Passports and a few random questions

[Chickenlover8]

My first cruise leaves in 35 days. I was wondering when you need your passport? Do you take it with you when you get off in the different ports? If not, is there a safe in the room?

Also, I know to bring an extension cord of some sort to plug in extra phones. We use a fan for noise...is there a desk or something next to an inside stateroom bed to place a fan on?

Anything you can recommend for first time advice? It's just me and my 13 yo daughter :)

[lcpagejr]

You just need your Sail and Sign Card and a picture ID when leaving the ship (on port days)

 

There is a safe in each room to place any personal belongings in (airplane tickets, passports, wallets, jewelery, etc)

 

The room will have a vanity/desk top area where you can place items

[riclop]

My first cruise leaves in 35 days. I was wondering when you need your passport? Do you take it with you when you get off in the different ports? If not, is there a safe in the room?

Also, I know to bring an extension cord of some sort to plug in extra phones. We use a fan for noise...is there a desk or something next to an inside stateroom bed to place a fan on?

Anything you can recommend for first time advice? It's just me and my 13 yo daughter :)

You don't need a passport for the cruise.

[sanger727]

If you are using your passport as your proof of citizenship, you need it when you check in initially and at customs when you disembark. You may need to show picture id in ports when re-boarding but it doesn’t have to be a passport (I usually take my drivers license in port with me and leave my passport in the safe).

 

 

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[salty dingo]

There is a debate about bringing passports off the ship. On one hand, if you do bring it off, it could be lost or stolen. On the other hand, if you miss the ship having a passport in hand will save you some hassle.

 

I am in the camp of "leave it in the safe". If you do miss the ship, just before it leaves without you, security will enter your room and open the safe, looking for your passport. If found, they hand it over to the port agent who is the person you must deal with when you do realize your ship left you.

 

So clearly, for me, I would not risk losing my passport onshore, but others will disagree.

[mt6631]

My kids were in an inside stateroom on our last cruise and there was only 1 outlet in their room so a splitter (extra charger with no power surge protector) worked well. The "nightstands" are very small and that is not where the outlet is located (which was a pain as my daughter wanted to charge her iPad and play on it at the same time in bed :rolleyes:)

 

I use an app on my phone or iPad that makes fan sounds all night which I love

[Purvis1231]

There is a debate about bringing passports off the ship. On one hand, if you do bring it off, it could be lost or stolen. On the other hand, if you miss the ship having a passport in hand will save you some hassle.

 

I am in the camp of "leave it in the safe". If you do miss the ship, just before it leaves without you, security will enter your room and open the safe, looking for your passport. If found, they hand it over to the port agent who is the person you must deal with when you do realize your ship left you.

 

So clearly, for me, I would not risk losing my passport onshore, but others will disagree.

 

I agree that it is best to leave the passport in the safe. There are two exceptions to this. First: if you are going to cross and international border while off the ship. (There are a few places were this is possible.) Second, if I were going an excursion a great distance from the ship with increase chance of being delayed such as some of the ruin tours in Mexico.

[dawyv]

Another option, which does cost additional money but might be worth it to others as a backup, is to have a "backup" or secondary proof of citizenship that comes in a credit card-sized format. I live in Washington State and its Department of Licensing issues Enhanced driver license and ID cards to US citizens. It's mostly for crossing the border into Canada without being required to carry a passport but it also serves as proof of citizenship when entering the United States. Another option is the US passport card, which functions the same as an EID/EDL but any US citizen can get one, not just someone who lives in a state that issues "enhanced" cards.

 

A third choice is to join a so-called Trusted Traveler Program, like Global Entry ($100), SENTRI ($122, must live in a state that borders Mexico), or NEXUS ($50, must live in a state that borders Canada and be admissible to Canada). All three issue cards that are valid proof of citizenship and, unlike the passport card or EID/EDL, can be used in place of a passport to fly into the United States. (That said, if you are really stuck, the US consulate in the country where you missed your ship can get you a travel document or a letter authorizing an airline to carry you to the US without a passport and having another proof of citizenship greatly smooths this process.)

 

If you don't travel very much, the passport card is the cheapest and it's a useful form of picture ID elsewhere. I highly recommend at least getting it. Regardless of which you choose, you can leave your passport in the safe onboard and just carry a simple card with you.

[HawksFan74]

There is a safe in each room to place any personal belongings in (airplane tickets, passports, wallets, jewelery, etc)

Do airlines even issue paper tickets anymore?

[loxley]

There is a debate about bringing passports off the ship. On one hand, if you do bring it off, it could be lost or stolen. On the other hand, if you miss the ship having a passport in hand will save you some hassle.

 

I am in the camp of "leave it in the safe". If you do miss the ship, just before it leaves without you, security will enter your room and open the safe, looking for your passport. If found, they hand it over to the port agent who is the person you must deal with when you do realize your ship left you.

 

So clearly, for me, I would not risk losing my passport onshore, but others will disagree.

I have heard this and heard it about them going to your room to get your passport. Even John has said it, but I have seen many pier runners that have made it at just the last minute, and I have never seen them collect anything before boarding.

 

Now I don't know if the people I have seen nearly miss the ship did not have passports in the first place or if they were collected and given back after they got on the ship. I have sold never seen anything being handed back to someone before the ship leaves, so for me, I am not so sure that actually happens.

 

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[Jenn1974]

There is a debate about bringing passports off the ship. On one hand, if you do bring it off, it could be lost or stolen. On the other hand, if you miss the ship having a passport in hand will save you some hassle.

 

I am in the camp of "leave it in the safe". If you do miss the ship, just before it leaves without you, security will enter your room and open the safe, looking for your passport. If found, they hand it over to the port agent who is the person you must deal with when you do realize your ship left you.

 

So clearly, for me, I would not risk losing my passport onshore, but others will disagree.

 

This is good to know.

[Jerseygirl1416]

I too have read reports where the cruise employees will go through someone’s safe if they’re going to be left behind at a port and leave their passports and anything else useful and leave it with the port people. We leave our passports in the safe at port and take our ship cards and drivers licenses with us ashore.

[dmdiver]

We use our passports as ID for flying & boarding, but once on the ship, they stay in the safe. We just take our driver license and sail & sign card into port.

[serene56]

Also, I know to bring an extension cord of some sort to plug in extra phones. We use a fan for noise...is there a desk or something next to an inside stateroom bed to place a fan on? :)

 

 

Consider a travel size noise machine. We travel with a conair the table next to the bed is very small. and there is no outlet by the table. ONLY one outlet in the cabin. (thats why the conair works because its battery operated.

 

But see this table-- its movable https://clmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/thumb/tfss-c71f6bae-e667-4cdf-a1fd-3a667cfd81b2-image_800.jpeg

[summersigh]

There is a debate about bringing passports off the ship. On one hand, if you do bring it off, it could be lost or stolen. On the other hand, if you miss the ship having a passport in hand will save you some hassle.

 

I am in the camp of "leave it in the safe". If you do miss the ship, just before it leaves without you, security will enter your room and open the safe, looking for your passport. If found, they hand it over to the port agent who is the person you must deal with when you do realize your ship left you.

So clearly, for me, I would not risk losing my passport onshore, but others will disagree.

I'm with you :D I do carry a color copy of our Passport with me going into a port so if something did happen I'd have a head start with the number. I keep it in a zippered pocket of my day bag. Along with the color copy of the passport I take my driver's license and ship card into the port.:ship:

[sparks1093]

I have heard this and heard it about them going to your room to get your passport. Even John has said it, but I have seen many pier runners that have made it at just the last minute, and I have never seen them collect anything before boarding.

 

Now I don't know if the people I have seen nearly miss the ship did not have passports in the first place or if they were collected and given back after they got on the ship. I have sold never seen anything being handed back to someone before the ship leaves, so for me, I am not so sure that actually happens.

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

It's not something that would be all that obvious and anyone leaving the ship could have the passports in a pocket without anyone else knowing. (It's also possible that they are given to the pilot when he leaves the ship since at that point it would be confirmed that the passenger(s) missed the ship.)

[sparks1093]

Consider a travel size noise machine. We travel with a conair the table next to the bed is very small. and there is no outlet by the table. ONLY one outlet in the cabin. (thats why the conair works because its battery operated.

 

But see this table-- its movable https://clmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/thumb/tfss-c71f6bae-e667-4cdf-a1fd-3a667cfd81b2-image_800.jpeg

 

If we need it we use an app on our phone to generate white noise.

[CdrescherRBL152]

Many will tell you. You don't need to take you passport ashore. However, keep in mind although you most likely won't need it. If something out of the ordinary happens. And you are the one in a million who misses the ship. Without it could take you many days, possible up to a month to get home.

 

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[summersigh]

I have heard this and heard it about them going to your room to get your passport. Even John has said it, but I have seen many pier runners that have made it at just the last minute, and I have never seen them collect anything before boarding.

 

Now I don't know if the people I have seen nearly miss the ship did not have passports in the first place or if they were collected and given back after they got on the ship. I have sold never seen anything being handed back to someone before the ship leaves, so for me, I am not so sure that actually happens.

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

In Nassau the last time we were there a group of 4 names were called 3 or 4 times. Then, at 30-45 minutes after time to sail we saw a female ship officer bring a backpack off the ship and hand it to an official from the port. The next day at the next port we saw a group of 4 people with a suspiciously similar backpack :Dgoing into the port offices and then be escorted to our ship.

[BallFour4]

Many will tell you. You don't need to take you passport ashore. However, keep in mind although you most likely won't need it. If something out of the ordinary happens. And you are the one in a million who misses the ship. Without it could take you many days, possible up to a month to get home.

Remarkably bad (and incorrect) advice. While a passport is a no brainer, the consulate and agent for the cruise line will assist in case of an emergency. The timeline can be as little as a few hours to overnight.

 

I've been on CC since 2002 and aboard 37 cruises and never has anyone posted about a month long experience. Please send the data via hyperlink.

 

.

[LostPuppy]

The idea of using a photocopy of your passport is silly. The whole point of the passport is it is THE world recognized premier identification. A copy is nothing. Why not just leave your passport at home and travel with a copy of it? Lets see you get on a plane with a copy.....

 

AFA "it helps officials if you are stranded" argument. Nah, that's not the way it works. Go to any US Embassy with a photo ID and provide your SSN. They can find you in their system in seconds. Do you really think they would say "Well, if f you had a copy of your passport, you'd be on your way right now..., but since all you have is your driver's license, this will take a while...."

[sparks1093]

The idea of using a photocopy of your passport is silly. The whole point of the passport is it is THE world recognized premier identification. A copy is nothing. Why not just leave your passport at home and travel with a copy of it? Lets see you get on a plane with a copy.....

 

AFA "it helps officials if you are stranded" argument. Nah, that's not the way it works. Go to any US Embassy with a photo ID and provide your SSN. They can find you in their system in seconds. Do you really think they would say "Well, if f you had a copy of your passport, you'd be on your way right now..., but since all you have is your driver's license, this will take a while...."

 

I can't find a link right now but the State Department used to advise travelers to carry a copy of their passport with them to make it easier to get help if they needed it, so people saying that are simply parroting that advice.

[ewenix]

TAFA "it helps officials if you are stranded" argument. Nah, that's not the way it works. Go to any US Embassy with a photo ID and provide your SSN. They can find you in their system in seconds. Do you really think they would say "Well, if f you had a copy of your passport, you'd be on your way right now..., but since all you have is your driver's license, this will take a while...."

 

Silly in that the US Department of State says you should have it.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/emergencies/lost-stolen-passport-abroad.html

 

The photo ID is not evidence of US citizenship, which is what the Department of State says is the reason for the passport copy.

 

You can still get back without it, but you may be waiting longer while they prove you are a citizen.

Edited January 23, 2018 by ewenix

[Chickenlover8]

Very interesting! I will leave passports in safe, and bring my driver's license...but what about my daughter? Does a student ID work?

[sparks1093]

Silly in that the US Department of State says you should have it.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/emergencies/lost-stolen-passport-abroad.html

 

The photo ID is not evidence of US citizenship, which is what the Department of State says is the reason for the passport copy.

 

You can still get back without it, but you may be waiting longer while they prove you are a citizen.

 

Actually the copy of the passport isn't proof of citizenship either. They say that it makes the process easier, but the previous poster was correct that they can find a traveler's information in their database relatively easily.