RamblingRandie Posted April 11, 2018 Report Share Posted April 11, 2018 So I have been on 8 previous cruises and I have always been told to leave my passport on the ship because you don't want to lose it. I've also heard if you miss the boat that they will go into your safe and remove your passport and leave it with a pier agent. I have never stressed about it because so far I have always either done a ship excursion or just walked around the port. But recently I have seen a lot more chatter about this topic and people seem very opinionated on both sides of this debate. So I wonder what everyone here does? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted April 11, 2018 Report Share Posted April 11, 2018 We leave it in the safe unless the Cruise compass say that a certain port requires photo ID. If so, then we bring it. Skid and Orchids 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiny260 Posted April 11, 2018 Report Share Posted April 11, 2018 3 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said: We leave it in the safe unless the Cruise compass say that a certain port requires photo ID. If so, then we bring it. I agree, I had never taken mine on shore with us either, until last October I was on Allure and I noticed the Cruise Compass said to take it with you. There was even signage at the disembarkation area that said you would need your Sea Pass card and a photo ID. I remember one stop I had to provide it to get through the Security check point and another stop never asked to see it. So I think it is really still hit and miss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest toodle68 Posted April 11, 2018 Report Share Posted April 11, 2018 There was a time when I would never set foot on 'foreign' soil without my passport and a credit card.. the last couple of cruises we have paid more attention to what the cruise compass says, but always take a photo ID regardless (drivers license). If we were going to a country outside of the Caribbean, then I would likely take the passport. No idea if they go into your room and open the safe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melski94 Posted April 11, 2018 Report Share Posted April 11, 2018 We take private excursions so I bring our passports with us. If we are walking just around the pier, I probably would not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flacruiser99 Posted April 11, 2018 Report Share Posted April 11, 2018 I always leave my passport on the ship unless required to have ashore. I definitely have seen many folks who have either lost or had their passport stolen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skid Posted April 11, 2018 Report Share Posted April 11, 2018 3 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said: We leave it in the safe unless the Cruise compass say that a certain port requires photo ID. If so, then we bring it. 3 hours ago, tiny260 said: I agree, I had never taken mine on shore with us either, until last October I was on Allure and I noticed the Cruise Compass said to take it with you. There was even signage at the disembarkation area that said you would need your Sea Pass card and a photo ID. I remember one stop I had to provide it to get through the Security check point and another stop never asked to see it. So I think it is really still hit and miss. Doesn't a driver's license still work as photo ID? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted April 11, 2018 Report Share Posted April 11, 2018 24 minutes ago, Skid said: Doesn't a driver's license still work as photo ID? I don't know actually. When we cruise, hubby drives to the airport and I sometimes don't even bring my driver's license. We travel with as few cards as possible. Skid 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
function12 Posted April 11, 2018 Report Share Posted April 11, 2018 We bring our passport cards ashore. Not sure if they country we are visiting will accept them or not but I figure better than nothing. Plus they are a lot more water resistant than our passports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayley_bopp Posted April 11, 2018 Report Share Posted April 11, 2018 Always take passports in case we don't make it back to the ship for any reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooch Posted April 11, 2018 Report Share Posted April 11, 2018 I have been wondering the same thing. Technically on a closed loop cruise (out & into the same US port) to the Caribbean, you don’t need a passport at all correct? The arguments for the passport all seem to center around having to get home from the destination if you miss the ship. Well if i leave my passport on board and i’m still on land, what good does it do me??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephanie Posted April 11, 2018 Report Share Posted April 11, 2018 I always take ours on shore. I have never heard they will go into your safe. And, I mean - really? They're already late b/c you missed the boarding time & they're going to go into your stateroom, open your safe and leave your passport w/ a pier agent? Hmm.... I don't think I want to risk it. Besides, what happens if you missed the ship b/c you ended up hospitalized? Who's going back to the pier to get your passport? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooch Posted April 11, 2018 Report Share Posted April 11, 2018 What she said! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLGooner Posted April 11, 2018 Report Share Posted April 11, 2018 US Drivers License counts as Photo ID when getting off in locations where Compass says you need picture ID. However last 5 times we've done this they've never checked it. If I'm going on a private trip we take Passports, otherwise they stay in the safe. Orchids 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mworkman Posted April 11, 2018 Report Share Posted April 11, 2018 I leave passport in the ships safe and bring my phone with me that has a pic of my passport info. HeWhoWaits, Boston Babe and whitsmom 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galveston Steve Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 (edited) Remember, you are in a foreign country. If you miss the ship for any reason (taxi or bus breaks down, you get injured or ill, get arrested, stuck in traffic, or any other delay) you can’t leave the country without a passport. I always use a passport (even though a birth certificate or passport card is acceptable to board a Caribbean cruise) and I always carry my passport ashore. Otherwise your day goes from bad to worse while you wade through the red tape of getting out of the country. Also, you can not use a passport card for air travel, so if all you have is a passport card and you miss the ship, you can NOT just board the next flight off the island... and if they won’t accept a valid passport card at the airport, what do you think they will say when you show them your phone with a photo of your passport... or a paper copy? At least with a passport you have a chance to catch a flight to the next port and resume your cruise instead of waiting for a day or two to get a replacement. Edited April 14, 2018 by Galveston Steve Added passport card info. Matt and whenismynextcruise 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooch Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 See that was my thought. What good is a passport if its on the ship and you arent?!?! Bob_KY, Matt and Galveston Steve 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeWhoWaits Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 13 hours ago, mworkman said: I leave passport in the ships safe and bring my phone with me that has a pic of my passport info. Thanks for the idea. We have always carried paper copies of our passports separate from the passports as backup. The picture on the phone is a great way to do this! Just be sure to secure that photo with a password or other lock. Orchids 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooch Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 So if you get stuck in port, the authorities are going to accept a picture of your passport? Why bring it at all then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeWhoWaits Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 Just now, Pooch said: So if you get stuck in port, the authorities are going to accept a picture of your passport? Why bring it at all then? A copy/photo of the main page makes getting a replacement from the U.S. Embassy much easier. whitsmom, Orchids and mworkman 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mworkman Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 You can get a replacement at the Embassy in a day without the stress of losing it or having it stolen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jticarruthers Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 We leave the passports in the safe and carry the passport cards generally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooch Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 I don’t know guys, and certainly you have WAY more experience with this, i feel like my drivers license, my CC, my phone and my passport should be with me whenever i leave the cocoon of the ship. Guess i’ll just have to think on it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henrysea13 Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 14 hours ago, mworkman said: I leave passport in the ships safe and bring my phone with me that has a pic of my passport info. I have always carried my passport with me without it you could find yourself at the mercy of senior law enforcement believe it or not the only problem I have ever had was on labadee with there secret police ha ha just kidding he was there customs I guess he thought I was being smart with him when he wanted to look under my wheel chair bound 13 yr old daughters butt I made some comment don't even remember what I said and I got the dreaded do you think this is a joke speech well I quickly appoligized and we were on our way I have a feeling this could have gotten much worse in the future I believe I will try the passport on the phone method after I clear it with US customs after my next port visit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitsmom Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 15 hours ago, mworkman said: I leave passport in the ships safe and bring my phone with me that has a pic of my passport info. This is what we do too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest toodle68 Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 At the end of the day, it's all about your level of risk and which country you are visiting. Worse case is that you are stuck in a foreign country for several days as opposed to driving to the airport and catching the next plane out. A photo of your passport is unlikely to get you through an airport. Drivers licenses and even passport cards have limited uses depending on the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 36 minutes ago, toodle68 said: At the end of the day, it's all about your level of risk and which country you are visiting. Exactly, well said. Lindsay 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooch Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 True, and having no experience in this area (been to Canada and Bermuda when no passport needed) I will probably err on the side of my stuff stays with me. Lindsay 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbk999 Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 I err on the side of caution and take them with me (in a zipped up shorts pocket). Much like travel insurance, you may take 20 trips w/o it with no issue, but the one time you need it, you really need it. Lindsay 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Woody Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 On 2018-04-11 at 10:40 AM, Lovetocruise2002 said: We leave it in the safe unless the Cruise compass say that a certain port requires photo ID. If so, then we bring it. What kind of photo ID for kids ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 Just now, J. Woody said: What kind of photo ID for kids ?? When it says Photo ID we bring our passports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindsay Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 On 4/11/2018 at 9:40 AM, Lovetocruise2002 said: We leave it in the safe unless the Cruise compass say that a certain port requires photo ID. If so, then we bring it. We do the same. Lovetocruise2002 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhageerah Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 We have a small travel safe that we keep our important stuff in when we go ashore. It locks around something so if we are on a beach and decide to go into the water we do not have to sweat leaving our stuff on the beach. Its not enough to deter a career and seasoned criminal but its enough for most. I try to lock it around a lounger that we are in and cover it with my towel and book bag. That being said, we carry ours with us for the most part, and leave them in the travel safe with the cash we bring onshore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooch Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 can you post a picture of this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mworkman Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 5 minutes ago, Pooch said: can you post a picture of this? Sure ? Orchids, One72pilot, FLGooner and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mworkman Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 You can pick one of these up at a reasonable price. https://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_859607_-1?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-fqO8cC12gIVBolpCh10GAG6EAQYAiABEgJSiPD_BwE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooch Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 PERFECT!!! That will absolutely fit in my travel bag!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhageerah Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 Here you go @Pooch, this is the exact model we use, there is a steel braid cable that is wrapped around it so you can attach it to something, only costs about $19 on Amazon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooch Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhageerah Posted April 12, 2018 Report Share Posted April 12, 2018 Just know that the picture is somewhat deceptive as to the amount you will be able to fit in there, its perfect for a small cell phone, two passports and some cash. You will be able to fit some small items in there after that but not much. IMHO its perfect and unobtrusive in size, unless it is a very small camera you will not be able to fit it in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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