Lew Rosengrant Posted February 6, 2023 Report Share Posted February 6, 2023 Going on Harmony and booked an RC Excursion to Discovery Bay at our Falmouth Port stop. Wondering if the passports should stay in the stateroom safe or go with us? I know that in the unlikely event that we aren't on the boat when it leaves, RC staff should hand over ID's to the local port, and that we are even more unlikely to miss the boat since it is a RC organized excursion. Most naysayers to leaving it in the safe say things like "it's a foreign country and I wouldn't trust anyone to get my things in an emergency..." The opposing camp would say, "it's more likely your passports will get stolen on an excursion, and you should only need your sea pass card, maybe a drivers license and if you want, take a photocopy of your passport..." I think I'm in the "leave it in the stateroom safe" camp, any thoughts? Also any first hand experience of the Discovery Bay Excursion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted February 6, 2023 Report Share Posted February 6, 2023 It's a very Hatfield vs. McCoy question. Half will say "always take it with you" and half will say "always leave it in your safe" 14Terry and Neesa 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xaa Posted February 6, 2023 Report Share Posted February 6, 2023 You pretty much summed up how the thread is going to go @Lew Rosengrant. I'm in the camp that I have the documentation for travel to foreign countries and so I have it with me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yo2slick Posted February 6, 2023 Report Share Posted February 6, 2023 I take my passport card with me and leave the passport in the safe. I also have a waterproof pouch that I wear around my inner waistband so if someone were to steal my belongings, they are going to have to get into my pants to do so. I can even swim and snorkel with everything on me and it stays dry. jbrinkm, ChessE4, Keanoknick and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobroo Posted February 6, 2023 Report Share Posted February 6, 2023 There are a bunch of RCBlog Cruising Best Practices and High Recommendations. IMO, at the top of that list ls obtain a passport. #2 should be take a picture on your phone of the picture page of that passport before you leave on your trip. That image will be enough to get you out of any type diplomatic trouble a person could get themselves into while they are on a Royal Caribbean excursion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zacharius Posted February 6, 2023 Report Share Posted February 6, 2023 In this case, I would bring a copy of the passport info page plus a drivers license or other government issued photo ID while leaving the full passport on the ship. I have shown up at an embassy with those two things and been let in when I needed to be, though as always YMMV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mturk Posted February 6, 2023 Report Share Posted February 6, 2023 The only time we brought the passport with us was last summer when we went to Israel because it was required to enter. Otherwise I'm in the keep it in the safe camp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireFishII Posted February 6, 2023 Report Share Posted February 6, 2023 While I have never experience it myself, I have been told that if you are going to miss the ship, the cruise personal will remove your passport from the safe and hand it over to the port authority. If my shore excursion is going to include the beach or swimming, I usually only take my driver's license. Otherwise I take my passport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted February 6, 2023 Report Share Posted February 6, 2023 I’m team #leaveyourpassportontheship ChessE4, BrianB, Neesa and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChessE4 Posted February 6, 2023 Report Share Posted February 6, 2023 My first cruise the Caribbean I took my passport, and I believe my wife and young son kept theirs in the safe. Wouldn't you know, our motorboat excursion hit choppy waves off Dominican Republic as a squall moved through the bay. Then the outboard engine died. We were all soaked with seawater. I almost ruined my passport. Fortunately, the crew restarted the outboard and we made it to the pier. Now I always leave my passport on the ship. I do like to use my Passport Card as ID. In the end, the State Department has everything in the computer, so what I really need in an emergency is a good credit card "just in case". Yo2slick 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted February 6, 2023 Report Share Posted February 6, 2023 I'm team "take it with you" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BennyandBo Posted February 6, 2023 Report Share Posted February 6, 2023 I'll kind of split the difference. If on a Royal Caribbean excursion I would just leave passport on ship. They won't leave 50 to 100 to 150 passengers behind, so no need to worry on that front. We've waited 4 extra hours to depart because of late excursions still not back. Now traveling on your own, I would take it. That's what it's for. KJones 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexanTwoStep Posted February 7, 2023 Report Share Posted February 7, 2023 I usually carry my passport (book) to the ship, and then carry my passport card with me. I know it's not good for air travel, but at least the embassy has something to work with if I do end up having to stay in country for some reason. Yo2slick 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zacharius Posted February 7, 2023 Report Share Posted February 7, 2023 20 hours ago, Mturk said: The only time we brought the passport with us was last summer when we went to Israel because it was required to enter. Otherwise I'm in the keep it in the safe camp. That is a good point. There are countries that are very much "have you passport with you at all times, by law" kinds of places. Definitely good to know which ones those are and follow the laws as needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psycho and Barb Posted February 7, 2023 Report Share Posted February 7, 2023 Ours stays in the safe unless required for an excursion...Like going into Canada on an Alaska cruise tour. We do have pictures of ours on our phone but not sure of what good they would be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireFishII Posted February 7, 2023 Report Share Posted February 7, 2023 3 hours ago, Psycho and Barb said: Ours stays in the safe unless required for an excursion...Like going into Canada on an Alaska cruise tour. We do have pictures of ours on our phone but not sure of what good they would be. That is a great idea. I would carry a paper copy of the front page of my passport. Having a paper copy or a photo will have the embassy as long as your passport # is readable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kristinem Posted February 7, 2023 Report Share Posted February 7, 2023 So I am a newbie to cruising but not to traveling. I have both a passport and a passport card to make life simple and because you just never know when you need an extra form of ID. Being female, pockets suck and I do not like to carry purses because they are just too easy to be stolen. So for ports/traveling I carry my passport card. For clothing I wear a skort that has a rear zip pocket in the small of my back that keeps my credit card and my passport card. It's virtually impossible to pickpocket because a, noone knows its there and b. you have to lift my top, unzip the pocket and unwedge the cards out. Call me paranoid but it works for me. EFHUTTON/AmericanExpress Never travel without it. lol But if I'm in a pinch I have ID and money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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