How to find if cruiseline will take your passport from you

[LottaWata]

Hi,

 

I've read on Cruise Critic that for certain countries/ports, that the cruise ship takes possession of your passport. This is to either expedite the entry into the country/port process, or to keep your passport safe from thieves.

 

I don't want the cruise ship to take possession of my passport for any reason. Therefore, I'm trying to find out, before I get to a lot of planning, which countries/ports I should avoid. Is there somewhere I can look this info up online? Or do y'all have personal observations to help with this?

 

It would be nice to learn of an easy way to look at all countries/ports for this info, but I am specifically looking at doing a Panama Canal cruise just now.

 

Thank you.

[OleSalt]

Boarding on a different line a passenger was declaring loudly that under no circumstance would he give up his Passport.

 

He was escorted out of the hall and never seen again.

 

Moral: The Golden Rule: They set the rules.

[CruiserBruce]

The ship doesn't take your passport to protect it from thieves. They take it to facilitate faster clearance of the ship into various ports.

 

The topic is discussed on many of the Ports boards. They countries we have experienced giving our passports to the ship include Ireland, Turkey, Indonesia (although Indonesia is changing some things, so this may not be true soon), several of the Baltic and Scandinavian countries- not sure exactly which, as we gave up our passports for about 18 days of a 22 day Baltic/Norway/Ireland/Scotland cruise. We physically held our passports for St Petersburg and the Shetland Islands.

 

Personally have never heard of anyone losing their passport when the ship is holding it.

Edited April 10, 2016 by CruiserBruce

[Hflors]

Hi,

 

I've read on Cruise Critic that for certain countries/ports, that the cruise ship takes possession of your passport. This is to either expedite the entry into the country/port process, or to keep your passport safe from thieves.

 

I don't want the cruise ship to take possession of my passport for any reason. Therefore, I'm trying to find out, before I get to a lot of planning, which countries/ports I should avoid. Is there somewhere I can look this info up online? Or do y'all have personal observations to help with this?

 

It would be nice to learn of an easy way to look at all countries/ports for this info, but I am specifically looking at doing a Panama Canal cruise just now.

 

Thank you.

 

We have not had our passports taken doing a Panama Canal cruise, but on our Hawaii/Tahiti cruise they took ours. You are given a receipt and must have it to retrieve your passport. I was very nervious at first but after a day or two we were fine with it.

 

I don't know how you would find out before hand. We didn't know before we boarded.

 

Good luck with your plans and I hope if you need to give them your passport you will begin to feel more comfortable with it.

[thinfool]

No one will even look at your passport on a Panama Canal cruise except for check-in at the beginning and when you clear customs at the end. Caribbean and Pacific coast ports don't care if you have a passport. You are an 'in transit' passenger.

 

Suggest that you not consider any cruises outside of the Western Hemisphere as collection of passports on ships, in hotels and other accomodations is common, customary and unpredictable.

[iancal]

What is the issue about surrendering your passport? This is a very common practice. Every hotel, B&B, etc that we have checked into over the past two months of travel have requested our passport for at least a few hours, some overnight, and many u pintail we settle our account on departure.

 

On a cruise it may have be because of the time of day that the ship enters and clears customs in a country than it does with the country itself. If everyone on the ship keep their passports but we're required to show up at 6:30 or 7 AM to clear customs before the ship was processed I can assure you that the ships crew would be frantically searching for the no shows.

Edited April 10, 2016 by iancal

[durangoscots]

South America also. The ship held our passports on the Grand SA cruise. Not a big deal. Also, many European countries hold your passports for awhile or sometimes until you check out. You are much more likely to lose your passport if you are carrying it about with you. I do carry a copy just for my records and of course you do get a receipt when you surrender it to ship.

 

Susan

[Bowie MeMe]

I have had to surrender my passport in hotels, ships and resorts. It seems to me longer cruises and many ports are more likely to surrender passport. It is a mixture of rules from the country you are visiting (probably most likely) and the policy of the cruise line or the wishes of the officials boarding the ship to process it for entry to a country on that day. I have been to twice to the same country and had different processes. I have never had any problems with my passport being returned and I have surrendered it at least 100 times in the last 10 years. Often on one cruise they will keep the passports, hand them out for one port where you have to show it, collect again for the next port where a ship's official presents the passports to local officials in the conference room of the ship (often see these local officials really enjoying the buffet or snacks that are served by the ship to them). The usual process on a ship is that your cabin steward collects them and returns them. Often a sticky label with cabin number on the back of passport. Sometimes at check-in they take your passport and you don't see it again until end of cruise. Believe me they secure these items very well. A ship can not dock unless every soul on board has the proper paperwork.

 

I really don't think you can travel much without surrendering the passport -- too many countries and too many rules to keep up with. IMO.

[Bowie MeMe]

In my opinion, the very "baddest" scene is when all 4000 on a ship have to meet face to face with local official. This has happened a few times and the line goes on forever! Talk about a boring wait in line. Nerve wracking. For the life of me can't remember the port or cruise line but it was not a fun way to start a vacation day. The ship's officers know well what has to be done and how it has to be done and much of it is done by country officials getting on the ship at the port before and working through the night to clear the ship for early morning docking. You do not want to be called down with your passport at 4 AM in the morning.

 

For your comfort, I suggest that you take 3 or 4 copies of the photo page of the passport. I carry my husband's and mine and our travel companions in my purse/her purse and his wallet or security pocket. I do this even in the US as identification if needed. Photo on phone works, Photocopy of passport page and credit cards (and credit card reporting numbers) are kept in cabin safe. Also copies of these I used to leave with daughter but now that I can access them from the computer all over the world (or my phone!) don't take so much paper with me.

Don't forget to take your copy of legal papers that allow your companions to sign for medical care. See your lawyer for what is needed -it can vary but in Maryland have medical power of attorney and legal power of attorney for each.

[jtl513]

I don't want the cruise ship to take possession of my passport for any reason.

Like you, I was against the idea of surrendering my passport - until the first time I had to on an East Med cruise. I quickly got comfortable with it.

 

On our Panama cruise we did not have to turn them in to the ship.

.

Edited April 10, 2016 by jtl513

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

Have done several Panama Canal cruises and have not ever had to surrender my passport. I would agree with those who have said to only cruise in North America if you are unwilling to surrender it.

[LottaWata]

Thank you all for your insight into this matter. It sounds like the Panama Canal wouldn't be much of an issue in taking control of my passport, but I would probably call the cruise line and try to get a verbal verification that my passport wouldn't be taken for the scheduled ports at that time.

 

I'm thinking I won't become much of a global traveler, and I do think the northwestern hemisphere has plenty to offer for travel in itself, so I'll be fine.

 

Thanks again.

[dakrewser]

Thank you all for your insight into this matter. It sounds like the Panama Canal wouldn't be much of an issue in taking control of my passport, but I would probably call the cruise line and try to get a verbal verification that my passport wouldn't be taken for the scheduled ports at that time.

 

I'm thinking I won't become much of a global traveler, and I do think the northwestern hemisphere has plenty to offer for travel in itself, so I'll be fine.

 

Thanks again.

 

Could you give us a hint as to why you wish to hold on to your passport at all costs?

[wander]

You may be fine about keeping your passport on a specific cruise, BUT I WOULD certainly NOT base a cruise decision on what the land based folks at HAL say.

 

Having been fortunate enough to have cruised many days in many areas of the world, even the ship folks frequently do not know when they need to retain the passports and when we need them ourselves to clear into and out of various countries. Having cruised hundreds of days when the ship keep the passports (which I actually prefer) and hundreds when I kept it, numerous times the rules changed days or hours before a specific port. The decision is usually driven by what specific countries require, and even what the specific port officials want.

 

As someone else noted above, the biggest pain is when a country requires that they see each passenger individually with their passports. What a waste of holiday time for the passengers. Several times, the ship actually had to retain the passports, but we individually had to collect ours as we entered a lounge, see an official from he country in a face to face meeting with passport in hand, and then give the passport back to the ship before we left the lounge. For the whole ship it took the whole afternoon. (Crew had to do the same thing but in a different area.)

[wander]

Also in terms of security of the passport - I personally have never heard of any ship I have been on loosing any passports. However, the same cannot be said of fellow passengers loosing their passports themselves while on shore - by either carelessness or having them stolen from their pants, bags - etc. Not that it has happened frequently, but several times over the years. Of course, these were only the situations I heard about - but frequently the word does get around the ship rather quickly.

[serendipity1499]

What is the issue about surrendering your passport? This is a very common practice. Every hotel, B&B, etc that we have checked into over the past two months of travel have requested our passport for at least a few hours, some overnight, and many u pintail we settle our account on departure.

 

On a cruise it may have be because of the time of day that the ship enters and clears customs in a country than it does with the country itself. If everyone on the ship keep their passports but we're required to show up at 6:30 or 7 AM to clear customs before the ship was processed I can assure you that the ships crew would be frantically searching for the no shows.

 

South America also. The ship held our passports on the Grand SA cruise. Not a big deal. Also, many European countries hold your passports for awhile or sometimes until you check out. You are much more likely to lose your passport if you are carrying it about with you. I do carry a copy just for my records and of course you do get a receipt when you surrender it to ship.

 

Susan

 

:D OP there is no plausible reason to be paranoid about surrendering your passport in Hotels or on ships.. As iancal , Durangooscots & others have mentioned, you will receive a receipt if the ship has to hold it.. I was like you when I first got my passport, but realize it's the best way for ships & guests to be cleared in some areas of the world..

 

I was in the travel field for 27 years & on my ninth passport.. Have been all over the world, met some lovely people in my lifetime & never had a problem surrendering my passport.. Many times we don't carry our passports when we are in port.. We leave them in the ships safe. & carry a color photocopy of our passports...We also have the passport cards which are just as good as the passport in some areas... IMO it's safer being held on the ship or even placed in your safe when you are in port..

 

When a ship arrives in some ports the Immigration people might require all passports to clear the ship.. If you insist on keeping your passport, you could be denied boarding.. You will miss out on a lot of wonderful places that way..

 

Relax & enjoy your cruises..:)

Edited April 10, 2016 by serendipity1499

[serendipity1499]

Also in terms of security of the passport - I personally have never heard of any ship I have been on loosing any passports. However, the same cannot be said of fellow passengers loosing their passports themselves while on shore - by either carelessness or having them stolen from their pants, bags - etc. Not that it has happened frequently, but several times over the years. Of course, these were only the situations I heard about - but frequently the word does get around the ship rather quickly.

 

Agree have heard several times that passports were either lost of stolen..They even send the little kids out to steal passports & money.. In RIO we were walking with a group & the men were out in front of the ladies...Two females sidled up to DH & another man & pretended to schmooze (sp?) them while reaching into DH's pocket for either his wallet or passport.. My screams alerted him & he grabbed the hand & twisted the arm of the female..:eek: Fortunately nothing was lost, because he does not carry his passport or $$$ in his back pockets..

[serendipity1499]

Thank you all for your insight into this matter. It sounds like the Panama Canal wouldn't be much of an issue in taking control of my passport, but I would probably call the cruise line and try to get a verbal verification that my passport wouldn't be taken for the scheduled ports at that time.

 

I'm thinking I won't become much of a global traveler, and I do think the northwestern hemisphere has plenty to offer for travel in itself, so I'll be fine.

 

Thanks again.

 

Don't count on getting an accurate verbal verification of this from any cruise company.. :)

 

Many times Immigrations officials change their rules while the ship is underway.. Even those countries in the northwestern hemisphere could change their minds about holding passports & clearing arrival ships, especially if there has been political unrest or terrorist attacks..

[iancal]

Absolutely. A large number of CSR's on HAL and other lines are clueless when it comes to providing accurate data. Sad, but that is how it is.

 

So, if you call and are assured that your passport will not be taken I would take that to the bank. I cannot recall ever surrendering our passports on a CAribbean cruise but there is always a first time for everything. All it takes is for one country to insist on doing a spot check on passports,for some oblique security reason.

 

Not certain what your issue is. At the end of the day a passport is just a piece of paper representative of your citizenship. In the worst case scenario where you loose it you are not going to suddenly loose your citizenship or become a stateless person. There is a much higher chance of it being stolen or lost while in your possession than there is of the cruise line or a hotel mis placing it.

Edited April 10, 2016 by iancal

[visagrunt]

It also varies according to your nationality, and your immigration status in the embarkation and disembarkation ports.

 

As a general rule, if your cruise travels to a country which requires a visa for your country of nationality and there is no preclearance facility, then you will be required to surrender your passport for clearance by the purser upon arrival.

 

For example, travelling to Alaska with a Chinese national with a study permit in Canada, the passport had to be surrendered--not for the United States (because there was preclearance at Vancouver) but for readmission to Canada (which was done when the pilot came aboard at Prince Rupert).

 

There are, of course, exceptions to this general rule, but they are subject to changes in immigration practices in the dozens of countries to which cruise lines regularly sail, so the only way to know for sure is at embarkation.

[Topsham]

It also varies according to your nationality, and your immigration status in the embarkation and disembarkation ports.

 

As a general rule, if your cruise travels to a country which requires a visa for your country of nationality and there is no preclearance facility, then you will be required to surrender your passport for clearance by the purser upon arrival.

 

For example, travelling to Alaska with a Chinese national with a study permit in Canada, the passport had to be surrendered--not for the United States (because there was preclearance at Vancouver) but for readmission to Canada (which was done when the pilot came aboard at Prince Rupert).

 

There are, of course, exceptions to this general rule, but they are subject to changes in immigration practices in the dozens of countries to which cruise lines regularly sail, so the only way to know for sure is at embarkation.

 

Exactly. Even ships on the 7 day cruises to Bermuda. They are not interested in checking if you can into Bermuda but more interested in making sure that you can get BACK INTO the USA! So, on the Bermuda cruises you might have a smattering of foreign nationalities that will have their passports held for arrival in Bermuda. Face to face check with the Immigration Officer and you are away and your passport returned. Last summer the VEENDAM arrival in Bermuda and clearance was delayed almost 45 minutes because ONE passenger wouldn't come to the Immigration meeting. Grrrrrr!

[Fouremco]

From a risk perspective, I'd be more concerned with giving up my credit card at a restaurant or bar and having it out of my sight than I would be giving up my passport.

[lahlah57]

At least the OP is not arguing the point of even having to have a passport!! Have seen so many threads started as to why one should have a passport! :confused:

I don't know if it's stubbornness that "no one is going to tell me to buy a passport!" Or they just do not wish to go thru the cost, background check or application process.

I could never limit my traveling opportunities because I didn't want to get a passport. Imagine just being stuck to only the areas that do not require a passports! I would be bored rather quickly!

[Stratheden]

Could you give us a hint as to why you wish to hold on to your passport at all costs?

 

OP could you please tell us why you wish to hold onto your passport. Please don't limit the marvellous experience of travel because of an unnecessary fear.

[schusterj]

Cruise line took our passport on the LA to Santiago, Chile cruise. It was the most wonderful cruise and I would love to go on the same cruise again.