any "Lost and Found" experience for lost passports?

[richardabc]

I got home yesterday from NCL Breakaway and I realized I left my passport inside the stateroom safe. One day later someone from NCL contacted my my emergency contact saying they have found the passport and asking me to call NCL "Lost and Found". But there is no phone number for "Lost and Found". I filled out an online request. It says "Standard Response time is 10 business days from receipt." Supposedly they will locate the item and mail it back to me. I have travel coming up in two weeks and my concern is that the ship has sailed away and won't return to New Orleans for 7 days. 

 

Any similar experience with lost passports? How long does it take to get it back?

Edited December 25, 2022 by richardabc

[Heartfelttraveler]

https://www.ncl.com/about/contact-us

 

this is a web form

Edited December 25, 2022 by Heartfelttraveler

[richardabc]

Thanks Heartfelttraveler, I did fill out the form under "Lost and Found". But there is no photo number to call. Does anyone know how long it would take from past experiences?

[cruiseat50]

Didn't you need to show your passport when disembarking?

 

[trbarton]

4 minutes ago, cruiseat50 said:

Didn't you need to show your passport when disembarking?

 

Not sure about NCL but in San Francisco & Los Angeles no need to show your passport as you simply stand in front of a screen & it takes your photo. 
 

Tom😀

[European_CruiseGirl]

I would just call the normal NCL reservations number and go from there. There is for sure a direct number for lost and found but they don’t want to give it out to everyone who is visiting their website it seems. The reservations folks must be able to find it out for you (or transfer you through to that number) if you explain your situation and tell them that you already got a call from the ship asking you to call lost and found. 

Edited December 25, 2022 by European_CruiseGirl

[SomewhereGirl]

11 hours ago, richardabc said:

One day later someone from NCL contacted my emergency contact saying they have found the passport and asking me to call NCL "Lost and Found". But there is no phone number for "Lost and Found". 

Does whomever received the call from NCL still have that number in Caller ID?  Seems odd that NCL would call your emergency contact and not you.  What's that all about?

[richardabc]

When disembarked in New Orleans, there is no need to show passport as the custom used a facial recognition system. It’s surprisingly fast. No need to answer any questions. 😃No annoying question like “which company do you work for” like they may have asked in the airport custom. How is this question relevant to whether a citizen can come in or not? Anyway…

 

Yeah it’s interesting they called my emergency contact instead of me. Maybe they’ve called me when my phone was in the Airplane mode or something. They should’ve left a message on my phone. 
 

The guy who called specifically told my emergency contact not to call him back as he is just a messenger. His caller id cannot take any incoming calls. 

I understand why NCL may not want to list the lost and found number publicly. I think my best bet is to call the reservation number and asked them to transfer me to lost and found. 

 

[Georgia_Peaches]

Can you apply for an expedited replacement passport?  Not sure which would be faster, NCL or USG. 

[richardabc]

This is exactly what I am trying to figure out from people who have lost passport before on Norwegian cruise. If I can get it less than 10 days, I would prefer not to apply for replacement as I have approved visa in the lost passport.

[richardabc]

3 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Can you apply for an expedited replacement passport?  Not sure which would be faster, NCL or USG. 

This is exactly what I am trying to figure out from people who have lost passport before on Norwegian cruise. If I can get it less than 10 days, I would prefer not to apply for replacement as I have approved visa in the lost passport.

[ColeThornton]

I wouldn't count on getting your missing passport anytime soon.  Between the crazy busy holiday shipping period and bad weather that shut down 89 post offices.....

 

 

Good luck though.

[European_CruiseGirl]

23 minutes ago, ColeThornton said:

I wouldn't count on getting your missing passport anytime soon.  Between the crazy busy holiday shipping period and bad weather that shut down 89 post offices.....

 

 

Good luck though.

It might also be that your passport was only found by the next passenger in your cabin and only after the cruise had departed. If so it might take a long time to get your passport back as it is currently doing an NCL cruise…

[RocketMan275]

12 minutes ago, European_CruiseGirl said:

It might also be that your passport was only found by the next passenger in your cabin and only after the cruise had departed. If so it might take a long time to get your passport back as it is currently doing an NCL cruise…

The next passenger wouldn't have been able to open the safe. 

That would have required a crewmember.

Now, the next passenger might have found the safe locked and summoned a crew member.

[richardabc]

NCL called my emergency contact saying that they already found the passport in the safe. My emergency contact didn’t ask where the passport is. Had I got the call, I would have asked whether the passport is on the ship or in the port.

Edited December 25, 2022 by richardabc
Missing words

[European_CruiseGirl]

5 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

The next passenger wouldn't have been able to open the safe. 

That would have required a crewmember.

Now, the next passenger might have found the safe locked and summoned a crew member.

The safe could also have been open but the passport inside it still. People sometimes think they have cleared the safe but something is still left behind. Passports are usually of quite dark colour so blend to the safe. 

Edited December 25, 2022 by European_CruiseGirl

[GeezerCouple]

richardabc:

 

You've got about 2 weeks to go, or a bit less now.  Because you mentioned a visa, this probably is *not* some sort "very short/not terribly expensive" cruise... probably something you've been arranging for while?

 

In your situation, I'd be planning to head to a State Department/Federal Office building, with all travel documents in hand (and perhaps the messages to/from NCL), to get an emergency-basis passport that can be issued really quickly.

 

Then, would you have time to get confirmation of that visa?  Hard to know, without knowing which country it is (or get a new visa?).  This is something I've heard much less about than with than emergency USA passports.

 

It's certainly "possible" that youll get your passport from NCL in time, but is it "probable"?  As pointed out already, it's probably cutting it awfully close under the best of circumstances. And unfortunately... this isn't anywhere close to "best of circumstances", with holiday travel and weather snafus.

I wouldn't want to take that risk, not if I really did want to take that cruise and the rest of that planned trip...

 

At least you found out somewhat in advance like this, and not the evening before you were leaving home, or even that very morning!

Good luck, and hopefully a very Happy Holiday season to you!

 

GC

 

[mking8288]

There was a thread here not too long ago (tried to search for it, but CC's "search" engine is practically useless) with someone leaving behind valuable items (pouch filled with jewelry items) - which was apparently turned over to ship's Guest Services (they logged it in and file a report, then it's given to shore staff/port agent & forwarded to Miami NCL)   Passenger that left the items are responsible for paying for the delivery (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.) and the process took 3 to 4 weeks on the most recent incident.  

 

BA isn't returning to homeport until this weekend and timing-wise, with the holiday & offices closed, etc. - there is just not enough time with a tight 2 weeks per OP's post.  I would highly recommend filing for emergency replacement passport, not sure what to say on the visa(s) - both this and next week are on a shortened business/office/work schedule, if that upcoming travel is important and not discretionary.  Look into cancellation if fully insured and changing & delaying original plans, if those are available options.  Good luck ! 

 

Edit - founded 2 links, including the recent one ... expect 4 to 6 weeks for the passport to reach you.  

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2844366-help-item-left-on-ship/#comment-62993538

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2893655-i-left-stuff-in-my-room-when-when-disembarked-help/#comment-64300531

 

Edited December 26, 2022 by mking8288

[richardabc]

Thanks for all the tips. The trip I am about to take could be changed to a later day. The emergency passport should be easy to get but the visa is hard to replace. I am okay with waiting if I can get the passport in 4 weeks.

[Hannodcruise]

Keep us posted on whether you get your passport back and what steps you took. I’d like to believe I wouldn’t ever leave mine behind,  knowing what to do would be a comfort

[richardabc]

Great news to report! 18 days after initial lost, Norwegian Lost and Found finally sent me a message saying that they have found my passport. The cheapest shipping option (UPS Ground) is about $60 and the UPS Air is about $110. I assumed they surcharged some handling fees on top of the true shipping cost. I paid for UPS Air. They shipped it from Miami the next day and I just got it today! Thank you Norwegian Lost and Found!

 

Interesting that I didn't get back the envelope with some small amount of cash (<$100) that I left behind with my passport. I read from other posts that they may mail a check.

 

My lesson is that there is really no contact number for Lost and Found. Just fill out the form and wait. It takes about 20 days to get your items back. 

[GeezerCouple]

Wonderful!

 

Could you let us know if you do get the cash back, too, be it by check or a bag full of dimes or whatever? 😉 

It would really be nice if that money was handled honestly.  (IF Security are the ones to search for these things, I thought I had read that two officers open safe deposit boxes, for obvious reasons.)

 

What have you done about the timing of your next cruise?  Will you be able to take it now, or did you postpone it?

 

What a nice Happy New Year!

Thanks for the follow-up!

 

GC

[richardabc]

My upcoming trip is not a cruise. I had to delay it but it all worked out in the end. 😁

49 minutes ago, GeezerCouple said:

Wonderful!

 

Could you let us know if you do get the cash back, too, be it by check or a bag full of dimes or whatever? 😉 

It would really be nice if that money was handled honestly.  (IF Security are the ones to search for these things, I thought I had read that two officers open safe deposit boxes, for obvious reasons.)

 

What have you done about the timing of your next cruise?  Will you be able to take it now, or did you postpone it?

 

What a nice Happy New Year!

Thanks for the follow-up!

 

GC