Passport needed in Cozumel? Also, waterproof cases?

[YawningDodo]

I've got a SCUBA excursion booked in Cozumel (the beginners' course), and I'm getting nervous about how to handle any and all stuff I need to bring off the ship with me. There's not really any info on the DCL site about whether lockers will be provided by the excursion operators, and I'm realizing that my past SCUBA experiences have all been in situations where I could leave my things with a friend, lock them in the car and just bring a key, etc.

Big question: do I have to bring my passport to get off the ship in Cozumel? If I can leave both passport and phone in my room and just bring my KTTW and a little cash, it won't matter too much if whatever waterproof case I get leaks at greater depths, as I know American money will survive just about anything and I expect the KTTW should be okay (or at least replaceable once I get back to the ship). I have much less confidence in the passport surviving a leak.

I'm slightly less worried about the phone on Castaway Cay, though I'd probably be burying it in my beach tote when I go swimming rather than trying to bring it with me in a case. Is that actually a good idea, though? I hate to not get any photos on either port day, but I really don't want to have to replace my phone if something goes wrong with whatever dry pouch I'm using. Speaking of which, it's an iPhone 6 - any recommendations for waterproof cases in case I get brave and take it snorkeling?

 

[NS8VN]

You need photo ID with you to board the ship when you return. A driver license will suffice if you have it and you can leave your passport on the ship.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I've got a SCUBA excursion booked in Cozumel (the beginners' course), and I'm getting nervous about how to handle any and all stuff I need to bring off the ship with me. There's not really any info on the DCL site about whether lockers will be provided by the excursion operators, and I'm realizing that my past SCUBA experiences have all been in situations where I could leave my things with a friend, lock them in the car and just bring a key, etc.

Big question: do I have to bring my passport to get off the ship in Cozumel? If I can leave both passport and phone in my room and just bring my KTTW and a little cash, it won't matter too much if whatever waterproof case I get leaks at greater depths, as I know American money will survive just about anything and I expect the KTTW should be okay (or at least replaceable once I get back to the ship). I have much less confidence in the passport surviving a leak.

I'm slightly less worried about the phone on Castaway Cay, though I'd probably be burying it in my beach tote when I go swimming rather than trying to bring it with me in a case. Is that actually a good idea, though? I hate to not get any photos on either port day, but I really don't want to have to replace my phone if something goes wrong with whatever dry pouch I'm using. Speaking of which, it's an iPhone 6 - any recommendations for waterproof cases in case I get brave and take it snorkeling?

You don't need your passport, but you will need a government issued photo ID in addition to your KTTW card at both Cozumel and Castaway Cay. A drivers license works fine for that purpose. I do bring my phone and a waterproof camera off the ship on CC. I wrap them up in something and bury them at the bottom of my bag when not using them. It is possible someone would dig through my bag and steal them, but I've never had an issue and am not overly worried about it.

 

[skiergirl4]

I would be hesitant to get off the ship without my passport, even though you don't technically need it to leave the ship and reboard. It's unlikely that you would have an emergency or fail to get back on the ship on time, but if this does happen, you would be stuck in Mexico without your passport. Just some food for thought.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I would be hesitant to get off the ship without my passport, even though you don't technically need it to leave the ship and reboard. It's unlikely that you would have an emergency or fail to get back on the ship on time, but if this does happen, you would be stuck in Mexico without your passport. Just some food for thought.

Keep your passport in the safe in your stateroom, but take the phone number for the ship's agent with you. It's listed on the daily Navigator. If you fail to get back to the ship in time, a crew member can go to your stateroom, open the safe, and leave your passport for you at the port. Or if you have an emergency, you can call the ship's agent to ask for them to get your passport from your stateroom.

 

[cedricandsophie]

I have never taken my passport off a ship, Disney or otherwise, unless specifically required. I certainly would not take it off ship in mexico. I have taken a copy of it though.

 

[Tim3888]

We just brought copies of our passports and did not have any issues. For a waterproof phone bag, we used these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M31XOHJ/

We used similar ones last year as well. Took my phone snorkeling numerous times and had no issues whatsoever. Just be careful with the little plastic clamps -- they can come off (when you open the bag) and if you lose one, the bag is useless. Had that happen to one of them last year. Beyond that, though, they worked like a charm and I got some great underwater videos in Cozumel and Castaway Cay.

 

[YawningDodo]

We just brought copies of our passports and did not have any issues. For a waterproof phone bag, we used these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M31XOHJ/

We used similar ones last year as well. Took my phone snorkeling numerous times and had no issues whatsoever. Just be careful with the little plastic clamps -- they can come off (when you open the bag) and if you lose one, the bag is useless. Had that happen to one of them last year. Beyond that, though, they worked like a charm and I got some great underwater videos in Cozumel and Castaway Cay.

Thanks for the link! Eyeballing it, I'm wondering if I'd have to take my phone out of its case (an Otterbox, so it's a bit chunky even though it's the smallest Otterbox on the market). Not a dealbreaker; if I bring my phone in the water at all it'll be only on Castaway Cay, so that's only one day of swapping cases. Think I may buy two cases; use one for cards and documents in Cozumel and have a backup in case anything happens to the first during SCUBA diving.

 

[FSU Girl]

I bought something like the picture below for my phone when I went snorkeling. It's made for surfers so it had a band to put around your arm so your hands would be free, or a strap to put around your wrist if you want to use it to take pictures. It has room for the phone and cards with cash. I put random stuff in it and tested it out in my pool to make sure it worked before I put my phone in it. It listed the depth it would work to, I'm not sure since I was just snorkeling, but it was about 30-50 feet.

 

[YawningDodo]

I bought something like the picture below for my phone when I went snorkeling. It's made for surfers so it had a band to put around your arm so your hands would be free, or a strap to put around your wrist if you want to use it to take pictures. It has room for the phone and cards with cash. I put random stuff in it and tested it out in my pool to make sure it worked before I put my phone in it. It listed the depth it would work to, I'm not sure since I was just snorkeling, but it was about 30-50 feet.

The beginners' SCUBA excursion shouldn't go any deeper than 30 (maybe it's 40...? I don't remember) since there's a pretty well defined limit to how deep you're supposed to go without certain types of certification. So if that case can go to that depth, it'll definitely do what I need it to do.

 

[lorimay]

^^^^ We have used the cases above for several cruises and they work great!
Highly recommended.

** Always test them at home before using just in case they come from the factory defective.
I put paper towels inside the pouch and submerge it into water in the bathroom sink for 15 minutes.