sparks1093

When officers have a Q&A session this question often comes up and they always say that this is something that will be done (noting that they are only going to check the safe, they will not search the cabin).

Ok but it doesn't prove citizenship, which is generally what is required at the border (but as the previous poster noted exceptions are made).

Why mention it at all?

One doesn't need a background check to enter the US, one needs something showing that they are a US citizen. Under the right circumstances a copy of a passport would provide that.

Most cruise lines also have an adult pool area that is quieter and that includes RCL (we enjoyed the Solarium on Anthem of the Seas).

I was just up in Canada, no passport. I've traveled to many countries in my lifetime without a passport (including in Europe), so to me it isn't a big deal at all. Anyway, each person is going to do what they feel most comfortable doing and there isn't a cut and dried answer other than "do what you are comfortable doing". For us it's more of a matter of not wanting to carry things around that don't need to be carried around, so if we don't need to carry our passports we don't, then it is that we are afraid of having it lost or stolen. As for why we have it in the first place it's because we needed to get them to fly to Europe. We bring them on the cruise because we have them (all of our cruises have been closed loop to the Caribbean) and since we have them we will use them. We aren't worried about the ship sailing away without us, but if it does we are confident that the crew will get our passports out of the safe and turn them over to the port agent for us.

OP, the general rule is to leave your passport in the cabin safe unless you need to take it ashore for some reason. Some excursions will require a passport since crossing a border is involved (such as the train that goes from Alaska into Canada) and sometimes you will be in a port where it is required by local authorities. Having a copy (on your phone or a paper copy) may have some limited use for some types of emergency, but chances are it won't be needed.

Us as well. From the northeast it's really the only option that doesn't involve coast to coast travel or flying across the Atlantic. We are contemplating moving to Jamaica for the winters when we retire and coming home to our camp for the summers (much more affordable than Fla). We'll see how it goes.

Voted sometimes, but it's less often as not. We only decorate when we are on a day care cruise (where DW's day care families join us) and that happens every two to three years. We don't decorate otherwise. It's only been a magnet that DW provides to each family for their door.

I have read of this happening to others and they had the same result.

That's fair, but not really obvious to the reader. Perhaps if you had added "don't depend on them" at the end of your post it would have been more obvious.

Thanks for the info! My kids are right- I am old and behind the times.

I don't believe they do a welcome aboard drink. They offer one the last night of the cruise (for cruises more than 5 days?). We've had Cheers the last couple of sailings and I never even paid attention to this.

Yep, because they don't know how much each person would buy from the bar they would have to total it out among all of the passengers and divvy it up equally among them. So people who don't use the service would be paying for those who do.

Getting into the port area is going to vary by port, the time one is returning to the ship, the security person, the day of the week, etc. but the general rule is that re-entry requires a sail and sign card and government issued ID. We've never had our IDs examined for more then the time it takes to verify the names, but they could take the time to check the expiry if they wanted. We've returned near the all aboard time when they barely glanced at them in our hand. I have photos in my phone of my documents (mostly for filling out forms online) but would only try to use that if the original were stolen.

Sounds like circumventing the law to me.

So in order to comply they don't sell it because they don't want to jump through the hoops. Still complying with the law.

This is from the FAQ: Due to state laws, we cannot sell CHEERS! until the second day of the cruise (starting at 6:00am) for voyages departing from our Texas, New York, and Virginia home ports.

Baltimore isn't one of the ports, we've used Cheers upon boarding.

Even if it is, so what? The law allows it under limited circumstances and it is a valid choice. For most people the risk is low and they are willing to accept the risk.

As mentioned your boarding pass will do the trick. The bartender will write your folio number on it for ready reference. Do know that they do limit how many drinks you can get before you've done the mandatory muster drill (usually one, but I've read of some folks who were able to get two).

Exactly this. ID is only needed for 16 and up.

Ports require both a government ID and sail and sign card to re-enter the port area and whether they check or not depends on when you return to the ship. If you are coming back close to sail away along with a huge number of passengers then it's probable that they will just wave you through. We've always left our passports in the safe when going ashore, but a limited number of excursions do require them (i.e. going to a neighboring island or taking the train from Alaska into Canada).

I don't have that job so if a passenger does want an "exception" it's up to someone to determine whether or not it's warranted. It's regrettable that it's not the maitre'd making that determination as I said in my initial response to your original answer and I still think it's regrettable and will continue to think so no matter what you say. If you want to continue this conversation I'm game, but I will still find this change regrettable.

So what? It's all part of customer service.