sparks1093

Since only 4 or 5 states even license TA's and who knows if they even require any formal training to do so it seems that it's a complete crapshoot, but I agree- competent should be the minimum (and that goes for many professions as well).

Indeed, with the operative word being "competent".

I think so and you think so, but "basic information" could be insufficient if a traveler's situation were complex. The basic information could also be provided in the small print. I guess this is why lawyers have jobs 🙂.

Probably not because the ultimate responsibility to have the correct documentation is the traveler's.

Nice! We have a bit to go before we're that close.

I was on a nuclear powered ship in the Navy and we always had to anchor out further away than most ships because of it. We never had less than a 30 minute boat ride to get into port and sometimes longer.

This is usually the result of an S trap in the plumbing drying out. Once water is returned to the trap the smell dissipates. If this is in your cabin look for the floor drain in the bathroom and pour a cup of water down it.

Actually every policy that I've read (and I do note that I haven't read them all) do provide coverage for lost and stolen IDs. What they don't cover is a passenger completely lacking the documentation to board and being denied boarding (it's a very fine line and as always the facts and circumstances are going to control the outcome).

This is one thing that I look for in a policy- reimbursement if travel documents are lost or stolen (and many policies do provide that coverage). Having a back-up ID is all well and good but to spend $300+ for two people for that back-up isn't something that I would choose to do. If I have decided to cruise without a passport, then I've already accepted the risk of something happening to the documents I have.

And obviously in this case I didn't (I think I did read the last two posts or so because I came to the thread late and when I clicked on it that is where it took me). The point that I made in my response is still valid (from my point of view)- we do enough laundry at home and I'm not going to fuss with it on a cruise ship.

Most excellent point to keep in mind.

Even in the US Navy mustering the ship is done to ensure everyone is accounted for, primarily for a man overboard.

Three ships worth, yes.

In my case I wasn't going to read through two pages before commenting. Since I don't use the self-service I hardly care if a ship has one or not.

I figure we do enough laundry at home, we can splurge to have the cruise line do it for us. Some lines also have self-serve laundry facilities on some of their ships, but I've never been tempted to use one of those, either. We've done at least a bag of laundry on each cruise and in all that time- one lost set of skivvies. (And as noted we don't put anything in the laundry that is super delicate.)

Thanks for the review, can't wait to try Mardi Gras ourselves!

I'm sure that it's happened but I wouldn't count on it as a regular occurrence.

Passports and passport cards can also be misplaced or stolen. (I read one thread where the OP lost her passport on the flight to the port. Fortunately someone at home was able to fax her birth certificate to the port which allowed her to board.) I personally wouldn't use this instance to justify buying either if I didn't need them. (But because I do have a passport I keep it separate from other valuables when I carry it.)

True

I do too, but hopefully they are on a cruise and have forgotten about us.

Yes, how dare they let their wallet be stolen right before a vacation.

Yes, if it is just a piece of paper it's a no go, but if the paper has your picture on it then it's good.

The two posters were talking about total passenger load, with one of them saying they wouldn't sail on a ship with a capacity of more than 2,000 passengers and I was responding to the one that suggested traveling during the off-season would help avoid a large number of people.

I have no direct experience with a temporary ID with a picture but Carnival's FAQ does state it is acceptable and I've read a couple of posts where the OP had to use one and had no difficulty. Hope it works out OP!

We were on Pride going back to Baltimore and had to pass through the remnants of a nor'easter. 50 knot plus winds and the waves that go with it. I felt right at home (another Navy vet, serving on an LST and a DE/FF) but my travel mates weren't very happy. One swore off of cruising as a result.