What does a government shutdown mean for cruises? Here's what travelers need to know
With the threat of a federal government shutdown looming, many Americans may be wondering what that means for them.
A shutdown could start as soon as Oct. 1, and have a range of potential implications, including for student loans, disaster relief funding and travel.
But not all kinds of travel will be affected equally, and cruise passengers who are nervous about their bookings can breathe a sigh of relief. In the past, government shutdowns have generally not impacted cruise itineraries, according to Stewart Chiron, an industry expert known as The Cruise Guy.
Here’s what you should know before you embark.
Can I take a cruise during a government shutdown?
Because U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Coast Guard, and Transportation Security Administration agents are considered essential, they would continue to work during a shutdown, according to Anne Madison, a spokesperson for the cruise industry’s leading trade organization Cruise Lines International Association.
Travelers saw longer lines at airports during a previous shutdown in 2019 when air traffic controllers and TSA agents began staying home after around two weeks with no pay, but the government reached an agreement on funding shortly after.
Whether you’re sailing during a shutdown or not, it’s always a good idea to get to the point of departure for your cruise at least a day in advance in case you run into hiccups on the way.
The destinations on your itinerary could be impacted, too. Cruise guests hoping to visit attractions like national parks may find them closed, or in a state of disarray without staff to maintain them.
And while you don’t always need a passport to take a cruise, those who do could run into problems if they need to renew or get one for the first time. “Passport services for Americans looking to travel abroad and do not already have their required documents, or foreign guests looking to enter the United States who do not already have their travel documents, may also be impacted by delays,” Madison said in an email.
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However, the State Department said in its most recent guidance that consular operations in the U.S. and internationally will remain entirely operational “as long as there are sufficient fees” collected to support them. “This includes passports, visas, and assisting U.S. citizens abroad,” the guidance said.
Overall, though, any disruptions should be minimal.
“Cruise passengers should pack some additional patience as there may be some delays and inconveniences, possibly caused by staffing, but cruise vacations should proceed without issues,” Chiron told Paste BN in an email earlier this month.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for Paste BN based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.