Carrying your passport while in European ports

[Frankie Sue]

This may seem a stupid question but we are planning on a European cruise next year that would be stopping at ports that have a bad reputation for pickpocks.

 

So my question is: when you stop at most European ports, do you need to carry your passport with you to get off and back on the ship. If not, we would much prefer and feel safer leaving our passports in our cabin's fase.

 

Again I know that some of my knowledgeable cruisecritic friends will have the answer.

 

Thanks for helping me.

[kyriecat]

In Europe I always carry my passport with me when I am on a private excursion. I have a pouch that goes around my neck and slips under my shirt that I keep it in along with a back-up credit card and some extra money. I also carry a messenger bag that I keep my camera, small amount of money, water, and a credit card. Most pickpockets will go after the bag and not try for a pouch under you shirt.

[operafan]

We too carry our passports on shore in Europe. DH wears a security pack that attaches to his belt and folds into the waistband of his pants. We keep the $$$ and credit cards in there as well and each carry about 20 Euro in our pocket.

[taxmantoo]

We would never leave the ship without our passport.

 

We also keep a photocopy (as well as a copy of all credit cards) in our room's safe should anything happen to the originals while ashore.

[Frankie Sue]

Thanks you guys. I will be looking for a security pouch. That's a good idea.

[cle1]

Unless you are going out of the country, you don't need to bring it. If you need it, there will be an announcement on the ship, to bring it....otherwise leave it onboard. We have been on 6 European cruises recently, and only once did we need it and were told in advance on the ship........Carol

[Silverwing]

Last month on the Noordam (Eastern Mediterranean - Roman Empire) we had to give in our passports at the check-in desk. We received a receipt for them and were allowed to collect them the day before disembarkation at the end of the 10 day cruise. That made it all very easy, so we didn't have the decision to make about whether or not to take them each time we went ashore. By the sound of it each cruise has a different policy.

[kyriecat]

Unless you are going out of the country, you don't need to bring it. If you need it, there will be an announcement on the ship, to bring it....otherwise leave it onboard. We have been on 6 European cruises recently, and only once did we need it and were told in advance on the ship........Carol

I recommended bringing it, particularly when doing private excursions, is in case you miss catching the ship for some reason and have to meet it in another port. I know there's only a small chance of that happening, but better safe than sorry! Even if you don't have to travel to another country to meet the ship, I've always had hotels in Europe ask to see my passport when checking in. I don't know what they do if you can't show your passport - deny a room?

 

I haven't had the cruiseline take away my passport, but I have read posts from others saying that happens. I also keep a copy of my passport in the safe in case the original does turn up missing. It won't do me much good, but at least I could tell the US embassy the number to expedite getting a new one.

[Signor John]

Some cruise ships take your passport when you embark and don't return them until disembarkation, so there's certainly nothing unique about going ashore without a passport as long as you've got a cruise ship's passenger ID card.

 

IMHO, your best bet is to leave your passport in the cabin safe and carry a photocopy of the page with your photo and passport details (as well as a photo ID such as a driver's license in case you need it, as you might if--for example--you were visiting an Internet point in Italy, where ID is required).

[Atomica]

Always a good idea to take it off with you and keep it in a pouch that hangs under your shirt, particularly if you're doing a private excursion or wandering on your own.

 

If you're stuck ashore without a passport, you're technically in that country illegally - your 'permission' to stay left with the ship. Getting a replacement passport can be costly, and the nearest Embassy could be hundreds of kilometers away.

 

On one Med cruise a number of years ago, they did keep our passports at the Purser's office and issued everyone a photocopy to take ashore. I don't know how frequently that happens now.

[Randyk47]

Having lived in Europe for a number of years I always took my passport with me when I knew I'd be crossing into another country or if I was going to be staying overnight away from home. Some hotels did take your passport, others did not so it wasn't consistent. We'll be doing our first cruise in the Med next year and right now we plan to take our passports with us when we're off the ship, assuming they don't take them from us during the cruise.

[serendipity1499]

Last month on the Noordam (Eastern Mediterranean - Roman Empire) we had to give in our passports at the check-in desk. We received a receipt for them and were allowed to collect them the day before disembarkation at the end of the 10 day cruise. That made it all very easy, so we didn't have the decision to make about whether or not to take them each time we went ashore. By the sound of it each cruise has a different policy.

 

You are correct each cruise can be different but it has nothing to do with the ships rules...

It is governed by the ports you are going into..Some Countries require the Ship's Purser to be in possession of all passports in order to clear the ship in one fell swoop..Otherwise, each individual passenger would have to be cleared which could take many hours..If you had to clear individually, your hours in port would be diminished...

If we have our passports (& they are not with the Purser), we normally would leave them in the cabin safe, but always carry a photocopy of them with us. However as another poster mentioned, if we are on an independent tour, we would carry our Passports with us in a safe place..

On shore we only take our CapitalOne credit card with us & leave the others in the safe..we also have photocopies of all our credit cards & the phone numbers of who to call in the event they are stolen..

Betty

[Jemima]

We don't take our passports off the ship unless the port requires it. We had to have them in Croatia, but otherwise have left them in our cabin safe. The chances of loosing them in port are much greater than missing the ship. One of us had ID stolen in one port, so we are extra careful. Fortunately it wasn't passports.

[jtl513]

Should you miss the ship, your passports do you absolutely no good getting to another country or home if they are in your cabin safe. :eek:

 

IF there is time, your cabin safe MAY be opened and the contents given to the Port Agent, but otherwise you could be in a big bind.

 

We each carry our own passports, a moderate-limit credit card, and about $100 cash in under-clothing money belts/bags.

 

In addition we each carry a low-limit credit card and a small amount of cash in a pocket or purse for small purchases.

 

Some people may suggest leaving your passport in the safe and taking a photocopy ashore, but all a photocopy would do for you is help in getting a replacement when you can get to a city where there is a US Embassy. It is useless as identification, as it can so easily be falsified with Photoshop before printing.

[KirkNC]

Interesting, on our med cruise on the Oosterdam last July we had to give up our passposts when we check-in. Getting them back was not an option that I am aware of.

 

Kirk

[catl331]

Interesting, on our med cruise on the Oosterdam last July we had to give up our passposts when we check-in. Getting them back was not an option that I am aware of.

 

Kirk

On our two European cruises, the only time our passports were taken was for the 12 hours or so before we docked in St Petersburg, to allow the Russians overnight checking time. However, if your ship does take them on check-in you can always stop at the Purser's office and get them back before going ashore.

 

Maybe if we were stopping at a port that has a US Embassy and a "rep" for pickpockets I might not bother getting it back from the Purser for that one port. In that case I would definitely take my photocopy with me though!

[Tampa Girl]

There is another consideration. Many countries, such as Japan, require that you have proof of your citizenship on you. I don't know what the various European countries require.

[PROCRUISE]

We took only ship shore excursions in the Western and Eastern Mediterranean and did not carry our passports with us. The Baltic Sea Cruise we took some private tours and did carry our passports and money in pouches around our neck and under our shirts. As previously mentioned, DO bring a photocopy of your passport front page and keep it in your room safe, just in case you're carrying your passport and it is stolen.

[catl331]

Interesting, on our med cruise on the Oosterdam last July we had to give up our passposts when we check-in.

After thinking about it a bit, I'm wondering if that is done on some ships so that the passports can more readily turned over to the Port Agent, without the need for opening cabin safes of those who miss the ship?

 

If you had visited some ports (such as St Petersburg and Tunis for us) the ship would have had to give them back to you, as they must be carried with you on shore. I believe the same would be true for any other non-Schengen countries you may visit.

(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Agreement)

[RedmondCruiser]

If a pickpocket gets your passport its better than getting money. Loosing your passport can be a involved process in getting it back. We never take our passports with us when ashore.

I have a shore wallet that has cash, one credit card, an expired drivers license (words as picture ID) and a copy of both our passports. If it gets stolen then I've lost some money and I have to cancel one credit card but it did not ruin my cruise.

If your on a multi day shore excursion then you will need your passport other than that a copy of the passport will make due.

[jtl513]

If a pickpocket gets your passport its better than getting money. Loosing your passport can be a involved process in getting it back. We never take our passports with us when ashore.

Getting a replacement is also an involved process if it sails away on the ship without you. And good luck flying home without one! Your copy is useless for that.

[jhannah]

We always take ours with us, regardless of the country or region. Inside your clothing is best. The only exception has been in some areas where the ship holds onto passports. If the unthinkable happens and you need your passport, a copy will be about as good as a copy of a $50 bill when you need money.

[kyriecat]

Someone please correct me if if things have changed since this happened a couple of years ago. Last Med cruise (May 2008) we had a stop in Split, Croatia. I hadn't brought any Croatian currency, only euros since the rest of our stops were in Italy. Most of the shops wouldn't accept euros or dollars (or even credit cards) so we needed some local money for small purchases. We were having problems locating a working ATM that day (we found 3 out-of-order) so one of the shopkeepers pointed us to a currency exchange booth nearby. I know I had to show my passport to exchange some euros. I can't remember why they required the passport but I was glad to have it. Anyone know if a passport is needed to exchange currency in Croatia or any other port?

[DrTee]

I was on a transatlantic a year ago. We surrendered our passports for the duration of the cruise. I think, though, that anyone going into the casinos or to a bank in Monaco had to take their passports with them. So I suppose they had to get their passports for the day.

[catl331]

We were having problems locating a working ATM that day (we found 3 out-of-order) ...

Next time you go to Split, get your local money at the Front Desk first! :):)