Passports retained on the Ship

[vboxer]

I was told that recently on RCCL ships (maybe also on other cruises company) they retain passengers passports at the beginning of the cruise and they give back passports only at the end of the cruise. They don't give back passports even during the excursions. I can't belive ...

Can anybody confirm that ?

If so, I think one could have problem during self arranged excursions in foreign countries....

[bouhunter]

That would be entirely new, and I highly doubt it.

 

I don't think they'd want to keep track of thousands of passports!:D

[wraithe]

In my experience, they hold the passports of foreign nationals to the country the cruise originates from. So, if you're American and departing from an American port and returning to an American port, you keep your passport. If you're not American, European for instance, and depart and return to an American port, they will hold your passport. If you're American and departing from a foreign port, they'll hold your passport for the duration of the cruise.

[sddsddean]

Only times we have had this was on our first cruise (San Diego - Miami via Panama) when we got our passports back on the last sea day and a part of our Pacific cruise on Princess, when all passengers passports were taken prior to arrival in Tahiti, due to French authorities request..got them back a few days later.

 

Simon

[Sue L]

I just did a Transatlantic leaving from England and we didn't have to give up passports nor did I hear or see any announcements to the affect and we had a very diversified group of passengers.

[uksimonusa]

In my experience, they hold the passports of foreign nationals to the country the cruise originates from. So, if you're American and departing from an American port and returning to an American port, you keep your passport. If you're not American, European for instance, and depart and return to an American port, they will hold your passport. If you're American and departing from a foreign port, they'll hold your passport for the duration of the cruise.

 

That's what I always thought, when we were Green Card Holders and departed from an American Port, they always kept our passports, when we became US citizens, we had our passports returned to us.

 

HOWEVER, our last cruise was on the Navigator from Rome, being a European country, we checked in using our European passport (British Passport), they kept our passports for the length of the cruise, there was a note at check in that all non american passports would be held.

 

So it seems that non americans have their passports held wherever the ship sails from, although I have seen reports of Canadians having their passports returned to them.:confused:

[Bakincakes]

Passport issues come into play when visiting a foreign port.

 

Those holding "foreign" passports (non-Americans) can keep their passports but may have to present themselves to immigration when docking at ports.

 

My advice would be for anyone who has other than an American passport to check, once on board, for the protocol.

[CRUSINGFAMILY]

Over our last 30 years of cruising we have always had our passports held, but over the last couple of years since the American's are required or soon will have them they have not been taking ours.

 

We never agreed with it but we had no choice. I do not think they will hold them any longer. There are too many for them to keep track of. I believe anyone who was not American had to surrender them and on the last day of the cruise we would have to go through a customs agent and get them back after the ship had docked.

 

Happy sailing

 

Brian J

[cottagemama]

We have only had our passports retained once at checkin in Miami on our first cruise with Carnival.We have sailed out of Miami since on RCI and they didn't hold them. When it first happened I was pancied as noone explained why.

[cruisinisforme]

I just got back from the voyager and none of us had to give up our passports, we all kept them on us, and in fact in port several times we were asked to see them when purchasing certain items

[denhur]

We haven't had to give up our (european) passports on any RCCL cruise and I must say I would be extremely hesitant to do so. Considering rccl is not able to:

 

- administer C&A credits properly

- timely inform customers of itinerary changes

- charge foreign credit cards in USD (no matter what you fill out on the form)

 

I don't think I would trust them with my passport....

[cruiserbryce]

never heard of it and cant really imagine it being true...not sure what the purpose would be either

[Loyal2RCCL]

Several years ago any foreign travlers sailing from America had to surrender their passports at check in and they would be held by the ship until the last night of the cruise. The same held true for American's sailing from a foreign port.

 

This policy has been done away with for quite some time.. I suspect now that they have the online check in and swipe the passport at check in they have all the information in the computer needed to clear the ship at each port.

 

So to answer your question-- the information you heard regarding surrendering your passport was true at one point but is no longer the case.

[FreewayFortune]

We've never had our passports held either. I sort of expected it on our Brilliance cruise in August but it didn't happen and I was happy.

[dutchess43]

On 3 of our European cruises we had to surrender our passports 2 with RCI & 1 with Princess. We were not happy but were told if the passports upon emarkation were not surrended we could not board. We were not at all happy but followed the rules & we are Americans.

[HorrorFan]

never heard of it and cant really imagine it being true...not sure what the purpose would be either

Its quite definitely true. At least for Canadians it is. Or it was when we last went on a cruise. They held ours for the entire time and we got them back the night before departure.

[Shorex]

As stated before, it depends on the itinerary. Sometimes foreign immigration agents will board at 4am to do a passport check and stamp the passports for entry or exit. Would hundreds (or thousands) of pax want to be in line at that hour for a passport check?

 

On an itinerary with multiple port stops in multiple countries, each of which requires an examination of each passport, it makes sense for the ship to hold the passports.

 

The passports are held in the custody of the clearance officer. It is his/her responsibility to understand and comply with the entry/exit laws and practices of each country visited, as pertains specifically to the nationality of each passenger.

 

OTOH, there are countries that REQUIRE foreign visitors to carry their passport at all times. On these occasions the clearance officer must return passports to the passengers, and again, depending on the requirements of countries yet to be visited, collect them on re-boarding. Frankly, I am more concerned at carrying my passport off the ship than leaving it in custody of the clearance officer. US passports have a high black market value and with my camera and map in hand I look like a US tourist, and so do you.

[cruiserbryce]

maybe like others mentioned, for international travelers...we have never experienced it but have also always sailed from US ports

[jbond]

never heard of it and cant really imagine it being true...not sure what the purpose would be either

Well, it most definitely is true.

It depends where you are cruising. We have never had our passports retained in the Caribbean, Mexico, Panama Canal or Europe (Med, Baltic and British Isles). We have had our passports retained on a Princess cruise from Australia to Tahiti and also on two RCI cruises, earlier this year, in South America. Since the Australia to Tahiti cruise we have cruised Tahiti again on Princess and we kept our passports.

[dirtgirl]

We had ours taken away in '04 and in '05. They were returned once we had finished with going to the ports.

[HorrorFan]

Sorry, I failed to mention that we were on the eastern and western caribbean cruises when our passports were taken.

[TravelerThom]

never heard of it and cant really imagine it being true...not sure what the purpose would be either

Generally I've not been required to turn my passport in, but occasionally have [including one time departing the US with a US passport]. Usually on occassions where my passport has been held, it had been processed by one or more immigration officers [indicated by new stamps within the passport] before being returned at or near the end of the voyage. Basically it resulted in being cleared into countries WITHOUT HAVING TO STAND IN ANY LINES.:) One day on a European river boat I was renting a car, and car rentals often want to see your passport - I mentioned this to the Reception Desk and they willingly let me have my passport for the day, but did request for it to be returned when I was back on board.

[Irishwhiskey]

We had our passports taken away once back in 2001 on the Galaxy in Europe a month after 9-11.That was the last time that it happened

[FlyerTalker]

We haven't had to give up our (european) passports on any RCCL cruise and I must say I would be extremely hesitant to do so. Considering rccl is not able to:

 

- administer C&A credits properly

- timely inform customers of itinerary changes

- charge foreign credit cards in USD (no matter what you fill out on the form)

 

I don't think I would trust them with my passport....

 

So, why do you bother to give them your business???

[Shorex]

Re the question of needing a passport on shore to make purchases: I take ashore a photocopy of my passport, two different credit cards, drivers license, and ship ID, all of which can be easily replaced if lost or stolen. When a shop asks for my passport, I provide the photocopy which has the passport number (all the shop really needs for ID). That has always been sufficient, and if it weren't I would happily take my business elsewhere.

 

The only time it is wise to take a passport ashore, IMO, is when the country requires foreign visitors to have possession of their passport at all times. Rare exceptions to my personal rule: Monte Carlo requires a passport to enter the casino, and if I anticipate a possibility of missing the ship because of an independent shore excursion to a remote location (such as to a penguin colony in Argentina) I would take my passport if possible. Otherwise I make d*** sure not to miss the ship. And -- in case it all hits the fan and I do miss the ship, I have the port agent information with me at all times. I've never personally needed it, but it has been a life saver to others.