dreamin'ofthesea Posted December 23, 2018 #1 Share Posted December 23, 2018 Travelling to New Zealand with family (first time cruisers). We would like to leave passports on board. Adults all have drivers licence to use as alternative ID but what can I use for my son who will be 14 when we travel? The Key Pass photo Id in Australia is either for 18+ or 15 to 18yrs. I can't find anything for younger children. Since I have read photo ID is required to get back on ship what have you all done? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerfectlyPerth Posted December 23, 2018 #2 Share Posted December 23, 2018 What is the problem with taking your passports with you if everyone has one ? My passport (each of them since childhood) has always been in my handbag whether I am at home or travelling. Its my only form of ID. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brisbane41 Posted December 23, 2018 #3 Share Posted December 23, 2018 If they require photo ID then you will have no option but to take the passport. It is a local government regulation and not a rule the cruise ship is likely to set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swissmiss6253 Posted December 23, 2018 #4 Share Posted December 23, 2018 We have always used passports in NZ. I didn't think you had the option of drivers licences at ports? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted December 23, 2018 #5 Share Posted December 23, 2018 Drivers licences have been fine for use in port but of course you would need the passports as well. To get onto the ships and back into Australia again. As for kids, I am not sure if you can get citizen cards but perhaps enquire or just use their passports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Big_M Posted December 23, 2018 #6 Share Posted December 23, 2018 As you're in a foreign country passports are required. No issue with taking them ashore with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr&MrsCookie Posted December 23, 2018 #7 Share Posted December 23, 2018 Just remember to keep copies of your passport somewhere in case it gets lost or stolen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamin'ofthesea Posted December 23, 2018 Author #8 Share Posted December 23, 2018 Thanks every-one for your replies. I'm concerned about the kids (teenager and two young adults) losing passports if they take them onshore. They may not always be with either their Dad or me in ports for me to hold onto their passports. Passports are bigger than ID cards and being boys/young men they don't carry hand bags. I had read other posts where Posters advised leaving passports on board and they just use drivers licenses to get back on the ship (for our NZ cruise we visit several ports between first and last landfall), hence my question. Thanks for the suggestion MrandMrsCookie, I'll definitely photocopy passports. I guess we'll just use passports and hope they don't lose them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted December 23, 2018 #9 Share Posted December 23, 2018 Perhaps you or their father should hold their passports for them, you only need them to get back onto the ship / into the port area (unless something bad happens while out for the day). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerfectlyPerth Posted December 24, 2018 #10 Share Posted December 24, 2018 21 hours ago, dreamin'ofthesea said: Thanks every-one for your replies. I'm concerned about the kids (teenager and two young adults) losing passports if they take them onshore. I have been responsible for my own passport since I got my first at age 9, and I was travelling solo (and running a household) from 15 onwards. Pretty sure a teen and two young adults can be responsible enough! But then - you know your own offspring - so its up to you. You and hubby could carry them. Re bags - for shore trips you would generally wanting to be carrying things like sunscreen and water etc - so I would assume even the guys would be carrying a small backpack of sorts. For all my travels I usually scan my current passport - the main page plus any visa pages - and send it to my email account where I file it in a folder that isn't named something obvious like "ID". So on the rare off chance I ever lose it (hasn't happened yet in decades of international travel) - I can email a colour scan straight to the embassy etc. I do the same with front and back of my credit cards and my insurance policy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamin'ofthesea Posted December 24, 2018 Author #11 Share Posted December 24, 2018 Electronic copy a good idea thanks. They probably can be responsible but I just don't want the hassle if they lose it. its only a 2 week holiday. Many years ago (before the internet and email - yes I know I'm ancient) I travelled with a friend who left her airline ticket behind at a hotel in France but didn't realise until we were at the airport presenting for a flight (a week later). Being a weekend, with travel agents shut and with no electronic records it was a pain in the ......... And a passport is pretty fundamental to getting home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamin'ofthesea Posted December 24, 2018 Author #12 Share Posted December 24, 2018 15 hours ago, MicCanberra said: Perhaps you or their father should hold their passports for them, you only need them to get back onto the ship / into the port area (unless something bad happens while out for the day). Might do that thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted December 24, 2018 #13 Share Posted December 24, 2018 Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trishh Posted December 24, 2018 #14 Share Posted December 24, 2018 On 12/23/2018 at 1:41 PM, dreamin'ofthesea said: Travelling to New Zealand with family (first time cruisers). We would like to leave passports on board. Adults all have drivers licence to use as alternative ID but what can I use for my son who will be 14 when we travel? The Key Pass photo Id in Australia is either for 18+ or 15 to 18yrs. I can't find anything for younger children. Since I have read photo ID is required to get back on ship what have you all done? Thanks We've travelled to NZ a number of times when the kids were under 18 and you've really got no choice but to take the passports ashore with you. There are only a couple of ports that actually ask for the ID but when they do we've always had the passports for the kids. Drivers licences are fine for adults. Trish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamin'ofthesea Posted December 24, 2018 Author #15 Share Posted December 24, 2018 11 hours ago, MicCanberra said: Good luck. Thanks Mic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamin'ofthesea Posted December 24, 2018 Author #16 Share Posted December 24, 2018 39 minutes ago, trishh said: We've travelled to NZ a number of times when the kids were under 18 and you've really got no choice but to take the passports ashore with you. There are only a couple of ports that actually ask for the ID but when they do we've always had the passports for the kids. Drivers licences are fine for adults. Trish Thanks Trish Very helpful. That's what I'll have to do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell21 Posted December 25, 2018 #17 Share Posted December 25, 2018 Having discussed this problem over Xmas NSW, registry offices will issue ID cards for kids due to the need for various purposes. I'm sure Vic roads would do similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamin'ofthesea Posted December 30, 2018 Author #18 Share Posted December 30, 2018 On 12/25/2018 at 5:06 PM, Russell21 said: Having discussed this problem over Xmas NSW, registry offices will issue ID cards for kids due to the need for various purposes. I'm sure Vic roads would do similar. Thanks Russell21 I can't see that they do but I will enquire further Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kangakid Posted December 30, 2018 #19 Share Posted December 30, 2018 We just got off a cruise to NZ and found only 2 ports that checked ID. They were happy with photo ID and cruise card for the adults and just cruise card for the children as long as same surname on the children’s cruise card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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