Charles4515

Sorry but your question does belong on the Florida departure board. No problem though as the mods will likely move your thread over there.

I keep them in the Notes app on my iPhone. You can create folders in Notes on your iPhone and in iCloud which are locked. My Covid vaccination records are stored in the Wallet app.

In 2008 when the US ID rules were modified cost was a reason that the exception was made allowing a birth certificate as ID for closed loop cruises. They even discussed they would have procedures in place for US citizens without a passport to return to the US in an emergency.

When I got my Texas DL about 2 years ago took my birth certificate, social security card, vehicle registration and car insurance proof. A passport would not have made it easier. Lots of Americans unfortunately don’t travel and they get through life without a passport as a “super identifier”. There are Americans who unfortunately don’t have the means to travel outside the US. There are a lot of people living paycheck to paycheck.

I have not been to Bermuda in the winter but NCL has been running their free ferry in the winter. Passengers, have confirmed it. I have seen it on the Bermuda port cam and I have tracked the ferries on the MarineTraffic app.

I received 7 or 8 free upgrades but that stopped happening years ago when I started cruising. On HAL for example about instead of free upgrades we got discounted move up offers. Some we did take as they were often good deals. Now the cruise lines have hired a company that does move up bids. I am not really into that but I have tried a few but never had any luck.

I don't order rum drinks but what I have done with other drinks is ask the bartender or lounge server. They always came up with a suggestion that worked with the Elite benefit.

I will add to that. In addition to the expense which can add up for those with families children under 16 their passport is only good for 5 years. Children under 16 must apply in person with both parents.

I always carry a copy of my Passport ID pages as recommended by the state department. Don’t need a passport card as all the ID info is on the copy.

No one at Celebrity told the OP they could stay on the ship. Usually countries apply the passport rule to passengers that on ships in their territorial waters. If Martinique will allow passengers to stay on the ship then Celebrity should put that in writing. OP could not complete check in without passport info.

So you believe Porthole which was talking about Carnival and the points Guy? OP reported that the online check in would not allow check in without a passport.

Umm. Wine glasses should not be full. Red wine should be about a third full and in a large glass and white wine about half full in a smaller glass. Five oz in a glass.

A drivers license fits convieniently in my wallet and the Apple Wallet I sometimes attach to my phone. My DL is Real ID. US DLs are a uniform size and format. They have RFID chips. As I said if you want to spend $30 on something you don't need for some percieved convienence go for it. It is your $30.

Guadalupe

I have a passport book so I don't need a passport card. I am not OCD about losing my DL or replacing my DL if lost. Never lost one. I can replace my DL easily without going to an office for $!1 and print out a temporary one good for 60 days. Maybe replacing a DL is a big deal in some states but not here. When I renewed my passport in 2017 I only got the book. The card was not on my radar. I also have other alternate government photo ID. A Global Entry card. When I renew in 2027 I might decide to get a Passport Card but I see no need consider that until 2027. . But I might not get a Passport Card then either.........

I have never been asked to show ID in any foreign country, been to many, except port of entry except to rent a car. Certainly they wanted see a DL for that. I have only had to show photo ID in the Caribbean to return to the ship or rent a car. So I needed a DL in Aruba to rent a car. A passport card I guess is useful if you think you might lose your DL but I have never lost a DL. Never had to replace one. So I guess I don't feel the need to have a passport card as backup. I looked up what I would need to do if I lost my Texas DL. The website says I can replace mine online for $11. I can print out a temporary license to use until they mail the permenent replacement. I would need my DL info which I have as I have a scan of my license which I already have and I would need a printer which I have. So replacing a lost license does not seem to be a big pain.

Passport cards are only recognized by 20 countries near the US for entrance by land or sea. It is not a required government issued ID. You could use it as such for domestic air travel if Real ID ever goes into effect but then again you could just use your passport book. Your expectation that it will be accepted as ID going ashore could backfire. But hey if spending $30 for a passport card which is of limited use, as backup in 20 countries seems useful to you, well it is your $30. Because of inflation $30 does not seem like much anymore. If you lose the passport card it will be a nuisance too. It will have to be reported and replaced. I guess for the OCD segment it is something to have.

Just saying if you have a passport book you don’t need a passport card. If you have a drivers license you don’t need a passport card. I don’t have a passport card, leave my passport book in the safe and carry my Drivers License with me at ports. Been doing that for 25 years. The passport card was issued to be a less expensive alternative to a passport book for US citizens who regularly crossed the Canadian or Mexican border. I have a passport book and a DL. I do a lot of travel that is not cruise. I don’t live along the border so I see a passport card as only of of marginal use, mainly imaginary use. But hey if it floats your boat that’s fine.

A passport card is useful if you are crossing the border by land into Canada or Mexico. Carrying it ashore in most ports in the world you are kidding yourself. It is not good for air travel. Most ports are not going to know what it is. No country but the US has passport cards. Ports in the Caribbean might be familiar with it but not all. Martinique and Guadaloupe for example don't accept passport cards.

It does not surprise me.

A passport is required because the ship stops at Martinique. Martinique requires a passport.

The cruise calls at Martinique. Martinique requires you to have a passport.

Government IT and bureaucracy and corporate IT have different needs and requirements than an individual does. They make policies for large workforces which probably are good policies keep those workers and their companies out of trouble.

IT and corporations routinely tell people to do things their lawyers tell them.

If you need to save space go ahead and delete. I don’t need to save space.