Passport confusion

[summerskye]

Thanks in advance.

I am still confused. I have read many posts about the advantages of having a passport. I am convinced that it makes me feel better knowing we have them just in case...

Confusion part. Just about every post I have read recommends taking a copy and leaving the actual passport in the room safe. If something was to happen while off the ship, what good does it do having the passport locked up in the room. In another words, say I fall and break a leg. I go to hospital, yet can't make it back to the ship before it sails. How do I travel with a paper copy of a passport?

 

[clten]

You don't travel with a paper copy of your passport. That's why in addition to the people advising you just to take a copy, you'll also have people telling you to carry your actual passport when you go ashore. Which is right? Depends on how comfortable you are with having it on you doing whatever activity you have planned in port or leaving it in your room. (Personally, if it isn't a port where you are required to have your passport, I leave ours in the safe.)

If you decide to leave it in the room, here's what would happen in an emergency: When you go ashore be sure to take the name and contact information of the ship's agent in that port (printed on the shopping guide or the Navigator, can't remember which). If anything happens that you might not make it back to the ship in time (i.e. you broke your leg and are heading to the hospital to have it set) contact the agent. The agent is then in contact with Disney and can have someone retrieve your passport from the safe in your room.

 

[summerskye]

The agent is then in contact with Disney and can have someone retrieve your passport from the safe in your room.

That's the part I didn't understand. If Disney can get the passport from safe to me, then I feel much better about leaving it. Thanks

 

[lucky1]

I always make a copy of the passports just in case (Gets lost, get stolen, misplaced), easier to have the photocopy proof than nothing at all in trying to get things solved. While cruise the Caribbean and Mexico, it was never required to take your passport off the ship, but depending on what we did, depended in if we took it. (beach time, generally I would leave them on the ship) You would need a photo id. On our Norway cruise, every port did require that you have a passport, so we took them with us. They made a statement each evening prior to arriving at port on what credentials you needed when leaving the ship.

 

[summerskye]

Thanks for info. We are doing the Western Caribbean via the Fantasy. I understand that the passports are not really needed. But, as a warm and fuzzy in case something happens. I just did not know Disney could get them to us if I left them in the safe...

 

[cedricandsophie]

We have never taken ours off the ship. And we did Norway last year and I never took ours. Had no trouble getting back with a photo Id and key. We travel internationally a lot. Unless we are traveling from one city to another , I always leave our passports in the room. I have had my wallet stolen in Lisbon on the subway. So glad I didn't have our passports with us that day. We were getting in a cruise the next day and I went to the American exptess office the next morning to get a new credit card and travelers checks replaced. I was told THST the robbers didn't want anything but cash and checks and they would throw my wallet over the wall of the American embassy rather than keel it. Sure enough a few weeks later I got a package from Lisbon with all my credit cards and drivers license.

 

[Meemawto2]

I used to travel a lot for work. We were told to take a copy of our passport and keep it in our luggage or somewhere in case we lost it or it was stolen. We were told it was much easier to get a replacement while in foreign country if you have the copy with you. Just another line of thought.

I usually keep ours locked in the room safe.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

If you were to be in the hospital or not to make the vessel, it is my understanding the CM's will go into your Stateroom, look for your passport/ documents, money and in the safe and give them to the vessels agent, who would bring it to the hospital etc. If their was time I believe they will pack your belongings as well.

AKK

 

[mmouse37]

I also take a pic of my passport so it is always on my phone in case I need it. Some may say that is silly because if I lose my phone someone has access to my passport but the same could happen if I am robbed while in port and they took either my passport or my copy of my passport.

We usually leave the passport in the safe and just take the copy ashore but on the EBTA cruise I did take the actual passport with us ashore.

MJ

 

[shelbell77]

I travel with my passport so if needed I don't have to deal with bureaucracy to fly home in an emergency. If you have the paper copy, it will not be as simple as if you have the passport. I never leave the ship without my physical passport unless I'm on Castaway Cay. I personally wouldn't rely on someone from the ship retrieving my passport for me. Just my personal choice - everyone has to consider what level of risk is acceptable to them. I fully admit I'm risk adverse and therefore I leave less to chance.

That said, if I did leave the ship without my passport - I would have a copy of it with me - as having the paper copy is better than no copy.

 

[Sir William]

The only reason you should have a copy of your passport page is in the event that something happens to your passport and you need to replace it (stolen, lost, damaged, etc). Your local consulate can use the photocopy to facilitate getting a new one issued, usually within a few hours. Without a photocopy you may be looking at days while they verify your information.

Yes, a CM can access your cabin safe and get your passport for you, but what if you miss the ship, or if you're in an accident and unable to contact the ship before it sails?

I usually take my passport (or at least a photocopy) with me as I once witnessed a crime being committed in Europe while on a business trip. The police asked for our passports but one member of our group had left his at the hotel. He was detained for several hours until the police recovered his passport. Another member of our group only had a photocopy of his passport but the police temporarily accepted that as proof of his citizenship, though he still had to show them his actual passport later.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

but what if you miss the ship, or if you're in an accident and unable to contact the ship before it sails?

Since KTTW cards are scanned when returning to the ship, if you haven't returned, your KTTW card hasn't been scanned and they know you aren't onboard. If you don't show up, they will check your safe for the necessary documents (if you've placed them in there) and leave them with the Port Agent.

 

[valee]

In addition to taking a photocopy off the ship with me, I've got a scan of my passport (and front and back of my driver's license and credit cards) that I've got stored in an email account that I can access if needed from a public computer. My travel companion was glad to be able to access that info after a theft in Paris.

 

[Sir William]

Since KTTW cards are scanned when returning to the ship, if you haven't returned, your KTTW card hasn't been scanned and they know you aren't onboard. If you don't show up, they will check your safe for the necessary documents (if you've placed them in there) and leave them with the Port Agent.

Exactly, but as you pointed out, not everyone puts their documents in the safe, either deliberately or through omission.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Exactly, but as you pointed out, not everyone puts their documents in the safe, either deliberately or through omission.

I'm just saying that the ship personnel will know that you're not onboard, and will check the safe (where such items should be). If they are not there, then there will be no documents left with the Port Agent. They will not search the room for documents. It's on the passenger to be sure that (if they don't carry them themselves) to be sure the documents are somewhere that they will be obtainable by the authorities.