Passports - Why leave them on ship when ashore?

[tvguy]

I have a three compartment fanny pack that I wear in front of me. I put my sunscreen and sunglasses in the outer most pocked, small water bottle in the middle pocket, and my passports in a zip lock bag in the rear most pocket which is absoluely impossible for anyone to get into other than me. The fanny pack snaps around my waist. Pretty slick for a freebie from a casino.

 

[jrabbit]

in the rear most pocket which is absoluely impossible for anyone to get into other than me.

I wouldn't bet on it. THe bad guys are really good.

Pretty slick for a freebie from a casino.

"I wouldn't bet on it" I crack me up

 

[mickeyfanmom]

As far as taking your passports with you to get them stamped, where is it that you are taking them?

As far as I could see, there was nowhere to get them stamped when getting off of the ship. You could travel to a government office and get them done I supposed.

We were told that we could leave them with guest services a day in advance and would get them stamped and then given back a day later. We didn't do it though.

 

[mshinrockford]

My understanding is that Guest Services (aboard the ship) can only stamp the Passports with a BAHAMAS stamp (since the ship's registry is the BAHAMAS). On the Eastern route, I've heard that you can get the Dutch St. Martin stamp at the Courthouse in downtown Phillipsburg. I believe that you can also get the French Saint Maarten stamp at the Immigration Office (not exactly sure where this is) in Marigot. Can any one else fill in the details here?

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

Just any FYI, the US Department of State strongly urges people not to carry there passports with them like when they are out exploring a city or somthing. Trust me, having your passports stolen really sucks! We have had ours taken while in Tokyo. Luckily we kept a copy in the hotel room, we just took that to the embassy and they called the police and stuff. But you really should only carry a copy of your passport and not your actual passport.

Matt

 

[mshinrockford]

I’m curious…when in a foreign country, to whom should an American “surrender” their Passport to? What are our legal responsibilities, and does this vary from country-to-country? For example, if while in Japan, a Tokyo police officer asks you for your Passport, are you required to give it to him/her? How about if, while in Mexico, a Mexican police officer makes the same demand? What if they take it and don’t give it back? It seems to me that it would be wise to carry a copy of your Passport (in a different location) even if you carry your actual Passport. Or am I just being paranoid?

 

[diz_cruise_rocks]

I'm too. Is the passport the 'passport to the world'??????

 

[jrabbit]

I'm too. Is the passport the 'passport to the world'??????

The Passports we're talking about here are the top level proof of citizenship that a country can issue to it's citizens. We're not discussing a "Disney thing" on this thread.