Passports at Ports?

[TagsMissy]

Hi all do you need you carry your passport with you when you exit at port stops? I am contemplating how to deal with our passports while on the beach, etc....

Thanks!

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

A lot of people will leave them locked up on the ship and carry photo copies with them. I never feel OK not having them on me while in a foreign country, so I always keep them in my pacsafe purse and we don't ever leave anything unoccupied while at the beach. I would not bring them off at Castaway Cay, but that's the one and only place I would leave them on the ship. That's just me though!

 

[lanejudy]

Some port stops will require it -- it will be announced the night before as well as noted in your Navigator if that is the case. Otherwise, you only need KTTW and photo ID to re-board the ship. Some people carry their Passports regardless (and use it as photo ID) while others carry a photocopy of their Passports and prefer to leave the original in the safe onboard. If one is not required, it's your choice what to do with your Passports when you leave the ship.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi all do you need you carry your passport with you when you exit at port stops? I am contemplating how to deal with our passports while on the beach, etc....

Thanks!

Not sure what ports you are asking about, but, generally, passports are not required ashore in most port stops that DCL makes.

You will be required to have your KTTW card to get off the ship. And to reboard, a KTTW card as well as a photo ID (for adults - driver's license works). Both the KTTW card and most driver's licenses can get wet. We just keep them on our person while swimming/snorkeling.

There are a few ports worldwide that require that you carry your passport while ashore. The Cruise Director will announce the night before (at the show in the WDT), whether this will be required. It will also be noted in the Navigator.

We just keep our passports on the ship, in the safe.

 

[TagsMissy]

We're on the fantasy -- St Thomas/St John & St Maarten. We're Canadian if that makes a difference.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

To contradict some answers here, in Europe it was 100% compulsory to have your passport with you, you were not even allowed into the port area without one.

Please go by cruise director announcement in the shows and the navigator, security is being tightened up by world security and migration issues, we were reminded and reminded again to carry them, and if we didn't we wouldn't have git back into any port area they were checked and enforced.

Last year I posted differently, I do not know how up to date everyone posting has actually cruised but it's changed completely in 2015. In particular in Europe.

We carried ours all the time they were safe, we had private tours and in some places we left bags in the car to be 100% safe, it's how you look after them.

Now if you do not keep your passport and get back to the shop later or have a medical emergency you are well and truly stuck.

 

[bumbershoot]

We're Canadian if that makes a difference.

That part sounds like the wild card. You're talking about beaches so I'll go crazy and assume you're going to the Bahamas or Caribbean, not Europe. For B&C ports, in general, passport isn't required to get back on as long as you have another govt photo ID. But that's for Americans. Not sure about citizens of other countries.


I personally take my passport with me for all ports but Castaway.

Seems I'm always recommending one of their products...Witz has a "passport locker" that should be big enough for the passport for a beach day. For some reason I feel that I read of someone's Canadian passport barely fitting in, but I might be remembering it wrong. Available here.

 

[kiford]

That part sounds like the wild card. You're talking about beaches so I'll go crazy and assume you're going to the Bahamas or Caribbean, not Europe. For B&C ports, in general, passport isn't required to get back on as long as you have another govt photo ID. But that's for Americans. Not sure about citizens of other countries.

Also true for Canadians. We've never had to take our passport off the ship in any of the Caribbean or Bahamian ports; we just needed a driver's license and our KTTW card. Only a couple of the Mediterranean ports required us to take our passports and all of the northern European ones required it.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Just to say it depends on " recent experience " Europe this year was very very tight, last year it was the opposite and very lax. World issues, security, migration, terrorism are all a factor. Every European port entrance checked ours, Listen to announcements and read the navigator.

 

[TheBigE]

To contradict some answers here, in Europe it was 100% compulsory to have your passport with you, you were not even allowed into the port area without one.

Please go by cruise director announcement in the shows and the navigator, security is being tightened up by world security and migration issues, we were reminded and reminded again to carry them, and if we didn't we wouldn't have git back into any port area they were checked and enforced.

Last year I posted differently, I do not know how up to date everyone posting has actually cruised but it's changed completely in 2015. In particular in Europe.

We carried ours all the time they were safe, we had private tours and in some places we left bags in the car to be 100% safe, it's how you look after them.

Now if you do not keep your passport and get back to the shop later or have a medical emergency you are well and truly stuck.

To contradict this, in fact it was not required in all ports during the 2015 12 Night Baltic Cruise. You are providing incorrect facts in this case. Please refer to the Navigators you have posted - here for Copenhagen and here for Helsinki and here for Stockholm Each of those specifically state - When going ashore, each adult is required to carry a Drivers License, Passport or Government Issued Photo ID. Note some ports may require a passport.

So Passports are in fact not always required. Please note that on July 29th there was an addendum provided with the Navigator on the Cruise.



This was the only time on the cruise in which a Passport is required. Not only a passport but either a Visa or Tickets for a tour.

It is not completely worth rehashing this thread again, other than to say lets set the record straight with the correct information (again). Passports are not required in all ports, it says it in the Navigators and the only time they were required, DCL was clear to add an addendum to the Navigator and announced it multiple times prior to arrival.

We never took our Passports off the ship other than in St Petersburg Russia, where it was required. I had a color copy of our Passports if ever needed, and we used our Govt Issued IDs to return the the ship in all ports. We never had an issue, nor did i ever seen anyone turned away when offering something other than a passport. In fact, I saw people returning to the ship and used B&W photo copies of their passport to access the ship through security.

Everyone will have a different opinion on the subject, and that is most welcome. Furthermore, DCL is going to make it completely clear when Passports are required. There is a certain risk associated with leaving passports on board and taking them with you off the ship. Individuals will need to determine which risk they wish to take.

However, our opinion is never take what you cannot afford to lose...this includes ID, credit cards, and cash. I have travelled for work extensively and always leave my passport in hotel safe. The only place that I keep my passport on my person at all times (in my front pocket) is in Nigeria. I want to keep that as close as possible to ensure that I have my ticket out of the country if needed.

Everyone needs to make their own decision, but this needs to be based on the fact of the situation.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

To contradict this, in fact it was not required in all ports during the 2015 12 Night Baltic Cruise. You are providing incorrect facts in this case. Please refer to the Navigators you have posted - here for Copenhagen and here for Helsinki and here for Stockholm Each of those specifically state - When going ashore, each adult is required to carry a Drivers License, Passport or Government Issued Photo ID. Note some ports may require a passport.

So Passports are in fact not always required. Please note that on July 29th there was an addendum provided with the Navigator on the Cruise.

View attachment 118663

This was the only time on the cruise in which a Passport is required. Not only a passport but either a Visa or Tickets for a tour.

It is not completely worth rehashing this thread again, other than to say lets set the record straight with the correct information (again). Passports are not required in all ports, it says it in the Navigators and the only time they were required, DCL was clear to add an addendum to the Navigator and announced it multiple times prior to arrival.

We never took our Passports off the ship other than in St Petersburg Russia, where it was required. I had a color copy of our Passports if ever needed, and we used our Govt Issued IDs to return the the ship in all ports. We never had an issue, nor did i ever seen anyone turned away when offering something other than a passport. In fact, I saw people returning to the ship and used B&W photo copies of their passport to access the ship through security.

Everyone will have a different opinion on the subject, and that is most welcome. Furthermore, DCL is going to make it completely clear when Passports are required. There is a certain risk associated with leaving passports on board and taking them with you off the ship. Individuals will need to determine which risk they wish to take.

However, our opinion is never take what you cannot afford to lose...this includes ID, credit cards, and cash. I have travelled for work extensively and always leave my passport in hotel safe. The only place that I keep my passport on my person at all times (in my front pocket) is in Nigeria. I want to keep that as close as possible to ensure that I have my ticket out of the country if needed.

Everyone needs to make their own decision, but this needs to be based on the fact of the situation.

OK

FACT

Every night before the evening show the CD Natalie said have passports.
FACT
Copenhagen- passports checked for all of our party on the three times we went on at the gate against our cruise cards.
You couldn't get past the gate without the two guys stopping you there.
FACT
Stockholm. -The extended port wouldn't let you in the perimeter then the metal gated area without passports, they were fully checked.
Our passports for all four of us checked twice.
FACT Helsinki.
After driving up to the parking lot, on the gate near the shop, the port checked our passport and cards at the gate, if you didnt have it you didnt get on, ( or got an officer).
FACT
St Petersburg. Passports checked in disembarkation on day 1 and day two on and off.
FACT
Tallinn. Passports required the guy on the gate on the extended perimeter checked ours.
They were checked again by the port at the ramp to the ship and then you went through security.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Navigators 12N North Europe 2015 St Petes day10003 by ANDREW PORTER, on Flickr
Navigators 12N North Europe 2015 St Petes day 20003 by ANDREW PORTER, on Flickr

 

[TheBigE]

OK

FACT

Every night before the evening show the CD Natalie said have passports.
FACT
Copenhagen- passports checked for all of our party on the three times we went on at the gate against our cruise cards.
You couldn't get past the gate without the two guys stopping you there.
FACT
Stockholm. -The extended port wouldn't let you in the perimeter then the metal gated area without passports, they were fully checked.
Our passports for all four of us checked twice.
FACT Helsinki.
After driving up to the parking lot, on the gate near the shop, the port checked our passport and cards at the gate, if you didnt have it you didnt get on, ( or got an officer).
FACT
St Petersburg. Passports checked in disembarkation on day 1 and day two on and off.
FACT
Tallinn. Passports required the guy on the gate on the extended perimeter checked ours.
They were checked again by the port at the ramp to the ship and then you went through security.

I agree with your FACTs as you have stated, obviously since you were able to complete the cruise you were able to return to the ship. Did you try any other ID that meet the requirements of those listed in the Navigator in any port other than St Petersburg and not allowed to return to the ship?

I cannot speak for what was said during the shows, as I was not in attendance. However, I can say that DCL made it very clear when a PASSPORT is required - St Petersburg as you have posted the Navigator and the Addendum from the Navigator that I posted above...all clearly state a Passport is required. Finally, it was announced several times over the PA that a passport was required for visiting ST Petersburg. For other ports, this was not specifically stated on the PA.

The FACT is that a Passport is not always required, and many many people were able to return to the ship with the ID listed above and stated in the Navigator. We were a prime example of such, not to mention the crowd of people in front of us at Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Tallinn

Stating that a passport is required for all Ports is misleading and not allowing others to make the decision based on the FACT on hand. Simple as that.

 

[dcassetta]

To contradict some answers here, in Europe it was 100% compulsory to have your passport with you, you were not even allowed into the port area without one.

Please go by cruise director announcement in the shows and the navigator, security is being tightened up by world security and migration issues, we were reminded and reminded again to carry them, and if we didn't we wouldn't have git back into any port area they were checked and enforced.

Last year I posted differently, I do not know how up to date everyone posting has actually cruised but it's changed completely in 2015. In particular in Europe.

We carried ours all the time they were safe, we had private tours and in some places we left bags in the car to be 100% safe, it's how you look after them.

Now if you do not keep your passport and get back to the shop later or have a medical emergency you are well and truly stuck.

Perhaps I am misreading this, but are you saying that while on a private tour you purposely left your passport in a car during the excursion?

 

[tinkmom2]

Nassau and Mexico we were allowed to exit and enter with a KTTWC and an State issued driver's license or Id. We've never taken our passports off the ship. Only once in Nassau to get them stamped and then my hubby took them back to the ship.

 

[cedricandsophie]

Hi all do you need you carry your passport with you when you exit at port stops? I am contemplating how to deal with our passports while on the beach, etc....

Thanks!

We did norway on the Magic in June of this year. Never took my passport off for one port including Copenhagen. Just had my photo id which was my drivers license and my key card. The only one who needed a passport was my grandson but only because he is 13 and that's the only photo Id he has. I saw many people who had their passports with them but we never even got asked when we got off or on. The same was true last year in the Greek isle cruise starting in venice or the prior year for the Baltic. I'm not saying not to do it and obviously some here say it is required. We just never saw it. Two years ago we did Africa on a cruise...never took the passports off then either. We have traveled all over Europe and whenever I'm in a foreign land and at a hotel, the passports either immediately go into the room safe unless the hotel requires then to be turned in at the desk. This saved us greatly in Lisbon a couple of years ago when the contents of my purse were stolen in their subway by pick pockets. Got a few credit cards and a little cash but not the passport. Everything else is easily replaceable except for that. Sometimes when you want to change money a passport is required but since we mostly use ATM machines even that's not an issue. It wouldn't occur to me to take a passport off in the Carribean unless of course specifically required.