A few ?s

Hello everyone.. a few quick questions..

1. When you go off the ship at port, what identification should you take? I know my S&S card. Do I take my passport with me? Driver's license? Do I need to take photo ID? Should I just take a copy of my passport? I wasn't sure if I needed photo ID to get back on the ship.

2. What about minors that don't have a driver's license?

3. AT&T on the ship... anyone have experience with texting and phone calls while aboard ship? THANKS

When you get off the ship take your passport. 999 times out of 1000 nothing will happen and you won't miss the ship. However that one time in 1000 you will be happy you have it.

1. I just take the S&S card and driver's license.

2. S&S card.

Hello everyone.. a few quick questions..

 

1. When you go off the ship at port, what identification should you take? I know my S&S card. Do I take my passport with me? Driver's license? Do I need to take photo ID? Should I just take a copy of my passport? I wasn't sure if I needed photo ID to get back on the ship.

 

2. What about minors that don't have a driver's license?

 

3. AT&T on the ship... anyone have experience with texting and phone calls while aboard ship? THANKS

We only needed our S&S Cards to get on the ship... but always had our drivers licences with us just in case. Kept Passports in our safe.

Minors, we bring the kids birth certificates, but keep in safe.

AT&T - On the ship, texts and calls will cost you a FORTUNE. Do yourself a favor and put the phone on airplane mode for the entire cruise, except when you are in ports that have AT&T service - we had good service in San Juan and St. Thomas.

Catrin

Any photo ID is all that is required. As the previous poster mentions, if you had your passport and missed the ship, it could come in useful. We never take passports off, as the risk of loosing them is significantly greater than the risk of need to use them (IMHO). The other thing to consider is taking a copy of the fun times to ahve local contact information.

We take photo id our drivers license and sign and sail card.

Adults... Sail and Sign card along with photo ID. Driver's License is fine when coming back onto ship form ports.

Minors... do not need photo ID when coming back from ports, just Sail and Sign card.

Can't help you with the cell phone. Mine goes in the safe when we embark and stays there until we go home ;-0

Take your drivers license and S&S card. If you miss the ship, they will send security to your room and leave your Passport with the Port Authority there. This has been confirmed by passengers that it has happened to as well as John Heald. While I admit, there are some things he's not always correct on, I do believe this. Keep Passport in the safe so it doesn't get lost/wet/whatever.

1. i would definitely take a photo id... i have NOT taken my passport (left it in the safe) but i do take my drivers license. some ports do request photo ID when boarding. i'm not sure what would happen if you didn't have it (!) but i believe i've read other members of their party were required to obtain it from the cabin to be allowed to board.

2. kids under 16 don't need photo id, but kids over 16 do.

here's carnival's answers regarding this question:

http://www.carnival.com/core/faq.aspx#q-1394828

3. it works fine. you'll need to call att in advance of your cruise and enable international calling / data. they have certain packages you can just add for the cruise / month etc. also make sure your device is capable in any of the ports you're going to. also note that calls are routed through cellular at sea, so additional charges may/will apply. you should really google 'att cruise' or 'att international calling' or the like and read up about it there, i recall they have a pretty extensive web site, including regarding cruise-specific communication. and for any specific questions, i'd really suggest you call them rather than rely on feedback here alone, as things do change and certain things may apply specifically to your situation (like your device for one)...

I'm thinking that the reason we get a passport is to have it when we are in a foreign country.

So I take mine with me.

If I need it for some reason what good will it do me locked in a safe on a ship that may have already sailed?

I'm thinking that the reason we get a passport is to have it when we are in a foreign country.

 

 

 

So I take mine with me.

 

If I need it for some reason what good will it do me locked in a safe on a ship that may have already sailed?

Because eventually you will make your way back to the ship and it will be there waiting for you (the Passport will be waiting with the Port Authority that is - not necessarily the ship itself). Same reason when I'm in a foreign country, my Passport still stays locked in the safe. I would never risk taking it out and about with me.

Calling from your cellphone onboard is $2.49/minute. Calling from your cabin is $1.99/minute.

Sailed almost 40 cruises and have been asked for picture ID only at a few ports. It's been inconsistent. We've sailed to one port many times and only twice have we been asked for ID there.

If you do not have a DL, you can use your passport, passport card or State ID. Our DDs had State IDs when they were younger. If the kids look young they won't be asked for an ID.

I have always been asked for a photo ID when returning to port. Security at the port always matches it against my S&S card.

I would be hesitant to take my passport. God forbid it does get lost or stolen while on a tour or excursion, etc., it's just another issue to worry about when disembarking and then getting a replacement.

It is quite simple, the SHIP requires your sale & sign card (spelled like DW uses it) to get on and off the ship. The ship does not require picture ID because they scan your card your picture is displayed to them.

The Port can't scan yous S&S card so they require a seperate picture ID in addition to the proof you are on the ship. S&S card shows ship name and voyage date/number and the picture ID proves its you to the port.

So yup you need S&S card and another picture ID.

I do not take my Passport ashore. I feel that if I am going to miss the ship I can call the Port Agent which is listed for each port on the Fun Times and they can contact the ship to open my cabin safe and get the passport and my emergency credit card and hopefully some cash I hopefully still have in there depending on how I'm doing at the casino.

That's my personal plan, yours may differ. A copy of my Passport is only going to give me the information I already have, it is worthless to authorities for travel. If you know your passport number, picture or memo on your cell phone why carry a copy?

Just some thoughts,

FWIW

Thanks for all the quick replies!

Some ports don't require iD with S&S (I know Cozumel does), some do. I would take ID. We never carry our passports off ship, but you could copy it and take it with you (would have your document number on it to speed things up, if necessary). Don't know how much ATT call is on ship, but incoming texts are free, outgoing .50.

I always take my passport along with the S&S card. I wish I could find the link, but there was a lengthy post on this forum about a guy who missed the ship in Bahamas and the horrible experience as a result. He would've been up the proverbial creek without a paddle had he not brought his passport and a decent amount of cash with him off the ship. If anyone knows the post I am talking about, please post a link because it is well worth the read.

I for one would never step foot on foreign soil without a passport and credit card. Heaven forbid you miss the ship and then it's "Welcome to Mexico." Carnival website states: "...passports are required in the event you need to fly from the U.S. to a foreign port should you miss your scheduled port of embarkation, or need to fly back to the U.S."

I guess everyone needs to do what they feel most comfortable.

This is certain: S&S to get on the ship, likely need a picture ID to be allowed back on the pier by host country. And no, no one can tell you which ones do and which ones don't. Cozumel was listed as one port that does and while most of my visits they did ask for it I have returned to the ship and not shown ID.

AS to the passport question: Maybe it is because of the amount of international travel to strange counties but where the body goes so goes the passport.

We always carry a copy of our passports and leave the originals in our safe.

More and more ports are requiring photo ID when returning to the port. Especially if it is a US territory port. ( Key West, San Juan, St Thomas to name a few )

It is a good idea to always carry some form of photo ID.

I have never even considered bringing my passport off the ship, and probably won't unless it is needed for an excursion of some kind. As others have stated you can call the port agent and have them get stuff from your cabin for you. I'll stick to my license, S&S, and like $80 if I feel I need 10 pairs of fake Ray Bans or Oakleys.

A good suggestion on another thread is to take a picture of your passport with your phone and take that with you on shore.

I understand taking a photo with your cell phone, but what if that too is stolen?

Personally I have only ever taken drivers license and my sail and sign, but after travelling the world often solo, ever since I was 17 (that adds up to a lot of years for me:eek:), I am really beginning to think that I have just been lucky up to now, and the older I get the more paranoid I get about being robbed.

Still think I would rather leave the passport on board.

Am I the only person confused of why someone would leave the ship, without ID? Why would you? You are not only away from home, but away and out of the country. Why would anyone want to be stranded in another country without any proof who you are? Why does this question even need to be asked?

Passport - photo copy is useless. You will still need to get an emergency passport if stranded. No DL to prove your identity at the embassy? That's going to be fun for you.

Yes, you need your ID. Never leave without it.

Am I the only person confused of why someone would leave the ship, without ID? Why would you? You are not only away from home, but away and out of the country. Why would anyone want to be stranded in another country without any proof who you are? Why does this question even need to be asked?

 

Passport - photo copy is useless. You will still need to get an emergency passport if stranded. No DL to prove your identity at the embassy? That's going to be fun for you.

 

Yes, you need your ID. Never leave without it.

Photocopy isn't useless. It gives the embassy a lot to go off of and can expedite getting the new passport, possibly even a permission to come back to the state's without one.

As stated before if you're going to miss the ship you can contact the number on the fun times to have them retrieve your documents/money. I believe even if you don't call they still send security to get your documents to leave at the port for you.