Keeping Passports with you

[madhouseinc]

I will be carrying my passport whenever I leave the ship. I remember though when my daughter took a cruise down the Rhine RIver the ship took her passport and did not return it until the cruise was over. She went through and stopped at so many different countries and was quite upset because she wanted the stamp from all the countries.

[cruzincurt]

So as you are zipping along in bumwad nowhere in the Caribbean or Mexico, in some crummy little car or tour bus, with no seat belts, questionable maintenance, on narrow roads with a driver who probably has no insurance, feel safe and secure that your passport is safely locked up in the ship's safe.

Being somewhat educated, I will decide for myself and not listen to the cruise board, the TA, the cruise line, or the Cruise Director since none of them will be there if I need help in a foreign country. If I lose my passport, I will much rather be discussing the issue with the US customs agent in Miami than at the airport in Mexico or Jamacia.

We each get to decide the issue for ourselves.

[Terpnut]

[quote name='cruzincurt']So as you are zipping along in bumwad nowhere in the Caribbean or Mexico, in some crummy little car or tour bus, with no seat belts, questionable maintenance, on narrow roads with a driver who probably has no insurance, feel safe and secure that your passport is safely locked up in the ship's safe.

Being somewhat educated, I will decide for myself and not listen to the cruise board, the TA, the cruise line, or the Cruise Director since none of them will be there if I need help in a foreign country. If I lose my passport, I will much rather be discussing the issue with the US customs agent in Miami than at the airport in Mexico or Jamacia.

We each get to decide the issue for ourselves.[/quote]Your example almost scares me more than my examples! ;) :D

[tnsail]

Excuse me, but I think that we may have lost insight to just how valuable a passport may be. Will a passport prevent you from being detained while outside the US? Nope. Just because you have a passport on you while traveling make you believe that you are not subject to the laws of that country that you are visiting? Nope. Will having that passport get you back on the ship without a ship sail and sign or whatever? Nope.

The passport is a form of ID, granted it is a form from the federal government, but it is still just a form of ID. In 100% of the countries that a cruise ship ports at the local police and government officials know that it is there. The cruise lines have made arrangements with the local governments and are aware of any visa requirements that are needed for that government.

The need to carry a passport in each country is up to that country and that country alone. You are not going to be an safer because you have the orginial than you are gonna be if you have a photocopy. If for some reason you are detained and miss the boat your gonna get to make a little jaunt to your consulat anyway cause the local government is gonna want to know how you got into their country without a visa stamp on your passport?

But carrying the passport with you is a personal choice. Like it has been said on this thread, if you lose it in Mexico I think that it would be a wee bit easier explaining it in Miami when the US government won't let you in...

[Terpnut]

[quote name='tnsail']Excuse me, but I think that we may have lost insight to just how valuable a passport may be. Will a passport prevent you from being detained while outside the US? Nope. Just because you have a passport on you while traveling make you believe that you are not subject to the laws of that country that you are visiting? Nope. Will having that passport get you back on the ship without a ship sail and sign or whatever? Nope.[/quote]Nobody made these assertions in the first place so what's the point?

[quote name='tnsail']The passport is a form of ID, granted it is a form from the federal government, but it is still just a form of ID. In 100% of the countries that a cruise ship ports at the local police and government officials know that it is there. The cruise lines have made arrangements with the local governments and are aware of any visa requirements that are needed for that government. [/quote]As you pointed out yourself, a passport is an official form of ID so it's important and useful for much more than just getting in and out of a country. As an official ID, it should be carried with you when overseas.

[quote name='tnsail']The need to carry a passport in each country is up to that country and that country alone.[/quote]Requirements for lawful entry by foreigners are indeed made by each country, but the BURDEN and RESPONSIBILITY of proving your identity and citizenship, and protecting one's self while you are on their soil is on YOU. Thus the need to carry a passport is not up to that country but up to you.

[quote name='tnsail']You are not going to be an safer because you have the orginial than you are gonna be if you have a photocopy.[/quote]If you believe this, then you should carry only photocopies of your driver's license, credit cards and other official documents in your wallet or purse from now on, and then see how far that gets you in life. As for safety, if you reread some of the earlier posts, specific (and legitimate) examples have been cited where a foreign national could get into trouble and where you would need your passport (and not a photocopy).
[quote name='tnsail']If for some reason you are detained and miss the boat your gonna get to make a little jaunt to your consulat anyway cause the local government is gonna want to know how you got into their country without a visa stamp on your passport? [/quote]Visas are not required to enter most countries, especially those in the Caribbean. If you entered that country without a visa, then you didn't need it in the first place! Again the main reason to carry the passport is to prove your identity and citizenship in special situation when you NEED to. Of course the photocopy will help facilitate getting a replacement passport if that need arises, but that is the only value to a photocopy--not as a substitute passport!

[quote name='tnsail']But carrying the passport with you is a personal choice. Like it has been said on this thread, if you lose it in Mexico I think that it would be a wee bit easier explaining it in Miami when the US government won't let you in...[/quote]Yes, it's a choice. And hopefully you choose to carry it. Again, worrying about the possibility of losing a passport is just an excuse or possible inconvenience and not a REASON to not carry it.

[BobBeaSea]

A passport is a travel document. A birth certifate is also a travel document. There is no Holy Grail of documents although a passport satisfies most.

Pazzportz Puleeze!!!

[pwillmo]

Okay, I am a little slow at this so please don't flame me..
This will be our third cruise and we have never had the cruise ship take our passports.. Granted we have cruised the carribean and alaska. This time we are gonig to Rotan, Costa Maya, and Belieze. I was wondering if we needed to take them on our excursions.. We have always made copies and kept the orginial in the safe...Are these places that I would need to carry them???
Thanks

[Terpnut]

[quote name='pwillmo']Okay, I am a little slow at this so please don't flame me..
This will be our third cruise and we have never had the cruise ship take our passports.. Granted we have cruised the carribean and alaska. This time we are gonig to Rotan, Costa Maya, and Belieze. I was wondering if we needed to take them on our excursions.. We have always made copies and kept the orginial in the safe...Are these places that I would need to carry them???
Thanks[/quote]Please read the entire thread because just about alll the pros and cons have been debated at nauseum. My central point has been consistent: As the only official document that proves your identity and citizenship (no, a photocopy is not the same), there are no valid reasons for choosing not to carry your passport whenever you set foot on foreign soil.

[Cruisin'Kim]

[quote name='agabbymama']BobBeaSea,


I have traveled all over Europe, Australia, and the Caribbean, and only one hotel in Italy wanted to keep our passports. I said no thanks, and moved on to another hotel. At home I wouldn't give my driver's license to anyone to hold for me, so when I travel that passport stays with me. Don't think I would take a cruise if that was a consideration either.[/quote]

Good thing you are an American Citizen, or you would never cruise!!

We have been on two cruises, both in the Caribbean, one with Celebrity and one with RCI.

On the Celebrity cruise, there was a problem at the port authority building in Nassau, and proof of citizenship was required for anyone wanting to go through the building and onto the ship (very big military person with machine gun was checking). We showed our PHOTOCOPY of our passport, and that was sufficient to go through without any problem, however the young men after us were americans and didn't have any identification on them - they were detained.

On the RCI cruise, my husband lost his Sea Pass in the ocean when we were in Cozumel. Before walking down the pier, we were stopped and asked to see our Sea Passes - when my husband explained that he had lost his, the PHOTOCOPY of our passport was, again, accepted as proof. We were escorted back to the ship so that they could ensure that my husband was indeed a passenger, and not being smuggled on by me! In Costa Maya, our taxi was stopped in the middle of the street when heading back to the ship from the village by military personnel, the cab driver seemed aggitated when this happened, and as they hurried towards the vehicle just kept saying Sea Pas! Sea Pass! (instructing us to get our sea passes out quickly). We were all required to show our sea passes, but wasn't asked to show proof of citizenship of any country.

I can't speak for other areas as we have only sailed the caribbean, but these ports cater to the ships, and generally are very co-operative in regards to identification, and if we were arrested......I don't think that any passport is going to do much good if you have violated another countries laws.

As Canadians, we aren't able to bring our original passports with us, and I truly don't believe it is a problem, as long as we have a photocopy. That's just my two cents, just as everyone else has given theirs. Having said that, I believe you should do whatever makes you feel comfortable so that you can simply enjoy your cruise!

Happy cruising everyone!

Kim.

[LHT28]

[quote=Cruisin'Kim]
As Canadians, we aren't able to bring our original passports with us, and I truly don't believe it is a problem, as long as we have a photocopy. That's just my two cents, just as everyone else has given theirs. Having said that, I believe you should do whatever makes you feel comfortable so that you can simply enjoy your cruise!

Happy cruising everyone!

Kim.[/quote]

You can ask the purser for your passports but you need to turn them back in for the next port of call. They usually keep them so they can clear customs faster.
We have done this on a cruise .
Most of the time we don't though it just depends on the port.
The only place we needed them was in Russia.

[CleoPat]

I would imagine a Cruise Ship is like a Hotel. I've visited a lot of countries in Europe and the Middle East where the Hotel keeps your passport. You are not walking around with it. If there is any problem, you just tell them what hotel (cruise ship) you are in and there is your passport! I would rather the hotel hold it for me than to risk having it stolen. Besides, most times you are off the ship you are on an excursion and I doubt if any police are going to stop tourists on an excursion to ask for I.D. Tourism is their bread and butter. So the only time you might find yourself in that situation is if you go off the beaten path or do something illegal. Again, just tell them the cruise ship and your passport will be given to the authorities. A copy is good to have with you just in case you miss the ship and need to go to the embassy to get a new one quicker.

[ciderapple]

We're UK citizens living over here on visas.

I'm certainly not happy about the cruise ship holding onto our passports, I want them to be in our possession at all times.

I have read the WHole thread, but I am still confused as to why the cruise ship would try to keep our passports for the cruise duration.

I assume I can refuse? There's nothing in our doc's warning us of this!

[Terpnut]

[quote name='ciderapple']We're UK citizens living over here on visas.

I'm certainly not happy about the cruise ship holding onto our passports, I want them to be in our possession at all times.

I have read the WHole thread, but I am still confused as to why the cruise ship would try to keep our passports for the cruise duration.

I assume I can refuse? There's nothing in our doc's warning us of this![/quote]There's really no good reason for any hotel or cruise line to hold your passport. It's rationalized for their convenience to ensure certain foreign nationals will be able to clear immigration/customs. But I agree--don't give up your passport without a fight!

[Terpnut]

[quote name='CleoPat']I would imagine a Cruise Ship is like a Hotel. I've visited a lot of countries in Europe and the Middle East where the Hotel keeps your passport. You are not walking around with it. If there is any problem, you just tell them what hotel (cruise ship) you are in and there is your passport! I would rather the hotel hold it for me than to risk having it stolen. Besides, most times you are off the ship you are on an excursion and I doubt if any police are going to stop tourists on an excursion to ask for I.D. Tourism is their bread and butter. So the only time you might find yourself in that situation is if you go off the beaten path or do something illegal. Again, just tell them the cruise ship and your passport will be given to the authorities. A copy is good to have with you just in case you miss the ship and need to go to the embassy to get a new one quicker.[/quote]A cruise ship is NOT like a hotel! A hotel doesn't move from country to country, but a cruise ship does and thus your travel situation (and its associated risks) changes every day. You may disembark and reembark your ship at different ports of call, and you MAY very well need your identity credentials to do so. If you've read the entire thread, some of us have spelled out very real and specific risks of NOT having your passport while traveling about in a foreign country.

And I will repeat: No, a copy of a passport is NOT the same thing as having your original passport. Do you drive carrying only a copy of your driver's license? Do you use photocopy of your credit card to buy stuff at the store? If so, then we could all just lock up the originals of key documents and cards and just use photocopies! Of course, nobody does this. So keep copies for backup or recovery purposes but don't kid yourself--they are NOT a substitute for the original document when it's needed for its primary and most important purpose--authenticating your identity and citizenry!

[CleoPat]

[quote name='Terpnut']A cruise ship is NOT like a hotel! A hotel doesn't move from country to country, but a cruise ship does and thus your travel situation (and its associated risks) changes every day. You may disembark and reembark your ship at different ports of call, and you MAY very well need your identity credentials to do so. If you've read the entire thread, some of us have spelled out very real and specific risks of NOT having your passport while traveling about in a foreign country. And no, a copy of a passport is NOT the same thing as having your original passport. Do you drive carrying only a copy of your driver's license? Do you carry a copy of your credit card to buy stuff at the store? If these are possible then we could all just keep originals of key documents and cards locked up and just carry copies! Of course, you can't do that!

Second.[/quote]

Sorry, but I beg to differ with you. A cruise ship IS a hotel. Mode of transportation makes no difference. You can be on a bus tour of Europe and while you are on the bus you have your passport, but as soon as your tour checks into a hotel, the hotel keeps the passport. I was told that it is the law in certain countries. The police want it that way. We had no choice then either. Your copy is just temporary proof until you get your REAL passport. You are not USING it as a passport, i.e. copy of credit card or driver's license. I have read this entire thread and thought the arguments a little silly. Hotels or cruise ships will be holding your passport for safekeeping. Unless you are stopped for doing something illegal, there's no need to worry about having your passport on you. Maybe in the old days in communist countries where you have to show your "papers" but not in today's world. Your SeaPass is proof that you have provided all your proof of citizenship papers to the cruiseline, otherwise you wouldn't have a SeaPass. The cruise line will provide your passport to the authorities if needed.

[Terpnut]

[quote name='CleoPat']Sorry, but I beg to differ with you. A cruise ship IS a hotel. Mode of transportation makes no difference. You can be on a bus tour of Europe and while you are on the bus you have your passport, but as soon as your tour checks into a hotel, the hotel keeps the passport. I was told that it is the law in certain countries. The police want it that way. We had no choice then either. Your copy is just temporary proof until you get your REAL passport. You are not USING it as a passport, i.e. copy of credit card or driver's license. I have read this entire thread and thought the arguments a little silly. Hotels or cruise ships will be holding your passport for safekeeping. Unless you are stopped for doing something illegal, there's no need to worry about having your passport on you. Maybe in the old days in communist countries where you have to show your "papers" but not in today's world. Your SeaPass is proof that you have provided all your proof of citizenship papers to the cruiseline, otherwise you wouldn't have a SeaPass. The cruise line will provide your passport to the authorities if needed.[/quote]You're taking a big chance in trusting a cruise line to act on your behalf if you should encounter trouble in a foreign country. Your passport is your unique form of identification and proof of citizenry. It is meant to be carried with you and not locked up in a hotel room. I am not personally aware of any hotel or cruise line that requires a US citizen to forfeit their passport, but even if one did, I simply wouldn't patronize them due to the risk reasons I've cited previously. Again, if they do this, you must understand it is for their convenience and it is definitely not done in your best interest. Why would anyone allow them to do this?

As for the SeaPass, it's only useful for reboarding the ship and proves NOTHING to a foreign official. The primary purpose of this thread is to answer the question as to whether one needs to carry their passport while walking around in a foreign country and my answer is unequivocally "YES"! It is your choice not to and MOST of the time you will be fine. But, as I've pointed out clearly, there are numerous possible situations you can get into where you will need your passport, and pointing out that it's locked up on the ship or in the hotel won't buy you dinner in the jailhouse! If you think Royal Caribbean or any other cruiseline will come and deliver your passport, you are truly an optimist! More likely, the ship will have long sailed without you.

As for "today's world", the trend is not in the opposite direction of what you speak. Borders are tightening and, depending on your citizenry, it is becoming more perilous to travel. It won't stop me from doing so, but I personally won't set foot anywhere away from US soil without my passport on my body, anymore than I would drive without my driver's license.

[CleoPat]

[quote name='Terpnut']You're taking a big chance in trusting a cruise line to act on your behalf if you should encounter trouble in a foreign country. Your passport is your unique form of identification and proof of citizenry. It is meant to be carried with you and not locked up in a hotel room. I am not personally aware of any hotel or cruise line that requires a US citizen to forfeit their passport, but even if one did, I simply wouldn't patronize them due to the risk reasons I've cited previously. Again, if they do this, you must understand it is for their convenience and it is definitely not done in your best interest. Why would anyone allow them to do this?

As for the SeaPass, it's only useful for reboarding the ship and proves NOTHING to a foreign official. The primary purpose of this thread is to answer the question as to whether one needs to carry their passport while walking around in a foreign country and my answer is unequivocally "YES"! It is your choice not to and MOST of the time you will be fine. But, as I've pointed out clearly, there are numerous possible situations you can get into where you will need your passport, and pointing out that it's locked up on the ship or in the hotel won't buy you dinner in the jailhouse! If you think Royal Caribbean or any other cruiseline will come and deliver your passport, you are truly an optimist! More likely, the ship will have long sailed without you.

As for "today's world", the trend is not in the opposite direction of what you speak. Borders are tightening and, depending on your citizenry, it is becoming more perilous to travel. It won't stop me from doing so, but I personally won't set foot anywhere away from US soil without my passport on my body, anymore than I would drive without my driver's license.[/quote]

In this day and age I am more worried about my passport being stolen. They are very valuable to some people if you know what I mean. Besides, you seem to be very paranoid. Unless you plan on being somewhere you shouldn't be and think you'll be picked up for something, there's no need to worry about having your passport with you. I'd rather have it locked up on the ship. If someone pickpockets you or takes my bag -- there goes the passport!

[ciderapple]

[quote name='CleoPat']In this day and age I am more worried about my passport being stolen. They are very valuable to some people if you know what I mean. Besides, you seem to be very paranoid. Unless you plan on being somewhere you shouldn't be and think you'll be picked up for something, there's no need to worry about having your passport with you. I'd rather have it locked up on the ship. If someone pickpockets you or takes my bag -- there goes the passport![/quote]

I disagree with you. I am a UK citizen living in the USA and I have carried my passport around with me for the past 2 years.

Call me paranoid if you wish, but certainly in my first few weeks of living in the USA I was treated with suspicion and contempt a few times for being "foreign" and for not having a social security card. This is despite the fact that we are a British military family here on Nato visas. It is a very insecure feeling and one that I would not wish on anybody. After this experience I will certainly carry it with me at all times in the Caribbean. We have copies with us in our house at all times and I will take copies to put in the safe in our cabin.

My passport is my lifeline, should an emergency arise in my home country, I will not give my passport to anybody without a fight.

Your ship could easily be missed due to circumstances beyond your control.

[CleoPat]

[quote name='ciderapple']I disagree with you. I am a UK citizen living in the USA and I have carried my passport around with me for the past 2 years.

Call me paranoid if you wish, but certainly in my first few weeks of living in the USA I was treated with suspicion and contempt a few times for being "foreign" and for not having a social security card. This is despite the fact that we are a British military family here on Nato visas. It is a very insecure feeling and one that I would not wish on anybody. After this experience I will certainly carry it with me at all times in the Caribbean. We have copies with us in our house at all times and I will take copies to put in the safe in our cabin.

My passport is my lifeline, should an emergency arise in my home country, I will not give my passport to anybody without a fight.

Your ship could easily be missed due to circumstances beyond your control.[/quote]

That may be because you were "living" in the USA and doing things that a tourist wouldn't be doing. I'm talking about going on tours. Why would you need your passport to go on a tour!? The trick to travelling is sticking to the tourist area and not put yourself in a position of needing your passport. I have never been asked for my passport anywhere and I've traveled the world. I don't know anyone who has ever been asked for their passport.

[ciderapple]

[quote name='CleoPat']That may be because you were "living" in the USA and doing things that a tourist wouldn't be doing. I'm talking about going on tours. Why would you need your passport to go on a tour!? The trick to travelling is sticking to the tourist area and not put yourself in a position of needing your passport. I have never been asked for my passport anywhere and I've traveled the world. I don't know anyone who has ever been asked for their passport.[/quote]

Well, you'd need it if you missed your ship!

I am not saying I was asked for my passport at those times. I am trying to describe the feeling I had at the time when i was treated the way I was and how just having my passport in my bag made me feel alot better!

It is very difficult to explain what I mean, but I know what I mean and that is why i will carry my passport.

Before my experience of moving out here, I would probably have agreed with you.

[ciderapple]

Plus, I don't necessarily want to stick to the tourist areas, I like to get off the beaten track and experience the real place :)

[Terpnut]

CleoPat --You think I'm paranoid but I consider myself prepared. I honestly think you are being very complacent and naive about international travel. I personally don't undertand why anyone would voluntarily choose to safeguard a (replaceable) passport document over carrying it to provide you with the protections the U.S. State Dept intended. But that is totally your choice as long as you understand and accept the very real risks (however unlikely) that people encounter while travelling internationally. You can reduce your risks by staying on tours and staying in "tourist" areas, but you are deluding yourself if you think that you don't face risks and that you are okay without your passport whereever you might be walking! The main problem with your argument is the concept that, as a traveler, you actually know when you will need your passport and when you won't. This is a rationalization. Like other identity credentials, the passport is intended to be carried on your person. It is there when you need it but you can't possibly know when that will happen. Someone posted earlier, "you don't need your passport, until you need it". Well said.

[johnql]

We're just going around in circles at this point. I happen to agree with Terpnut and ciderapple, but obviously not everyone does.

Bottom line: each individual has to weigh the risks of each scenario and decide which risks are worth tolerating. Having the passport provides clear, indisputable proof of citizenship and makes it a lot easier to travel to the next port (or home) if necessary BUT bears the risk of being lost or stolen. Not having the passport leaves you in a tough spot if you miss the ship for whatever reason. Getting it replaced may not be all that difficult but finding, getting to, and dealing with an embassy or consulate is still a hassle any way you look at it.

[Terpnut]

[quote name='johnql']We're just going around in circles at this point. I happen to agree with Terpnut and ciderapple, but obviously not everyone does.

Bottom line: each individual has to weigh the risks of each scenario and decide which risks are worth tolerating. Having the passport provides clear, indisputable proof of citizenship and makes it a lot easier to travel to the next port (or home) if necessary BUT bears the risk of being lost or stolen. Not having the passport leaves you in a tough spot if you miss the ship for whatever reason. Getting it replaced may not be all that difficult but finding, getting to, and dealing with an embassy or consulate is still a hassle any way you look at it.[/quote]John, you're right. I don't know why I keep getting sucked into this over and over again. :rolleyes: :D

I just wish people would understand that their passport isn't something that should be coddled and protected itself, but rather an important credential meant to protect YOU! I just cannot understand why people choose to stick it in a safe where it can't help you when you most need it! Okay, I'm done now... :)

[cruzincurt]

Terpnut, As stated earlier on this issue the passport goes with me.

However, on the cruise last week, I actually saw some people walking around with a clear plastic holder strung around their necks with the passport showing. Now that's just plain stupid.