Mediterranean Passport Question

[MICKEEP]

Should we always carry our actual passport when on shore or should we just take a copy and leave the original in our room safe?

 

[PsylockeSmythe]

We carried ours when we went in 2018. I had an undershirt pouch that we kept them in and only pulled them out when we got on or off the boat and went through customs.

Psy

 

[sheilafri]

We have always just taken a phone photo of the passport and keep the original on the ship. We’ve never needed it; however, now that we are older I worry more about an illness or injury that might prevent us from getting back to the ship to retrieve our passports so would consider taking it with us. PS. I have a good travel crossbody bag with an RFID compartment that I always use and keep physically secured when seated. Your age, health, and the availability of an embassy to get a replacement passport in port would be factors to consider.

 

[MICKEEP]

We have always just taken a phone photo of the passport and keep the original on the ship. We’ve never needed it; however, now that we are older I worry more about an illness or injury that might prevent us from getting back to the ship to retrieve our passports so would consider taking it with us. PS. I have a good travel crossbody bag with an RFID compartment that I always use and keep physically secured when seated. Your age, health, and the availability of an embassy to get a replacement passport in port would be factors to consider.

The phone photo is a really good idea.

Been looking for a good anti theft crossbody bag. Care to make a suggestion?

 

[anricat]

The phone photo is a really good idea.

Been looking for a good anti theft crossbody bag. Care to make a suggestion?

I own two and I like them both for different reasons.

This first one is a little bigger and I use it if I'm needing to take more things with me. This was the primary bag I used in 2018 when we went on our med cruise. I can carry some snacks, tissues, and I even carried a small Canon EOS-M mirrorless camera body with a small lens on it. It's a bigger bag than it looks.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005AIIPLS/

I also own this really small one if all I need are just a couple credit cards, some cash, my phone and some minor items like a little lotion and lip balm. I usually use this one if we're just going off the ship for a shorter excursion, like half day and I also use it when we go to Mexico (not on a cruise).
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E5JKPYC/

 

[DCLMP]

Disney made us take ours ashore last year in Northern Europe. That was for their excursions.

 

[sheilafri]

The phone photo is a really good idea.

Been looking for a good anti theft crossbody bag. Care to make a suggestion?

This looks like what I have. I know it is the same company, just not sure if it is the same style/size. Shop around as I don’t think I paid that much but it was a number of years ago.

https://pacsafe.com/products/metrosafe-ls200-anti-theft-medium-crossbody-bag

Check the individual features list, but mine has metal in the strap, clips for securing zippers, water bottle side pockets to keep your drinks from sweating on things inside (or to put a small umbrella), an RFID protection pocket inside for passports/CCs. It will hold my iPad, plus a lot more. My sister recommended the bag to me and we really like it.

I also wear it hanging in front of me and usually keep a hand on it.

 

[OpieDoodle]

I always take mine with me when I leave the ship at any port. Most of the excursions I've done so far are water based but I have ones of those waterproof phone cases that has a lanyard. I put my phone in it, then shove my passport, room key, money, etc in it then I'll shove it down my shirt while I'm walking and not actively using my phone.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Should we always carry our actual passport when on shore or should we just take a copy and leave the original in our room safe?

We just leave our passports onboard (in the safe), unless we've been told that passports must be carried onshore.

Having a copy on you phone is not a bad idea.

 

[tvguy]

If you are in a foreign country your actual Passport should always be with you. Having a photocopy back on the ship would be smart due to an issue. Not sure about a photo on a cell phone because, for example, if you are robbed, you might lose both your Passport and your phone.

 

[Flcruising]

Having a copy on your phone is a good idea for a number of reasons, including loss or theft of passport. But I'm not sure any government entity would accept it as legal documentation to enter or exit a country. Too many ways to manipulate any photos .
That said we always carry ours unless it is specifically stated we don't need it. Several ports may only require drivers license from US citizens for example.

 

[auntlynne]

Correct me if I am wrong -

There is a ship’s agent for each port - listed in the Navigator. If you are stuck in a port, with or without your actual passport, you should contact them to arrange for your essential items to be retrieved by ship security. (Security can access your safe).

 

[pjacobi]

If you miss the boat, you can only board a plane with an actual passport or temporary passport issued by the Consulate/Embassy. A photocopy will not work! Temporary passports can take hours or days to be issued.

If you're on a ship-sponsored excursion, you are almost guaranteed to get back to the ship on time. I'd leave the passport in the safe on the ship unless required by Disney or the port.

If you go with a 3rd party excursion or on own, I'd keep my passport with me in a money belt under my clothes.


-Paul

 

[kiford]

We always leave our passport in our safe unless we're told that we have to take them with us. We were only required to take them about half the time on our Med cruises but nearly all ports required them on the Baltic. We always keep a photo of them on our phones in a secure password app.

The phone photo is a really good idea.

Been looking for a good anti theft crossbody bag. Care to make a suggestion?

I use Pacsafe. They have a huge variety of bags from backpacks to crossbody bags to passport pouches to wallets. I have a variety of Pacsafe bags. They have mesh in the body so that they can't be slashed, metal in the straps so they can't be cut, an RFID-protective pocket inside, clip for keys, and locking clips that you to slide the zipper pull into so that they can't be opened easily. Lots of different sizes. Some of them also come with a cable that you can wrap around things and use a lock to prevent them from being taken (usually on the backpacks but you can also buy a cable lock separately from them). DH uses a Pacsafe cross-body bag that's just large enough to hold his phone, wallet, sunglasses and occasionally a very small camera. The one I mainly use for travelling is big enough to hold a wallet, sunscreen, phone,