Find out which visas you need for every port on your cruise — for any passport, taking into account the US, UK, Schengen, Canadian, Australian and other visas or residence permits you already hold. Each answer shows the rule it comes from and the official source.
Cruise rules are not the same as flying in. The answers for ports of call assume you arrive and leave on the ship the same trip. Where you join or leave the ship — and any country you fly into or out of — follows the normal visa rules for your passport, which can be stricter.
Before you sail
Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months after the cruise ends — most cruise lines require it.
Visas you rely on must still be valid on the last day of the cruise, not just when you board.
A single-entry visa is used up when you leave. If the cruise leaves a country and comes back, you need a multiple-entry visa.
Exemptions for people holding another country's visa usually need the actual visa in your passport — an ESTA or eTA doesn't count.
Cruise lines can refuse boarding if a document is missing. Ask them in writing if anything here says 'confirm'.
Only for BO, CN, CU, DO, HT, IN, VE, JM passports: Citizens of Bolivia, China, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, India and Venezuela (plus Guyana for St Maarten and Jamaica for Aruba, Bonaire and St Maarten) with a multiple-entry US or Canadian visa — not an ESTA — don't need a Caribbean visa. Source: Do I need a visa for the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom? — Netherlands Worldwide
Only for BO, CN, CU, DO, HT, IN, VE passports: Citizens of Bolivia, China, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, India and Venezuela (plus Guyana for St Maarten and Jamaica for Aruba, Bonaire and St Maarten) with a multiple-entry US or Canadian visa — not an ESTA — don't need a Caribbean visa. Source: Do I need a visa for the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom? — Netherlands Worldwide
Only for BO, CN, CU, DO, HT, IN, VE, JM passports: Citizens of Bolivia, China, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, India and Venezuela (plus Guyana for St Maarten and Jamaica for Aruba, Bonaire and St Maarten) with a multiple-entry US or Canadian visa — not an ESTA — don't need a Caribbean visa. Source: Do I need a visa for the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom? — Netherlands Worldwide
Day visitors from a cruise ship don't fill in St Maarten's ED card — the ship's manifest is used. Philipsburg is on the Dutch side; the French side (Saint-Martin) has its own French rules. Source: Entry requirements — Visit St. Maarten
Only for BO, CN, CU, DO, HT, IN, VE, JM, GY passports: Citizens of Bolivia, China, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, India and Venezuela (plus Guyana for St Maarten and Jamaica for Aruba, Bonaire and St Maarten) with a multiple-entry US or Canadian visa — not an ESTA — don't need a Caribbean visa. Source: Do I need a visa for the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom? — Netherlands Worldwide
Bahamas — Nassau, Freeport, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Half Moon Cay, Bimini
Only for IN passports: Indian nationals who have visas for, or permanent resident status in, the US, UK, Canada or Schengen countries do not require a visa to enter The Bahamas. All other Indian nationals require visas. Source: Who needs visas to enter The Bahamas — Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mexico — Cozumel, Costa Maya, Progreso, Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada, Puerto Vallarta
Travel guides say cruise passengers of any nationality don't need a Mexican visa for a port call; the visitor permit is issued at the first Mexican port. This isn't on an official INM page we could find, so confirm with your cruise line. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: Documents to visit Mexico on a cruise
A valid multiple-entry Canadian, Japanese, UK or Schengen visa, or permanent residence in the US, Canada, UK or a Schengen country, also exempts you. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: Visa policy of Mexico — summary
Jamaica — Falmouth, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay
Jamaica's embassy says cruise passengers of any nationality generally don't need a visa, but must carry a valid passport and proof they can enter the other ports on the cruise. Source: Requirements for entry — Embassy of Jamaica, Washington
Cayman Islands — George Town
The Cayman government page doesn't mention a cruise-passenger exemption. If your passport needs a visa and none of the exemptions fit, ask your cruise line before you sail. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: List of countries — visa required — Cayman Islands Government
Only for IN, CN, JM passports: Nationals of Jamaica, India and China with a valid US, Canadian or UK visa don't need a Cayman visa if they arrive directly from the country that issued the visa — e.g. a US visa holder on a cruise that sailed from the US. Source: List of countries — visa required — Cayman Islands Government
Turks and Caicos — Grand Turk
If you are a lawful resident of the UK, US or Canada, or hold a valid visa for travel to any of these three countries, you can enter the Turks and Caicos Islands without a visa. Source: Entry requirements — TCI Border Force
Bermuda — King's Wharf (Royal Naval Dockyard), Hamilton, St. George's
Bermuda doesn't issue its own visas. Travellers whose country is listed in the Minister's Order (GN0754/2023) must present a multi re-entry visa for the UK, US or Canada; it and the passport must be valid for 45 days after the visit ends, or entry is refused. Source: Bermuda entry visas — Government of Bermuda
Dominican Republic — Puerto Plata (Amber Cove, Taíno Bay), La Romana, Samaná, Santo Domingo
Nationals who normally need a visa don't need one with a valid visa or residence permit from the US, Canada, UK or a Schengen country. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: Visa policy of the Dominican Republic — summary
Belize — Belize City, Harvest Caye
Nationals who normally need a visa don't need one with a valid multiple-entry US, Canadian or Schengen visa, or a US/Canadian permanent residence card. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: Belize immigration & visas
Honduras — Roatán (Mahogany Bay, Coxen Hole)
Roatán guides mention a cruise 'short pass' for day visitors, but this isn't published officially. Ask your cruise line. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: Residency and visas — Roatán Tourism Bureau
Travel guides say a valid US, Canadian or Schengen visa lets visa-required nationals enter Honduras. We couldn't confirm it on an official Honduran page. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: Honduras country information — US State Department
Costa Rica — Puerto Limón, Puntarenas
Nationals who normally need a visa don't need one with a valid multiple-entry US, Canadian or Schengen visa, or residence there. The visa usually has to stay valid for a while after you arrive (rules differ by source). (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: Costa Rica new visa rules — Erickson Immigration Group
Panama — Colón, Fuerte Amador, Panama Canal transit
If the ship only transits the Panama Canal without docking for passengers, you don't go ashore and no visa is needed for the transit itself. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: Visas — Embassy of Panama in the US
A valid multiple-entry US visa exempts you if it has already been used to enter the US and is valid for at least 6 more months. Source: Visas — Embassy of Panama in the US
Multiple-entry visas from some other countries (such as Canada, the UK, Australia and Japan) are reported to work the same way — used once, 6+ months left. Schengen visas no longer count since the 2024 decree. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: Panama ends exemption for Schengen visa holders
Only for KH, CN, IN, MO, MM, NI, TW, TH, VN passports: Citizens of these countries with a valid US or Schengen visa don't need a Colombian visa. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: Colombia visa guide — Visa Traveler
Puerto Rico — San Juan
Puerto Rico is part of the US for immigration: you need a US visa or ESTA, exactly as for the mainland. Source: Visitor visa — US State Department
Starting or ending here: Leaving and coming back to the US on a cruise counts as a new entry. Your US visa (or ESTA) must still be valid on the day the ship returns, and a visa must allow more than one entry if you've already used it. CBP inspects you again at the end of the cruise and decides how long you can stay. If your visa will have expired by then, don't rely on 'automatic revalidation' — its conditions are narrow; ask CBP or an immigration lawyer first.
US Virgin Islands — St. Thomas (Charlotte Amalie), St. Croix
No cruise-specific rule found: the general visa rule for your passport applies.
St Kitts and Nevis — Basseterre (Port Zante)
No cruise-specific rule found: the general visa rule for your passport applies.
St Lucia — Castries
No cruise-specific rule found: the general visa rule for your passport applies.
Barbados — Bridgetown
No cruise-specific rule found: the general visa rule for your passport applies.
Grenada — St. George's
No cruise-specific rule found: the general visa rule for your passport applies.
USA (Alaska, Hawaii) & Canada
United States (incl. Alaska & Hawaii) — Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, Galveston, New York, Seattle, Los Angeles, Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Honolulu
Starting or ending here: Leaving and coming back to the US on a cruise counts as a new entry. Your US visa (or ESTA) must still be valid on the day the ship returns, and a visa must allow more than one entry if you've already used it. CBP inspects you again at the end of the cruise and decides how long you can stay. If your visa will have expired by then, don't rely on 'automatic revalidation' — its conditions are narrow; ask CBP or an immigration lawyer first.
Canada — Vancouver, Victoria, Halifax, Quebec City, Saint John
Visa-exempt passengers arriving by cruise ship don't need an eTA — the eTA is only for flying in. If you fly to Canada to join or leave the ship, you need one. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: Visit Canada — IRCC
If your passport needs a Canadian visitor visa, cruise lines on Alaska and New England routes ask for one even for a few hours in Victoria or Halifax. One cruise line (Cunard) treats port calls as 'in transit', so ask yours — but expect to need the visa. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: Visit Canada — IRCC, Country-specific guidance — Cunard
Starting or ending here: If the cruise starts and ends in Canada, your visitor visa must allow re-entry (multiple-entry) and still be valid when the ship returns. An eTA is only checked when you fly.
There's no cruise exemption: if your passport needs a Schengen visa, you need one to go ashore. If the cruise leaves the Schengen area and comes back (Turkey, Montenegro, the UK, Morocco…), get a multiple-entry visa — a single-entry visa ends when the ship leaves. Source: EU visa policy — European Commission
Starting or ending here: A cruise that starts and ends in the Schengen area but calls outside it (UK, Turkey, Montenegro, Gibraltar, Morocco) needs a multiple-entry Schengen visa. Days at sea count towards your 90 days in 180 only while you're in Schengen.
United Kingdom — Southampton, Dover, Liverpool, Greenock (Glasgow), Invergordon, Belfast
Visa nationals need a UK visitor visa to go ashore. Visa-free visitors (US, Canada, Australia, EU and others) need an ETA. Guides say passengers who stay on board don't need one — check with your cruise line. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: Check if you need a UK visa — GOV.UK, Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) — GOV.UK
Starting or ending here: For a round trip from Southampton or another UK port, your UK visa must still be valid when you return; the ETA allows multiple trips for two years.
Ireland — Dublin, Cobh (Cork)
Ireland isn't in Schengen: a Schengen visa doesn't cover it. Some nationalities with a UK visa can visit Ireland under the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme or the British-Irish Visa Scheme — check Irish Immigration for your nationality. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: Coming to visit Ireland — Irish Immigration
Türkiye — Istanbul (Galataport), Kuşadası (Ephesus), Bodrum, İzmir
Turkey's foreign ministry says cruise passengers can enter without a visa for up to 72 hours, with permission from local authorities (arranged by the ship). Stay in the port city and nearby provinces. If you fly into Turkey to join a cruise, you need a normal visa or e-Visa. Source: Frequently asked questions — Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Montenegro — Kotor, Bar
A valid US, UK or Schengen visa or residence lets visa-required nationals visit. Montenegro changed its rules on 1 November 2026 and summaries disagree on the details — confirm before sailing. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: Who enters Montenegro visa-free after 1 November 2026
Albania — Durrës, Sarandë
A valid multiple-entry Schengen, US or UK visa (already used once in the issuing country) or residence permit lets visa-required nationals visit. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: Visa policy of Albania — summary
Morocco — Casablanca, Tangier, Agadir
Visa-required nationals who hold a valid visa or residence from certain countries (including the US, UK and Schengen) can apply for Morocco's e-Visa instead of an embassy visa. No cruise exemption was found. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: Access Maroc e-Visa
Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific
Australia — Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Cairns, Fremantle
Everyone except Australian and New Zealand citizens needs a visa (ETA, eVisitor or Visitor visa) for Australia — there's no cruise exemption. New Zealand citizens get a visa on arrival. Source: Visitor visas — Australian Home Affairs
Starting or ending here: On a round-trip cruise, your Australian visa must allow multiple entries and still be valid the day the ship returns. A round-trip cruise doesn't reset how long you can stay.
New Zealand — Auckland, Wellington, Bay of Islands, Tauranga, Dunedin, Milford Sound (scenic)
Every cruise passenger arriving in New Zealand needs an NZeTA (plus the tourist levy), whatever their passport — even if your nationality would need a visa to fly in. Australian citizens don't need one; Australian permanent residents do. Source: NZeTA — Immigration New Zealand
Starting or ending here: For a round trip from Auckland, make sure your NZ visa or NZeTA still covers you when the ship returns.
New Caledonia — Nouméa, Lifou, Maré, Isle of Pines
Citizens of South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Belarus, China, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Russia and Thailand don't need a visa if the cruise stopover is less than 24 hours. Source: Visa and entry requirements — New Caledonia Tourism
Cruise passengers holding a residence permit issued by France, an EU or EEA country, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Canada, Japan or the USA (and able to return there) don't need a visa. Source: Visa and entry requirements — New Caledonia Tourism
Vanuatu — Port Vila, Mystery Island, Luganville
No cruise-specific rule found: the general visa rule for your passport applies.
Fiji — Suva, Lautoka, Savusavu
No cruise-specific rule found: the general visa rule for your passport applies.
Starting or ending here: On a round trip from Singapore you go through immigration again when the ship returns; a single-entry visa may already be used up — check yours allows another entry.
Malaysia — Port Klang (Kuala Lumpur), Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu
Most nationalities are visa-exempt for Malaysia; cruise lines say others must have entry documents ready at check-in. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: Visa guidelines (Asia ports) — Princess Cruises
Most nationalities are visa-exempt for Thailand; cruise lines say others must have entry documents ready at check-in. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: Visa guidelines (Asia ports) — Princess Cruises
Vietnam — Phu My (Ho Chi Minh City), Chan May (Hue/Da Nang), Ha Long Bay, Nha Trang
Cruise lines arrange a visa on arrival on board for passengers who need one (charged to the ship account), or you can get an e-visa in advance. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: Visa guidelines (Asia ports) — Princess Cruises
Japan — Yokohama, Tokyo, Kobe, Osaka, Nagasaki, Okinawa (Naha), Hakodate
Japan's 'landing permission for cruise ship tourists' lets passengers land without a visa for sightseeing if the ship has been designated by Japan's Ministry of Justice, you return to the ship before it leaves, and you stay no more than 7 days (one port) or 30 days. Ask your cruise line whether the ship is designated. Source: Cruise travelers — Embassy of Japan
Starting or ending here: If the cruise starts and ends in Japan, a single-entry visa is used up when the ship leaves — you need permission to re-enter.
South Korea — Busan, Jeju, Incheon (Seoul)
Korea offers special landing permits to some cruise passengers, but we couldn't confirm current conditions on an official page. Ask your cruise line. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: K-ETA
China — Shanghai, Tianjin (Beijing), Xiamen, Shenzhen, Sanya, Qingdao, Dalian
Foreign tour groups (2 or more people, arranged through a travel agency registered in mainland China) arriving by cruise ship can enter visa-free for up to 15 days at any of China's 13 cruise ports. The whole group must stay with the ship until it leaves China. Ask your cruise line whether your shore programme qualifies. Source: China allows visa-free entry for cruise tour groups — State Council Information Office
Hong Kong — Kai Tak Cruise Terminal
No cruise-specific rule found: the general visa rule for your passport applies.
Philippines — Manila, Boracay, Puerto Princesa
No cruise-specific rule found: the general visa rule for your passport applies.
Indonesia — Bali (Benoa), Komodo, Jakarta
No cruise-specific rule found: the general visa rule for your passport applies.
Taiwan — Keelung (Taipei), Kaohsiung
No cruise-specific rule found: the general visa rule for your passport applies.
Middle East
United Arab Emirates — Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas
Since 2025 the UAE offers a multiple-entry visa for cruise passengers, applied for through a licensed tourism or shipping company (usually your cruise line) as guarantor. Nationalities with visa-free entry or visa on arrival don't need it. (unofficial or unclear — confirm with your cruise line) Source: UAE introduces visa for cruise passengers — Cruise Arabia
Starting or ending here: Round trips from Dubai or Abu Dhabi re-enter the UAE at the end — the cruise visa is multiple-entry for this reason.
Qatar — Doha
No cruise-specific rule found: the general visa rule for your passport applies.
Oman — Muscat, Khasab, Salalah
No cruise-specific rule found: the general visa rule for your passport applies.