Cruiseline holding your passport

[Markanddonna]

2 hours ago, BruceMuzz said:

Since you paid for your passport, you probably believe that it belongs to you.

It doesn’t.

Nearly every passport on Earth has a message inside from the Government that issued it, informing you that the passport is the property of that Government - and that it must be surrendered to authorities when requested.

Good to know, but reps from a different country are asking you to surrender it and allow them to research you. We don't need our passport to travel in the USA. 

[cruisemom42]

6 hours ago, CruiseGal999 said:

 

Too late ... have been many many times.  Hotel has NEVER taken my passport when there.  But thank you for all of your input. 

 

Hotels in Italy have taken mine, albeit briefly, even post-COVID.  They just need to do a brief check. Often I am called by the front desk within a few minutes of arriving to my room to retrieve it.

[Blondilu]

Specific to the British Isles cruise which I have done twice; the Republic of Ireland is on this itinerary. Since it's a separate county from the UK you have to show your passort to be scanned by the border control agents of that country. Giving it to your room steward makes it so easy as you don't even have to be present.

 

Check your passort, there is probably a Visa stamp from Ireland you didn't know you had.

[SPacificbound]

No worries.  

[Hlitner]

19 hours ago, CruiseGal999 said:

 

No ... It was always my understanding that you are NEVER to be separated from your passport.  It was the first time it ever happened on a cruise. 

And you would be mistaken :).  It has always been a common practice to collect Passports (often at embarkation) on many different itineraries around the world.  Some countries will come aboard and review all the Passports (always under the supervision of the Purser or their staff).  It has become a less frequent process since the EU came into existence, but it is still quite common on cruises in Asia, Africa, and some other parts of the world.

 

As to being separated, many officials will suggest that you always keep your Passport in a very secure place (which is often not on your person) such as a hotel safe.  Speaking of hotels, it was (and still is in a few places) common practice for hotels to hold Passports for a few hours or even overnight.  In some countries the authorities will come around to the hotels to review Passports (this happened to us in China).  

 

Although some here would disagree with the practice, DW and I will seldom physically carry our Passports when we travel around the world (we have been to over 130 countries).  Our norm is to keep them locked-up in a safe unless there is a specific need to have the on our person (some countries require you to carry them, and I sometimes need mine to rent a car).  Losing a Passport when traveling is a major hassle and can turn into a huge expense.  In many cases you would be essentially a prisoner in a country until you can get a replacement and this process can take several days (depending on where you are located).  While you work on a replacement you might not be allowed to continue a cruise, fly, or even check-into a different hotel.   Many are shocked to find that the government agencies that handle Passports (like the US Department of State) do not usually work on weekends and holidays.  And it is common to find yourself hundreds of miles from the nearest consulate which is a huge logistical problem.  Consider that there are only 3 US Consulate offices in the entire country of France and this is more than you will find in most countries.  Many countries, around the world, only have a single consulate office.  And in the Caribbean, the nearest consulate can often be on an entirely different island/country.

 

Hank

 

Hank

[K32682]

16 hours ago, BruceMuzz said:

Since you paid for your passport, you probably believe that it belongs to you.

It doesn’t.

Nearly every passport on Earth has a message inside from the Government that issued it, informing you that the passport is the property of that Government - and that it must be surrendered to authorities when requested.

 

Those "authorities" however are not hotels or cruise lines. You are not required to surrender it to them. 

 

I've never had a hotel keep my passport but have had it photocopied. I have no issue turning over my passport to a cruise line for the purposes of immigration clearance but require that it be returned to me when I go ashore. I prefer to securely carry my passport on my person in a foreign country and the crew will make arrangements to get it to you on request.  

[K32682]

(Inadvertent double post)

 

Edited January 3, 2023 by K32682

[navybankerteacher]

14 minutes ago, K32682 said:

 

Those "authorities" however are not hotels or cruise lines. You are not required to surrender it to them. 

 

…

In some areas, the hotels are effectively acting as the agents of the local “authorities” and will hold and inspect passports in compliance with local regulations — and you are, indeed, required to surrender your passport.  Would you prefer to have to go to the local immigration control office as part of your hotel check in?

Edited January 3, 2023 by navybankerteacher

[John Bull]

10 minutes ago, K32682 said:

 

Those "authorities" however are not hotels or cruise lines. You are not required to surrender it to them. 

 

I've never had a hotel keep my passport but have had it photocopied. I have no issue turning over my passport to a cruise line for the purposes of immigration clearance but require that it be returned to me when I go ashore. I prefer to securely carry my passport on my person in a foreign country and the crew will make arrangements to get it to you on request.  

 

In some countries hotels DO have the authority - indeed, the obligation - to hold a guest's passport, not just a photocopy, in their safe for inspection at any time.

 

Cruise lines have the choice - sometimes the obligation - to hold passengers' passports. 

Whilst you acknowledge that need for immigration officers to inspect passports in or prior to some ports (so very much easier than an alternative that I've experienced of having to interrupt my day to line up with passport in hand), the crew have the right to require passengers to leave their passports with the purser without even giving a reason, and to offload a passenger who won''t comply - ships are not democracies, the captain is the king. (beg pardon - king or queen)

 

I recall passports being held by the purser in Aqaba, Jordan. We wanted to cross the nearby border to take a peek at Eilat in Israel - we asked nicely and the purser handed over our passport with the warning that we'd likely be stranded in Eilat if they went missing, and a request that we return them as soon as we get back. Which of course we did. No demanding our rights, no grief.

 

Whilst you believe that your passport is more secure on your person, I'm sure you've been told by crews that risks and consequences are greater if you take your passport ashore.

In most cases the choice is yours and I'm not going to go into one of those long drawn-out arguments that you have had with others on a few threads on the same subject.

You've made your point, I've made mine - and that's the end of it. 

 

JB 🙂

 

 

 

 

[sanger727]

18 hours ago, ontheweb said:

When we did an escorted land trip in 2019 to Peru with Gate 1, every hotel that was used held everyone's passport.

That may have been Gate 1's decision to ensure safekeeping of the passports. We traveled to Peru in 2021 and no hotel kept our passports. 

 

I personally have never experienced a hotel keeping our passport, other than to make a copy. Not saying it could never happen but have traveled in South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa without experiencing this. 

Edited January 3, 2023 by sanger727

[K32682]

48 minutes ago, John Bull said:

 

In some countries hotels DO have the authority - indeed, the obligation - to hold a guest's passport, not just a photocopy, in their safe for inspection at any time.

 

Cruise lines have the choice - sometimes the obligation - to hold passengers' passports. 

Whilst you acknowledge that need for immigration officers to inspect passports in or prior to some ports (so very much easier than an alternative that I've experienced of having to interrupt my day to line up with passport in hand), the crew have the right to require passengers to leave their passports with the purser without even giving a reason, and to offload a passenger who won''t comply - ships are not democracies, the captain is the king. (beg pardon - king or queen)

 

I recall passports being held by the purser in Aqaba, Jordan. We wanted to cross the nearby border to take a peek at Eilat in Israel - we asked nicely and the purser handed over our passport with the warning that we'd likely be stranded in Eilat if they went missing, and a request that we return them as soon as we get back. Which of course we did. No demanding our rights, no grief.

 

Whilst you believe that your passport is more secure on your person, I'm sure you've been told by crews that risks and consequences are greater if you take your passport ashore.

In most cases the choice is yours and I'm not going to go into one of those long drawn-out arguments that you have had with others on a few threads on the same subject.

You've made your point, I've made mine - and that's the end of it. 

 

JB 🙂

 

I have yet to visit a country where a hotel has kept my passport. Should that happen I will apply the same practice as I do with a cruise ship that does the same and retrieve it when I leave the property and give it back to them upon my return. No grief, no drama required. 

 

Anyone who chooses not to carry a passport because they fret it might be lost or stolen should leave it in their hotel room safe or ship's cabin if that makes them feel more comfortable. While I have never lost a passport due to carelessness or theft I have had a hotel room burgled and the safe broken into. All that was lost was a credit card, some cash and a photocopy of my passport page. There is no risk free option. 

[navybankerteacher]

46 minutes ago, K32682 said:

 

I have yet to visit a country where a hotel has kept my passport. Should that happen I will apply the same practice as I do with a cruise ship that does the same and retrieve it when I leave the property and give it back to them upon my return. No grief, no drama required. 

 

…

Perhaps you should travel more widely.  
 

Their country, their rules.

[Ferry_Watcher]

2 hours ago, K32682 said:

Those "authorities" however are not hotels or cruise lines. You are not required to surrender it to them. 

 

I've never had a hotel keep my passport but have had it photocopied. I have no issue turning over my passport to a cruise line for the purposes of immigration clearance but require that it be returned to me when I go ashore. I prefer to securely carry my passport on my person in a foreign country and the crew will make arrangements to get it to you on request.  

 

For the the foreign nationals (from about 170 countries) who need a Canadian visa to sail to Alaska from Seattle (and have a port-of-call in Victoria, BC), their passports are collected at the check-in counter in Seattle and are transferred to the ship just before sailing.  When check-in agents are asked whether these individuals need their passports to get off the ship in Juneau, Ketchikan or any other US port, we tell them 'no', -  no passport is needed to get off the ship.  (The ship works with passengers who may need their passport for the Skagway train trip that goes into Canada).  These foreign passports with the Canadian visa are returned to their owners once the ship reaches Victoria and have been cleared by the Canadian officials.

I haven't experienced any passport holder refusing to hand over their passport in years.  If that happened, I would call over a supervisor to talk to them.  Once I had to explain to a woman's son over her cell phone (who I am guessing was living/working in the US) that 'no, she wasn't being signaled out because of her nationality because her passport (with a Canadian visa) was being collected'.  Generally speaking, passengers understand why some passports are collected, and will work with us.

[Charles4515]

2 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

Their country, their rules.

I have run into some people while traveling who don’t seem to understand that. 

[K32682]

3 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

Perhaps you should travel more widely.  
 

Their country, their rules.

 

Current tally is 32 countries and 6 continents. A hotel has yet to require I leave my passport with them for the duration of my stay. Most have wanted to see it, typically take a photocopy and a few times asked to keep it for a hour or so while they filled out police forms.

 

Can anyone point to a country where it is currently required that a passport remain with the hotel staff for your entire stay?  

 

 

Edited January 3, 2023 by K32682

[Flatbush Flyer]

41 minutes ago, K32682 said:

 

Current tally is 32 countries and 6 continents. A hotel has yet to require I leave my passport with them for the duration of my stay. Most have wanted to see it, typically take a photocopy and a few times asked to keep it for a hour or so while they filled out police forms.

 

Can anyone point to a country where it is currently required that a passport remain with the hotel staff for your entire stay?  

 

 

Grand Duchy of Fenwick.

[Hlitner]

This is not meant as a criticism, but simply an observation.  Most of us tend to expand on issues based on our own experience and assume that it applies across the world.  So, for example, a North American who has only cruised in the Caribbean or Alaska has likely never had to surrender their Passport.  But it is a large world with about 195 countries, and each has their own laws/regulations.  The fact that you have never had to surrender your passport is simply because you have yet to be in a place where that is required!  There are also about 50 cruise lines in the world, and each has their own rules.  Most folks here on CC have likely not been to a majority of countries or cruised on more than a few cruise lines.

 

Independent travelers learn that they must not only be flexible but also open their minds to the idea that many things change depending on where you might be located.  So, for example, when John Bull or I talk about having our Passports held by some hotels, that is the way it is in certain countries (and localities).  If I say that there is a cruise line that requires that all passengers have a valid Passport, even when on closed loop cruises, that is also true (although many folks have obviously not been on that particular cruise line).  

 

Even if I say that I know a Brit that dislikes Guinness, you can take it to the bank (even though it is hard to believe).

 

If I were to make the statement that there are parts of the world where tipping is frowned upon and even seen as an insult many pro tippers would argue with me.  And there are still places that actually enforce dress codes :).  So, we all need to listen and open our minds and understand that what is right or accepted in one place may not be so in another place (and may even get you in big trouble).  

By the way, this is a wonderful dinner topic when sharing a table with strangers.  Over the years we have learned many fascinating things about various mores at shared tables on ships.  Even silly things like how to hold a knife and fork vary around the world.  And imagine being in a city where nearly all the restaurants do not even open for dinner until about 9pm (that is the case in parts of Spain).  And if they do open earlier, it is just a courtesy to tourists who will generally be the only patrons at the earlier hour.

 

Hank

[John Bull]

4 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

 

 

Even if I say that I know a Brit that dislikes Guinness, you can take it to the bank (even though it is hard to believe).

 

Hank

 

 

There's thousands of us Brits who hate the Devil's evil black Irish brew, Hank.😛

 

If something needs an hour & a half to pour and a knife and fork to consume, then it ain't a drink.

It's a muddy potcheen of peat, potato peelings and bus tickets created by eejit leprechauns, banshees and the Abhartach

 

It makes you fight with your neighbours. It makes you shoot at your landlord, and it makes you miss. And that was written by an Irishman

 

Slainte

 

JB 🙂

[wowzz]

2 hours ago, K32682 said:

Current tally is 32 countries

So basically, not that many in the scale of things.

[BallFour4]

On 1/2/2023 at 12:20 PM, LHT28 said:

LOL  did you think they were going to sell them  ??

Maybe some Canadians would want then  NOT!!

But, we know you'd stand on guard for the!

Stay Warm my northern neighbor.

 

.

[Hlitner]

1 hour ago, John Bull said:

 

 

There's thousands of us Brits who hate the Devil's evil black Irish brew, Hank.😛

 

If something needs an hour & a half to pour and a knife and fork to consume, then it ain't a drink.

It's a muddy potcheen of peat, potato peelings and bus tickets created by eejit leprechauns, banshees and the Abhartach

 

It makes you fight with your neighbours. It makes you shoot at your landlord, and it makes you miss. And that was written by an Irishman

 

Slainte

 

JB 🙂

Ole Eagle Eye JB.  Thought I would slip that comment past you (I did not mention any names).  

[navybankerteacher]

4 hours ago, K32682 said:

 

..

 

Can anyone point to a country where it is currently required that a passport remain with the hotel staff for your entire stay?  

 

 

That is not what anyone here has been talking about -- that "entire stay" bit you added is ridiculous.

 

And the "hour or so" you acknowledge frequently means overnight. 

 

The point is:  you do not always have the right to remain in possession of your passport at all times as you initially claimed. 

 

 If you continue to experience new countries you are likely to continue to learn.

Edited January 4, 2023 by navybankerteacher

[K32682]

26 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

That is not what anyone here has been talking about -- that "entire stay" bit you added is ridiculous.

 

And the "hour or so" you acknowledge frequently means overnight. 

 

The point is:  you do not always have the right to remain in possession of your passport at all times as you initially claimed. 

 

 If you continue to experience new countries you are likely to continue to learn.

 

I've never had a passport kept anywhere overnight. 

3 hours ago, Hlitner said:

This is not meant as a criticism, but simply an observation.  Most of us tend to expand on issues based on our own experience and assume that it applies across the world.  So, for example, a North American who has only cruised in the Caribbean or Alaska has likely never had to surrender their Passport.  But it is a large world with about 195 countries, and each has their own laws/regulations.  The fact that you have never had to surrender your passport is simply because you have yet to be in a place where that is required!  There are also about 50 cruise lines in the world, and each has their own rules.  Most folks here on CC have likely not been to a majority of countries or cruised on more than a few cruise lines.

 

Independent travelers learn that they must not only be flexible but also open their minds to the idea that many things change depending on where you might be located.  So, for example, when John Bull or I talk about having our Passports held by some hotels, that is the way it is in certain countries (and localities).  If I say that there is a cruise line that requires that all passengers have a valid Passport, even when on closed loop cruises, that is also true (although many folks have obviously not been on that particular cruise line).  

 

Even if I say that I know a Brit that dislikes Guinness, you can take it to the bank (even though it is hard to believe).

 

If I were to make the statement that there are parts of the world where tipping is frowned upon and even seen as an insult many pro tippers would argue with me.  And there are still places that actually enforce dress codes :).  So, we all need to listen and open our minds and understand that what is right or accepted in one place may not be so in another place (and may even get you in big trouble).  

By the way, this is a wonderful dinner topic when sharing a table with strangers.  Over the years we have learned many fascinating things about various mores at shared tables on ships.  Even silly things like how to hold a knife and fork vary around the world.  And imagine being in a city where nearly all the restaurants do not even open for dinner until about 9pm (that is the case in parts of Spain).  And if they do open earlier, it is just a courtesy to tourists who will generally be the only patrons at the earlier hour.

 

Hank

 

The challenge remains. Name me a country that today requires a passport be held by a hotel for the duration of your stay.   

[GeezerCouple]

4 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Grand Duchy of Fenwick.

 

Duchy of Grand Fenwick 😉

[Flatbush Flyer]

10 minutes ago, GeezerCouple said:

 

Duchy of Grand Fenwick 😉

I thought the country voted to split into two entities😉