Passports needed in port?

[Tatka]

That's why you carry the port agent's phone number and if you do happen to miss the all aboard, Security will go to your room, remove passports from the safe and leave them with the port agent without being prompted.

 

Unless specifically told that I need to have my passport with me, whether its to be able to disembark or that I will need it for any excursion, it stays in the safe.

That's seems like a long procedure if I can have my passport with me.

People take licenses I treat passport to be just as important document as DL for some.

Besides as I have an example passport is not only used to get home.

[Tatka]

In 36 cruises and many other trips abroad we never lost passport. We watch our things closely

[PTMary]

In 36 cruises and many other trips abroad we never lost passport. We watch our things closely

 

So, you spend your time ashore always on high alert? We find it much more relaxing to leave everything we don't need for the day locked in the safe, carrying only a camera that won't ruin our vacation if lost, a copy of our passports, one credit card each, enough cash for the day, and our driver's licenses. We could lose all of that and still get home without a problem since the most important documents, our passports, plus additional credit cards and cash, are safe in our room. If we report our credit card stolen, any fraudulent charges on them will be waived, so there is no loss for us there.

 

I personally know several people who thought they had their passports safe on them, only to find them missing when they needed them. However, I know of no one who unexpectedly needed their passport if they didn't have it on them.

 

We feel safer with them locked away where we always know where they are if needed - which has never happened. If you lose them, the effort to replace them could take days if in a small country without local US embassies or representatives, especially if on an island where you need your passport to fly to the nearest country that has a US representative to help get a new one. So, a person who insists on carrying it to satisfy their "just in case" fears will lose a big part of their cruise when the ship sails without out them while they are frantically trying to get their passports replaced. And that isn't taking into account the expense of additional travel and lodging during the replacement process, over an above the expense already paid to the cruise line for all the time away from the ship.

[Herfnerd]

That assumes you have a phone or access to one, that you can get to the port agent to retrieve your documentation and that security doesn't have more pressing matters than your passport. The easiest way to get your passport if you need it is not to rely on the kindness of strangers but to reach into your pocket or wherever ever else you are carrying your passport.

 

 

It is procedure on all cruise lines for Security to retrieve documents in the safe and leave them with the port agent - and it is well documented.

 

Considering that cruise lines will allow you to cruise the Caribbean with nothing more than your Birth Certificate and a Drivers License is certainly telling - not that I have ever cruised without my passport but millions of people have without any issues

[wowzz]

My thinking is that the chances of me needing my passport are miniscule compared to the chances of me losing my passport or having it stolen. Just seems pointless carrying around a valuable document when you don't need to.

 

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[SantaFeFan]

You might trust in the phrase "virtually all" and in the "policy" but I prefer not to. Carrying your passport isn't because one is "paranoid" it's because one is prudent. Paranoid are the people who are so afraid of losing their passport or having it stolen that they deny themselves the benefits of the only piece of internationally-accepted identification.

 

Wrong! Prudent people follow the advice of travel experts and keep their passports in a secure location when not required to carry it - such as in their room safe. Paranoid people always expect the worst and carry their passports in constant fear of being asked to display it for some rare occasion.

 

I have never experienced a diminished experience during my travels because I didn't have my passport on me at the time. Not sure what those imaginary benefits that you speak of that I am denying myself. :confused:

[Tatka]

So, you spend your time ashore always on high alert? We find it much more relaxing to leave everything we don't need for the day locked in the safe, carrying only a camera that won't ruin our vacation if lost, a copy of our passports, one credit card each, enough cash for the day, and our driver's licenses. We could lose all of that and still get home without a problem since the most important documents, our passports, plus additional credit cards and cash, are safe in our room. If we report our credit card stolen, any fraudulent charges on them will be waived, so there is no loss for us there.

 

I personally know several people who thought they had their passports safe on them, only to find them missing when they needed them. However, I know of no one who unexpectedly needed their passport if they didn't have it on them.

 

We feel safer with them locked away where we always know where they are if needed - which has never happened. If you lose them, the effort to replace them could take days if in a small country without local US embassies or representatives, especially if on an island where you need your passport to fly to the nearest country that has a US representative to help get a new one. So, a person who insists on carrying it to satisfy their "just in case" fears will lose a big part of their cruise when the ship sails without out them while they are frantically trying to get their passports replaced. And that isn't taking into account the expense of additional travel and lodging during the replacement process, over an above the expense already paid to the cruise line for all the time away from the ship.

Well, I watch my money, credit cards, driver license, so why not passport? It's not like it requires any additional effort.

[Tatka]

Wrong! Prudent people follow the advice of travel experts and keep their passports in a secure location when not required to carry it - such as in their room safe. Paranoid people always expect the worst and carry their passports in constant fear of being asked to display it for some rare occasion.

 

I have never experienced a diminished experience during my travels because I didn't have my passport on me at the time. Not sure what those imaginary benefits that you speak of that I am denying myself. :confused:

I have an example of non imaginary benefit with casino. It wasn't the only occasion.

My DL, money, credit cards are also valuable assets, why should I single out passport?

There is nothing new for me in carrying passport as we started cruising much later than international travtravels. Nothing new for us in this regard.

[biker@sea]

Wrong! Prudent people follow the advice of travel experts and keep their passports in a secure location when not required to carry it - such as in their room safe. Paranoid people always expect the worst and carry their passports in constant fear of being asked to display it for some rare occasion.

 

I have never experienced a diminished experience during my travels because I didn't have my passport on me at the time. Not sure what those imaginary benefits that you speak of that I am denying myself. :confused:

 

 

You could have collecting passport stamps from countrys visited.

[thinfool]

True experience....ship called at Istanbul, Turkey (fabulous place).

 

Ship collected and kept ALL passports.

 

Ship issued 'landing cards' to all passengers who were going ashore. This was mandated by Turkish authorities.

 

No one left the ship with a passport.

 

Reboarding required that we show our 'landing card' (and ship card).

 

Finally, my wife is still upset that port stops in Istanbul have, for the most part, ceased.

[seemoreroyals]

We carry copies of the passports with us and leave the original passports locked in the room safe.

[sloopsailor]

I have an example of non imaginary benefit with casino.

 

:confused: That explains nothing. Your comment is too vague to be informative. :confused:

[K32682]

Wrong! Prudent people follow the advice of travel experts and keep their passports in a secure location when not required to carry it - such as in their room safe. Paranoid people always expect the worst and carry their passports in constant fear of being asked to display it for some rare occasion.

 

I have never experienced a diminished experience during my travels because I didn't have my passport on me at the time. Not sure what those imaginary benefits that you speak of that I am denying myself. :confused:

Roadside checks, admission to historical and tourist sites, renting a car, entering a casino, changing money are all situations where I have required a passport just to name a few.

 

But if you are a follower, so incompetent that you can keep track of your passport or carry it securely and willing to depend on the kindness of others if you run into trouble then don't carry your passport.

[zqvol]

Generally, If you are comfortable leaving them on the ship (and most people are) you do not need to take them ashore, unless the ship advises you to do so. That is not going to happen in Bermuda.

[sloopsailor]

Roadside checks, admission to historical and tourist sites, renting a car, entering a casino, changing money are all situations where I have required a passport just to name a few.

 

Of all the "historical and tourist" sites I have ever visited, I have never needed a passport to do so. And all the instances you described are pre-planned events so a person would plan to have a passport at the ready. If those situations aren't in the day's plan, a passport is not an asset at all.

 

But if you are a follower, so incompetent that you can keep track of your passport or carry it securely and willing to depend on the kindness of others if you run into trouble then don't carry your passport.

 

Yikes, so insulting people and calling them names is how you defend your reasoning? Not a good way to win people over. :rolleyes:

 

And, hey, don't get all defensive. I am just sharing some friendly banter, participating in a discussion of the pros and cons of both sides. No need to get all mean and snarky.

 

Besides, your statement is contradictory to your argument. You wrote that keeping track of or carrying your passport is being "so incompetent". That is what you wrote! :o

Edited April 14, 2018 by sloopsailor

[wowzz]

Losing your credit cards or cash is a minor inconvenience. Losing your passport is a MAJOR problem. Not worth the risk for a negligible benefit.

 

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[Krazy Kruizers]

Although my husband and I have cruised before, it's been awhile (10 years!). We don't remember what we did last time with our passports. Can you usually keep them in your cabin safe during the whole trip? Or do you need to bring them when you disembark in port? We are only going to Bermuda/US ports.

 

 

Since you are only going to Bermuda and US ports, keep your passports in your safe.

[K32682]

Of all the "historical and tourist" sites I have ever visited, I have never needed a passport to do so. And all the instances you described are pre-planned events so a person would plan to have a passport at the ready. If those situations aren't in the day's plan, a passport is not an asset at all.

 

Yikes, so insulting people and calling them names is how you defend your reasoning? Not a good way to win people over. :rolleyes:

 

And, hey, don't get all defensive. I am just sharing some friendly banter, participating in a discussion of the pros and cons of both sides. No need to get all mean and snarky.

 

Besides, your statement is contradictory to your argument. You wrote that keeping track of or carrying your passport is being "so incompetent". That is what you wrote! :o

Sure. Even incompetent people can keep track of their passports.

 

I'm not trying to win people over. I don't care what you do but am simply offering a counter argument to frightened little people who are horrified at the prospect of carrying their passports.

 

It is better to have your passport and not need it than to need it and not have it.

[Tatka]

:confused: That explains nothing. Your comment is too vague to be informative. :confused:

For you probably. For us .. We would be denied something we did if we didn't have passport.

 

I am not saying people who absolutely don't want to take passport must do, but taking passports makes perfect sense to us.

[Tatka]

Losing your credit cards or cash is a minor inconvenience. Losing your passport is a MAJOR problem. Not worth the risk for a negligible benefit.

 

Sent from my SM-T580 using Forums mobile app

I wouldn't call losing credit cards especially in a long oversea trip a minor inconvenience.

[gerelmx]

Last Eclipse cruise only sea pass card was needed to go ashore and return to the ship, passports locked in the safe. Also when going to port is recommended a ID with photo, like drivers license.

[sloopsailor]

I wouldn't call losing credit cards especially in a long oversea trip a minor inconvenience.

 

That is why my wife and I carry only one card each and with different accounts when touring, and keep a third card from another bank in the safe as a backup. It is so easy to make such backup plans that losing a credit card would actually only be a minor inconvenience. Losing all of them at once, now that could be a problem. :o

 

On our 28 day Asia trip, the couple we traveled with had the husband's primary credit card refused because he didn't notify the bank in advance of their travel plans. They simply used the wife's card for the rest of the trip. And if that didn't work, we would have let them use our card and pay us back when we got home. Absolutely not a problem at all for them to have one card out of service.

Edited April 14, 2018 by sloopsailor

[SantaFeFan]

But if you are a follower, so incompetent that you can keep track of your passport or carry it securely and willing to depend on the kindness of others if you run into trouble then don't carry your passport.

 

I don't care what you do but am simply offering a counter argument to frightened little people who are horrified at the prospect of carrying their passports. .

 

More insults at those of us who prefer to keep our passports in our safes. Calling us "frightened little people" who "are horrified" because they "are followers" and are "incompetent" is very immature and childish behavior. Why do you need to insult others to support your point of view? Are you that insecure?

Edited April 14, 2018 by SantaFeFan

[Shorex]

More insults at those of us who prefer to keep our passports in our safes. Calling us "frightened little people" who "are horrified" because they "are followers" and are "incompetent" is very immature and childish behavior. Why do you need to insult others to support your point of view? Are you that insecure?

 

Actually, the same person doubled down on childish insults. Meanwhile, those of us who secure passports in the safe will continue to do so. SanteFeFan, have you been around long enough to remember the poster Greatam? She had posted links to some state department resources that provided analytical and rational recommendations to not carry passports on your person unless absolutely required by law. Her wisdom is greatly missed.

[SantaFeFan]

Actually, the same person doubled down on childish insults.

 

Thank you! I caught that and was able to edit the correction before it timed out.

 

Meanwhile, those of us who secure passports in the safe will continue to do so. SanteFeFan, have you been around long enough to remember the poster Greatam? She had posted links to some state department resources that provided analytical and rational recommendations to not carry passports on your person unless absolutely required by law. Her wisdom is greatly missed.

 

I remember those links, and checked them out as well. That the US State Department recommended not carrying passports unless absolutely necessary - local laws, needing them for reservations, etc. - is a good enough reason to adopt those recommendations. I worked for several companies that required I make routine international business trips, one which was a US government defense contractor where I had secret clearance. ALL advised to keep our passports secured and not on our person if not required to. And these were large companies with extensive international business travel experience. Much more experience than I could ever accumulate over my lifetime.

 

I thought then, and still think now, that the advice from these credible sources was very prudent. Certainly much more credible than people who come on here and throw insults at those of us who are more careful and much less paranoid than they are. ;p

Edited April 14, 2018 by SantaFeFan