area.). For further information please visit www.ncl.com/visa-requirements.
The United States Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) enables eligible citizens and nationals of designated countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism and business stays of 90 days or less without first obtaining a visa. Travellers who do not qualify for the VWP must obtain a visa to travel to the U.S. Should you need to obtain a visa, please be sure to apply for a multiple entry visa. The Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) is effective for citizens and eligible nationals of VWP countries to apply for advance authorisation to travel to the United States under the VWP. ESTA stipulates that all Visa Waiver Programme travellers are required to obtain via the internet (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov) an electronic travel authorisation prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the U.S. under the VWP. Countries currently enrolled in the VWP include Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, among others, but not all EU member states. ESTA authorisations are valid for multiple entries within two years (or less if the passport expires during this period). Please note that U.S. authorities will charge a fee of US $40 per person (status: July 2026) for travel authorisation. This fee has to be paid by credit card during the application process. Additional information regarding the VWP and ESTA is available at www.cbp.gov/esta. For U.S.-bound Atlantic Crossings, we strongly advise guests to print out their ESTA before travelling, as this is a requirement at check-in before you can board the ship.
All travellers (including children) must have an e-Passport to use the Visa Waiver Programme. An e-Passport, denoted by the respective symbol, is an enhanced secure passport with an embedded electronic chip. E-Passports are issued by the proper passport issuing authority and must meet international standards for securing and storing information corresponding to the passport and bearer. More information can be found on https://www.cbp.gov/.
Please be aware that immigration and visa regulations are subject to change. For current information, please visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas.html or check with your travel agent and the respective embassies or consulates. The information above refers to the status at the time of printing. It is assumed that the traveller is a citizen of a Visa Waiver Programme country. For all citizens of non-Visa Waiver Programme countries, you will have to check individual treaties between your state and the U.S. Government and whether you have to apply for a special tourist visa with the U.S. embassy of your home state. Please consider that the application for a visa could take up to three months. To check participation of your state in the Visa Waiver Programme please refer to https://www.dhs.gov/visa-waiver-program-requirements.
Similar to the U.S. ESTA requirements, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and other countries may require electronic travel authorizations or other entry permits. Requirements vary depending on nationality, itinerary, transit countries and the date of travel and may change at short notice. Please check the applicable passport, visa and electronic travel authorization requirements for all countries visited during your cruise, as well as for any transit countries on your way to/from the port of embarkation or disembarkation. Further information is available at www.ncl.com/cruisetravel-documents. Guests remain responsible for obtaining and carrying all required travel documents. Personal circumstances cannot be considered.
We will try within our means to inform you of the applicable requirements. During most cruises, NCL personnel will need to retain your passport. You therefore must carry a second government-issued photo ID with you at all times. It is the sole responsibility of the guest to provide all necessary documentation. Guests are not entitled to a refund if entry into any foreign territory or boarding is denied by immigration officials or NCL personnel for lack of proper documents.
The American Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has implemented the Secure Flight Programme for international air traffic. This programme intends to reduce the instances of misidentification of the authorised travel passengers to the U.S. as well as to enhance the security of air travel. Within this programme, all airlines commit to transmit the following Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD) from travellers who are arriving in and/or departing from the U.S. to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Full name as per valid government issued passport (including middle name, initials etc.), date of birth, gender and Redress Number (if applicable). Therefore, we ask all guests to check their confirmation carefully. In case of any incorrect data appearing on the confirmation, please contact our reservations department. If there is no client data available at the time of booking, NCL will use the data from the Online Check-In. For further information please visit https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening. Providing the Secure Flight Data does not release you from the obligation to apply for the advanced authorisation to travel to the U.S. under the ESTA programme or to obtain a visa if the VWP does not apply to your visit.
A visa may be required by certain nationalities for some of the visited destinations. The relevant information can be found here: CIBTvisas (http://cibtvisas.de/leisure-eu-splash). The required visas can be requested via the visa and passport service provider CIBTvisas (http://cibtvisas.de/leisure-eu-splash). Guests are responsible for ensuring they are in possession of all relevant documentation and visas for the entire cruise itinerary including all ports of call.
Customs allowances may vary depending on the itinerary. Please check on board, with your Ministry of Foreign Affairs or with the respective customs authorities for the most up-to-date information.