Can you Cruise with a felony or other convictions?

In a handful of Countries that are Major Cruise Destinations, they won't let you. You need to find out which ones they are and what the rules are in each Country so you can avoid booking a Cruise that you won't be able to take.

Where can I go on a Cruise?

You can go just about anywhere.

It's easier to explain where you can't Cruise with a felony or other type of criminal conviction.

Some Major Cruise Destinations that might not allow you into their countries if you have a criminal record are Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. These Countries have rules against entry for persons who have committed crimes, even if they plan to arrive by Cruise Ship and only visit for a few hours.

This means that Alaska sailings, which include at least one Canadian Port of call per the Passenger Vessel Services Act, are often, off limits for anyone with a criminal record. It also means Australia / New Zealand Itineraries, Canada / New England Voyages, the Mexican Riviera and California Coastal Sailings and some Caribbean Cruises are also a no go, along with any others that include those four Countries.

If you have a criminal record, check with your Cruise Line for details, and research to verify what, if any special documentation you might need to present for admission before you book any Sailing.

Australia's rules

Visitors to Australia, including American citizens, must obtain an Electronic Travel Authority to enter the country. This includes people who arrive on Cruise Ships.

To apply for an ETA, each traveler must meet the country's character requirements. If you've committed only minor offenses, you likely won't have a problem, but be honest about anything on your criminal record. You might also be asked to submit documentation to explain any convictions.

Passengers having committed serious crimes, including murder, human trafficking, war crimes, smuggling, sex crimes against children, even domestic violence are likely to be denied visas, Meaning they won't be able to visit Australia by Ship or any other method of arrival.

Canada's rules

Canada's laws ban anyone with a criminal record from entering the Country, including on a Cruise. This applies regardless of the severity of the crime or how long ago it was committed. If you shoplifted as a teenager or drove under the influence, you could be out of luck, unless you fill out an application for a temporary resident permit to waive inadmissibility and receive approval well in advance of your Sailing.

The problem, however, is that Travelers must have a compelling reason. Usually more compelling than a Cruise Vacation, for the Canadian government to grant you a permit. Applicants have to pay a $200 processing fee, even though approval isn't guaranteed.

Mexico's rules

Mexico's laws are less severe than Canada's and generally allow Travelers with misdemeanors or other minor infractions, ie: driving offenses, assault and petty theft to enter the country without much of a problem. However, if you've committed a more serious crime, you could be denied entry.

Under Mexican law, serious offenses that might raise red flags include murder, drug-related offenses, terrorism, smuggling, prison escape, aggravated robbery, tax fraud, human trafficking, vehicle theft and other infractions.

Cruisers with pending charges also will likely not be allowed to enter the country.

New Zealand's rules

Citizens of the United States do not need visas to visit New Zealand on Cruise Ships, but they do have to obtain New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority clearance.

To enter the country with an NZeTA, each passenger must receive entry permission upon arrival, which includes demonstrating that they are of good character. That means you can be denied if you have a criminal past. This is something that you are required to disclose.

Your chances of approval will be in jeopardy if you've been convicted of human rights offenses, been deported from any country, served a prison sentence of five years or more in your lifetime or served a prison sentence of 12 months or more within the last 10 years.

You also are likely to be denied entry if you have a pending conviction.

However, it is possible to submit a waiver or special consideration request that would give you a chance to explain the offenses, how long ago they occurred and what the circumstances were surrounding them.

How do these countries know if you have a criminal records ?

Before the Sailing date for each Voyage, Cruise Lines are required to submit passenger manifests to the Countries that they visit. Those Countries have access to databases that show them which booked passengers have committed criminal offenses, allowing them to flag passengers that wouldn't be permitted off the Ship in Port.

When that happens, Cruise Lines are likely to cancel bookings associated with those passengers. Whether or not they would be allowed to sail and remain on the Ship during Port visits is unclear but unlikely. Given that Ships don't enter International Waters until they are 12 nautical miles from the shore. Passengers are technically in the Waters of whichever Country they are visiting when the Ship docks or drops anchor for tendering. With that in mind, most Cruise Lines don't want to risk the complications that would occur if a passenger with a record tried to disembark or were to be discovered on board by local authorities.

You also won't be able to Sail if your Voyage departs from or ends in a Country where your entry has been denied because you wouldn't be able to make your way there for embarkation or allowed to debark the ship at the Sailing's end.

Because Cruise Lines often don't submit their manifests until closer to Sailing, it's likely that affected passengers wouldn't find out until a month or less before embarkation, at which point the final payment deadline would have passed. That's where Travel Insurance can help, if for some reason, the Cruise Line won't refund your money. Consider a policy that allows you to cancel for any reason and will cover you if the Cruise Line cancels your Booking.

The Bottom line

Can you go on a Cruise with a criminal record ?

The answer is yes you can, but you could be limited in terms of the particular destinations you're able to visit on your Voyage. Be sure to check the rules for each Country and each Port that you plan to visit to be sure that you comply with the entry requirements. If you think you might have problems, ask your Cruise Line whether it would allow you to Sail and remain on the Ship in certain Ports. Finally, if you have a criminal record and plan on Cruising, consider purchasing a Travel Insurance Policy that would cover you should your past actions have a surprising impact on your future travel plans.