CBP and Royal Caribbean’s Biometric Facial Comparison Transforms Cruise Debarkation

As the cruise industry seeks to balance passenger convenience with rigorous security protocols, the recent collaboration between U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Royal Caribbean marks a pivotal advancement in maritime travel. Recently, CBP conducted the first biometric facial comparison debarkation for over 2,000 passengers aboard Rhapsody of the Seas at San Juan’s Pier 4—ushering in a new era of touchless identity verification that promises to streamline operations and reinforce border security.

A Bold Break from Traditional Cruise Processing

Historically, cruise lines have relied on paper documents and manual inspections that can lead to boarding gate bottlenecks and extended wait times. By integrating CBP’s facial comparison kiosks directly into the debarkation flow, Royal Caribbean has cut clearance times by up to 30%, allowing passengers to disembark swiftly while CBP officers focus on high risk screening activities.

“At CBP, we believe that every aspect of the cruise experience should be seamless including the arrival process,” says Roberto Vaquero, Director of Field Operations for CBP’s San Juan Field Office. 

Key Capabilities at a Glance:

• Touchless Debarkation Kiosks: Passengers pause briefly for a photograph at automated kiosks, minimizing person to person contact.

• Rapid Identity Verification: Biometric comparison completed in seconds against CBP’s secure database.

• Efficiency Gains: Clearance time reductions of up to 30% for vessels homeported since April 2024.

• Privacy Safeguards: Photos are not retained by cruise lines and are deleted immediately post verification; passengers may opt for traditional identity checks if preferred.

Strong Interagency and Industry Collaboration

The successful implementation in San Juan was the result of coordinated efforts among CBP, Royal Caribbean, and the Puerto Rico Ports Authority. Key stakeholders, including Roberto Vaquero, CBP’s Director of Field Operations in San Juan, and Marina Michailaras, Director of Guest Port Services at Royal Caribbean, were present to oversee the launch. This level of collaboration highlights a shared commitment to innovation and passenger satisfaction in the cruise sector.

Redefining the Travel Security Frontier

By marrying efficiency with enhanced security, CBP and Royal Caribbean have set a new benchmark for cruise line operations—one in which frictionless passenger flow and robust border protection go hand in hand. As biometric technologies mature, this initiative paves the way for a seamless, secure, and future ready travel ecosystem.

Source: https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/cbp-and-royal-caribbean-implement-biometric-facial-comparison

Prepared by: Next Move Strategy Consulting