Opinions on Passports off ship

[Max and Ruby]

Hi all,

It has been a while since I have gotten off the ship for more than a private island stop or walk around the port.  What do you choose to do?  Bring passport off the ship or just driver's license for the photo ID?  Right now, only have excursion through Royal in Nassau.

 

I know I can also bring a photocopy of Passport and leave original in cabin safe, but I want to hear your thoughts.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

[prmssk]

On longer excursions that take me further from the port, I’m usually more comfortable carrying my actual passport otherwise, I often just take my driver’s license. Occasionally, I’ve stopped at a port that requires you carry it (not the Bahamas in my experience).

 

Unless, you are told it is required, do what you are most comfortable with. There are pros and cons to both carrying it and to leaving it in the cabin safe. 

[Cruise5life]

This has been discussed a million times and you will get both side of the argument.   Bring it.  Don’t bring it.    
I don’t.   I have a copy hidden in my belt.  And I take a picture of it for back up.   Along with pic of my license.   Never needed anything but my sea pass card to get back on the ship

Only thing I carry is my DL and CC 

Edited December 4, 2023 by Cruise5life

[Max and Ruby]

5 minutes ago, Cruise5life said:

This has been discussed a million times and you will get both side of the argument.   Bring it.  Don’t bring it.    
I don’t.   I have a copy hidden in my belt.  And I take a picture of it for back up.   Along with pic of my license.   Never needed anything but my sea pass card to get back on the ship

Only thing I carry is my DL and CC 

Yeah, I forgot that a picture of Passport could be a back up so glad I posted since that gives me another option.

[kitkat343]

For those who are not aware, if going on an independent excursion make sure to take a picture of the daily with the port agent phone number.  If you are running late, call the port agent and keep them updated on your arrival time.  If you miss the ship and your passport is in the safe, guest services will leave it with the port agent.

[sanger727]

We base it on what we are doing. If it's a water or active excursion, we leave it in the safe. If it's an excursion where I can wear a purse the entire time, we bring them. 

[island lady]

We leave our passports in the safe, and take our passport ID cards.  It is what we use for photo ID instead of the DL.  

[island lady]

1 hour ago, Max and Ruby said:

Hi all,

It has been a while since I have gotten off the ship for more than a private island stop or walk around the port.  What do you choose to do?  Bring passport off the ship or just driver's license for the photo ID?  Right now, only have excursion through Royal in Nassau.

 

I know I can also bring a photocopy of Passport and leave original in cabin safe, but I want to hear your thoughts.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

 

And BTW...Nassau is indeed one of the ports that require government issued photo ID with your sea pass cards to get back into the ports.  They are very picky.  

[Cruise5life]

1 hour ago, Max and Ruby said:

Yeah, I forgot that a picture of Passport could be a back up so glad I posted since that gives me another option.

I also take a picture of my seapass and make it my screen saver on my phone.   Just incase I lose my phone.  It has my info on the Home Screen.      

[Cruise5life]

1 hour ago, kitkat343 said:

For those who are not aware, if going on an independent excursion make sure to take a picture of the daily with the port agent phone number.  If you are running late, call the port agent and keep them updated on your arrival time.  If you miss the ship and your passport is in the safe, guest services will leave it with the port agent.

I’ve started doing this a few years ago.  
mite a great idea as a back up.   If anything happens.   

[klfrodo]

Unless the ship has directed that I turn my passport over to them, my choice is to carry my passport with me wherever I go. If I'm on a land holiday, I may choose to leave the book passport back at the hotel, flat, or Air BnB, but I'll always have my passport card with me for ID purposes if necessary.

But, that's my choice. Everyone else can do as they please.

[smokeybandit]

Half will say "take your passport" while the other half will say "only take a copy"

[Tatka]

We always take passports with us except for private islands of RCI or other lines.

 

We are taking them not because we are afraid we won't be able to fly back. For this there is a procedure. But passport is our main document abroad. While we know that chances of using them are slim we had to use them in some situations during our travels, we also watched people asked for passports.

Edited December 4, 2023 by Tatka

[Max and Ruby]

21 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

And BTW...Nassau is indeed one of the ports that require government issued photo ID with your sea pass cards to get back into the ports.  They are very picky.

 

We leave our passports in the safe, and take our passport ID cards.  It is what we use for photo ID instead of the DL.    

No passport cards here. Use driver's license for the photo id.  So I am good for getting off and on ship. I always take my driver's license even on private island .  

[Max and Ruby]

Thanks all.  I know it is 50/50, but in hearing some explanations it reminds me of things or gives me ideas (like the take a photo on your phone).  This is my umpteenth cruise, but my last few I have only gotten off ship for private islands or USA ports (Canaveral, Alaska).

 

And you would *think* I'd remember if I brought my passport to Victoria this summer (probably did), but I don't remember!  LOL!

[Husky1987]

2 hours ago, Cruise5life said:

This has been discussed a million times and you will get both side of the argument.   Bring it.  Don’t bring it.

 

12 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Half will say "take your passport" while the other half will say "only take a copy"

 

Exactly.  Take it or don't.  You can "what if something bad happens?" yourself with either scenario all day long.  

[Tatka]

I can provide examples of situations when passports where asked.

 

• When we attended casino in Germany
• We watched American couple asked for a passport in vaporetto in Venice (water taxi) by police

In both cases DL did not work. I am not sure if it was right or wrong to demand passport ... but do we want to gamble (no pun intended) ?  It easier to have passport and peace of mind.

 

We are usually in good condition, we do not overindulge on drinks and we can watch our stuff. 

Edited December 4, 2023 by Tatka

[island lady]

1 hour ago, Max and Ruby said:

No passport cards here. Use driver's license for the photo id.  So I am good for getting off and on ship. I always take my driver's license even on private island .  

 

Very good idea!  🙂 

[ldubs]

1 hour ago, Tatka said:

I can provide examples of situations when passports where asked.

 

• When we attended casino in Germany
• We watched American couple asked for a passport in vaporetto in Venice (water taxi) by police

In both cases DL did not work. I am not sure if it was right or wrong to demand passport ... but do we want to gamble (no pun intended) ?  It easier to have passport and peace of mind.

 

We are usually in good condition, we do not overindulge on drinks and we can watch our stuff. 

 

If the DL didn't work, what happened to the couple in Venice?  

[Tatka]

1 minute ago, ldubs said:

 

If the DL didn't work, what happened to the couple in Venice?  

 

I am not sure and I do not want to guess. In any case.

[ldubs]

5 hours ago, Tatka said:

 

I am not sure and I do not want to guess. In any case.

 

Thanks.  I just wondered how it didn't work.  We always take our passports with us.  

[Honolulu Blue]

My opinion is that unless there is a specific place I want to go that requires my passport in port, I'm not going to take it. And I don't bother with a passport copy because I have not and do not see a use for it.

[Mick B]

Hi all,

For most of our time on board the ship, our passports are left locked in the safe.

We take a colour photocopy of our passport photo page with us and so far this has not caused any issue.

Again, it is up to you if you want to take your original docs or a copy off the ship and I would suggest asking at guest services before departing if taking a copy with you would cause any delays/issues as they should probably know as the ship may have docked at that port on many occasions.

However, if you are going on a private trip that includes hours of travelling from the port and it is in a location where the only way to catch the ship at the next port is by flying or sailing by a ferry that involves border checks, then yes, take your original docs.

 

A lot of the places we visit, the ship docs at a port close to the town/city/beach we want to visit and we are normally back on board for lunch, so no rush/panic.

We do this also because we are aware of pick-pocket gangs.

One such scam is where there is a sign that says something like "check your belongings" and people then immediately touch their pocket or area on them where their wallet is to check they have it, but don't realise some innocent looking kid with a mobile phone has just observed you and is giving your details to their accomplice nearby who will soon bump into you and take it from you.

Paris metro stations are notorious for this type of scam.

Don't make the mistake if thinking it won't happen to you and you may not even notice it if it does, until its too late.

Make sure you keep your wallet in a safe and secure place like a inside zipped pocket that no-one can access without making it obvious.

Too many times I see people with money/phones and wallets hanging from their back trouser pockets - you are asking for trouble!

 

I would also suggest that in this day and age of technology and internet information, that you fully research all planned destinations to see how far from the ship your tour is going to take you and what methods there are of getting back to the ship if there is a delay. Taxis and even boats can be the quickest, but you need to make sure the driver knows which ship and at which dock as some ports have several ships docked at different locations and the driver may take you to the wrong ship to bump up his fee if you do not clearly state this and then you may not have enough cash to pay the driver and the local police can be on the driver's side in these circumstances. There was a port in Mexico years ago where 3 ships docked about a mile apart - make sure you know which location yours is diocked at.

 

Again, its up to what docs you choose to take or leave on the ship, but I would strongly advise checking first before getting off the ship.

 

Happy cruising

Mick.

 

Edited December 5, 2023 by Mick B
spelling

[sparks1093]

1 hour ago, Honolulu Blue said:

My opinion is that unless there is a specific place I want to go that requires my passport in port, I'm not going to take it. And I don't bother with a passport copy because I have not and do not see a use for it.

If something were to happen to your passport and you needed to apply for a new one at an embassy/consulate the copy serves as proof of citizenship. I carry a photo of ours on my phone that is saved to my cloud. Certainly not a game changer as long as your passport is safe.

[sparks1093]

OP, as the comments indicate a lot depends on where you are sailing to. We leave our passports in our cabin safe unless a local requirement exists for us to carry them, mostly because we carry a bunch of stuff with us ashore and having one less thing to carry is a good thing. We typically sail to the Bahamas or in the Caribbean and since our cruises are closed loop as defined by the government we've even cruised without passports. There is no right or wrong answer other than do what you are comfortable doing, it's a personal decision (unless of course it is actually required).