Passports in ports of call

[Avon_Princess]

Hello everyone! My husband and I are taking our first cruise in January on the Emerald Princess. We will obviously be bringing our passports, but we weren't sure if we had to take them with us as we go into each port of call. Is it a requirement to have your passport on you at all times? Any information is appreciated!

[Colo Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Avon_Princess

Hello everyone! My husband and I are taking our first cruise in January on the Emerald Princess. We will obviously be bringing our passports, but we weren't sure if we had to take them with us as we go into each port of call. Is it a requirement to have your passport on you at all times? Any information is appreciated!

We have never taken our passports onshore in the Carib. They are in the safe.
Some make color copies though.

[Colo Cruiser]

dup post

[threecats]

I would never leave the ship without taking my passport. I do make a color copy, though, and leave it in my cabin, preferably the safe. That way, if I lose my passport, I have some documentation to help get a replacement.

The passport is the only internationally acknowledged identification and proof of citizenship. I would not rely on copies to get me admitted back into the US, unless I absolutely have to.

[threecats]

BTW, when off the ship, I always have my passport, credit cards, etc. in a water proof wallet around my neck and under my shirt.

[Off2China]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1095575 and read the article in The Tribune in the first post.

Our passports are left in the cabin safe & we carry color copies with us.

[mr green]

If you loose, or if your passport is stolen ashore, [they are worth a lot of money], you are in real trouble. I say leave it in the safe. You CAN contact Princess to have the safe opened, if you need conformation as to who you are. Take a copy with you.
Remember, on some cruises, the ship keeps your passport in any case, so then you CAN'T take it with you.

john

[jfv379]

Originally Posted by Colo Cruiser

We have never taken our passports onshore in the Carib. They are in the safe.
Some make color copies though.

Keith,

Just for the sake of conversation.

What would happen if you were, God forbid, hit by a car or had a heart attack while in port and had to be admitted to the hospital?

Would Princess get you your passport and get it to you at the hospital?

Just curious

John

[robgvic]

One thing to consider is if you happen to not get back to the boat in time and have to fly to catch up with it at the next port-heavens forbid it happens.
You need it to get on the plane and can end up with real problems if you dont have your passport. It has happened and I know it cost the people major money
Just make sure you make it back to the boat on time

[CruzVinnieCruz]

I equate carrying a passport the same as carrying a large sum of cash on yourself in many parts of the world. A stolen passport is valuable commodity and it makes me shake my head when cruise passengers show they are carrying passports when it absolutely unnecessary like it's a status symbol or something. We leave our passports on the ship but do carry a copy just so have the data page with all the numbers with us. Always felt that cruising was a little different than other venues since most of the information needed to get permission to fly home is easily verified. Passengers have already gone through a Homeland Security check and the cruise line can easily verify they did not re board at whatever port. As far as flying home in an emergency I think the hardest part would be to find an available seat on a flight. That in itself may take a couple of days from some of the islands cruise lines visit with or without a passport.

[cruisemom42]

Originally Posted by jfv379

Keith,

Just for the sake of conversation.

What would happen if you were, God forbid, hit by a car or had a heart attack while in port and had to be admitted to the hospital?

Would Princess get you your passport and get it to you at the hospital?

Just curious

John

Hopefully you are traveling with someone who can contact Princess and yes, if that happens, they will leave your passport with the port agent.

[SingerEsq]

This is often up for debate here on CC. My personal opinion, if you were ashore and something happened to you or your traveling companion that required you to stay ashore (accident, just being late, etc.) that would equire you to catch up to the ship, or even head home, god forbid, having your passport in your safe will be of little assitance.

We carry ours ashore and I have a money belt that I got that hooks on my belt and tucks into my pants/shorts. I also have a waterproof "wallet" if we do anything water-related.

I like the idea of leaving a color copy in your safe, in case you would have to go to an American Embassy and obtain a copy.

[SingerEsq]

Originally Posted by CruzVinnieCruz

I equate carrying a passport the same as carrying a large sum of cash on yourself in many parts of the world. A stolen passport is valuable commodity and it makes me shake my head when cruise passengers show they are carrying passports when it absolutely unnecessary like it's a status symbol or something. We leave our passports on the ship but do carry a copy just so have the data page with all the numbers with us. Always felt that cruising was a little different than other venues since most of the information needed to get permission to fly home is easily verified. Passengers have already gone through a Homeland Security check and the cruise line can easily verify they did not re board at whatever port. As far as flying home in an emergency I think the hardest part would be to find an available seat on a flight. That in itself may take a couple of days from some of the islands cruise lines visit with or without a passport.

Unless you've ever tried to get back INTO (not just out of) the USA without a passport (I have, once ... and I do NOT recommend it) ... well, I carry my with me whenever I'm in a foreign country. It has nothing to do with status.

[cruisemom42]

The carrying of one's passport is not mandated in most countries (there are a few that do require it, Japan and Russia, for example, and I'm sure there are others....)

Since there is no rule for the rest of the world regarding carrying your passport, it is up to the individual. As you can see, there are two "camps" -- one camp never leaves the ship without it, the other feels it is usually safer onboard ship unless specific circumstances warrant carrying it.

I am of the latter camp. Since I've never, ever come close to missing the ship (including in European ports where the "main attractions" are an hour or more away from the port), and since I have been pickpocketed, my own feeling is that I'd rather keep my passport safe.

YMMV.

[Colo Cruiser]

Originally Posted by jfv379

Keith,

Just for the sake of conversation.

What would happen if you were, God forbid, hit by a car or had a heart attack while in port and had to be admitted to the hospital?

Would Princess get you your passport and get it to you at the hospital?

Just curious

John

John,
As noted above by another poster I would hope someone would be with me to notify the ship. If not, if they figured out I was on the ship the port agent usually would work with the ship to get the needed documentation. If I would be missing the ship then crew would pack up the cabin or help if necessary and remove the contents of the safe. There are alot of what ifs for sure.
When in the Canal or Europe type cruises We always take our passport with us. I pray we will never have to deal with a situation like this but you never know.

[threecats]

Originally Posted by CruzVinnieCruz

I equate carrying a passport the same as carrying a large sum of cash on yourself in many parts of the world. A stolen passport is valuable commodity and it makes me shake my head when cruise passengers show they are carrying passports when it absolutely unnecessary like it's a status symbol or something. We leave our passports on the ship but do carry a copy just so have the data page with all the numbers with us. Always felt that cruising was a little different than other venues since most of the information needed to get permission to fly home is easily verified. Passengers have already gone through a Homeland Security check and the cruise line can easily verify they did not re board at whatever port. As far as flying home in an emergency I think the hardest part would be to find an available seat on a flight. That in itself may take a couple of days from some of the islands cruise lines visit with or without a passport.

Just because I take my passport with me, doesn't mean I wave it around everywhere. Like others mentioned, it's safely tucked away to be used when needed only. My passport is my identification when out of the country, and it doesn't do me any good stashed away in my cabin when I'm on an island and missed the ship. And cruising isn't different from any other border crossing as far as immigration officials are concerned.

[jfv379]

Originally Posted by Colo Cruiser

John,
As noted above by another poster I would hope someone would be with me to notify the ship. If not, if they figured out I was on the ship the port agent usually would work with the ship to get the needed documentation. If I would be missing the ship then crew would pack up the cabin or help if necessary and remove the contents of the safe. There are alot of what ifs for sure.
When in the Canal or Europe type cruises We always take our passport with us. I pray we will never have to deal with a situation like this but you never know.

Thanks Keith, but your right, a lot of "what ifs". I would prefer to have it with me. Remember the saying "if it wasn't for my bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all".

[Neonsport]

would you leave your drivers license at home and just carry with a color copy?
How well would that work if you got pulled over?

[CruzVinnieCruz]

Originally Posted by threecats

Just because I take my passport with me, doesn't mean I wave it around everywhere. Like others mentioned, it's safely tucked away to be used when needed only. My passport is my identification when out of the country, and it doesn't do me any good stashed away in my cabin when I'm on an island and missed the ship. And cruising isn't different from any other border crossing as far as immigration officials are concerned.

My post was not intended toward you in particular. I have watched cruise passengers exit the ship with their passports in their hands and carry them through port security. I was merely pointing out that passports are valuable item and should only be shown when absolutely necessary.

If you feel more secure carrying your passport by all means do so. I feel just as secure not carrying my passport especially in the Caribbean.

[cruisemom42]

Originally Posted by Neonsport

would you leave your drivers license at home and just carry with a color copy?
How well would that work if you got pulled over?

But there is a very big difference. It is required by law that you have a driver's license if you are behind the wheel. As I noted above, very few foreign countries actually require you to carry your passport on your person when you are sightseeing in their country.