cruise departure port quebec

Climatic Conditions

Broken clouds Max: 13 °C / Min: 12 °C Sunrise 05:59 AM  Sunset 07:30 PM

SSE : 15 km/h (8 kts)

6.2C ( 43.2F )

Overcast clouds Max: 12 °C / Min: 4 °C

Navires de croisières

Upcoming cruise ships.

VIKING POLARIS

Status away

Arrival Apr 14, 07:00

Departure Apr 14, 18:00

Arrival Apr 21, 08:00

Departure Apr 21, 18:00

VIKING OCTANTIS

Arrival Apr 22, 08:00

Departure Apr 22, 18:00

Arrival May 2, 08:00

Departure May 3, 18:00

* Due to several factors such as weather or tides, schedules are subject to change.

2024 Cruise ships schedule

Further information, customer service.

The Port of Québec and its partners provide a full range of services to cruise ship lines and their passengers.

Discover Québec

Quebec City, a UNESCO World Heritage Treasure is surrounded by gorgeous landscapes.

About the cruises

The Port of Québec is the first cruise ship destination on the St. Lawrence. With its welcoming, clean and secure environment, the Port is a highly sought-after destination among the major international cruise ship lines.

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Quebec City (Canada)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region East Coast USA and Canada New England

Local Time 2024-04-13 09:25

Port Quebec City cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Quebec City, Canada. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Port Quebec is one of Canada's all nine St Lawrence cruise ports of call - together with Montreal , Trois-Rivieres , Saguenay , Baie-Comeau , Sept-Îles , Gaspe , Havre-Saint-Pierre and Magdalen Islands . Quebec City is carved into the Cape Diamond cliff, at the confluence of two rivers (St Charles and Saint Lawrence) and is part of Canada's Quebec province. Despite two centuries of English rule, it remains fiercely French today. The city is surrounded by stone walls (the only American walled city north of Mexico) with massive ramparts dominated by the Citadel (fortress).

Among the best known tourist destinations are the Dufferin Terrace (promenade in Haute-Ville, overlooking St Lawrence River), Montmorency Falls (large waterfall on Montmorency River) and Ile d'Orleans (Island in St Lawrence River, approx 5 km / 3 mi east from downtown). Pupular buildings include Ursuline Convent (1641), Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church (1688), Notre-Dame-de-Quebec Church (1650), Anglican Cathedral (1793), National Battlefields Park (site of Battle of the Plains of Abraham aka Battle of Quebec in 1759 / during the Seven Years' War between France and England).

Quebec City cruise port

Season 2017 was the port's record year with handled a total of 201,000 cruise ship tourists (32% increase over 2016). Of all the 132 ship calls, 14 were turnarounds (roundtrips). The port also reported all 5 maiden visits from vessels of NCL-Norwegian , Silversea , Viking Ocean and Ponant .

In May 2017 was inaugurated the theme park Place des Canotiers (cost USD 39 million). The new facility is located at Pier 22 (beside the cruise terminal).

Port Quebec

Port Quebec (aka Port de Quebec/locode CAQUE) is an inland port in Quebec City, as well as Canada's oldest and the Province's second-largest (after Montreal ). In the 19th century, it was among the world's busiest ports and played a major role in both city's and country's development. Port's statistics for 1863 show 1600+ vessels handled, with nearly 25,000 crew.

Today, the port is connected with 300+ seaports in 60 countries in Asia, Europe, South America, Australia. The value of cargo shipping through Port Quebec is estimated at USD 20+ billion (statistics 2012). Current statistics show that the port handles annually 1400+ vessels. As deepwater port, it allows ships with max draft 15 m (49 ft) at low tide and provides the shortest connection from Europe to North America's Great Lakes region - continent's industrial and agricultural core.

Port Quebec creates 13,250 Canadian jobs, of which 8000+ (direct and indirect) in Quebec City. In the period 2007-2017, the seaport reported growth of 80,5%. The Saint Lawrence - Great Lakes market is estimated to have 110+ million consumers. In this region is concentrated over 40% of USA's manufacturing industry.

The port has an intermodal terminal, through which annually are handled an average 27 million cargo tons. By "Beauport 2020" (port development project, in 2019 renamed to "Laurentia") is a planned wharf line extension of 610 m (2000 ft) with max draft 16 m (52 ft) at low tide. By the project will be also developed a land area (located behind the wharf) of around 17,5 hectares (175,000 m2) - the largest on St Lawrence River. The new terminal will be linked with the existing rail- and road networks.

In December 2017, Quebec Port Authority (QPA) announced its plan for building a new container terminal at the "Beauport 2020" site. The initiative was part of the port expansion project and the decision was based on multiple technical and commercial studies. The new terminal serves as international hub housing logistics, distribution centers and various businesses. On May 28, 2019,  QPA signed a long-term agreement for building and operation/management of the new container terminal Laurentia. The deal was signed with HPH (Hutchison Port Holdings) and CN (Canadien National).

• HPH (Hutchison Port Holdings Ltd) is a BVI-incorporated private company, subsidiary of the 2015-founded CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd - multinational headquartered in Hong Kong . Ranked among world’s largest, HPH's network in 2016 comprised 48 seaport operations in Asia, Australasia, Middle East, Africa, Europe, South and North America.
• CN (Canadian National Railway) is a 1918-founded, Montreal-headquartered and government-owned company. It is currently ranked Canada's largest freight railway (in terms of revenue and network size). It is also the country's only transcontinental railway company (Nova Scotia to British Columbia) and serving both Canada and Midwestern-Southern USA.
• HSBC Holdings plc (British multinational financial holding, in 2018 ranked world's 7th-largest bank) acted as QPA's financial advisor throughout the process.

The CAD 775 million (USD 575 million) Laurentia Terminal project will be financed primarily through joint investments (by QPA, HPH, CN) plus federal and provincial government financing. The new containership terminal will support hundreds of new local jobs. By this deal, HPH will build the cargo-handling facility, which will be North America's most technologically advanced cargo terminal.

Prior to the Coronavirus crisis, in 2019, the cruise port handled a total of 236,715 tourists (passengers and crew) via 148 ship calls, of which 22 were homeporting (roundtrips). Maiden calls were made by large liners (MSC Meraviglia, Mein Schiff 1, Zaandam) as well as by smaller-sized luxury ships (Fram, Scenic Eclipse, Le Champlain, Viking Sun, Oceania Riviera, Ocean Dream). Inaugural cruise brand visits included the companies MSC , TUI , Hurtigruten , Scenic , Peace Boat Japan (NGO/humanitarian aid organization).

On July 5, 2022, was inaugurated the new multipurpose cruise terminal at Berth 30 (aka Terminal 30).

In season 2022 (April thru November) Port Quebec handled a total of 96 cruise calls from 28 vessels (including 8 first-time/maiden visits) by 23 different companies/brands. The number of handled tourists was ~133000 (including 92000+ passengers and ~41000 crew).

In season 2023 (April 25th thru November 5th) the cruise port had booked 131 berthings for 41 different ships (28 brand lines/companies), including 32 homeporting operations/turnarounds and 11 maiden port calls.

Quebec City cruise terminal

Port Quebec's cruise ship terminal "Ross Gaudreault" (the old one) is located near Old City, along the neighborhood Petit Champlain. The new "Terminal 30" is near Ross Gaudreault Terminal and in close proximity to the train station Via Rail (Quebec City-Windsor Corridor Terminus). The area is part of the expanded Port District (a former industrial zone).

(NEW) Quebec City Cruise Terminal 30 (Berth 30)

In August 2018, Port Quebec City announced its plans to build a second passenger terminal.

The new facility (at Berth 30) was originally scheduled for completion in 2020-Q3, but eventually (due to the Coronavirus crisis) was delayed and postponed to July 2022. The official inauguration ceremony (held on July 5th) was attended by Mario Girard (Port's President and CEO), Chantal Rouleau (Transport Minister), David Weiser (QFF councilor for economic developments, Quebec City's executive committee member), and other local dignitaries.

"Terminal 30" allows berthing to some of world's largest passenger ships (with capacity 4000+). The project was budgeted CAD 31,9 million, of which CAD 15M by Quebec's Government, CAD 11,9M by the Port, and CAD 5M by the City.

Along with the new cruise terminal, by this project were purchased 2x gangways (mobile passenger bridges spanning 21 m / 69 ft from the waterline) and the existing Berth 30 was enhanced to support the new construction. The new terminal is sized 9447 m2 (~101,690 ft2) and makes Quebec City the Saint Lawrence River's only homeport with capacity to accommodate large passenger liners.

The building's ground floor is sized 5862 m2 (~63100 ft2); while the upper floor is sized 3585 m2 (~38600 ft2). Designed and engineered to meet the needs of cruise tourists and the community at large, Terminal 30 can serve several purposes at once. During the off-season, Terminal 30 offers storage services for pleasure crafts (65 boats) and hosts large-scale events, such as the Imagine Monet exhibition, which runs until September 5, 2022. It also has served as a vaccination center for CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale.

Terminal 30's first cruise ship was scheduled to dock on August 4, 2022 ( Caribbean Princess ).

Ross Gaudreault Cruise Terminal

In April 2015 started construction works by the cruise ship terminal's overhaul project (total cost CAD 89,5 million). The project is for expanding and redesigning the existing terminal (at Pointe-a-Carcy) and also installing a new mobile terminal at Wharf 30 (Estuary sector).

Phase 1 (CAD 50,56 million) is for reconfiguring and expanding the existing Ross Gaudreault terminal area in order the facility to be able to accommodate even the world's largest cruise vessels (RCI's Oasis-class). Also, some security features were upgraded to "standard".

Phase 2 (CAD 5,26 million) is for linking two quays (21 and 22) for increasing operational flexibility (to accommodate more simultaneous cruise ship passengers).

Phase 3 (CAD 13,62 million) is for installing a new mobile terminal at wharf 30 (Estuary) to serve operations that the Ross Gaudreault can't.

Phase 4 (CAD 20 million) is for improvements of parking facilities, ISPS ("International Ship and Port Facility Security") standards, furniture, grounds, new equipment for cruise operations.

Next photo shows the old and new versions of the Ross Gaudreault Cruise Terminal.

Next photo shows the new "Wharf 30 Cruise Terminal".

The redevelopment project resulted in doubling the terminal's passenger capacity (up to 400,000 passengers annually), improving the port's infrastructures and berthing capacity (by allowing bigger-sized vessels) and upgrading port's logistic services (embarkation/debarkation operations). As part of the project, a second cruise terminal will be also built and opened by 2025.

Taxis at the cruise port are available at fixed cost (CAD 34,25) per ride, covering the distance between the cruise terminal and the city's Jean Lesage airport: Public transportation includes the Bus 21 line around Old City (ticket cost CAD 3,50). WiFi Internet access is available at the Restaurant inside the cruise terminal. Baggage check service is between 7 am - 5 pm, and for disembarking passengers only (cost CAD 4 pp).

For ship boarding passengers is advisable to arrive at the port at least 2 hours prior departure. The list of travel documents required at the terminal includes: cruise ship ticket, boarding pass, ID, passport, plane tickets, baggage tags.

On October 1, 2017, Port Quebec officially inaugurated the new cruise dock "Quai Paquet" when at the new wharf berthed the Saga Cruises liner  Saga Sapphire . The new quay is within the port territory and QPA-managed.

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Quebec City - user reviews and comments

• quebec-city-qc

Quebec Cruise Port

Last updated on February 5th, 2024 at 09:45 am

Embark on your cruise adventure from the historic port of Quebec City, Quebec. Step back in time as you explore the city's cobblestone streets, visit its majestic castles, and immerse yourself in its French-inspired culture before setting sail along the scenic St. Lawrence River.

84 Dalhousie St./84 Rue Dalhousie , Quebec City , Quebec, G1K 4B2 ,

The Quebec City Cruise Terminal (known locally as Ross Gaudreault Cruise Terminal) is located at 84 Dalhousie Street. Quebec City is ideal for pre- and post-cruise sightseeing as the feel of the old city is as close as you’ll get to old-world ...

Cruise Planning at this Port

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Top Tours & Excursions In Quebec Cruise Port

Old quebec city walking tour.

Your knowledgeable guide will take you through the cobblestone streets of Old Quebec City, one of the oldest European settlements in North America. See the main sights such as Chateau Frontenac and Place Royale, as well as hidden treasures....

Duration : 2 hours

Activity : Moderate

Full Day Whale Watching Cruise

Depart from Quebec City and travel along the beautiful Saint Lawrence river to Baie-Sainte-Catherine where you will board your vessel for a 3 hour whale watching experience....

Duration : 10 hours

Activity : Low

Food/Beverages: Available for purchase

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Cruises from/to Quebec City, Quebec

Quebec city, quebec cruise port.

• Visit the Chateau Frontenac, the city’s most famous landmark and a beautiful old hotel that towers over the city’s skyline.  
• Perfect for all ages, the Parc Aquarium de Quebec overlooks the Saint Lawrence River and is home to over 10,000 animals and numerous natural habitat exhibits.  
• Check out the gorgeous Montmorency Falls located between Quebec City, Beauport and Boischatel. These astonishing falls are taller than Niagara Falls.  
• Lights, camera, action! Catch a show at the Grant Theatre de Quebec where many local and international stars perform.  
• There are many lovely churches through Quebec City that you should stop and view, including the Basilique-cathedral Notre-Dame de Quebec, Chapelle des Jesuites, Sanctuaries Notre-Dame-du-Sacre-Coeur and more.

Top 10 Cruises to Quebec City, Quebec

• Viking Polaris 12 Night Canadian Discovery Departing From Toronto, Ontario (Apr 2024 - Apr 2025)
• Volendam 13-day The Atlantic Coast Departing From Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida (Apr 2024)
• Viking Polaris 12 Night Canadian Discovery Departing From New York, New York (Apr 2024 - Apr 2026)
• Volendam 7-day Canada & New England Discovery Departing From Montreal, Quebec (May 2024 - Sep 2024)
• Volendam 7-day Canada & New England Discovery Departing From Boston, Massachusetts (May 2024 - Sep 2024)
• Silver Shadow 12 NIGHT Canada CRUISE Departing From New York, New York (Jun 2024 - Aug 2024)
• Emerald Princess 14 NIGHT Canada / New England CRUISE Departing From Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida (Jun 2024)
• Emerald Princess 19 NIGHT CANADA / NEW ENGLAND TOUR E415 Departing From Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida (Jun 2024)
• Silver Shadow 10 NIGHT Canada CRUISE Departing From Boston, Massachusetts (Jun 2024 - Aug 2024)
• Emerald Princess 16 NIGHT CANADA / NEW ENGLAND TOUR E416 Departing From Quebec City, Quebec (Jun 2024)

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Cruise from Quebec City, Quebec

Scenery extravaganza.

Searching for a scenic North American vacation? Hop on a spectacular cruise from Quebec City. It's a convenient and central port of call, so you can easily cruise to Canada's beautiful Maritime provinces, New England and beyond. Particularly perfect in fall, destinations on a Quebec cruise include New Brunswick's phenomenal Bay of Fundy, Florida, the Bahamas and Cape Liberty in New Jersey (the seaside gateway to New York City). For an easy-breezy, scenic vacation, look no further than a Quebec City cruise.

Fall Foliage or Florida Fun

Embark on one of two contrasting cruises from Quebec City. The Fall Foliage Cruise shows you the most spectacular autumn scenery in Canada and New England, while the Snowbird Migration Cruise takes you on a tour of America's eastern coast on the way to sunny Florida.

FALL OR FALL

On the Fall Foliage Cruise, you get to enjoy the colorful fall scenery of both eastern Canada and New England. Picturesque ports of call include Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Maine.

EXPLORE FALL CRUISES

SUNNY FLORIDA

Escape Quebec City's cooler weather on the Snowbird Migration Cruise, which takes you down North America's scenic east coast to Florida and its year-round warm climate.

EXPLORE SNOWBIRD MIGRATION CRUISE

Quebec City Shore Excursions

Amazing experiences coming soon., sorry, there are no excursions for this port at this moment., things to do in quebec city.

Take a Pilgrimage

View of the front of the Basilica of Sainte Anne de Beaupre

Up for a miracle? Recreate the traditional pilgrimage to St. Anne de Beaupre Basilica, a site renowned for healings and noted for its stunning architecture. Upon your return, pause and marvel at the thunderous rush of Montmorency Falls.

Find Your Inner Foodie

A plate of poutine with chicken

The Quebecois offer a feast of local fare complete with wine pairings. Sample traditional Quebec cuisine with a modern twist, organic rotisserie specialties, the famous Quebec poutine and steamy crepes. The delicious finish line is none other than the Chocolate Museum.

French Village Charm

The illuminated streets of Petit-Champlain and Place Royale let you travel back over 400 years to North America's first permanent French settlement. Jump on a cruise to Quebec City and venture up to the district by way of the staircase, or enjoy the views from atop the funicular, which has run since 1879.

Local Cuisine

The Quebecois are pioneers of farm-to-table cuisine, and you'll find gourmet experiences on every corner. Sample French specialties including pork and venison, or comfort foods like poutine — a plate piled high with fries, brown gravy and creamy cheese curds — and tourtieres , a savory meat pie spiced with clove and allspice and topped with a flaky crust. BYOB restaurants are popular in La Vielle Capital.

In Vieux Quebec, seek out fine knits and cashmere, leather and suede clothing, Inuit art, specialty chocolates, maple syrup and gourmet olive oils and vinegars. Along Petit-Champlain and Place Royale, you'll find artisan stone sculptures, boutique designer fashions, fudge and famous Quebec ciders.

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Port of Quebec

Quebec City, Quebec

Port Location:                      Quebec  

Port Name:                           Port of Quebec  

Port Authority:                     Quebec Port Authority

Address:                                Cruise Terminal/Pointe-à-Carcy   84, Dalhousie Street                Quebec, Quebec G1K 8M5 Canada

Phone:                                   418-648-3640  

Fax:                                         418-648-4160  

Email:                                    [email protected]

Web Site:                               www.portquebec.ca

Driving Directions to the Port of Quebec:

From Jean Lesage International Airport

• Start at 500 RUE PRINCIPALE, QUEBEC CITY going toward 6E AVENUE DE L’AÉROPORT
• Bear Right on RUE PRINCIPALE toward QUÉBEC
• Turn Right on RTE DE L’AÉROPORT
• Continue onto Autoroute Duplessis/?Autoroute 540 S (signs for Autoroute 40/?Québec)
• Take exit 3 E to merge onto Autoroute 40 E toward Autoroute 440/?Québec/?Centre-ville
• Continue onto Autoroute 440 E
• Continue onto Rue Saint Paul
• Continue onto QC-136 O
• Turn right onto Rue Dalhousie/?QC-136 O

Parking Information and Fees:

All parking facilities near the cruise ship terminal are managed by VINCI Park. For more information on rates and availability, please contact. There is not a shuttle available

VINCI Park Resource person: Ann Baker Tel.: 418-694-3402 Email: [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Map the Port of Quebec: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=84,+Dalhousie+Street,+Quebec,+Quebec+G1K+8M5&hl=en&ie=UTF8&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=46.226656,56.513672&hnear=84+Rue+Dalhousie,+Qu%C3%A9bec,+G1K+8M5,+Canada&t=m&z=16

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Quebec City, QC, Canada

Cruises from Quebec City depart in the fall. Upon entering this provincial Canadian capital, visitors will think they've arrived in medieval Europe. The Lower Town lines the shore of the St. Lawrence River, while in the Upper Town, stone houses front cobblestone streets. The often-photographed Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac hotel overlooks the city from its high perch. Stops on sightseeing excursions include Petit Champlain, the oldest street in North America; Dufferin Terrace, with its superb views of the St. Lawrence River; the Citadel, built in 1820; and Montmorency Falls.

Driving Directions and Parking Information Québec Cruise Terminal/Pointe-a-Carcy 84, Dalhousie Quebec, Quebec City, Canada G1K8M5 From Jean Lesage International Airport, head south on Rue Principale toward Avenue 6 de l'Aéroport. Take the 3rd right onto Route de l'Aéroport. Continue onto Autoroute Duplessis/Autoroute 540 S (signs for Autoroute 40/Québec). Continue onto Autoroute 440E. Continue onto Rue Saint Paul. Continue onto QC-136 O. The port is directly ahead of you as you cross Rue Dalhousie. Route # 1 From South of Québec Take Highway Jean Lesage (#20) to exit #312 North (Quebec City) which is #73 North cross Pierre Laporte bridge and continue on #73 North to exit 132 East which is Highway Charest East (#40). Continue to Highway Charest East (#40) 9 miles to Dalhousie Street. Cross Dalhousie Street, enter the parking lot in front of you. The Québec Cruise Terminal is located next to the parking lot. Route # 2 From South of Québec Take Highway Félix Leclerc (#40). It becomes Highway Charest East (#40) as you come closer to the city center. Continue to Highway Charest East (#40) to Dalhousie Street. Cross Dalhousie Street, enter the parking lot in front of you. The Québec Cruise Terminal is located next to the parking lot. From the North Shore Highway 520 East (Côte-de-Liesse Highway) to Highway 40 East to Québec City. This highway becomes Autoroute Charest East (#40 East). Continue to Dalhousie Street. Cross Dalhousie Street, enter the parking lot in front of you. The Québec terminal is located next to the parking lot. From the South Shore Highway 520 East (Côte-de-Liesse Highway) to Highway 40 East (via L-H. Lafontaine tunnel/bridge) to Highway 20 East. Continue to exit 312 North (Québec City), which is #73 North. Cross the Pierre Laporte Bridge and continue on #73 north to exit 132 East which is Autoroute Charest East (#40 East). Continue on Autoroute Charest East (#40 East) for 8 miles to Dalhousie Street. Cross Dalhousie Street, enter the parking lot in front of you. The Québec terminal is located adjacent to the park.

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Where can I cruise without a passport?

At TPG, we always recommend cruising with a passport, but there are many reasons why you might want to set sail without one.

What if an opportunity pops up on short notice, and you don't have a passport yet? Or what if you forgot to renew yours when it expired? What if it's only a three-night cruise to the Bahamas, and the passport application fee is almost as much as the cruise fare? Or, maybe you have children nearing age 16 and can't justify paying for passports that will only be good for five years.

First of all, do you even need a passport to cruise ? The answer is often but not always. You have options to cruise without a passport because not every sailing requires them. Thanks to an international agreement called the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative , U.S. citizens can cruise on certain itineraries within North American countries using government-issued identification (like a valid driver's license) and proof of citizenship (like a government-issued birth certificate).

The cruises that you don't need a passport for are closed-loop sailings, which depart from and return to the same port within the U.S. One-way sailings from one U.S. port to another or from a U.S. port to a foreign one would require a passport.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Before we go further, let's clarify that when we talk about cruising without a passport, we're referring to pricey passport books that some travelers do not wish to purchase. Passport cards can also be used for identification when cruising in all the places we are about to discuss; these cards are a low-cost alternative to traveling with your driver's license and birth certificate.

Let's look at the options for where you can cruise without a passport.

Cruising to Alaska is one of the easiest ways to experience all the state offers. You'll have opportunities to see glaciers and wildlife; stroll the streets of charming coastal towns; eat your fill of local crab legs and salmon; and enjoy nature on a kayak, zip line or hike.

If you're interested in cruising to Alaska without a passport, look for itineraries that begin (and end) in Seattle , San Francisco or southern California ports, such as Los Angeles or Long Beach, California. The most common length for these closed-loop Alaska cruises operated by the major cruise lines is seven nights. Cruises early or late in the season might be only four or five nights, and trips departing from LA are usually 14 nights.

What if you really want to cruise one-way from Canada to Alaska (or vice versa)? Although Canada prefers U.S. citizens who arrive by sea or land to have a passport book, it is not required as long as they have proper identification and proof of citizenship. The U.S., however, requires one of the following WHTI-approved forms of identification for entries by land or sea: passport card, enhanced driver's license, I-872 American Indian card or trusted traveler program IDs like Nexus, Sentri and Fast.

Technically, if you have one of those forms of ID but not a passport book, you can take a one-way Alaska cruise — as long as you don't have to fly to or from Canada.

More complications arise for non-passport holders who book shore excursions that involve crossing from Alaska to Canada. White Pass and Yukon Route train rides are good examples. White Pass and Yukon Route allows cruise passengers to go on the three-hour train excursion without a passport but doesn't allow them to take any longer routes. That's their policy, not a legal requirement.

This means that Alaska cruises are one instance when the passport card would be a handy alternative to traveling with both an ID card and a birth certificate. It opens up one-way itineraries.

Related: The best Alaska cruise for every type of traveler

A cruise to the Caribbean transports you to tropical islands bathed in turquoise waters. Whether you seek warm beaches, cool drinks, water sports or cultural education, you can find a Caribbean cruise to fit the bill.

It's easy to cruise without a passport in the Caribbean: Just book one of the many closed-loop, round-trip sailings departing from a U.S. port. Most major cruise lines offer sailings that range between three and 15 nights from ports like Galveston, Texas; New Orleans; multiple ports in Florida (including Miami and Fort Lauderdale); Charleston, South Carolina; Baltimore; Bayonne, New Jersey; and New York City.

Most Caribbean islands participate in the WHTI, but it's always best to check the details specific to the ports of call included in your itinerary. Don't forget that islands such as Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix are U.S. territories, so visits never require passports for U.S. citizens.

Related: The best Caribbean cruises for every type of traveler

Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory, lying 643 miles off the coast of North Carolina. Hop on a cruise ship for a direct route to the island's famous beaches and golf courses. Spring and summer are the prime seasons to visit, but cruises are possible throughout the year.

Cruising without a passport to Bermuda is also easy. Apart from a few isolated cruises stopping in Bermuda as they come or go from other destinations, there are no one-way Bermuda cruises to confuse the situation. If you plan to sail without a passport, be wary of any Bermuda cruise longer than 10 nights. Those are likely to be point-to-point cruises that happen to include Bermuda.

Passport-free cruises to Bermuda include ample five- to 10-night sailings from the East Coast ports of Baltimore, Bayonne, Boston and Manhattan. Occasional itineraries also pop up throughout the Bermuda season departing from Norfolk, Virginia; Charleston; and the Florida ports of Miami, Port Canaveral (near Orlando) and Jacksonville.

Related: Does it make sense to take a short cruise to Bermuda?

Long known for delightful strands of beach and access to every imaginable form of water fun under the subtropical sun, the Bahamas are the ideal destination for easy and quick cruise vacations.

Skip the passport on three- to five-night Bahamas cruises sailing round-trip on most major cruise lines from the eastern Florida ports of Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades and Miami.

A few longer, seven- to 15-night itineraries stop in the Bahamas on their way into the Caribbean. Departures from Bayonne, Manhattan, Baltimore and Charleston will often get you weeklong Bahamas itineraries, as will sailings from Tampa, Galveston and New Orleans.

Related: Best Bahamas cruise tips for first-timers and repeat visitors alike

Our southern neighbor boasts two coastlines of cruise fun. Like most tropical cruise destinations, the top draws are the beaches and the ocean; however, cruise ports in Mexico also give you access to ancient Mayan ruins, delicious cuisine and an abundance of land activities.

Mexico's Caribbean and Pacific coasts are both accessible to cruisers who do not hold passports. If you want to visit Mexico's eastern shores, you can find three- to 15-night cruises to Costa Maya, Cozumel and Progreso. Sailings depart Florida from Miami, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral; you can also find itineraries from New Orleans, Galveston and Mobile, Alabama.

Western Mexico, often referred to as the Mexican Riviera, includes the ports of Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Ensenada, among others. Cruises with several major lines depart San Diego, San Pedro port in LA and Long Beach for voyages lasting anywhere from three to 10 nights.

Related: The best Mexico cruises for every type of traveler

From water sports to American history and Hawaiian culture, there's a lot to experience on a Hawaii cruise . The best part might be the ability to hop from island to island, sampling the flavors of each as you go.

Closed-loop Hawaii cruises that don't require passports come in two varieties. The short option is to fly to Honolulu and take a seven- or 10-night cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line 's Pride of America. This is the only large cruise ship allowed to operate entirely within the Hawaiian Islands without visiting a foreign port.

Small-ship cruise operator UnCruise Adventures also offers seven-night, inter-island Hawaiian sailings. The American-flagged ships only cruise to and from U.S. ports, so no passport is needed, as would be the case on any domestic trip.

The long-cruise options consist of 14- to 18-night round-trip sailings from San Diego, LA (Long Beach and San Pedro) and San Francisco. You won't need a passport for these closed-loop sailings, but you do need to be prepared for multiple days at sea as you cross the Pacific from California to Hawaii.

Beware of 20-plus-night cruises that are round-trip sailings from the West Coast and would seem to fit the bill for closed-loop cruises that don't require passports. Most of these cruises don't work because they also include stops in French Polynesia, which is outside of the WHTI agreement. Passports are required for the islands in the South Pacific, which means they're required for the entire cruise.

Related: The best Hawaii cruises for every type of traveler

Canada and New England

Cruises up North America's East Coast allow you to take in historical sights of early Americana, stand atop rugged cliffs on the coast of Nova Scotia or revel in the French culture of Quebec.

Mainstream cruise lines operate numerous cruises along the U.S. and Canadian coasts that don't require passports. These depart from the ports of Bayonne, Baltimore, Boston, Manhattan, Brooklyn and occasionally Norfolk. The majority of these New England and Canada cruises are weeklong fall sailings; however, a handful depart at other times of the year or are a touch longer, ranging from eight to 10 nights.

Related: The best cruises to Canada and New England

Some cruise lines also offer one-way cruises in both directions between Canada and New England. These itineraries, like Alaska cruises, might be possible without a passport book. This is the case as long as your plans don't include flying into or out of Canada and your cruise line allows you to cruise with either a passport card or other acceptable form of identification and proof of citizenship.

We checked with a few lines for you. Princess, Holland America and Celebrity all strongly recommend passport books, but they allow one of the WHTI forms of identification. Again, the passport card opens up one-way possibilities, assuming you aren't flying and your cruise only includes Canada and the U.S.

Bottom line

While cruising with a passport is always recommended, it's not required by law in certain circumstances. Closed-loop cruises from U.S. ports that visit Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico are part of an international agreement that allows U.S. citizens to cruise without a passport. In these cases, government-issued identification and proof of U.S. citizenship are acceptable alternatives to a passport book.

Passport cards are an affordable and unquestionable alternative to carrying an ID and birth certificate. If you want to go this route, know they are not valid for travel by air into or out of any foreign country, including Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or Caribbean countries — which is the primary reason most travel advisers urge cruisers to have a passport book.

As we've shown, you have plenty of options for where to cruise without a passport, and many travelers do so without incident. However, anything from engine trouble on your cruise ship to bad weather or an accident in port might necessitate a flight home from a foreign country. This would put you in an awkward position if you didn't have a passport.

Plus, as much fun as simple round-trip cruises are, passports open up additional vacation possibilities in the form of longer, point-to-point and overseas trips. Don't dismiss registering for a passport, even as you consider where you can cruise without one.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Frugal Traveler

Standby Cruising: A New Option for Bargain Seekers

Are you a flexible traveler? Holland America’s standby cruises may be for you. The cost: $49 a day, excluding fees, taxes and extras. The catch: It might be a hair-raising, last-minute scramble.

By Elaine Glusac

Elaine Glusac is the Frugal Traveler columnist, focusing on budget-friendly tips and journeys.

In February, Barb McGowan took a seven-day cruise on Holland America Line, visiting the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and the Dominican Republic for just $343, or $49 a day, excluding taxes, port fees and extras. By comparison, Holland America currently lists a seven-day Caribbean itinerary in October from about $700.

The catch: She had just 48 hours’ notice.

Ms. McGown, a 64-year-old from Naples, Fla., who runs a restaurant franchise, took one of the line’s new standby cruises , which are aimed at travelers who live near departure ports and intended to fill ship vacancies.

“I look for deals, and this was an especially good experience,” Ms. McGowan said, praising the food and entertainment. “I was impressed enough to put down a deposit on a future cruise.”

A way to keep ships full

Holland America introduced its standby program last August to maximize ship occupancy, knowing that cancellations are inevitable. So far, the rest of the cruise industry has not followed its lead.

“If cancellations are within a week or two of sailing, it’s difficult to resell that space in the open market,” said Dan Rough, the vice president of revenue management at Holland America.

In the same way that airlines oversell seats, cruise lines may compensate for cancellations by overselling staterooms. Filling in with standbys, however, reduces Holland America’s reliance on overselling, which runs the risk of bumping passengers to distant departures or potentially offering generous cash incentives to coax volunteers to cancel.

Though the company does not heavily promote the new practice, it has attracted a following among the thrifty by dangling a bargain rate — $49 a person, whether sharing a cabin or traveling solo, before taxes and fees — on a web page that lists available departure dates to attract flexible travelers. Standbys should expect an inside cabin, according to the company, though ocean-view and veranda cabins have been assigned. (The company declined to say how many standby cabins it has offered.)

“Forty-nine dollars per person, per day is pretty exceptional,” said Colleen McDaniel, the editor of CruiseCritic.com , a website that reviews cruises, noting that the price covers all meals and entertainment. “You can’t find a cheaper rate at a land resort for what’s included.” (In 2023, the average nightly rate for a hotel room in the United States was nearly $156, according to STR, a data analytics firm that monitors the hospitality industry.)

To participate, travelers choose an itinerary from the standby list on the website — current embarkation ports include Boston; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Montreal; Quebec City; San Diego; Seattle; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Whittier, Alaska — and pay for the trip in advance by calling Holland America or booking through a travel adviser.

There are no refunds for standby cruisers who want to back out. However, if the gamble fails to pay off, and the cruise line cannot offer a cabin to someone on the standby list, it issues a refund.

The company says standby offerings are added on a rolling basis and usually lists itineraries within two to three months of departure. Current offerings include seven-day sailings in Alaska’s Inside Passage from April through September and seven-to-11-day trips cruising the coast of New England and Canada’s Maritime Provinces between May and October.

Proximity is a bonus

Standby cruisers don’t learn of their acceptance or denial until a week to two days before departure, complicating transportation arrangements.

“Last-minute airfare could offset the savings on a cruise,” wrote Crystal Seaton, the owner of Road to Relaxation Travel , a travel agency based in Raleigh, N.C., in an email. Though she has not booked a client on a standby sailing yet, she surmised that it is intended for travelers who can drive to a port.

“We were lucky; we found out Tuesday we were going on a Friday 3 p.m. sailing,” said Sheila Valloney, 66, of Clermont, Fla., who with her husband spent nine days aboard a Holland America ship in the southern Caribbean in February by going standby.

Before being cleared, she reserved a parking spot near the ship dock in Fort Lauderdale, which would have set her back about $6 if she canceled. She also kept their vacation clothes ready to go at the last minute for the three-and-a-half-hour drive to port.

Booking a refundable airline ticket — or at least one that guarantees a credit in loyalty points or cash in the event of cancellation — is one way travelers who must fly can take advantage of the deal.

For her standby sailing, Ms. McGowan drove 90 minutes from her home to the ship in Fort Lauderdale. But her travel companion was coming from Indiana, so when she joined the standby list a few months before the departure date, she booked her friend a Southwest Airlines flight using frequent flier points that would be refunded if the last-minute cruise didn’t come through.

Avoiding extra charges

Once on board, charges for extras like cabin upgrades, Wi-Fi, alcohol and shore excursions can inflate the bill, though the thriftiest travelers try to avoid them.

Ms. McGowan sprang for the $17.50-a-day charge for an upgraded drink package (basic nonalcoholic drinks are included in the cruise) and took one shore excursion, focused on coffee growing, which she deemed a good value at $89.

On their Caribbean cruise, the Valloneys asked around for recommendations for good beaches, where they went to relax on port days, and waited until they were on land to check emails, in order to avoid paying for Wi-Fi on the ship.

“We didn’t miss it at all,” Ms. Valloney said. “For beverages, we would wait until happy hour, when it was buy one, get one free.”

Will other companies follow suit?

To date, no other cruise lines have adopted standby programs.

Princess Cruises said it did not plan to offer cabins on a standby basis, but noted that it already offers last-minute deals , which tend to run about $50 to $60 per passenger per day. For example, a seven-day Alaska sailing from Vancouver to Anchorage departing on May 8 is listed at $399 a person in a double-occupancy cabin.

Several other major cruise lines did not respond to inquiries about potentially adopting standby programs, though operators like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line also offer last-minute deals on their websites.

“We would be surprised to see many mainstream cruise lines begin to adopt a similar model” to the standby system, wrote Kimberly Coyne, the head of sales and content strategy for Cruiseline.com , a cruise review site, in an email. She said the standby fares might be financially unsustainable for cruise lines and cited the potential that travelers might become too accustomed to late-booking deals.

More ways to save

With the recent surge in cruise bookings, companies are discounting less, said Ms. McDaniel of CruiseCritic.com.

She identified more reliable ways to get a deal compared with going standby, such as booking during “ wave season ,” a sales period that generally runs January through March, or taking a repositioning cruise, in which a ship relocates from one region to another seasonally. A repositioning itinerary might sail in the fall from Alaska to the Caribbean via the Panama Canal.

“It’s not unusual to see a repositioning cruise at less than $75 per night,” Ms. McDaniel, said, noting that other expenses such as an airline itinerary into one city and returning from another may cost more than a standard round-trip ticket.

Repositioning cruises tend to stop at fewer ports and add more shipboard enrichment programs, such as lectures and activities like cake decorating classes and craft spirits tastings.

“For a lot of people the ship is the destination and this is the perfect activity for people who like to be on the ship,” she said.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Come Sail Away

Love them or hate them, cruises can provide a unique perspective on travel..

 Cruise Ship Surprises: Here are five unexpected features on ships , some of which you hopefully won’t discover on your own.

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Th ree-Year Cruise, Unraveled:  The Life at Sea cruise was supposed to be the ultimate bucket-list experience : 382 port calls over 1,095 days. Here’s why  those who signed up are seeking fraud charges  instead.

TikTok’s Favorite New ‘Reality Show’:  People on social media have turned the unwitting passengers of a nine-month world cruise  into  “cast members”  overnight.

Dipping Their Toes: Younger generations of travelers are venturing onto ships for the first time . Many are saving money.

Cult Cruisers: These devoted cruise fanatics, most of them retirees, have one main goal: to almost never touch dry land .

Opinion: What’s going on at the Port of San Diego? Why all the secrecy and sudden departures?

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Wilkinson Sinton is an entrepreneur and community activist. She lives in the Coronado Cays.

In recent months, the Port of San Diego has had its chief financial officer abruptly depart, suspended its CEO under secretive circumstances (paying a huge settlement to acquire his resignation and keep terms secret), and censured National City’s port commissioner. This censure was after an expensive, secretive investigation cited no legal wrongdoing, causing the publisher at La Prensa to call it “a political hit job.” In addition, the Port violated the Brown Act by failing to notify a special meeting properly and created an uproar by failing to inform the Port member city of the censure against its duly appointed commissioner. Port public funds were used to inquire if the Port chairman could legally burrow in as the new CEO, circumventing the merit-based experience and interview process that other public entities follow. Furthermore, the Port was served a new federal lawsuit for attempting — in yet another recent investigation — to investigate a lawyer allegedly due to his public comments, and yet another civil lawsuit in a Superior Court case two weeks ago from a news organization claiming violations of the Public Records Act.

All this is on the heels of the recent grand jury report findings and suggested transparency reforms, which the Port’s staff rejected out of hand , revealing an unelected commission running a $350 million enterprise using our public tidelands without oversight or accountability. The Port’s public website offers no independently verifiable and transparent financial information. This behavior is unacceptable for a public agency using our lands.

The conduct of the Port of San Diego has now drawn the attention of the San Diego Local Area Formation Commission and state lawmakers. The little-known yet influential LAFCO voted to enact its statutory oversight powers over the Port in an 8-0 vote in March. State-chartered in 1963 for each California County to oversee special districts, San Diego LAFCO already oversees over 100 local government agencies. LAFCO commissioners are trusted local elected officials who ensure good governance and transparency.

The Port objected strongly to LAFCO’s oversight , with the Port’s acting CEO literally telling LAFCO in public comments to “stay in its lane” and Port staff misleading another LAFCO commissioner by claiming “no other Ports have LAFCO oversight.” They do . Six LAFCOs oversee six ports in California.

If that wasn’t enough, the Port has come out swinging against simple ethics reforms proposed by Assemblyman David Alvarez , D-San Diego, in The Port of San Diego Reform and Accountability Act, Assembly Bill 2783. The Port has hired lobbyists and a communications firm to make the argument that it would “force the Port to effectively cease being a maritime operation” and to offer outright falsehoods such as “no other Port has term limits” for commissioners. They do.

Assembly Bill 2783 simply codifies term limits, installs a two-year cooling-off period (eliminating the “revolving door” to profit off of Port service), ensures more equitable commissioner representation with genuine transparency and establishes a badly needed independent ethics committee, among other changes.

The Port of San Diego’s governance was crafted in 1962 — a lifetime ago. It’s the only port in California with such a multiple-city arrangement. Port of Hueneme commissioners include a firefighter, two former longshoremen (ILWU) and an academic. San Diego’s Port Commission is overrepresented by “well-heeled” commercial real estate lawyers and public affairs professionals (lobbyists), with one lone environmental justice commissioner. Assembly Bill 2783 also seeks to remedy that disparity with additional stipends to allow representation from labor, communities impacted by pollution and environmentalists to serve. Diverse viewpoints are imperative with climate change and the rise of the sea levels impacting our bay. Commissioners from all groups — not just those who, in their day jobs, have historically served developers and big business interests by neglecting maritime impacts on member cities like National City and willfully ignoring land-use changes like in Coronado — are badly needed.

Collective public cries for transparency and governance changes at the Port are finally being heard. LAFCO’s jurisdiction and guaranteeing the passage of the San Diego Port Reform and Accountability in Sacramento will start our communities down the path of regaining the damaged public trust in the Port of San Diego. The people of the Golden State and San Diego don’t just deserve better. We demand better.

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