Do You Need a Passport for Virgin Voyages? Entry Requirements Explained

Whether you need a passport depends on your itinerary. Here's the plain-English version.

US round-trip (closed-loop) cruises

For a cruise that starts and ends at the same US port, a passport is not strictly required — a birth certificate plus government photo ID can work. But we strongly recommend a passport anyway: if you ever need to fly home from a foreign port, you'll need one.

European & one-way sailings

For any European itinerary or one-way/open-jaw sailing, a valid passport is required (with at least six months' validity beyond your trip).

What's coming for Europe

Two things to know for European travel: the UK's ETA is already in effect (you'll need one for UK sailings, like those from Portsmouth), and Europe's ETIAS travel authorization is coming but not yet in force (expected around 2027) — so you don't need it today, but it's on the horizon. We'll always tell you exactly what your specific sailing requires.

Not sure what documents you need? We flag every requirement when you book. Ask The Cruise Boys®.