What cruise lines require about criminal history
Most cruise lines do not automatically ban passengers with felony convictions. What matters is whether you can board the ship, which depends on your passport status and the countries the cruise visits — not the cruise line's internal policy. A felony conviction does not revoke your U.S. passport unless the conviction involved drug trafficking, and most cruise lines will sell you a ticket.
The real barrier is entry to foreign ports. If your cruise stops in Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, or Europe, those countries decide whether to let you in based on your criminal record. A cruise line cannot override a country's border rules, and they will not knowingly sell you a ticket to a destination that will turn you away at the port.
Some cruise lines ask about criminal history during booking or check-in. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line all have similar language: they reserve the right to refuse passage if you have been convicted of certain crimes. They use this power selectively — usually only when a destination country has flagged your record or when the conviction involved violence or sexual offenses.
Key Takeaways
- Cruise lines themselves rarely block felons, but the countries your ship visits will check your record at the border.
- Canada, Mexico, and most Caribbean nations deny entry to people with felony convictions, which makes those cruises impossible.
- Cruises that stay in U.S. waters only — like those departing from Florida to nowhere or circling Hawaii — may be open to you.
- Your passport status matters more than the cruise line's policy; a felony does not revoke your passport unless it involved drug trafficking.
- Contact the cruise line and the destination country directly before booking, because policies vary by conviction type and how long ago it occurred.
Which countries turn away people with felony records
Canada is the strictest. Anyone with a felony conviction — even decades old — is considered "criminally inadmissible" and cannot enter Canada without special permission. You must explore for a Temporary Resident Permit months in advance, which costs money and is not may provide. If your cruise stops in Vancouver, Victoria, or any Canadian port, you will be denied boarding at that port unless you have this permit.
Mexico denies entry to people convicted of serious crimes, though the rules are less clear than Canada's. A felony conviction can result in denial, but Mexico's immigration officers have discretion. Some people with felony records have entered Mexico; others have been turned away. The safest assumption is that you will be denied.
The Caribbean islands vary. The Bahamas, Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, and the U.S. Virgin Islands all screen for felony convictions and can deny entry. Bermuda and some smaller islands have similar policies. Cruise lines know this and will not sell you a ticket to these destinations if your record shows up in their screening.
Belize, Cozumel, and some other Caribbean ports are less strict about enforcement, but this changes. Your safest move is to contact the specific country's immigration office before booking and ask directly whether your conviction bars entry.
Cruises that stay in U.S. waters only
If you want to take a cruise, look for itineraries that never leave U.S. territory. These exist and do not require you to clear foreign borders. Cruises that depart from Florida and return to Florida without stopping anywhere else are one option. Some cruise lines also offer Hawaii-based cruises that circle the Hawaiian islands without leaving U.S. waters.
These cruises are less common and often more expensive than Caribbean cruises, because cruise lines make more money on multi-country itineraries. You will have fewer options and may need to book further in advance. But they are genuinely open to people with felony convictions, because no foreign country gets a say.
Check the itinerary carefully. A cruise that says it visits "U.S. ports only" should work. If it lists any foreign port — even a brief stop — you will face the border screening issue.
How cruise lines screen your record
Most cruise lines run a background check during or after booking. They use your name, date of birth, and sometimes your Social Security number to search public records. If a felony conviction appears, they flag it and may contact you to ask about it.
Some cruise lines ask the question upfront: "Have you been convicted of a felony?" If you lie and they discover it later, they can refuse to let you board or refund your ticket. Being honest is safer than hoping they do not find out.
The cruise line then checks whether the destination countries will let you in. If Canada is on the itinerary and you have a felony, they will likely deny your booking or ask you to remove Canada from the trip. If all ports are in the U.S., they usually do not care about your record.
Your passport and drug trafficking convictions
A felony conviction does not automatically revoke your passport. The only felony that triggers passport revocation is drug trafficking — specifically, a conviction for drug trafficking involving a controlled substance. If your felony is for any other crime, your passport remains valid.
You will still need a valid passport to board a cruise ship, even if the ship never leaves U.S. waters. The cruise line requires it as identification. A state ID is not enough. If your passport has expired, you can renew it through the State Department, and a felony conviction will not block that renewal unless it is a drug trafficking conviction.
If you have a drug trafficking conviction, you cannot get a passport at all, which makes any cruise impossible. This is a federal rule, not a cruise line rule.
What to do before you book
Contact the cruise line directly and describe your situation honestly. Tell them the type of felony, when it occurred, and ask whether they will sell you a ticket to the specific itinerary you want. Some cruise lines will give you a clear answer; others will say they cannot advise you and suggest you contact the destination countries instead.
Then contact the immigration office of each country your cruise visits. You can find contact information on their official government websites. Ask whether a person with your specific conviction can enter that country. Write down the answer and the date you asked, in case you need proof later.
If any country says no, do not book that cruise. If all countries say yes or do not respond clearly, you can book with more confidence. Keep your documentation in case the cruise line questions you at check-in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a cruise line refund my ticket if I am denied entry at a port?
Probably not. Most cruise line terms say they are not responsible if you cannot enter a destination country due to your immigration status or criminal record. You bear the risk of not being allowed in. This is why contacting the destination country before booking is so important.
Can I hide a felony conviction when I book?
You can try, but it is risky. If the cruise line discovers it during their background check or at check-in, they can refuse to let you board and keep your money. If you are denied entry at a foreign port because of your record, you will be stuck on the ship or forced to fly home at your own expense. Being honest upfront is cheaper.
How long do felony convictions stay on your record for cruise purposes?
There is no set time limit. Canada considers felonies permanent unless you get a pardon. Mexico and Caribbean countries vary. Some may overlook very old convictions; others will not. The only way to know is to ask the specific country's immigration office.
What if my felony was expunged or sealed?
Expungement and sealing are state-level actions that affect your state record, but federal and international databases may still show the conviction. Cruise lines and foreign countries often have access to federal records, so expungement may not help. Contact the cruise line and destination countries with your specific situation.
Are there cruise lines that do not care about felony convictions?
No cruise line openly advertises that they accept felons, because they are bound by the laws of the countries they visit. A cruise line that sells you a ticket to a country that will deny you entry faces liability. All major cruise lines screen passengers the same way — the difference is how strictly they enforce it and how transparent they are about it.