How do you keep track of your travel docs?

[Dallas_Lady]

We've never traveled outside the US so forgive my ignorance on this... but, logistically, how do you keep up with passports, birth certificates, etc. You can't exactly put them in your wallet, you know? Do you take them off the ship with you everytime you go into port? Do you bring copies incase something gets lost?

Thanks in advance!

 

[mrp4352]

I bring a copy that I leave in my suitcase and a copy of my passport that I carry ashore with me, but then the originals stay locked in my stateroom safe (along with a copy of the front and back of the credit cards I am travelling with).

You shouldn't need them in port - unless you're on an excursion that specifies it (some of the Alaska excursions cross over into Canada, so you have to have your Passport for those).

have a great cruise!!

 

[disneybeachprincess]

We put everything in the safe...we carry our KTTW card around the ship...when we visit a port, we take it & our DL with some cash...we don't carry any of our docs off the ship until we are ready to go home. Hope this helps! Happy Cruising!

 

[ludari]

Originals in safe and copy of passport on my person when visiting foreign ports.

 

[Gigi22]

We take a copy of the i.d. pages of our passports in our suitcases and leave a copy at home, in case of an emergency. We have never had to use either, but at least we aren't travelling with the originals and the only record of the passport info. on us.

 

[ravensilverlight]

We've never traveled outside the US so forgive my ignorance on this... but, logistically, how do you keep up with passports, birth certificates, etc. You can't exactly put them in your wallet, you know? Do you take them off the ship with you everytime you go into port? Do you bring copies incase something gets lost?

Thanks in advance!

I keep ALL travel documents (passports, BC, even confirmations of airline reservations) in a big manila envelope, that way when I need to present them they are all in one spot. The envelope spends my vacation in the safe of whatever accomodations I'm in.

To get off the ship in port, EACH person needs their KTTW card. Adults (over 18) ALSO need a photo ID. We bring our DLs for this. We also carry a copy of our passport ID page with us.

Also a good idea to make a copy of your passports and your itinerary information, and leave the copies with your emergency contact at home.

 

[jdb in AZ]

When we're packing, all the documents go in a zipped section of my carry-on. I line them up in order of when we'll need them. When we get on board the ship, the documents go in our safe. In port, we take our driver's licenses for I.D. as well as our KTTW cards.

 

[mellers]

We've never traveled outside the US so forgive my ignorance on this... but, logistically, how do you keep up with passports, birth certificates, etc. You can't exactly put them in your wallet, you know? Do you take them off the ship with you everytime you go into port? Do you bring copies incase something gets lost?

Thanks in advance!

I use an accordian folder with Disney stickers or characters on it. It looks (and is cheap), so it isn't a very good target of theft, and it makes it easy to find what I need. However, passports I keep in a neck wallet.

 

[kcashner]

Years ago my TA supplied a plastic folder. There are a couple of compartments. Our passports "live" in there even between trips, and whatever additional documents are needed for a particular trip are added. The case goes in a particular zippered compartment of my carry on bag.

I also carry 2 copies of the main page our our passports--one in the suitcase and one for use in ports (I know, it isn't really used, but it is with me.)

 

[Sir William]

Like others, I collect and keep all documents in a folder prior to sailing. I've several document holders from previous travels and they come in handy to hold passports and airline, hotel and cruise confirmations.

The documents stay in the cabin safe, but I carry a copy of my passport page with me when I go ashore (as I do whenever I travel abroad). I actually carry copies of all our passports, and DW does as well. The copies can't be used as a passport, but they will enable the Consulate to quickly replace them if necessary.

 

[Alexander]

Why do people carry their passports AND the birth certificates? We always travel with our passports only.

Having a copy of your passport is a good idea, we've made color copies at Staples in the past. Even better is to scan them into your computer and email them to yourself. You can access them from any computer via your email that way.

 

[coli]

Never leave the ship without my passport. On ship, important docs live in the in-room safe.

 

[Mom323]

Why do people carry their passports AND the birth certificates? We always travel with our passports only.

Having a copy of your passport is a good idea, we've made color copies at Staples in the past. Even better is to scan them into your computer and email them to yourself. You can access them from any computer via your email that way.

Never leave the ship without my passport. On ship, important docs live in the in-room safe.

We email a copy of our passports as well. If we should lose the passports it will make it easier to replace them. We also never leave the hotel or boat without our passports.

We use this to keep track of our travel documents

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/62130?feat=506684-GN2&attrValue_0=Black

And we each have one of these for when we leave the hotel or boat

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/31929?feat=203-GN1

We also bring 2 different credit cards. We leave one in the safe and take the other with us ashore. If we were robbed, it was lost or compromised in any way , we would still have the other to use.

 

[Fºoºz]

Always have done the following as everyone here in this post have indicated:

• PHOTOCOPY of our itinerary (indicating where we can be reached) and ID page of our passport with a family member / friend contact.
• RECOMMEND passport whenever you travel abroad. Not sure what requirements are for US citizens when travelling the Caribbean but a passport is a universally recognized form of id. As a result, don't recommend bringing your birth certificate with you (unless you have to).
  
• ALL travel documentation in a travel wallet (LOVE and still use the blue tri-fold wallet that Holland America use to give out with their cruise package oh so many years ago) ... an accordion folder as recommended by mellers is a great idea ... Staples or Magellans or any other travel stores should have a good collection. A ziploc bag or envelope as ravensilverlight has recommended is also great to keep all your travel receipts together in one place so it is easier to show Customs when you return with all the purchases you made from Diamonds International
  
• ALWAYS place your travel documentation in your carry-on when in transit.
• REMEMBER to check that you placed all your travel documents BACK in your travel wallet AND in your carry-on each and every time you have to take anything out, such as when you go through security or have to show your boarding pass and so forth. How many times have people seen others rushing back to security because they "lost" their boarding passes etc ... DON'T feel rushed to put your coat or shoes back on etc and take this step before you leave security.
• KEEP your carry-on with you - never hand it over to a bell-hop to take to your room or taxi driver to put in the back on the taxi or to the porters to deliver to your stateroom ...
• LOCK it up in your stateroom (or hotel room) safe.
  
• NEVER take all your credit cards with you when going out ... leave ONE DIFFERENT cc in the safe as Mom323 has wisely indicated. If you so wish, you may apply for a cc that you only use for travel purposes and with a certain pre-set limit.
  
• PHONE your credit card company before you leave to notify them that you are travelling out of country on holiday, how long etc ... they will ask you some questions. Since this will be your first time outside the country, it will prevent any red flags popping up and a possible freeze on your credit card as the issuer may believe the card may be stolen, for example if you try to buy a $5000 diamond ring in St. Thomas - anyone see a common theme here
  
• RECOMMEND leaving your passport in the safe. UNLESS otherwise indicated by the cruise line, you never have to take your passport with you when you leave the ship. The cruise card plus another form of picture id such as a Driver's Licence is usually sufficient. Losing a DL's won't cause as much hardship as losing your passport. And more importantly if you happen to lose your wallet in port or get mugged, you will still have one form of ID (along with a cc) back on the ship. I remember one port where this couple was swarmed by all these kids ... my DW spotted an attempt by one of those little urchins trying to lift the guy's wallet ... she just yelled out at them and they scooted away. Unfortunately we heard later that day, another couple was not so fortunate and lost their id/credit cards they had on them. On another cruise, a couple had left their travel bag at a restaurant with all their id/cc ... by the time they realized it and returned to the restaurant, it was gone.
  
• ALWAYS CHECK THE SAFE before you check-out of your stateroom.
• Finally, SUGGEST that you designate one person to carry all your travel documentation and be responsible for managing it. You never want to get into the " I thought you had it" or "You were suppose to remember or take care of that" scenario.

Taking these basic precautions will help ease any worries and most importantly, will help you and your family to enjoy your trip

Hope this helps.