In short
With an EU passport you travel freely in Schengen, but the UK now needs an ETA and the US an ESTA. With a non-EU passport, a Dutch or other Schengen residence permit usually covers Schengen, and sometimes Montenegro, but not the UK, the US or Canada. The cruise line checks documents for every country on the route.
Check by passport
Choose a passport to see what the seven cruise regions usually require.
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: always confirm on the official website (link on each card) and with your cruise line before booking and again before you travel.
Show the full table (17 passports × 7 regions, without residence permit)
| Passport | Schengen area | United Kingdom | United States | Canada | Turkey | Montenegro | Morocco |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU / EEA / Swiss | ID card is enough | Electronic authorisation | Electronic authorisation | Electronic authorisation | No visa | No visa | No visa |
| United Kingdom | No visa | No visa | Electronic authorisation | Electronic authorisation | No visa | No visa | No visa |
| United States | No visa | Electronic authorisation | No visa | No visa | No visa | No visa | No visa |
| Russia | Visa | Visa | Visa | Visa | No visa | Depends | No visa |
| Ukraine | No visa | Visa | Visa | Visa | No visa | No visa | Visa |
| Belarus | Visa | Visa | Visa | Visa | No visa | Depends | Visa |
| Kazakhstan | Visa | Visa | Visa | Visa | No visa | Visa | No visa |
| Moldova | No visa | Visa | Visa | Visa | No visa | No visa | Visa |
| Georgia | No visa | Visa | Visa | Visa | No visa | No visa | Visa |
| Armenia | Visa | Visa | Visa | Visa | Depends | Visa | Visa |
| Turkey | Visa | Visa | Visa | Visa | No visa | Depends | No visa |
| Morocco | Visa | Visa | Visa | Depends | No visa | Visa | No visa |
| India | Visa | Visa | Visa | Visa | Depends | Visa | e-Visa |
| China | Visa | Visa | Visa | Visa | No visa | Depends | No visa |
| Philippines | Visa | Visa | Visa | Depends | Depends | Visa | No visa |
| Indonesia | Visa | Visa | Visa | Depends | No visa | Visa | No visa |
| Suriname | Visa | Visa | Visa | Visa | Depends | Visa | Check |
Official sources by region · Data checked 13/10/2026
- Schengen area: home-affairs.ec.europa.eu, eur-lex.europa.eu, travel-europe.europa.eu, travel-europe.europa.eu, www.eeas.europa.eu, kriis.ee, www.netherlandsworldwide.nl
- United Kingdom: www.gov.uk, www.gov.uk, www.gov.uk, www.gov.uk
- United States: travel.state.gov, travel.state.gov, esta.cbp.dhs.gov
- Canada: www.canada.ca, www.canada.ca
- Turkey: www.mfa.gov.tr, evisa.gov.tr
- Montenegro: www.gov.me, www.gov.me, www.gov.me
- Morocco: www.consulat.ma, www.acces-maroc.ma, www.gov.kz
What each document means
- UK ETA. An electronic travel authorisation you apply for online before travelling. EU citizens have needed one since April 2025, and it is checked on sea routes too. Most EU ID cards are no longer accepted for entry to the UK.
- ESTA (United States). Electronic authorisation for Visa Waiver Program countries, with a biometric passport. Most EU countries are in the programme; Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania are not.
- eTA (Canada). Only needed when you fly into Canada. Visa-exempt passengers arriving by ship need just their passport.
- ETIAS and EES (Schengen). EES registers fingerprints and a photo of non-EU visitors at their first Schengen entry since 12 October 2025. ETIAS, an authorisation for visa-free visitors, is not required yet: the EU has not set a start date.
- Schengen residence permit. A valid residence permit from a Schengen country lets non-EU nationals travel within Schengen without a visa (up to 90 days in any 180 outside the issuing country). It does not replace a UK, US or Canadian visa.
- 72-hour rule (Turkey). Cruise passengers who go ashore in the port city for up to 72 hours do not need a Turkish visa. If you fly into or out of Turkey, the normal rules apply.
Before you book
- Passport valid for at least six months after you return: many cruise lines and countries ask for it.
- Check every country on the route, not just the departure port: each port of call counts.
- Your passport decides the rules, not where you live — but a Schengen residence permit can help in some countries.
- US and Canadian visas can take months: apply before you buy flights.
- Travelling with children: some countries need extra documents; check the rules of your country.
Frequently asked questions
Do EU citizens need anything for a cruise from Southampton?
Yes. Since April 2025 EU citizens need a UK ETA, an electronic authorisation applied for online, and a passport: most EU ID cards are no longer accepted. Irish citizens do not need an ETA.
I live in the Netherlands with a residence permit but a non-EU passport. Can I cruise in Schengen without a visa?
Usually yes: with a valid Dutch or other Schengen residence permit and your passport you can travel within Schengen for up to 90 days in any 180. The permit does not help for the UK, the US or Canada.
Do I need an ESTA for a Caribbean cruise from Florida?
With a passport from most EU countries or the UK, yes, an ESTA. Citizens of Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania, and all non-EU passports in this tool, need a US B1/B2 visa.
Is ETIAS already required?
No. As of October 2026 ETIAS is not running and the EU has not published a start date. EES is in place: fingerprints and a photo are taken at your first entry.
Read more
General information, not legal advice. Entry requirements depend on your passport, the purpose and length of your trip and can change without notice: confirm them on the official websites linked and with your cruise line. Reislite is an independent partner information site, not the inCruises website.