Are cruises considered international travel?

So, are cruises international travel? That's a great question, actually! I remember when my aunt went on that Alaskan cruise – she was so excited, practically bouncing off the walls! And yeah, it totally was international travel, even though it was just to Canada. See, that’s the thing about cruises – they can be so tricky.

It depends, you know? Most are, definitely. You’re sailing to different countries, hitting up different ports, seeing amazing sights. But then there are these things called “closed-loop cruises.” I’m still not entirely sure what makes them "closed-loop," but I think it means they start and end in the same US port. Like, imagine a cruise that just goes around the Caribbean islands but never actually leaves US waters... I'm pretty sure my cousin did one of those once. He was complaining about how he didn't even need his passport, which seemed weird to me.

Now, passports – I’m a big advocate for having one, honestly. It just seems sensible, right? Even for those closed-loop cruises. You never know what might happen, what little hiccup could throw a wrench in the works. Better safe than sorry. I mean, remember that time I lost my wallet in Rome? Total nightmare. A passport would have made things slightly less terrible. Although, admittedly, finding my wallet again was way more of an adventure than I expected. It was in a pizza box. Who knew? Anyway...

So, yeah, cruises – international travel? Mostly yes, but maybe no if it's one of those closed-loop things. Always check the specific details, though! Because trust me, you don't want to be stuck at the port without the right paperwork. That would really ruin the vacation vibe.