Our first cruise! Documents question

[Gyoza Dog]

We just booked our first Disney Cruise for our Wedding Anniversary next year! Its a 7-night Star Wars Western Caribbean.

Anyway, on the website they go into great detail on what travel documentation US and Canadian citizens need. As well as a passport they need a Trusted Traveller Card which apparently allows you to skip customs. There doesn't seem to be an equivalent for Australians.

Does anyone have any experience with passports and visas on the cruises? Do Australians get stuck in the slow lane because they don't have one of these cards? And did you need anything more than your passport for any of the stops?

Thanks

 

[bradisgoofy]

Though we are US, there are no separate lines any where or at any port. Ports of Call do not have the Travel's Card systems, yet, just airports.

You are going to have a great time.

 

[Charlie_Y]

We went with Carnival on an eastern Caribbean last year. Passports and Sail & Sign cards were all we needed at the ports getting on and off the ships. I believe the ship clears customs before anyone is allowed to disembark, so you don't have to physically present to a customs agent. I heard that you can go and get your passport stamped if you really want to, but we never pursued it at any of the ports. It's also worth checking the visa rules for each of the ports you are going to, just to be safe. We went to Nassau, St Thomas and St Maartin, and none of those require visas for Australian citizens. Coming back into Port Canaveral, we were sent through a different line, but it honestly didn't take that much longer than other lines.

 

[Mum from oz]

Just your passport is all you need (plus cruise documents). There is a seperate check-in line at the port for non US citizens. Its an advantage as it is always so short!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

What they are asking you for is a trusted traveller number. The U.S. has a program called Global Entry, which allows you to bypass lines at customs/immigration. If you are approved for this program, you get a TTN. If you are an Australian citizen, don't worry about this.

http://www.cbp.gov/global-entry/about