Passport and Visa Requirements

Passport and Visa Requirement

In light of US President Trump’s new Executive Order concerning travel restrictions on citizens from seven specific countries (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen), all guests who may be affected by the Executive Order should check with their local consulate, the State Department, Department of Homeland Security, and/or Customs and Border Protection for further information on visa and/or travel requirements prior to commencing your travel.

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 full passport which must be valid for a minimum of six months beyond their return. A passport is also required for all European sailings (exception: citizens of Schengen States cruising on itineraries that do not leave EU territory).

During most cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line personnel will need to retain your passport. You therefore have to 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 due to lack of proper documents.

If you would like to go ashore in Russia (St. Petersburg) independently, i.e. not as part of an organised Shore Excursion by Norwegian Cruise Line, you need to obtain a valid tourist visa prior to your cruise.

What are the special regulations for visa-free travel to the USA?

In order to enter the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP), each traveller (including children) must present a machine-readable passport (e.g. burgundy coloured European passport). For machinereadable passports issued or renewed/extended before October 26, 2005 there are no further requirements. Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended on or after October 26, 2005 through October 25, 2006 must contain a digital photograph printed on the passport data or an integrated chip with information from the data page ("e-passport"). Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended on or after October 26, 2006 are required to be e-passports. Temporary, emergency and diplomatic passports are exempted from digital photo and electronic chip requirements, but must be machinereadable (with the exception of temporary or emergency German passports which do not entitle to visa-free entry to the U.S.). Travellers with non-compliant passports as well as children who appear in their parents' passport must have a visa to travel to the United States. Should you need to obtain a visa, please be sure to apply for a multiple entry visa.

For transatlantic 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. It is vital that you ensure you have the correct documentation before arriving in the United States to avoid being refused entry.

The Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) is effective for citizens and eligible nationals of Visa Waiver Programme (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 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 enroled in the VWP include Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, amongst others. ESTA authorizations are valid for multiple entries within two years (or less if the passport expires during this period). Please note that U.S. authorities charge a fee of U.S. $ 14 per person (status: November 2011) 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.

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.

Similarly to the US Visa Waiver Programme, from March 15, 2016, Canada requires visa-exempt foreign nationals who fly to or via Canada to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) prior to travel. For further information please visit www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit.

Please be aware that immigration regulations are subject to change. For current information, please check with your travel agent or the respective embassies or consulates. The information in this booklet refers to the status at the time of printing (November 2011). It is assumed that the traveller is a citizen of an EU state that is a member of the Schengen Agreement. For all EU citizens of a member state that is a Non-Schengen state, you will have to check individual treaties between your state and the U.S. Government, whether you are part of the Visa Waiver Programme or you need to apply for a special tourist visa at 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 click here. All travellers that are non-EU citizens please check your individual passport and immigration requirements with your travel agent and the respective embassies or consulates. Personal circumstances cannot be considered. We will try within our means to inform you of any possible changes.

Age Requirements for Travel

Note: These terms are effective at the time of boarding.

Travelling 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.

Travelling 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.

Note: Two people under the age of 21 may travel together in the same stateroom if they are a married couple and provide proof of marriage to a Norwegian Cruise Line representative at the pier prior to boarding.

Travelling with Minors Unaccompanied by Parent or Legal Guardian*:

The following documents must be supplied at the pier during check-in:

  • 1) Download and Complete the Parental Consent Release form (PDF)
  • Minors or the same parent(s)/legal guardian(s) may be listed on the same form

  • 2) Copy of both parents/legal guardians Driver’s License or other Government Issued ID
  • Adoptive parents, legal guardians or persons separated or divorced are advised to keep legal and other relevant documents available in order to clarify custody rights.

*If travelling to Canada, you’ll 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 travelling alone, or with person(s) other than both parents, should be in possession of a letter (preferably notarised) from the parents or legal guardian containing:

  • Authorisation 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

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.