Destinations US citizens can visit without a passport on major cruise lines

• Closed-loop sailings allow travelers to visit international destinations without a passport.
• Cruise companies like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity allow these sailings.

Many Americans dream of faraway vacations — but a passport backlog may be holding them back, with wait times for a renewal of up to 13 weeks.

However, a lack of a passport doesn't mean you can't leave the mainland US. Travelers can visit US territories like the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands without a passport.

Or they can embark on a closed-loop cruise, which is a cruise that starts and finishes at the same US port.

An international agreement called the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative allows US citizens to travel to destinations in the Western Hemisphere on cruises without a passport. In order to embark on a closed-loop cruise without a passport, the traveler must have a government-issued ID as well as proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.

Many cruise lines offer closed-loop sailings, but not all. And if you're embarking on a closed-loop cruise, some companies, such as Celebrity Cruises, caution travelers that if a cruise doesn't go to plan and they need to return to the US by air, they'll need a passport to fly home. The same thing goes if a passenger misses their ship in one of the ports.

Take a look at the cruise companies that offer closed-loop sailings and where you can go without a passport.

Editor's note: Travelers should always check with the cruise company about closed-loop sailings before booking a trip.

As long as your destination starts and ends in the same US port, you can board a Celebrity Cruise without a passport.

The Celebrity Reflection cruise ship.      Halee Whiting

Source: Celebrity Cruises

On a Celebrity ship, cruisers can head to the Bahamas.

The Exuma district of the Bahamas.      thierrydehove.com/Getty Images

Or visit popular Mexico destinations like Puerto Costa Maya, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas.

A boardwalk in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.      Meagan Drillinger

Celebrity ships also sail to St. Thomas.

An overlook on St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.      Oliver W. Ottley III/Getty Images

As well as St. Kitts.

A view of St. Kitts.      By CKP1001 / Shuttersock

Carnival Cruises is another popular cruise line that offers closed-loop sailings.

The Carnival Valor cruise ship.      Carnival Cruise Line

Source: Carnival

On Carnival, cruisers can visit the Bahamas without a passport.

Cable Beach in Nassau, the Bahamas.      Susan Campbell

Travelers can also swim in Bermuda's waters and walk on the island's pink-sand beaches.

Pink sand beaches on the Bermuda island.      Dorann Weber/Getty Images

Or Carnival passengers can go on adventures in Cozumel and Baja, Mexico.

A cruise ship ported in Cozumel, Mexico.      Angel Villegas/AP

Another closed-loop cruise option is Royal Caribbean.

A view of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.      Brittany Chang/Insider

Source: Royal Caribbean

On a Royal Caribbean cruise, travelers could head to Jamaica.

A beach in Jamaica.      Nick Kaiser/picture alliance via Getty Images

Cruisers could also visit a port in Puerto Rico.

Sun Bay Beach in Puerto Rico.      Per Breiehagen/Getty Images

Or explore Canadian destinations like New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

A view of Halifax in Canada's Nova Scotia.      Shutterstock

This just scratches the surface of where travelers can adventure to without a passport. According to The Points Guy, Norwegian, Princess, Holland America, and American Cruise Lines also offer closed-loop cruises out of the US.

A cruise ship in the ocean.      Mark Gauert/South Florida Sun-Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Source: The Points Guy