Can a Felon Go On Cruise? (2023)

FAQs

Can a felon take a Caribbean cruise? ›

Short Answer: Yes, a felon can go on a cruise but not all types of cruises. It depends on the type of cruise and what the destinations, or ports you will be visiting while on the cruise ship. Not all ports and countries will allow US felons on their soil or waterways.

Once you've secured your supervisor's permission, you can rest easy knowing that a felon can go to Jamaica with just a passport for periods shorter than 90 (ninety) days. You will need to stay in contact with the probation officer for the duration of the trip.

Can you go to Mexico with a felony? Yes, as a felon, you are not automatically denied access to Mexico but there are some exceptions. Mexican authorities will deny your entry if you have committed a serious crime, such as murder, terrorism, or drug trafficking.

Unless the Bahamas was notified of his crime (unlikely), there should be no issue. The Bahamas immigration form does not ask if you have any convictions and unless the immigration officer has reason to ask, it is not a question you are likley to be asked.

Much like a hotel or plane, cruise lines in the U.S. are not required by law to do criminal background checks, or block passengers who may be registered sex offenders. Published policies for cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian do not state any restrictions on passengers with a criminal history.

Mexico does allow felons who have crossed seven years on their conviction. This makes it legal to travel to the country.

The same way a US felon travels to California, New York or Florida. Puerto Rico is unincorporated US territory, for all intents and purposes as far as US citizens are concerned it's simply a part of the US.

Can a person with a felony record be turned away from entering Aruba by immigration? As per the Immigration law as long as a crime is not committed on Aruba, someone with record is free to enter.

Yes, convicted felons can leave the country. They can get valid passports to travel out of the country. Fortunately, you still have the right to get a passport if you were convicted of a felony. However, you can only get a passport from the US authority to leave the country under certain circumstances.

Can felons travel internationally? ›

International travel with a served sentence

They allow people who committed a crime and served their sentence to travel abroad but still under many conditions. As every traveler also, felons must possess a passport and/or a visa when going abroad.

Any American that has a felony conviction on their criminal record may not be permitted entry into Canada unless they have received special permission from the Canadian Government.

Traveling to Europe with a felony conviction – summary

If a U.S. citizen has a criminal record, they can still travel to Europe. For example, crossing visa-free countries' borders in the European Union, such as France, Greece, Germany, or Poland, will not call for a criminal history check.

A person may not vote, serve on a jury, obtain commercial driver's licenses, possess a gun or join the U.S. armed forces. Even if a person's right to carry a weapon is restored he/she will be permanently banned from receiving a concealed weapon's permit.

Immigration authorities may decide to refuse the request to enter the country if the applicant is subject to criminal process or has been convicted of a serious crime as defined by national laws on criminal matters or provisions in international treaties or conventions that the Mexican State is party to, or if the ...

When you board a cruise ship, a manifest of passengers is sent to US Customs and Border Protection. This list is routinely checked for outstanding warrants. Any passengers with outstanding warrants are arrested upon their return.

That said, just like a road trip or flight, cruising can be made difficult if you have a criminal record. It's not just about the main destination but also other ports where you stop along the way, and all of these factors need to be considered before booking your trip.

Cruise lines use a variety of methods to search for illegal drugs including x-rays, metal detectors, scanners and sniffer dogs. That said, the security team's main priority isn't to look for drugs, as they have other things to be concerned with. Cruise ship security teams are mostly searching for alcohol and weapons.

People often ask me whether a criminal conviction falls off their record after seven years. The answer is no.

If the person was 18 years of age or older at the time of the offense (i.e. legally considered to be an adult), then the conviction will be expunged from their record 11 years after the conviction date (not the offense date).

Can felons go to Ireland? ›

Does Ireland allow felons to visit? Yes, people with a felony conviction can still visit Ireland. If the crime you committed resulted in a prison sentence of at least a year, you will have to wait 7 (seven) years after you've served your time. That rule applies to minor crimes.

You must not have any criminal convictions, for which the sentence or sentences should not equal a total period of 12 months duration or more (whether served or not), at the time of travel to, and entry into, Australia.”

Those seeking permission to enter the UK will normally be refused if they have previously been convicted of a criminal offence punishable by at least 12 months imprisonment.

For Americans entering the U.S. Virgin Islands, it is just the same as traveling from one state to another. Therefore, a passport is not required to enter the U.S. Virgin Islands. This is also true for felons who travel from the U.S. mainland directly to any U.S. territory.

In general terms, you can travel to most countries around the world, even with a criminal record, provided that you aren't applying to work, become a permanent resident, or staying for 6 months or longer.

As a tourist, you would be allowed to enter Dubai with a criminal record as long as you have served the entirety of the sentence. Provided the crime was not committed in Dubai, you would be free to enter for holiday purposes.

According to Article 61.3 of the Immigration law of Costa Rica, you would have an impediment to enter Costa Rica if you have a criminal conviction for a malicious crime (not a wrongful act) in the last 10 years, as long as the offense is both illegal in Canada and Costa Rica.

Those intending to travel to Fiji with criminal conviction record are required to apply for clearance prior to travelling to Fiji. The application and fees should be submitted at least 2 weeks prior to departure. Criminal Conviction Clearance fee is NON-REFUNDABLE.

Do they ask about criminal records? No. There is no reference to criminal records on the Thai T.M. 6 Arrival Card (see below) or on the Visa Application Form.

The Army, like the rest of the military, wants soldiers who meet "moral character standards." A felony conviction suggests you may not meet the standard. If the military agrees to waive its enlistment standards, felons can join the Army if they meet the other mental and physical requirements.

Can a felon get a passport in Texas? ›

Updated As of Jun 07, 2022.

However, for those who are convicted felons, the process can be complicated. Nevertheless, a convicted felon can still get a passport.

Most foreign officials do not check for criminal records, but they have every right to do so if they choose. Each country can handle criminal records however they want, depending on their laws. INTERPOL tracks international criminal records in their database for all participating countries.

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

U.S. citizens are generally required to present a valid U.S. passport when traveling to The Bahamas, as well as proof of anticipated departure from The Bahamas. Those traveling to The Bahamas on a cruise may use another Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document.

As long as your passport is valid, and no outstanding warrants... your good to go.

If you are travelling to Dubai for a holiday, you will most likely be fine. However, there may be some problems if you have a criminal record in the UAE. The UAE isn't like some countries, for example the USA, where you may be illegible for a visa if you have certain criminal convictions.

Some countries, like the United States and Canada, are notoriously strict when it comes to granting visas to felons. Fortunately, that is not entirely the case in Europe (and therefore, Italy). A criminal conviction does not represent a reason for denial of your visa or travel permit per se.

Criminal records stay with you for life. They do not automatically disappear, not after several years and not for minor offences. Except in a few cases, you may apply for a record suspension (pardon) if you want the RCMP to keep your record separate from other criminal records so that the information is not accessible.

Felons can travel to the Dominican Republic by flying or on a cruise. The only difficulty for them flying would be if they have a felony warrant outstanding against them. They would be prevented from flying then.

If you have a major felony on your record, very likely the Thai Authorities can use that to deny you entry to the Kingdom or to revoke your lawful status in the Kingdom if you are in non-immigrant status or tourist visa status or visa exemption status, and deport you. But this is important: except for petty offenses.

Traveling to Amsterdam

First, flying to the Netherlands shouldn't be a problem for you as a felon unless your name is on the no-fly list maintained by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of suspected terrorists.

Can a felon get a passport? ›

At a Glance: Having a felony doesn't automatically disqualify you from getting a passport. Only people with specific felonies—such as certain drug convictions—aren't eligible for passports. In addition, those with unpaid child support, federal taxes, or federal loans may not be eligible for a passport.

The rights most often curtailed include the right to vote and hold public office, employment rights, domestic rights, and financial and contractual rights. State statutes and local ordinances are the traditional means for abridging the rights of convicted criminals.

There are nine classes of felonies: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and I. They are classified by the seriousness of the offense, from most to least serious.

In many cases, it is possible to visit Mexico despite having a criminal record. Generally, misdemeanors are not considered grounds for denied entry and will not prevent foreigners from going to Mexico on vacation. Foreigners who require a visa for Mexico must disclose details of their criminal history when applying.

Yes , as long as your PO doesn't care it won't be an issue. You could even without permission but if customs runs your ID/Passport/name on the way back thru your PO will find out.

It is possible to travel to Mexico with a DUI, but you could be refused at the border. However, in general, Mexico is only looking for people with serious records at the border. If your DUI did not result in death, property damage or serious injury, it is less likely that you would be denied entry to Mexico.

Almost all convictions (including DUI, DWI, reckless driving, negligent driving, misdemeanor drug possession, all felonies, shoplifting, theft, etc.) make a person inadmissible to Canada, regardless of how long ago they occurred.

A: An attorney can have the judge add a provision to your sentencing order at the time of your plea or conviction that you are allowed to travel to the Bahamas. Otherwise, a motion to modify sentence must be filed with the court unless the probation officer approves your travel plans.

Most cruises beginning and ending in the same location are considered "closed-loop," meaning they begin and end at the same port in the United States and travel within the Western Hemisphere.

If you are a US citizen, you can take a “closed-loop cruise” (one that begins and ends at the same port) to The Bahamas without a passport. Instead, you'll need to present another proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID.

Can you go to Alaska with a felony? ›

No, a convicted felon is a prohibited person by federal law. The state you're in doesn't matter. Where does Alaska fly in Florida?

The Canadian border has full access to all the criminal record databases in the United States, so anyone who has been convicted of a felony will very likely be flagged at the border.

You can be “deemed rehabilitated” if enough time has passed since your conviction, or since all conditions of your sentence have been met. The standard amount of time is 10 years. So if it has been 10 years or more since you committed a crime or completed a sentence for a crime, you may be able to enter Canada.

Any felon still serving time on parole or probation, or anyone with an outstanding warrant will almost certainly be denied entry into Mexico…or exit from the U.S. for that matter.

A person may not vote, serve on a jury, obtain commercial driver's licenses, possess a gun or join the U.S. armed forces. Even if a person's right to carry a weapon is restored he/she will be permanently banned from receiving a concealed weapon's permit.

International travel with a served sentence

They allow people who committed a crime and served their sentence to travel abroad but still under many conditions. As every traveler also, felons must possess a passport and/or a visa when going abroad.

Will my bags be searched on a cruise ship? All baggage brought on board the ship will be X-rayed. When you go through security you will set your bags on the x-ray machine like you'd find at an airport. Checked luggage is also X-rayed behind the scenes.

Cruise lines offering those cruises include Carnival, Princess and Holland America. You won't need a passport for these closed-loop sailings, but you do need to be prepared for multiple days at sea as you cross the Pacific from California to Hawaii.

At a Glance: Having a felony doesn't automatically disqualify you from getting a passport. Only people with specific felonies—such as certain drug convictions—aren't eligible for passports. In addition, those with unpaid child support, federal taxes, or federal loans may not be eligible for a passport.

How long is the cruise from Florida to Bahamas? ›

A 3 hour one way journey by ferry is required to travel to between Florida and Bahamas islands.

If you're a United States citizen going on a “closed loop” cruise, you'll only need to present: Government issued photo identification. Proof of citizenship (an original or copy of your U.S. birth certificate, a Consular report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization)