passport question

[soaknitup]

Do I need to keep my passport with me at all times when disembarking at the different ports?

[rehab444]

No, unless the host nation requires you to do so. A picture ID will be all that's required in most ports.

[Colo Cruiser]

Not normaly, we leave ours locked up in the safe.

Where are you going?

[skf]

Your driver's license is good to get you back thru the cruise terminal. Russia & China do require a passport; however, Diamond Princess made photo copies of all the passports, held the passports, & sent us onshore with the copy. If this happens you will be instructed to have the copy in hand to be allowed off the ship...do not do as so many did and bury it in your purse or pocket or knapsack, or worst of all leave it in the cabin.

[Dreamer333]

I agree with the poster who said to keep a copy of your passport with you.

[beg3yrs]

We scan the photo page along with the facing page. We then reprint those two pages on photo paper, shrunk down so when folded in half it's the size of a credit card or driver's license. It is always in our wallet and is useful as a backup ID.

[capriccio]

We scan the photo page along with the facing page. We then reprint those two pages on photo paper, shrunk down so when folded in half it's the size of a credit card or driver's license. It is always in our wallet and is useful as a backup ID.

 

 

We do too. While in Prague in 2009 (not on a cruise) we were warned by friends at the US Embassy to never carry our passport because passport stealing was endemic. When we went to the castle we could see how easy it would be. If you bought the audio tour they took your passport (or in our case, our copy) and just put them on a shelf above and behind the counter -- within easy reach of everyone working the counter or even by someone on the other side reaching over.

 

Whenever the Patter says to bring official government ID (and doesn't specify a passport) we take our driver's licenses - easy to carry, easy to replace and losing it wouldn't create havoc on an overseas trip.

[Griff4AU]

I agree with the poster who said to keep a copy of your passport with you.

Respectfully, you are taking a risk carrying your passport when you don't need it or are not required to have it. If you lose it, drop it, or worse your backpack/wallet/whatever is lost/stolen, you will be without the only single document that proves both your identity and citizenship. Keep it safe unless you need it.

 

Few knowledgeable and experienced (they are NOT synonymous) travelers carry a passport everywhere they go when traveling, especially cruising. Copies of passports, or even better the passport cards, are perfect for this purpose.

 

Do what you are most comfortable with, but even the cruise lines discourage carrying your passport on every port stop.

Edited April 1, 2014 by SheepdogGriff

[Hoosier-Cruiser]

Do children require government ID to get back on? We are cruising with the kids for the first time and are wondering what to expect. We are on a caribbean itinerary. Thanks.

[satxdiver]

Do children require government ID to get back on? We are cruising with the kids for the first time and are wondering what to expect. We are on a caribbean itinerary. Thanks.

 

If the child is less than 16, they do not need an ID to leave the ship or return. However a parent must be with them in order to get through security. They will need of course either a passport or b/c to board the ship initially and return through US immigration.

 

US passports are stolen just as are money and cc. You can leave it on the ship in most countries. The risk you take is that if for any reason (medical, etc) you miss the ship, you will not be allowed to board an airplane bound for the US. In that case you will have to go to the nearest US Embassy/Consulate to get some document allowing you to re-enter the country. An emergency on your part does not constitute an emergency on the embassy and you know how fast the government works. No one plans medical emergencies or returning late from a private tour to find out the ship has sailed without you. Moral is plan ahead.

[Colo Cruiser]

Do children require government ID to get back on? We are cruising with the kids for the first time and are wondering what to expect. We are on a caribbean itinerary. Thanks.

 

 

That depends on the port, Princess has no control over that.

Some are strict some are not.

If you can get an ID for them best to do so.

Edited April 1, 2014 by Colo Cruiser

[OCruisers]

We keep ours locked in the cabin safe and just carry a copy with us UNLESS we are told we need our real passport with us.

LuLu

~~~

[rkmw]

If the child is less than 16, they do not need an ID to leave the ship or return. However a parent must be with them in order to get through security. They will need of course either a passport or b/c to board the ship initially and return through US immigration.

 

US passports are stolen just as are money and cc. You can leave it on the ship in most countries. The risk you take is that if for any reason (medical, etc) you miss the ship, you will not be allowed to board an airplane bound for the US. In that case you will have to go to the nearest US Embassy/Consulate to get some document allowing you to re-enter the country. An emergency on your part does not constitute an emergency on the embassy and you know how fast the government works. No one plans medical emergencies or returning late from a private tour to find out the ship has sailed without you. Moral is plan ahead.

 

any child still needs their cruise card to leave and return to the ship

[Pam in CA]

I travel quite a lot so I got the passport card in addition to my passport book. I carry the card with me everywhere, whether at home or abroad. Probably overkill but it has been handy at times.

[Typhoon1]

Leave it locked up. You won't need it until you leave the ship at your port of disembarkation.

[skf]

If you are concerned about ID for the kiddies, just make a photo of their passports.

Steve

Edited April 1, 2014 by skf

[OCruisers]

I travel quite a lot so I got the passport card in addition to my passport book. I carry the card with me everywhere, whether at home or abroad. Probably overkill but it has been handy at times.

 

Like Pam, we also got passport cards the last time we needed new passports. Keeps us for having to make copies of our passports. They are the same size as our cruise card so very convenient to carry around in ports. :)

LuLu

~~~

[caribill]

You can leave it on the ship in most countries. The risk you take is that if for any reason (medical, etc) you miss the ship, you will not be allowed to board an airplane bound for the US.

 

If you do not make it back to the ship, Princess will try to locate your passports including looking into your safe. If they can be found, Princess will leave them with the port agent.

[caribill]

Your driver's license is good to get you back thru the cruise terminal. Russia & China do require a passport; however, Diamond Princess made photo copies of all the passports, held the passports, & sent us onshore with the copy.

 

When we have been to Russia with Princess we were required to have the passport with us when off the ship.

 

For Saint Petersburg a copy of the photo page was also required (Princess made the copy) which the immigration agent kept. Our passports were stamped at the immigration booth.

 

For Vladivostok Princess gave us our passports back beforre we left the ship and we gave them back to Princess when we returned. No immigration booth there.

[Colo Cruiser]

If you are concerned about ID for the kiddies, just make a photo of their passports.

Steve

 

That won't help if a Gov't ID is required.

[chipmaster]

FWIW on our recent cruise with a only a stop on Cozumel princess said that everyone had to have a "goverment issued photo ID" for most of us that was easy, or license, more problematic for my 13 year old child as the only official document was her passport.

 

Funny as upon leaving and returning we were asked twice each time to check our cruise card, but never stopped for more, YMMV.

[caribill]

FWIW on our recent cruise with a only a stop on Cozumel princess said that everyone had to have a "goverment issued photo ID" for most of us that was easy, or license, more problematic for my 13 year old child as the only official document was her passport.

 

Funny as upon leaving and returning we were asked twice each time to check our cruise card, but never stopped for more, YMMV.

 

Princess only knows that the local authorities might ask for the photo ID.

 

The only times we have been consistently asked for photo ID was entering the terminal area when returning to the ship at USA ports.

[rkmw]

if anyone cruises around New Zealand you have to show photo id at every port and in Auckland you have to show it twice to enter the terminal

[sayaguru]

I would be very careful takin g advice from stangers who have not been to every port.

 

I"d listen to the crfujise line.

 

There are some ports where you MUST carry your passport. Photocopies are not acceptable.

 

The cruise line will let you know for each port you attend.

[SadieN]

Do children require government ID to get back on? We are cruising with the kids for the first time and are wondering what to expect. We are on a caribbean itinerary. Thanks.

 

 

Both of our DDs had California state IDs issued thru the DMV. They got them in elementary school and have just renewed them ever since.