Carnival Cruise Line Expands Use of Facial Biometric Technology at Homeports Through U.S. Customs and Border Protection Partnership

In the midst of a busy summer travel season, Carnival Cruise Line continues to expand the use of facial biometric technology to expedite the debarkation process and its partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has already improved the experience for more than three million Carnival guests.

Nine of Carnival’s 14 U.S. homeports are using this secure, streamlined technology, including Miami, Port Canaveral, Tampa, Jacksonville, New York, Baltimore, Mobile, Galveston and Long Beach. Across the homeports where facial biometrics is being used, the debarkation process has been expedited by an average of 30 percent in the largest deployment of the technology in the cruise industry.

“Expanding this technology at our U.S. homeports ensures we’re doing everything we can to make the debarkation process as simple as possible for our guests,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Thanks to our partnership with CBP, these technology solutions make the process more efficient, while giving guests a sense of safety and security, knowing their information is protected.”

The enhanced and innovative process is simple. Guests debarking the ships at the end of a closed loop cruise pause at a kiosk with a camera and take a photo. Within seconds, the image is biometrically compared to their passport or visa photo to verify the guest’s identity with over 98 percent accuracy.

“CBP is excited to expand the use of facial biometrics in the debarkation process to further secure and streamline the passenger experience through public/private partnerships with the cruise industry,” said Diane J. Sabatino, Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “Through our partnership with Carnival Cruise Line, we will continue to transform cruise operations by leveraging technology and enhanced processes while also strengthening our data sharing agreement to further secure U.S. seaports.”

U.S. travelers and select foreign nationals who prefer to opt out of the facial biometric process can simply request a manual document check from a CBP Officer, consistent with existing requirements for admission into the United States.

For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation on Carnival, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit http://www.carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site. For more information on CBP’s efforts to expand facial biometrics in the entry and exit process for travel to and from the United States, please go to http://www.cbp.gov/biometrics.