Mark_UK Posted September 24, 2023 #1 Share Posted September 24, 2023 (edited) Sadly I just learnt that my parents have both had their passports stolen from their hotel room whilst in Athens. They are obviously distraught as due to get on Celebrity Apex on Tuesday for a once in a lifetime trip to Egypt, Israel and Turkey. They've spoke to an emergency embassy number who advised that a temporary travel document won't be accepted on a cruise. Celebrity via the phone are refusing to help as it was booked via a travel agent who are closed until tomorrow. Any advice..? do they just have to give up and come home? Edited September 24, 2023 by Mark_UK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare lv2cruisgrl Posted September 24, 2023 #2 Share Posted September 24, 2023 Wow that's sad. Hope you can get it figured out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelayne Posted September 24, 2023 #3 Share Posted September 24, 2023 Did they call the Emergency Services phone number? They may be more helpful than the general phone number. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark_UK Posted September 24, 2023 Author #4 Share Posted September 24, 2023 4 minutes ago, jelayne said: Did they call the Emergency Services phone number? They may be more helpful than the general phone number. We couldn't find an emergency number? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agape01 Posted September 24, 2023 #5 Share Posted September 24, 2023 I'm not sure whether would this help, but I found the post that was posted about celebrity emergency numbers. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2673417-celebrity-emergency-contact-phone-number/ The #5 post lists the numbers: "Here are the numbers I was given when I called Celebrity for emergency numbers: In Case of Emergency: Phone #: 1-866-755-2171 (give them your name, ship name, cabin number, and have them leave us a message) or call 1-877-266-1020 (give them the info below and they will transfer you to the ship; cost is $7.95 per minute by credit card." 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelayne Posted September 24, 2023 #6 Share Posted September 24, 2023 20 minutes ago, jelayne said: Did they call the Emergency Services phone number? They may be more helpful than the general phone number. There should be a emergency number in their e docs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xamsx Posted September 24, 2023 #7 Share Posted September 24, 2023 (edited) I see you are UK. Is there a British embassy there where they can get new passports? Edited September 24, 2023 by xamsx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark_UK Posted September 24, 2023 Author #8 Share Posted September 24, 2023 2 minutes ago, xamsx said: I see you are UK. Is there a British embassy there? Yeah they called an out of hours emergency line, but they said it's unlikely a cruise line will take a temporary travel document. They are so upset, in a strange country and not much I can do to help 😞 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WELDON Posted September 24, 2023 #9 Share Posted September 24, 2023 The British embassy should be able to issue emergency passports for travel. Can they go tomorrow in person to speak with staff? They should take their travel documents with them to prove they have travel plans. Good luck. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncgolferette Posted September 24, 2023 #10 Share Posted September 24, 2023 Please keep us posted. Hope it works out for them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwlane Posted September 24, 2023 #11 Share Posted September 24, 2023 This really has nothing to do with X. https://www.gov.uk/world/greece 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 24, 2023 #12 Share Posted September 24, 2023 (edited) About all they can hope for is to go directly to the British Embassy early on Monday. Possibly they will find a sympathetic agent. Address: Ploutarchou 1, Athina 106 75, Greece Hours: Open 24 hours Phone: +30 21 0727 2600 Many Credit Card Companies have helplines for premium cards that may also help. Not to be condescending but I hope they have travel insurance. We were on a cruise a couple years ago and someone who had a booking in the Penthouse had their passport stolen and didn't have time to get an emergency replacement at the embassy. They had to give up their dreamed vacation. On the brighter side - The ship decided to have a raffle to upgrade to the Penthouse. The tickets were relatively expensive at $50 per ticket. There was an elderly couple who were celebrating their 50th anniversary and were in an inside cabin. She bought a ticket and didn't tell her husband. It was so exciting to see her win. Edited September 24, 2023 by Jim_Iain 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwlane Posted September 24, 2023 #13 Share Posted September 24, 2023 1 minute ago, Jim_Iain said: U.S. Embassy I think they're Brits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REEtired Posted September 24, 2023 #14 Share Posted September 24, 2023 8 minutes ago, jwlane said: I think they're Brits. Hopefully they have a photocopy of their passports to show the people at the Embassy. We always travel with copies. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 24, 2023 #15 Share Posted September 24, 2023 16 minutes ago, jwlane said: I think they're Brits. I noticed that just after posting and corrected to the UK Embassy - which is open 24 hours Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RD64 Posted September 25, 2023 #16 Share Posted September 25, 2023 Which is why you should always keep a copy - or three- won’t get you on the ship but may expedite the process of getting a new one re-issued. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RD64 Posted September 25, 2023 #17 Share Posted September 25, 2023 And no offense to the OP - but I never leave a passport, cash, credit cards in a hotel room - not even in my home country of Canada. Everything goes in a slim money belt which is comfortably tucked in my underwear (sorry if TMI). I do this even on overnight flights.. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guera53 Posted September 25, 2023 #18 Share Posted September 25, 2023 They have the whole day to sort it out. Is there anyone who can call the embassy on their behalf? In the US we would call our local congress person’s office as our local representative and ask them to call on our behalf for a matter to be expedited. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgiaguy Posted September 25, 2023 #19 Share Posted September 25, 2023 2 hours ago, REEtired said: Hopefully they have a photocopy of their passports to show the people at the Embassy. We always travel with copies. Copies actually cant be accepted for anything official. At least not by US officials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare tigervixxxen Posted September 25, 2023 #20 Share Posted September 25, 2023 The embassy shouldn’t be able to speak on what celebrity will or will not accept for emergency travel documents. Why hasn’t celebrity answered this question? When is the cruise departing? They shouldn’t give up until they are turned away at the pier. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisestitch Posted September 25, 2023 #21 Share Posted September 25, 2023 Copies can’t be accepted as official but they do help make the process of getting replacement documents go a bit easier and faster. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcbiker97 Posted September 25, 2023 #22 Share Posted September 25, 2023 (edited) Hopefully they can go first thing in the morning to the UK Embassy in Athens. I’m sure you already have this, but here are some emergency numbers (hopefully they are different than what you’ve already tried) https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-athens I wish your parents luck in being able to go. We are on the cruise right after them. Edited September 25, 2023 by dcbiker97 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdn_tbird Posted September 25, 2023 #23 Share Posted September 25, 2023 3 hours ago, Mark_UK said: Sadly I just learnt that my parents have both had their passports stolen from their hotel room whilst in Athens. They are obviously distraught as due to get on Celebrity Apex on Tuesday for a once in a lifetime trip to Egypt, Israel and Turkey. They've spoke to an emergency embassy number who advised that a temporary travel document won't be accepted on a cruise. Celebrity via the phone are refusing to help as it was booked via a travel agent who are closed until tomorrow. Any advice..? do they just have to give up and come home? Hoping the best for your parents and that the British embassy can help so they don't miss their cruise. A friend of ours is in Greece right now for a family wedding and had her passport stolen. The Canadian embassy can provide her a replacement, it cost her $435 CAD which is nearly 3x what a 10 yr passport normally costs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare tigervixxxen Posted September 25, 2023 #24 Share Posted September 25, 2023 Also perhaps contact the executive office at celebrity, don’t just go by the regular customer service number which I’ve found the phone reps really don’t know much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ldtr Posted September 25, 2023 #25 Share Posted September 25, 2023 Not sure why they would say that a UK emergency passport would not be accepted for cruise. Do not know about the restrictions on their emergency passports. However with US passports an emergency passport works just fine. We are currently on a small 50 passenger ship (Elixir Elysium). One of the passengers had their passport stolen, was able to get an emergency passport good for 6 months and was able to board just fine. I would suggest having them get an emergency passport as soon as the embassy opens (they are going to beed that anyway). While they are doing that you can do more research into the nature of a UK emergency passport, when they expire and if there are any limitations that would prevent them from bring accepted by Celebrity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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