Carnival Cruise Line is expanding the use of facial biometric technology in order to expedite the debarkation process at nine of its homeports. More than three million Carnival guests have already utilized the simplified debarkation.
In partnership with United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), nine of Carnival’s fourteen United States homeports are using the technology and have seen the debarkation process expedited by an average of 30 percent. The facial biometric technology is already being used at Port Canaveral, the world’s busiest cruise port, along with Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, New York, Baltimore, Mobile, Galveston and Long Beach.
“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 entire process is simple. Guests who are disembarking at the end of a closed-loop cruise simply pause at a kiosk and take a photo that compares the image already on file with the guest’s passport or visa photo. Within seconds, the guest’s identity is verified 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.”
Any United States traveler and select foreign nationals can opt out of the facial biometric process and request a manual document check from a United States Customs and Border Protection Officer.