What do you carry into ports?

[twinkle toes]

When you get off the ship and go into a port, what do you take with you? Do you take your passport, etc. What about when you go to the private island? I would hate to make one person in the family a designated "holder" of important papers and stuff, because then they couldn't get into the water and stuff, always on guard, but what else can you do? Just curious.

[Fergus]

It depends on what port, tender vs. dock, what our activities or excursion will be, the weather, whether we're all doing something as a family or splitting up, etc. On the private islands you can go very minimal. We typically do not take our passports unless there is a reason - for example, in Skagway we rented a car and drove over the Canadian border so we needed them. Think about how much money you will need, how you will secure it, what comfort or protection items you'll need (sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, walking shoes, etc.), how far you'll be walking and what all you're willing to carry.

 

For a typical non-beach island day, I like to take an across-the-body-bag, small, with my sign and sail card, some cash, sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm, a water bottle, map or list of places I want to see if necessary.

[serendipity1499]

When you get off the ship and go into a port, what do you take with you? Do you take your passport, etc. What about when you go to the private island? I would hate to make one person in the family a designated "holder" of important papers and stuff, because then they couldn't get into the water and stuff, always on guard, but what else can you do? Just curious.

 

Never take our passport..That stays in the Cabins safe...We take the ships card, copy of our passport for ID purposes, Little bit of $$$ & only one credit card..Other credit cards & $$$ stay in the ships safe..On the private islands only take our ships card & a little bit of $$$..

[paul929207]

Cruise card, passport, money, camera & wife.

[tomko2]

Cruise card, photo ID, credit card, some cash, camera, sunscreen, water and Purell.

Kathy:)

[cruisinbuddy]

Well what if the " designated holer loses what they're holding? Take your drivers licence and you s&s card, that's all you need? Well except for cash.:)

[cb at sea]

In the Caribbean, you don't need to bring a passport--none of the ports require them for cruise passengers.

To get back on the ship, you need your ship ID and your DL (if you are over 16 YO.) You will need to take whatever you think you'll need for what you're doing--towel, cash, camera....you get the picture!)

[Hamburg Avon Lady]

For the private island - you can use these small waterproof holders that hang

around your neck - will hold your photo ID, ship pass and some cash. You can wear them into the water and everything stays dry. There is always the

chance that your stuff may "grow legs" and walk off so don't take really expensive camera, etc unless you have a beach buddy - are there lockers on the private island you can rent?? If not - might be a very good suggestion to the cruise lines.

[sbwhite2]

Depends on where we're going and what we plan to do.

Beach day the typical beach stuff with a water proof case for money and ship card. Land tours we usually just take a belly pouch that will hold a few items and a camera. We've also starting carrying a small glucometer and some glucose tablets or candy. (DH recently discovered that he is diabetic so it takes a little more planning than it use to, but we still do not feel like we carry that much stuff with us.)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Besides cash, ship ID, driver's license for photo ID, Purell, I also take a copy of our passports.

[krystalkruzer]

On my Bahamas cruises I just took my DL,S&S card,camera and money.

[lovebug33]

Whether it's a cruise or a land vacation, I always take plenty of wet wipes to clean my hands, tables, places you're going to sit, etc.

[blindrid]

Take the least possible. Only thing in my pocket when I leave is a bit of cash, DL, credit card and S&S. Passports are like gold to the locals......

[mamaofami]

While you don't need a passport in the Caribbean to get back on the ship, if you are late for the ship and have to fly to meet up with it at another port, you will need your passport. We never used to take it off the ship, but we do now. It's hard to lose it if you wear a fanny pack.

[vowsatsea]

In San Juan, we had to show our passport or ID PLUS cruise card to get back on the ship.

 

We take:

Beach bag with towels, sunscreen, digital camera, cruise cards, passports (depending on the port), money, brush, spray in conditioner (when visiting the beach)

[grandmato4]

As many other have said, what we take depends on the port and what our plans are. Always take sail and sign card, drivers license, copy of passport, one credit card, cash we have estimated we will need, camera, ships port agent number and address. If we are going to the beach we have watersafes that hang around our necks that we take with all of the above(except camera) in so all the important stuff is safe when we are in the water. Often take sunscreen, bottle of water, beach towel, area map, cell phone if we need to call home and calls can be made reasonably, cheap rain ponchos. We have a black waterproof bag that we take if we are taking more than the bare essentials. Only take passports with us if required, which they rarely are, or on a rare occasion that we are taking a non-ship sponsored excursion that is not planned to be back until relatively close to the time we need to be back on board.

[sjcruiser]

Normally take photo id (S&S + license or student id), cash for small purchases ($100-$200 in $10's and $20's), one credit card, camera, small napsack with suntan lotion, disc/tapes for camcorder, spare camera batteries, maybe bottled water, but usually not. Can purchase drinks on islands. Everything else locked in safe.

[satxdiver]

Ship card, passport, credit card, some cash and DW. If something were to happen (e.g. miss the ship, medical, etc), you may need the passport as well as a source of money (credit card).

 

On second thought if I left the DW behind I might just have a lot more fun :D

[DonnaK]

The photo ID is not required by the cruise line to get back onto the ship - all you need is your Sea Pass for that.

 

However, most ports in the Caribbean are in a secured, sometimed fenced in, area. Local port authority will have security guards at the entrance to the pier, and you will need to show photo ID (Driver's Licence or passport) to get into this secured area and approach the ship.

 

I've read on some CC threads that you have to show your passport in order to get back onto the ship, and that's simply not true in the Caribbean. You need your Sea Pass to get onto the ship, and any government issued photo ID (driver's license is fine) to get into the secured port area.

 

As well, those under 16 do not have to show photo ID. Just their Sea Pass at the gangway to get back onto the ship.

 

We don't carry our passports off the ship with us. We do carry the name and contact information of the cruiseline's Port Agent (this is usually found on the front page of the ship's daily newsletter). This is the person who will help you in the case of an emergency, including helping you get clearance from the American consulate for you to fly home or onto the next port without your passport if need be.