Bring passport off the ship with you?

[perlgirlnj]

I read somewhere that some ports require you to show your passport for duty-free purchases. I also think it's a good idea to have your passport with you when traveling in a foreign country.

 

HOWEVER, if our excursions involve beach/water activities, it would seem unsafe to have our passports on the boat or on the beach while we're in the water. (This is myself, husband, and 3 teenage daughters.)

 

I've looked at those waterproof boxes that you wear around your neck and that seems like a great idea for money, credit card, etc., but doesn't seem big enough for a passport.

 

What does anyone recommend?

 

PS: Not a first-time cruiser but the only other one my husband and I took was 16 years ago, and a whole different world :)

 

ETA: I just found another thread which covered some of this. I'm not asking whether one should carry one's passport with them--I'm definitely inclined to carry them--but trying to figure out how to do this while keeping them safe & dry.

[earl&vesta]

We used the See Pouch from Sea Line.

http://www.seallinegear.com/all_purpose.asp?Action=SeePouch&Category=AllPurpose

It fit both of our passports easily. We were on jetskis in the Caymans and it was very comfortble underneath my DH's;) lifejacket. Since we weren't sure if it was completely waterproof we didn't go underwater(like swimming) with it. It kept everything completely dry even though we were soaked.

 

Maybe just a nervous Nellie but my thought was I wanted my passport and a credit card with enough available credit to either fly us out or ??? if we missed the boat, got injured or ran into some unknown trouble.

[EggDropErin]

Aquapac definitely has some that are big enough for your passport. They can be purchased at various sites. Just do a web search for them. Highly recommend them.

[Christina M.]

I make a photo copy to carry off ship, but have never needed it.

[Bonnie J.]

We leave our passports in our cabin safe. NEVER take them off the ship. (Been on 50+ cruises in last 20 years- passports need to be renewed next year.) Key West was the ONLY placer the ship told us to take them with us when going ashore. On the tram back to the ship, everyone's passports/birth certificates where checked. We have copies of them but never take those with us when we get off ship. If there ever were a problem, a security guard would escort you baack to your cabin to get them. You don't need them for anthing ashore!

[BobBeaSea]

Whether or not you take your passport on shore with you is entirely up to you. We don't but we do take a copy of it or some other piece of government issued photo ID along with the ship's pass (SeaPass on RCI).

[cruisead]

Many cruise lines take your passports and lock them up for the entire duration of the cruise---they even take US Passports. So if the cruise lines don't feel you need your passport off the ship, it probably means that you're safe without taking them with you. There are many pickpockets and purse snatchers on the islands and US passports are pure gold on the black market, and I don't want to be the one who's passport lets some undesirable into our country. In 60+ cruises, the ONLY places we took our passports with us were in Vietnam and St Petersburg because those countries require you to take them with you everywhere. As a matter of fact, we've been in European and Asian countries where they took our passports when we checked in and didn't return them until we checked out. We've never, ever had to show our passport to purchase anything in a foreign country.

[Fredr]

Hello,

 

A previous respondent has given you excellent advice, that you should not take your passports off the ship. Your seapass (the cards issued by the ship for identification purposes, key to your cabin, and purchases on the ship) will get you on and off the ship and your driver's license will do for ID. Once the ship's security officers recognize you, you probably will not need ID but you always need your seapass card. Should The ship will inform you in writing of what is needed for documentation, if and when there are any changes.

 

On recent, international cruises, the ship took our passports and held them for safekeeping.

 

If you are still concerned, see the ship's Chief Purser and ask him or her about this.

 

As for missing the ship, just take note of the time the ship wants everyone back on board and plan accordingly, especially if tenders are used.

 

Brookstone sells a very nice passport and document holder that you might want to consider.

 

Hope that this helps.

 

Fred

[BobBeaSea]

Hello,

 

A previous respondent has given you excellent advice, that you should not take your passports off the ship. Your seapass (the cards issued by the ship for identification purposes, key to your cabin, and purchases on the ship) will get you on and off the ship and your driver's license will do for ID. Once the ship's security officers recognize you, you probably will not need ID but you always need your seapass card. Should The ship will inform you in writing of what is needed for documentation, if and when there are any changes.

 

On recent, international cruises, the ship took our passports and held them for safekeeping.

 

If you are still concerned, see the ship's Chief Purser and ask him or her about this.

 

As for missing the ship, just take note of the time the ship wants everyone back on board and plan accordingly, especially if tenders are used.

 

Brookstone sells a very nice passport and document holder that you might want to consider.

 

Hope that this helps.

 

Fred

 

Nice post Fred. Actually, on your international cruises the ship didn't take them for safekeeping, they held them for Customs and Immigration people at the ports you visited to inspect if they desired to, and sometimes they may wish to see some of them. The ship clears itself and the passengers at these ports. Local officials are brought onboard, taken to the ship's Administration office or some other area where all documentation is available to them, should they want to see it. The alternative is for every passenger to clear individually and I think all would agree this would be a major league headache.

[takemewithyou]

What about this? You miss the ship and need to fly to the next port to catch up with the ship? You would need a passport..... I always take mine with me off the ship.

[perlgirlnj]

Here were my original concerns about leaving the passport on the ship:

1. We are planning on renting a car in St. Maarten. Whenever we've rented a car overseas, they've wanted to see our passport.
   
2. The Fodor's book on cruise destinations specifically says that for duty-free in Barbardos, you need to show your passport. The other islands seem to be okay with just your ship pass. Has anyone had the experience, especially in Barbados but also anywhere else where they've asked to see your passport for duty-free purchases? In airports, it's definitely required but I don't know about ports.
   
3. While I have every intention of making it back to the ship on-time, I imagine EVERYONE who has ever missed the ship has also had those intentions:) . When I leave my passport in a hotel safe in Europe, I know that the hotel will definitely be in the same place I left it, no matter how late I get back. Not so much with a ship cabin :) .
   
4. Obviously, if the ship collects passports, that will answer that question for me right there, but if not, how have people managed to keep them safe & dry if they've taken the passports with them? I understand about pickpockets, etc.--I'm pretty well-traveled overseas--but not while doing watersports!

I really do appreciate everyone's different perspectives. Thanks.

[RMVET]

Whatever you do, don't leave all of your items (especially your passports and credit cards) on a beach unattended.

 

While at Atlantic City, my elderly mother and aunt went for a swim, leaving their possessions on the beach. They had the forethought to put their money and bus ticket home in their bathing caps. Well, as you can imagine, while they were in the water, someone swooped down, grabbed all of their possessions and ran away. There they were, two little old ladies with nothing left except their bathing suits. Fortunately, they had enough money to purchase a muu-muu and flipflops so that they didn't have to return home in their bathing suits. We still laugh about the time my mother lost her shirt in Atlantic City.

[kitty9]

Fodor's is incorrect in their comment regarding needing a passport in Barbados. I've been to that island more times than I can count and purchased many things, including clothing and jewelry, and not once was I ever asked for a passport. A fellow passenger who tagged along with me in Barbados last year even went to one of their pharmacy's and purchased medicine and wasn't asked for a passport. As long as you show them a credit card, they don't care.

 

We've rented cars on the islands and in St Maartin, and they never asked for a passport. We pre-arranged for a rental before we left and they didn't ask to see a passport when we picked up a car.

 

 

Go to the US Passport's governmental website and you'll see what needs to be done if you lose your passport while traveling or if you miss the ship. My cousin lost his passport in Italy, and all he needed to do was go to the local US Consulate or Embassy and apply for an emergency passport. All you need for that is to get another US citizen swear to your citizenship and they'll get you an emergency passport. Also, if you have a color copy of your passport information page, that will also get you an emergency passport on any island---again at a US Consulate. I've personally known people who've had to do just that after missing the ship. They had a color copy of their passport and had no trouble getting to the next port of call to meet the ship.

 

But the best way to avoid all that is to not miss the ship !!!!

[suebobll]

We used the See Pouch from Sea Line.

http://www.seallinegear.com/all_purpose.asp?Action=SeePouch&Category=AllPurpose

It fit both of our passports easily. We were on jetskis in the Caymans and it was very comfortble underneath my DH's;) lifejacket. Since we weren't sure if it was completely waterproof we didn't go underwater(like swimming) with it. It kept everything completely dry even though we were soaked.

 

Maybe just a nervous Nellie but my thought was I wanted my passport and a credit card with enough available credit to either fly us out or ??? if we missed the boat, got injured or ran into some unknown trouble.

 

 

Bought the SeePouch just today at Dick's Sporting Goods - $9.99 for large size.

 

Sue

[Jim_Iain]

Never take mine off the ship. I have a photocopy if I need it but have never been asked for it.

[JLC@SD]

If you leave your passport on the ship and while you are ashore.......if you need a passport........you will not have a passport.......and if you think a photocopy of a passport is a passport.......it is not.

 

Photocopies are easy to alter.......numbers and photos.......so why would officials in another county accept them as passports.

[pba20493]

There is a problem about making copies of your passport. You can only make a black and white copy of it. Technically it is not legal to make a color copy of ANY govt. issued id. That does include drivers license. So, as you can see, a passport is not black and white, so it does no good at all.

 

Tim

[perlgirlnj]

Okay, how does this sound?

 

We'll make copies of our passports. One set will stay here with friends or family. We'll bring a set with us and keep them separate from our actual passports. We'll also buy one of those waterproof pouches that hang around your neck under your clothes and stay with you even in the water.

 

Then, we'll ask ship personnel at each port what they recommend: bring the passport or bring the copies of the passport? Either way, it will stay in a pouch that will be out-of-sight and we will use all the care and caution that one should use when traveling. (We're from New York originally so we have some street sense, and we've traveled widely around Europe and the Middle East where keeping your wits about you is critical.)

 

AND, we'll allow tons of time to make sure we don't miss the ship!!!!!!!

 

Okay?

[eh2zed]

Most lines now keep your passport and only return it to you for a specific port. They know what they are doing. We always have a photocopy with us on shore. If we get to keep the passport then it stays in the safe and we still use the photocopy.

[kiraryker]

Ok now I'm confused - so why make a photo copy if it would do you no good?? Wouldn't your ship pass be good enough to take off the ship??

[heatherandfred]

I've never taken my original passport with me off the ship. I don't even bring copies, the most I bring is my drivers license, money, credit cards.

[Host Kewlguy]

Once we board the ship our passports never leave the stateroom safe until our cruise is over. We have photocopies which we take off the ship during excursions. We have used them for identification and have never had a problem doing so. This includes showing them to customs agents who complimented us on a great idea.

[kitty9]

I've asked more than one Customs agent about the color copy of the passport and every one of them said it's the best idea. And, they all said it's not a good idea to take your passports off a cruise ship. And, here's another idea for the whole needing a passport to rent a car on the islands. Since passports have never been required for cruise travel to the Caribbean, and won't be required until next summer, car rental companies on the islands never required a passport be shown to rent their cars.

[RMVET]

The copy will help you give officials your information if you have to report it lost or stolen. It just helps speed up things a little.

[blindrid]

I'm normally not a nut on these things, but I don't even want a copy lost. Before I know it, there will be a bunch of people named Randy with my address.

 

I only go DL, CC and cash when I go.