FGJones Posted October 5, 2018 #1 Share Posted October 5, 2018 My sister told me that she believes "the cruise ship holds our passports and gives us a plastic ID. So we can swim and get on and off boat at ports" Can anyone speak to this? We're sailing from the USA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Peachypooh Posted October 5, 2018 #2 Share Posted October 5, 2018 (edited) I have only sailed out of US ports. We have sailed NCL, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and the now defunct Home Lines. We have always been able to keep our passports. We have also always been given a plastic card to use instead of cash onboard (when that system came into effect) to get on and off the ship. Never sailed MSC and never sailed to Europe so might be different. Edited October 5, 2018 by Peachypooh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamloops50 Posted October 5, 2018 #3 Share Posted October 5, 2018 Only if the country requires to process the passports brfore arriving in port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRH Posted October 5, 2018 #4 Share Posted October 5, 2018 You retain custody of your passport. You will receive a plastic card when you check in which serves as your cabin key, your on-board charge card and I’d when you leave and return to the ship in ports. There are a few ports that require you to show your passport when you want to re-board but you will be told this—usually Mexico. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riclop Posted October 6, 2018 #5 Share Posted October 6, 2018 My sister told me that she believes "the cruise ship holds our passports and gives us a plastic ID. So we can swim and get on and off boat at ports" Can anyone speak to this? We're sailing from the USA. Not in the US. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blordos Posted October 6, 2018 #6 Share Posted October 6, 2018 Several ports in the Carabbean require a passport or some ID with photo when you go on shore. Not all ports check this when you go back to the ship. Puerto Rico does enforced this. At the pier entrange they stop anyone without a passport or ID, beside the cruisepass. When I was in the queue there was a person without the papers stopped by the border officier. How did it ends I don't know but over the portofoon I heard some MSC staff has to come to the pier entrange to verify the person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidari Posted October 6, 2018 #7 Share Posted October 6, 2018 Puerto Rico as the previous poster said, we were asked for our passport in Nassau and not just the laminated copy of the photo page, the ships hold passports for Asia cruises and also cruises to Jordan, Oman, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. I have also seen on CC posts where North Americans have had their passports held in certain European areas This enables the customs people to stamp them on the ship instead of each individual going through immigration. For the middle East countries you are given a visa for the day which you take off the ship with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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