Key Aspects:
- If an agreement is not reached, the US government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. on October 1, 2025.
- Essential security and port employees will continue to report to work, which means US cruise ports will remain open and operational.
- However, there is a possibility for delays within airports and cruise ports, as well as from passport services during this time.
As of the afternoon on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, members of Congress remain at an impasse on how to fund the US government.
If an agreement cannot be reached by midnight, a government shutdown will go into effect on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at 12:01 a.m.
Should this looming shutdown come to pass, most federal agencies would pause non-essential work and thousands of government employees would be placed on furlough or required to work essential roles without pay.
Many in the cruise community are now wondering how a government shutdown may impact their upcoming sailings in the coming days to weeks, as the government employs many of the essential port and security personnel.
But while the US Travel Association estimates that the country’s travel sector could lose $1 billion for every week the government remains shuttered, the cruise industry will likely be among the least affected.
There is no telling how long the government shutdown would last, but the longest closure in US history occurred in 2018 during President Trump’s first term. It lasted for 35 days.
The biggest impact will likely be at the federally operated attractions that many cruise passengers like to visit, such as national parks and some museums, which would close their doors during the shutdown.
Federal employees, including TSA agents, Customs and Border Control agents, and port employees, are considered essential, so they will still be required to report to work as usual.
However, these employees will be working without pay and will have to wait for the government to reopen to receive back pay.
Additionally, hiring and training is expected to be put on pause during this time, which may lead to staffing shortages and/or additional strain on these workers.
“As far as the impact on cruises, essential federal personnel – including the US Coast Guard, TSA, and CBP agents – will continue to report to work, so core port and security functions will remain in place,” Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) told USA TODAY in an email.
The cruise lines are obviously not run by the government, so all will be business as usual at their headquarters and onboard their ships.
Cruise Ports Will Remain Open, But Delays Are Possible
As the employees who are essential to cruising will still be working, cruise ports throughout North America will be up and running.
The Port of Seattle, as one example, issued a statement confirming that they would remain open during the shutdown.
“Our facilities will remain operational during any shutdown, but many of our federal partners will be working without pay,” said Port of Seattle Commission Vice President Ryan Calkins.
“We hope those traveling through our gateways will join us in thanking our federal workers for their ongoing professionalism during this time. The Port will do all we can to support them in the case of a shutdown.”
Vehicles Near Cruise Pier in Seattle (Photo Credit: SeaRick1)
For all US cruise ports, guests should continue to follow the instructions provided to them by their respective cruise lines as far as when to arrive at the cruise port on embarkation day.
While delays are possible during this time, showing up early to account for them can actually hurt efficiency instead of help.
Read Also: 11 Cruise Port Pitfalls That You Really Should Avoid
TSA agents, Federal Aviation Administration employees, and Customs and Border Protection agents will also still be working in airports.
The usual guidelines of arriving at the airport two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights still applies during the shutdown.
However, there is a possibility for delays and/or staffing shortages related to the shutdown.
If I’m traveling by air, I always plan to arrive at my cruise port’s city at least one day early to account for potential delays or issues with my flight.
Additionally, passport services will also still be available, but it’s important to note that there could be delays here as well – so future cruisers who need a passport should plan accordingly.
Appeared first on: Cruisehive.com
