Losing key card in port?

[sparks1093]

Duplicate post.

[mpk218]

You wouldn't happen to have a link to an official website that has this advice on it, would you? (I am aware of the advice of the former consular employee of whom you speak.) In days gone by I'm sure that there was a big demand on the black market for US passports, but with the new security measures being in place I'm not so sure that's the case any longer.

 

Black Market , stolen US passport , currently $3500 -$5000.

 

Worth 3 times its weight in gold ;)

[sparks1093]

Black Market , stolen US passport , currently $3500 -$5000.

 

Worth 3 times its weight in gold ;)

 

And the source is...?

[njhorseman]

You wouldn't happen to have a link to an official website that has this advice on it, would you? (I am aware of the advice of the former consular employee of whom you speak.) In days gone by I'm sure that there was a big demand on the black market for US passports, but with the new security measures being in place I'm not so sure that's the case any longer.

 

Yes...right here on the State Department web site:

 

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html

 

Before You Go

 

What to Take

 

Safety begins when you pack. To help avoid becoming a target, do not dress in a way that could mark you as an affluent tourist. Expensive-looking jewelry, for instance, can draw the wrong attention.

 

Always try to travel light. You can move more quickly and will be more likely to have a free hand. You will also be less tired and less likely to set your luggage down, leaving it unattended.

 

Carry the minimum number of valuables, and plan places to conceal them. Your passport, cash and credit cards are most secure when locked in a hotel safe.

[sparks1093]

Yes...right here on the State Department web site:

 

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html

 

Before You Go

 

What to Take

 

Safety begins when you pack. To help avoid becoming a target, do not dress in a way that could mark you as an affluent tourist. Expensive-looking jewelry, for instance, can draw the wrong attention.

 

Always try to travel light. You can move more quickly and will be more likely to have a free hand. You will also be less tired and less likely to set your luggage down, leaving it unattended.

 

Carry the minimum number of valuables, and plan places to conceal them. Your passport, cash and credit cards are most secure when locked in a hotel safe.

 

Perfect, thanks!:D

[Sauer-kraut]

Has there ever been a report on here of someone missing the ship and having the port agent get their passport for them? I don't have international calling on my phone so wouldn't be able to call the port agent if I was going to be late

 

And you have no access to a phone from some shopkeeper/police dept/public phone/flagging down a person with a cell phone to help you?

[cb at sea]

Parents should keep control of their kid's ship keys while off the ship....period!

[njhorseman]

Has there ever been a report on here of someone missing the ship and having the port agent get their passport for them? I don't have international calling on my phone so wouldn't be able to call the port agent if I was going to be late

 

Two years ago in Bermuda I assisted a family who were passengers on another ship and were going to miss their departure because they were late for the last ferry from St. George's to Dockyard that would have gotten them back to their ship in time. I knew how to contact our port agent, but I also knew that their cruise line used a different agent (I won't bore you with an explanation of how I knew that). Without going through all the details of who talked to whom (it included going to a police station), they ended up speaking to the harbor pilot's office, and that office called the ship. Their ship's captain graciously agreed to delay departure about a half hour, which allowed them enough time to take the next ferry back to Dockyard.

 

Anyway, the point of the above is to point out that even if you don't have a telephone or a clue of what to do, with a little ingenuity you may be able to avert a serious problem.

 

I have seen reports of passports being placed in the custody of the port agent. I can't vouch for them. I can vouch for a ship's officer saying that it is done.

[WaldosPepper]

Two years ago in Bermuda I assisted a family who were passengers on another ship and were going to miss their departure because they were late for the last ferry from St. George's to Dockyard that would have gotten them back to their ship in time. I knew how to contact our port agent, but I also knew that their cruise line used a different agent (I won't bore you with an explanation of how I knew that). Without going through all the details of who talked to whom (it included going to a police station), they ended up speaking to the harbor pilot's office, and that office called the ship. Their ship's captain graciously agreed to delay departure about a half hour, which allowed them enough time to take the next ferry back to Dockyard.

 

Anyway, the point of the above is to point out that even if you don't have a telephone or a clue of what to do, with a little ingenuity you may be able to avert a serious problem.

 

I have seen reports of passports being placed in the custody of the port agent. I can't vouch for them. I can vouch for a ship's officer saying that it is done.

 

Great story, and truly not an issue I had ever seriously considered before, so I appreciate your sharing it. Now I must ask ~ because apparently I have not paid proper attention in the past ~ where do you find the information regarding the port agent and phone number. I'm fairly certain I'm not the only one who has never realized it's available, and I feel somewhat silly asking the question, but if it helps others then I'll bear the shame happily! :o

[peg013]

Great story, and truly not an issue I had ever seriously considered before, so I appreciate your sharing it. Now I must ask ~ because apparently I have not paid proper attention in the past ~ where do you find the information regarding the port agent and phone number. I'm fairly certain I'm not the only one who has never realized it's available, and I feel somewhat silly asking the question, but if it helps others then I'll bear the shame happily! :o

 

I've always found it on the lower right corner of the Freestyle Daily. Don't leave without it.

[Sauer-kraut]

Yes listed on the ship's information paper. NCL's Freestyle Daily; CCL's Capers (or whatever it is now) you just need to get your nose out of the daily schedule and read the other stuff on the front page. ;):)

[WaldosPepper]

I've always found it on the lower right corner of the Freestyle Daily. Don't leave without it.

 

Great! Thanks so much!

 

Yes listed on the ship's information paper. NCL's Freestyle Daily; CCL's Capers (or whatever it is now) you just need to get your nose out of the daily schedule and read the other stuff on the front page. ;):)

 

LOL! Yup, that daily schedule is usually all I read, so it looks as though I'll need to expand my horizons! :D

[Victress2007]

Key cards are magnetized and frequently will stop working when they are carried in the same pocket as a cell phone or other electronic device. So, try to remember to carry them in separate pockets and you shouldn't have too many problems with them. I sure have had better luck since I found this out!

 

Vic

[bonvoyagie]

In 2006 on the POA security photos of all passengers were taken and indeed cross referenced by cabin - they also cross referenced all minor children to their authorized adults - so if someone else tried to escort them off the ship they would be stopped. So your card key has lots of information encoded on it.

 

As for a passport, I only carry mine when entering or exiting a country - one in the country it really carries little weight.

 

It has been know for years that a copy of your passport means nothing except when it comes to replacing a lost one.

 

In Hawaii we did several excursions where water was involved - the tour operators always had places to stash your excess stuff.

[bean24]

We have friends whose water wallet opened on a snorkeling excursion while on a Carnival cruise in St. Martin they lost key cards and id's. The port officers contacted the ship and they were able to get back on, had to use their passports for the rest of the trip and believe it or not the id and money was found by another diver and mailed back to them 2 weeks later

 

Sent from my DROID Pro using Tapatalk

[laxlove6]

A photo copy of a passport will work if you are in that much trouble. A friend was able to enter the US with a photocopy as he lost his passport a day before a flight a few months ago. The states is about the toughest place to enter so I believe you could get by in any of these countries with a photocopy in a pinch.

 

Lose your passport in one of these countries, try getting back into the US without a passport after the cruise and even worse try entering the US just to fly to an international destination without a passport. Good luck with that.

 

There is a much better chance of having your passport stolen onshore or you loosing it then you needing it for anything.

 

Safest spot is in the safe on the ship for your passport.

[Travelicious]

A friend list both key card and driver's license while in port. She couldn't even enter the secured area a half mile or so before the ship. I went to the ship, planning to retrieve passport from the safe, but talked to security guards at the ship, and one of them went to get her to escort her in. I guess they just looked at her, at the photo they took on embarkation, and asked her name. They let her on, and she went to the front desk to get a new key card.

[gelo7]

I keep the kids cards.

[moejoe4]

Thanks for all the replies!

 

I do plan on keeping the kid's cards. I also know things can happen. This crossed my mind so I wanted to know what would happen if one was lost (planning ahead, having a plan).

 

I just didn't know how the ship handled people trying to get back on without their card. I knew I could get a new one once on board, but you have to get back on board to do that.

 

D

[cmh]

I have searched the boards and I don't see anything that covers this.

 

I'll be taking 3 kids cave tubing. I know we have to have our room cards to get back on the ship.

 

What happens if one of us loses our card while we are on an excursion? With three kids it's possible!

 

We are sailing on the Spirit March 18.

 

Thanks!

 

When we were in Mexico, my husband could not find his key card when returning to the ship. He did have his drivers license and security could see the picture they took of him matched. We went to customer service and stopped all charges and they issued new cards. He later found the card in his wallet.

[sdmike]

When we took the train in Skagway my mother only took a copy of her PP. I had the real thing. The officer chewed her out. We really thought he was going to detain her. Never again.

 

Why would she need a passport if she was still in the US?

[bonvoyagie]

There are several excursions on the train that go into Canada so you need a passport to get back into the US.

 

Even the RT ride to the summit and back goes into Canada - that is why you can't get off the train. There are flags at the border - and the actual crossing station is in AK closer to Skagway.