Passports needed in port?

[Tatka]

When "wisdom" matches your thoughts it's always nice and reassuring . :)

I personally don't see how one(or 100) person thinking in this is more valuable than others.

It's not a rocket science really.

 

And of course people are different. You have to know yourself.

[lisiamc]

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.

 

Precisely right. The passport is meant to serve me not the other way around. I'd rather explain to some embassy clerk that I need a replacement than to not have sufficient identification in a developing country.

 

Since the OP is going to ports in Bermuda and the US, they won’t need to worry about having insufficient identification in a developing country.

 

We were in port in Bermuda a couple of days ago, and we were required to carry photo ID to get back through the cruise terminal. A driving licence was fine for that. So unless the OP’s only photo ID is their passport, they won’t need to carry it ashore in Bermuda.

[wowzz]

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

 

 

 

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

The voice of sanity and reason. Thank you.

 

Sent from my SM-T580 using Forums mobile app

[K32682]

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.

If these links actually do exist why do you not post them here?

[SantaFeFan]

If these links actually do exist why do you not post them here?

 

I am not going to do your work for you. That you were able to type this challenge, you are very capable of doing your own search. Why should I provide you with relevant information that you will only ignore, criticize, or claim doesn't apply to you - exactly as you have done on several posts in this thread alone?

 

If my memory is correct, greatam worked for a government contractor and facilitated employee travel to and from sensitive areas around the world, including civilians working on US bases in war zones, and knew more about this topic than you or I will ever know. I trust what he said implicitly. Someone who's job involves personnel safety, including their belongings, has advice I trust more than someone who insults others because they have a different point of view.

[wowzz]

If these links actually do exist why do you not post them here?

You really are determined to prove your point aren't you? What was it again that you needed your passport for - a police check in Spain, or visiting some casino on the spur of the moment?

For most cruisers, going on a cruise excursion on a tourist bus to a local beach, assuming they can resist the urge to dash into a local casino, or suddenly decide to rent a car for no reason whatsoever, there is no need to take their passports with them.

Of course, if the bus was suddenly to stopped by armed militia, and everyone had to show their passports, or they would be thrown into jail, that would be a different matter. Let me think - How many times has that happened in, say, Aruba or Antigua in the last 20 years!!

Anyway, I am sure you will once again churn our your old stories about how your passport was invaluable in saving you from a life of servitude!

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my SM-T580 using Forums mobile app

[wowzz]

I am not going to do your work for you. That you were able to type this challenge, you are very capable of doing your own search. Why should I provide you with relevant information that you will only ignore, criticize, or claim doesn't apply to you - exactly as you have done on several posts in this thread alone?

 

If my memory is correct, greatam worked for a government contractor and facilitated employee travel to and from sensitive areas around the world, including civilians working on US bases in war zones, and knew more about this topic than you or I will ever know. I trust what he said implicitly. Someone who's job involves personnel safety, including their belongings, has advice I trust more than someone who insults others because they have a different point of view.

Well said, but I fear you are talking to someone who has an opinion that is impervious to facts and logic.

 

Sent from my SM-T580 using Forums mobile app

[Pudgesmom]

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.

 

Windstar, and some other premium lines, collect passports at embarkation and return them at the end of the cruise. I don't agree that carrying your passport is "prudent."

[lisiamc]

Windstar, and some other premium lines, collect passports at embarkation and return them at the end of the cruise. I don't agree that carrying your passport is "prudent."

 

Yes, as you rightly point out, sometimes it’s not even possible to take a passport ashore without a lot of hassle for the ship’s personnel and the passport owner.

[K32682]

I am not going to do your work for you. That you were able to type this challenge, you are very capable of doing your own search. Why should I provide you with relevant information that you will only ignore, criticize, or claim doesn't apply to you - exactly as you have done on several posts in this thread alone?

You should provide the links because they will prove your point. Otherwise it is quite reasonable to conclude these so-called links are figments of your imagination conjured up to win an argument.

[Bookish Angel]

We leave our passports in a safe whenever they are not absolutely needed. We carry color copies of our passports in our backpacks, though.

 

We have been in some remote places and have never had a passport issue. Thieving baboons in Africa, and icy water nearly flooding a zodiac and badly spraining my ankle on Antarctica were WAY more concerning.

Edited April 15, 2018 by Bookish Angel

[Tatka]

Well said, but I fear you are talking to someone who has an opinion that is impervious to facts and logic.

 

 

Wow... of course! It doesn’t match an opinion of 5 other people in this thread. Must be terribly wrong. :)

[K32682]

Well said, but I fear you are talking to someone who has an opinion that is impervious to facts and logic.

Don't be afraid. Facts and logic are very convincing, made-up State Department links not so much.

[sloopsailor]

You should provide the links because they will prove your point. Otherwise it is quite reasonable to conclude these so-called links are figments of your imagination conjured up to win an argument.

 

Why should SantaFeFan provide links to prove his point. Based on the comments presented by everyone here except you and Tatka, everyone else already knows that the best practice is to leave passports secured in the room safe. No one else needs convincing, so doing so will not make a difference in any way because it is clear the two of you have no intention of listening to reason. Especially you, with your insults and name calling. It would be a fools errand to do the research for you as it will not be rewarded with a thank you, but most likely by another insult.

Edited April 15, 2018 by sloopsailor

[cruisemom42]

You should provide the links because they will prove your point. Otherwise it is quite reasonable to conclude these so-called links are figments of your imagination conjured up to win an argument.

 

There is no call for being so supercilious in your responses. Those links did exist up until about a year ago when the US Dept of State massively reorganized their website. (And IMO dumbed it down....) I viewed them in the past and I referred others to them as well.

 

Possibly State Dept decided they should not be in the business of making such recommendations as no doubt someone will come back and call them on it, should anything happen...

 

I am a very experienced traveler and cruiser who, like many others, leaves my passport in the safe (or another safe location) when I do not need to have it with me. In the course of my travels and years of reading and participation on various travel boards, I know that this is not a stupid, naive, or uninformed decision and that a majority of experienced travelers agree with me (unless there is some bizarre 'silent majority' of passport carriers out there.)

[Tatka]

Why should SantaFeFan provide links to prove his point. Based on the comments presented by everyone here except you and Tatka, everyone else already knows that the best practice is to leave passports secured in the room safe. No one else needs convincing, so doing so will not make a difference in any way because it is clear the two of you have no intention of listening to reason. Especially you, with your insults and name calling. It would be a fools errand to do the research for you as it will not be rewarded with a thank you, but most likely by another insult.

This thread includes very limited group. For most of whom passport is exotic document which they received only for cruising (there are huge number of discussions if people should even get passports ;) Would you base your opinion on cruise critic in this regard?) So it is not even representative in any way.

 

If all we are talking is Bermuda... technically one can travel without passport at all. :)

[K32682]

There is no call for being so supercilious in your responses. Those links did exist up until about a year ago when the US Dept of State massively reorganized their website. (And IMO dumbed it down....) I viewed them in the past and I referred others to them as well.

 

Possibly State Dept decided they should not be in the business of making such recommendations as no doubt someone will come back and call them on it, should anything happen...

Equally possible is the State Department deemed the information in these mythical links unimportant. Had they believed the information was truly important they would have posted the information elsewhere on their website.

[sparks1093]

Equally possible is the State Department deemed the information in these mythical links unimportant. Had they believed the information was truly important they would have posted the information elsewhere on their website.

 

Possible, but at the end of the day it was still only a recommendation, one to consider or not based on one's individual needs. Your way works for you. Their way works for them. (And no, they weren't "mythical", they did exist.)

[sloopsailor]

You should provide the links because they will prove your point. Otherwise it is quite reasonable to conclude these so-called links are figments of your imagination conjured up to win an argument.

 

Don't be afraid. Facts and logic are very convincing, made-up State Department links not so much.

 

Equally possible is the State Department deemed the information in these mythical links unimportant. Had they believed the information was truly important they would have posted the information elsewhere on their website.

 

[SantaFeFan]

Equally possible is the State Department deemed the information in these mythical links unimportant. Had they believed the information was truly important they would have posted the information elsewhere on their website.

 

Since you can't be reasoned with in any capacity whatsoever, and constantly insist on being belligerent, I took a few minutes and found a post displaying one of several links mentioned to try to shut you up. Several people here will recognize it, so it is not "mythical", as you impertinetly claim.

 

This is my last comment to you on the subject. Of course you will debate the authenticity of this screen capture and web site link. I have learned to expect the worst from you, and I am quite certain you will not disappoint. :rolleyes:

 

 

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=28037351&postcount=22

 

Edited April 15, 2018 by SantaFeFan

[lisiamc]

This thread includes very limited group. For most of whom passport is exotic document which they received only for cruising (there are huge number of discussions if people should even get passports ;) Would you base your opinion on cruise critic in this regard?) So it is not even representative in any way.

 

If all we are talking is Bermuda... technically one can travel without passport at all. :)

 

This is not very good advice. Technically, if one is a US citizen cruising on a closed loop cruise to Bermuda, a passport is not required. But a significant number of cruises to Bermuda are not closed loop cruises, so those passengers are going to need passports, and of course, non-US citizens and people arriving by air also definitely need a passport.

 

And in this case, the OP already has a passport and is only wondering whether It will be needed ashore.

[SRF]

Funny, State Department employees typically carry their passports most all the time. :D

[Tatka]

This is not very good advice. Technically, if one is a US citizen cruising on a closed loop cruise to Bermuda, a passport is not required. But a significant number of cruises to Bermuda are not closed loop cruises, so those passengers are going to need passports, and of course, non-US citizens and people arriving by air also definitely need a passport.

 

 

 

And in this case, the OP already has a passport and is only wondering whether It will be needed ashore.

 

 

 

Of course this is only for closed loop cruises (most cruises to Bermuda from US are closed loops).

 

It isn’t my advise though as I will never go outside of the country and a ship :) without one. But the fact that many people are still debating about getting the passport (because it is expensive!!!) shows that passport is some kind of exotic and unnecessary thing for many.

[K32682]

I took a few minutes and found a post displaying one of several links mentioned to try to shut you up. Several people here will recognize it, so it is not "mythical", as you impertinetly claim.

 

This is my last comment to you on the subject. Of course you will debate the authenticity of this screen capture and web site link. I have learned to expect the worst from you, and I am quite certain you will not disappoint. :rolleyes:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=28037351&postcount=22

 

Thank-you for providing the link. Accepting the quote is accurate it raises a serious question about the accuracy of the interpretation and reporting in this thread.

 

That the US State Department recommended not carrying passports unless absolutely necessary;p

 

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.

Your point would have been proven had it said what you claimed it said. It doesn't.

 

Here is what it actually says:

 

"...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... "

What it says is where your valuables are safest not that you shouldn't carry your passport.

 

If one believed this statement truly meant not carrying a passport with you one would also not carry cash and credit cards when out and about in a foreign land.

[Yukonjake]

We're booked on an upcoming Alaska cruise. One port day includes an excursion into the Yukon (Canada) and another is a port night in Victoria. We have been advised that we must take our passports to cross into the Yukon and back and should take it on our Victoria pub crawl.