Experienced cruiser makes a DUMB mistake (how can you forget your passports??)

[barbeyg]

2 hours ago, Mikew0805 said:

This has a wonderful ending, and I'm so glad you got to go on your cruise. I already knew "you can always count on your Mom." I lost my Mom 8 years ago at age 56, and this story brought tears to my eyes, because I know my Mother would have saved the day for me as well.

 

1 hour ago, A&L_Ont said:

I’m sorry to read this.  I bet your mom was an amazing woman.  It is bittersweet when these memories rise to the top.

I agree with Andrew.  I bet your Mom was amazing. My mom passed when she was 36, but I remember how truly awesome she was. I know the holidays can sometimes be tough, but I hope the memories of such a wonderful mom bring moments of joy throughout for you. 🙂

[MeHeartCruising]

Similar story here to the OP.  I was cruising with 2 friends (Mark and Annette).  We all flew in to Miami together from Pennsylvania.   A 4th (Michelle) was flying in from the Florida Gulf Coast to meet us at the terminal.  She was a friend of one of the 2 in my group.  The other 2 of us hadn't met her yet.

 

We easily found each other outside the terminal and got all the introductions done and were all excited as we headed into the building.  As we're going up the escalator into the new terminal building I told everyone to have their passport handy, they were looking at them near the top of the escalator.  Michelle says, "I just brought an old passport. I couldn't find the new one this morning.  But don't worry, I gave Mark the passport number from the new one for online checkin."

 

My jaw dropped and I told her that I didn't think that was going to work.  She didn't understand why not.  Sure enough, they sent us over to the "special people" desk.  Like the OP, Michelle was lucky enough that her sister lived in her apartment building and was able to get into Michelle's apartment to look around for her birth certificate.  She sent a photo of the BC and sent it over to Michelle.  The whole process took us about an hour.  The 3 of us from Pennsylvania were not pleased.  We were going on that ship even if Michelle had to fly back home.  But once we got on board, we moved on and started the vacation.  

 

At the end of the cruise, Michelle was able to get back into the country, apparently using her BC picture from her phone.  She got off the ship before we did, so we don't know if there was any hassle.  The 3 of use decided we won't be sailing with her again.  Ha.

Edited December 23, 2022 by MeHeartCruising

[barbeyg]

17 hours ago, ajtaylor29 said:

And that's always been me too....until this cruise!!! It's almost inconceivable that i didn't have one single thought about it until we pulled into the terminal! Usually, I'm checking and rechecking the pocket where I've zipped up the passports (in their special passport carry case, which also zips up).....😲 

So glad things worked out for you, and SuperMom rocked it!  I am obsessive about passports too, checking and rechecking like they are going to disappear.  I could still see something like this happening in my worst nightmare, so I’m going to take a pic of our birth certificates right now. 😂
 

I read a post on an other social media site last week where someone from Australia dropped their passport in HI airport, and missed their FL cruise, because it was found on Sunday and couldn’t get to her till day after sailing.  😕

[BND]

9 minutes ago, barbeyg said:

So glad things worked out for you, and SuperMom rocked it!  I am obsessive about passports too, checking and rechecking like they are going to disappear.  I could still see something like this happening in my worst nightmare, so I’m going to take a pic of our birth certificates right now. 😂
 

I read a post on an other social media site last week where someone from Australia dropped their passport in HI airport, and missed their FL cruise, because it was found on Sunday and couldn’t get to her till day after sailing.  😕

I saw the original post from the woman from Aus.  I didn't see how it ended, but the post I saw was her trying to figure out how to get her passport sent to her in FL for the cruise.  I will say, don't just stick it in an outside pocket on a bag or in a pocket on clothing.  Put it inside a bag, preferably in a zipped pocket.   Even between showing it before security and showing it to check in, ours go in my bag and it is zipped shut, or they stay in my hand.  

[barbeyg]

10 minutes ago, BND said:

I saw the original post from the woman from Aus.  I didn't see how it ended, but the post I saw was her trying to figure out how to get her passport sent to her in FL for the cruise.  I will say, don't just stick it in an outside pocket on a bag or in a pocket on clothing.  Put it inside a bag, preferably in a zipped pocket.   Even between showing it before security and showing it to check in, ours go in my bag and it is zipped shut, or they stay in my hand.  

I went back to look, and someone had posted that it would get to her a day late.  She never returned, possibly too bummed to do so. I felt bad for her.
 

I agree about putting it somewhere it is secure. I know I will be practicing that for sure.  AND I remember a cruise where I left my small crossbody purse in the Windjammer window ledge after eating there. Thank goodness for the nice couple who sat there and guarded it till a woman with a crazed look on her face came back for it. 😂

[ajtaylor29]

14 hours ago, soremekun said:

It's great to read your mother reached the wonderful age of 95 years old..... and knows how to send a picture via text.  So awesome.

It IS awesome, isn't it?? 💗

[ajtaylor29]

10 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

Glad everything worked out, but 17 cruises in 10 years is far from being an experienced cruiser. 

Wow. 

[hollins2007]

2 hours ago, midwife1021 said:

I’m thinking a file of birth certificate photos stored on the laptop might be on my list for preparations next time. 

 

Same!  Though curious (questioning not you specifically, just anyone that can answer)... what if you legally changed your name because of marriage?  Do you need your marriage certificate too?

[mspink98]

I always, always check about 100 times for our passports. Now, I'm increasing that to at least 150. 😁 SO happy you were able to board. Have a wonderful trip!!

[mspink98]

12 minutes ago, hollins2007 said:

 

Same!  Though curious (questioning not you specifically, just anyone that can answer)... what if you legally changed your name because of marriage?  Do you need your marriage certificate too?

Yes. There needs to be a paper trail. 

[nelblu]

23 hours ago, ajtaylor29 said:

So, after 17 cruises over the last 10 years, including trips to Europe, i consider myself to be the most organized, streamlined packer in my family. I'm the one who gathers all the "important" documentation, while my husband frets over how many bathing suits he needs and does he really want to take a sport coat or just go casual?! I am always packed and waiting at the door while he finishes all his last minute checks (and of course i make fun of him for being so obsessive).

 

Our last cruise (December 3rd on Symphony out of Miami): same process as always. We flew to Miami the night before, stayed in a local Hyatt, then got up and called Uber to take us to the port. On the way, we had him stop for our usual supply run (wine and a few other misc essentials). Then, cruise port here we come!!!

At this point, i am excited as usual to be boarding a ship, and have not a care in the world.

 

We pull up and as i'm stepping out of the car and looking around at all the excited people about to start their vacation, a thought suddenly hits me: I DIDN'T PACK OUR PASSPORTS. I don't even know what to think, i'm just sort of shocked.....I tell my husband. he says "what does that mean???" I'm not sure. I know we have photos of passports in our phones. Surely we'll be able to work this out. Lets not panic. I've read nightmare stories before of people being denied boarding because they don't have proper paperwork, but we have photos. This will all be ok.

 

The porters take our luggage and we hurry inside. We're in a suite, so we go thru the suite entry (no lines) upstairs and the person greets us ready to check us in. I explain that i forgot our passports....she immediately takes us to a "special" desk (read: problem passengers) where the very nice employee explains to us that photos of passports are not acceptable. Only the originals will suffice. But, if you have a copy (why can THIS be a copy??) of your birth certificate, you're fine. Well, we don't have copies of our birth certificates. We have copies of our passports. We have our global entry cards. We have our vaccination cards. We have all sorts of proof that we're American citizens and we've sailed with RC about 10 times already. You guys KNOW who we are! Come on!!! In a very calm but firm manner she reiterates to me that without either our original passports OR a copy of a birth certificate we will not be able to board.

 

I remain calm (panicking will do me no good at this point). We call our neighbor friend and have her go to our house to look for our birth certificates. Of course, since i'm the organizer, i know exactly where they are in the file cabinet. All she has to do is take a photo and send it to me and off we'll go. So, she starts looking thru the files, and finds my husbands bc. Yea, there's one! She sends a photo of it, we show the RC employee, she approves it. Easy, one down. Now, she keeps going but can't find mine. I keep directing her to another folder, then another folder, then a lockbox, then a 3-ring binder - all the possible places that i know could contain my bc, but nothing. It is not there. 

 

At some point during this search, my husband suggests that we call my mother to see if maybe she has a copy of it. My 95 year old mother who lives in a retirement community and has purged most of her lifetime of "stuff" into a small apartment. I scoff at him, there's no way she'll have it. But, he calls her anyway. And of course, he confuses her with his panicky voice, and she's not sure WHY we need it but she promises to look around. They hang up and i have little faith that she will be any help at all. (spoiler alert - you can ALWAYS count on your mother). 🙂

 

We've now been sitting in this special (read: problem) area for almost 2 hours. I have sent my neighbor home. I am coming to grips with the fact that i am NOT going on a cruise today. I'm trying to convince my husband that he should board with our friends (our new to cruising friends that we brought on this cruise with us and THEY of course have their passports), and that I'll fly home, get our passports, then fly to St. Maarten in 3 days and join them there. They all say no way, we're not going without you. We'll just all go to Key West for a few days instead. I'm fighting back tears.

 

And then my phone rings. It's my mother. She says "I found it". She has a family photo album with all 3 of her "children's" bc's (we're all in our 60's....) She takes a photo, sends it to me, i show the employee, they accept it, here's your boarding pass and off you go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I am in shock, it's almost unbelievable but we're getting on the ship! I can't describe the feeling i had walking up that gangway and onto the Symphony. It's always a great feeling but this time - well, this time it was truly awesome!!!

 

From there on, we had a GREAT cruise! Everything was perfect. The food, the drinks (lots of those), the ports, the entertainment. 

 

The moral of this story is....well, i promise that i will NEVER forget passports again! I also will be ordering passport cards so we always have those in our wallets. And, never doubt your mother. She still is sort of confused about what exactly happened, but she understands that SHE SAVED THE DAY! 

 

Even though I have everything that I need, yet when I'm on the NJ turnpike going to airport I get concerned/doubts that I missed something.  On my Oasis December 4th cruise, I was halfway to the airport and some doubts cross my mind.  So, I stopped on shoulder and checked my documents.😜

 

In this situation, couldn't you have used your driver's license in lieu of passport.

[Merion_Mom]

15 hours ago, BND said:

A scanned signature is accepted on documents for many things so why not a photo of a BC?  

 

Because they wouldn't accept a photo of their passports.

[Merion_Mom]

14 hours ago, fac429 said:

I did something kinda similar recently... was disembarking, and somehow managed to leave my passport on a counter in my suite.  Didn't realize it until I was about to hit customs and went to pull it out of my bag.  I was unpacking my suitcase and looking through every item of clothing, etc. in the customs line (but somehow not drawing any suspicion, which I thought was strange).  I was all set to try to explain the situation to the customs rep, but they did the facial scan and sent me on my way.  Went home, immediately filed a "lost and found" request, and about a month later my passport showed up at my door.  (Why it took a month is another frustrating story- but suffice to say that you should never leave anything behind on the ship that you'll need in the near future.)  

 

I will say that if my wife had been on the cruise there's virtually no chance this would have happened... I'm usually pretty good at remembering this kind of thing, but she's way more obsessive about it.

 

I witnessed someone doing this in November in Galveston.  It was heartbreaking.  I'm not sure if she ever found hers.

[nelblu]

Funny, some years ago prior to 9/11 I was traveling to Toronto Canada and as I approached Canadian Customs, I realized that I had forgotten my passport.  They allowed me in based on my DL.  However, I was concerned on way back to the States.  Called my wife and asked to Fax my passport to our Toronto office.  The faxed copy was accepted by US Customs.  Big Sigh of relief.

 

Again, this was prior to 9/11 and don't know what would have happened in today's environment

 

[poocher]

4 hours ago, Foodluvr said:

We normally drive in and stay at a hotel near the airport and then fly out the day before our cruise. We like the fact that we don't have to stress and get up super early in the morning for a first flight out in the morning. Although we live near the Atlanta airport, you never know with traffic how long it'll take to get you there and I just don't want to start off my vacation that way!

 

So we drove in to the airport on a Friday night after work and sat down at the bar to order a drink. I can't find my driver's license. I have my passport but not my license. I'm in a complete panic. I realized I had gone to the bank and didn't put it back in my wallet and it was sitting in my car in my garage. I know I could cruise without the license but I was afraid of not having it for other purposes. We drove an hour home, turned around and drove an hour back to the hotel and we were finally able to get a drink and I never used my license the entire week!

 

Fast forward next year, husband's getting on me about making sure I have my driver's license. I had had ankle surgery and was using a knee walker. We get to the hotel. We enjoy our evening and kind of laugh about the previous year's missing drivers license. Next morning it's about 5:00 a.m. we're at the park and ride waiting for the shuttle bus and I asked my husband where is my luggage? He didn't grab it. It's at home. I have only one change of clothes with me. My husband did not load my bag into the car the previous night even though it was sitting in the hallway. I didn't realize it because I couldn't carry anything. We rush home grab the bag rush back to the airport. Husband is so upset. Thankfully was the first flight out of the day and they were able to rebook us on the next flight because there was no way I was going to be able to get through security on knee walker in 20 minutes at Atlanta. Thankfully it was the first flight out in the morning and it gave us a chance to have them mimosa and breakfast before taking the next flight to Florida.

 

We are both experienced travelers. Things happen!  

 

I'm so glad Op was able to make their cruise!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is why I’ve always taught my kids that their DL/CCs all have a specific spot in their wallets.  When you take it out, it only takes a few seconds to put it back where it belongs. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen people search.  Is it in this pocket, that pocket, my coat, my purse, the car?  
 

You call it OCD, I call it put the **** thing back where it belongs! 😄😄

 

Edited December 23, 2022 by poocher

[Ferry_Watcher]

11 hours ago, D4 said:

17 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

am just gobsmacked that they will accept a photograph of a birth certificate.

Me too!  That is shocking!

 

It's just not the cruise lines accepting a photocopy of a birth certificate - it's the Customs and Border Protection Agency.  It wouldn't be done unless the Feds (CBP) approved it.  It's important to remember that these are US born citizens, going on a closed loop cruise. 

As someone who works at at cruise line pier, I can say that there are a good number passengers who are scrambling to get a copy of their birth certificate from home every cruise day.  In Seattle, we have a multi-person team just dedicated to working with these unfortunate souls.  Some make the cruise, and sadly, some don't.

[Ferry_Watcher]

2 hours ago, hollins2007 said:

 

Same!  Though curious (questioning not you specifically, just anyone that can answer)... what if you legally changed your name because of marriage?  Do you need your marriage certificate too?

With a name change due to marriage, check-in agents will look to see if your first and middle name and date of birth matches up with your birth certificate and your gov't issued photo ID (driver's license).  Rarely, if ever is a marriage certificate asked for (at least in Seattle).  Most of the check-in agents are women, so they understand. 

[nelblu]

10 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

 

It's just not the cruise lines accepting a photocopy of a birth certificate - it's the Customs and Border Protection Agency.  It wouldn't be done unless the Feds (CBP) approved it.  It's important to remember that these are US born citizens, going on a closed loop cruise. 

As someone who works at at cruise line pier, I can say that there are a good number passengers who are scrambling to get a copy of their birth certificate from home every cruise day.  In Seattle, we have a multi-person team just dedicated to working with these unfortunate souls.  Some make the cruise, and sadly, some don't.

Again, the question is why a copy or fax of a birth certificate acceptable, but not a copy of passport.  Also, the individual has Global Entry card which is as valuable as a passport with fingerprints on file with US Customs.  At same time passports do not require fingerprints.

Edited December 23, 2022 by nelblu

[Ferry_Watcher]

1 hour ago, nelblu said:

Again, the question is why a copy or fax of a birth certificate acceptable, but not a copy of passport.  Also, the individual has Global Entry card which is as valuable as a passport with fingerprints on file with US Customs.

 

Global entry doesn't indicate citizenship.  It isn't limited to US citizens.  The birth certificate exception is limited to US born citizens going on a closed loop cruise.

If a US naturalized citizen forgot their US passport, their foreign birth certificate wouldn't help them getting on the closed loop cruise.  A copy of their naturalization certificate (if they were carrying it) would be accepted.

 

 

[nelblu]

45 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

 

Global entry doesn't indicate citizenship.  It isn't limited to US citizens.  The birth certificate exception is limited to US born citizens going on a closed loop cruise.

If a US naturalized citizen forgot their US passport, their foreign birth certificate wouldn't help them getting on the closed loop cruise.  A copy of their naturalization certificate (if they were carrying it) would be accepted.

 

 

Yes, it does.  At least mine does including my photo.

[kelbell]

What a wake up call, for me. I never knew they would take a pic of BC we always

travel with PP.  You bet I will be taking a pic of BC, you never know.  I will never say,"nerver

will that happen to me'.....and I am just as crazy about checking re-checking, and 

1000x more..  LOL  Send your mom some flowers and favorite sweet!!!!

[Ferry_Watcher]

And a foreign tech worker living and working in the US who travels frequently internationally could also have a Global Entry card.  We still would not accept the Global Entry Card from that person as a stand alone form of identity/proof of citizenship. The foreign passenger would need a valid passport.  A US born citizen could use a birth certificate, an Enhanced Driver's License (not Real ID, which is different), or passport for a closed loop cruise.   If we get into the weeds for other accepted forms of travel ID, there are NEXUS cards, SENTRI cards and Tribal Cards - all generally acceptable for closed loop cruises.

As someone who checks-in passengers, we are trained on all this.  If there are questions, it goes to a supervisor, maybe two levels up.  Sometimes its the ship documentation office who is usually behind the counter with us, who makes the final decision.

 

 

[hal2008]

5 hours ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

 

Global entry doesn't indicate citizenship.  It isn't limited to US citizens.  The birth certificate exception is limited to US born citizens going on a closed loop cruise.

If a US naturalized citizen forgot their US passport, their foreign birth certificate wouldn't help them getting on the closed loop cruise.  A copy of their naturalization certificate (if they were carrying it) would be accepted.

 

 

 

Surprised that they accepted photo of bc.  They should not have.  Very easy to create a photo.

 

Also wonder why WHTI compliant Global entry of US citizen  is still not accepted?  It has lot more information than US passport 

 

First case left me really surprised 

Second case may be just case bureaucracy not catching up to it as such things happen so rarely 

 

Howany times a person will have GBE card on them (as it is not required to be in your possession) but not passport (which is required at checkin for any international trip except close end loop)

[Mum2Mercury]

Random thoughts: 

 

- I had no idea they'd accept a photograph of a birth certificate.  I'll be snapping pictures soon as an emergency back-up.  

- I have a "cruise template" with my packing list + a list of tasks we must complete before leaving the house.  I'd like to say, "Passports are on my printed list, so I'd never make this mistake", but I know that even someone as organized as I could do this same thing.  

[shofer]

22 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

Glad everything worked out, but 17 cruises in 10 years is far from being an experienced cruiser. 

That sounds experienced to me.  I have 16 cruises in 25 years and think I know the ropes.  We forgot ours once which I mentioned in an earlier posting.   Different stressors, i.e., weather, illness, etc. can supersede careful planning.

Edited December 24, 2022 by shofer