Question for Canadian or Other International Cruisers

[Toad]

On my last cruise in 1998, we were asked to surrender our passports before boarding. I asked if my birth certificate and a picture ID (my Drivers Lic.) were good enough, they said that was fine. I was uncomfortable handing my passport over and out of my possession, especially since we planned on getting off the ship in Nassau. So our passports stayed with us through the whole trip. I have told this to many of my cruising friends who have done the same thing without any problem. BUT , recently a friend returned from the Disney cruise and she was told to surrender her passport and nothing else was acceptable. Has anyone else had this experience? I am not concerned about the safety and security of the passport in DCL's care, but more with my own safety and security when I am off the ship in a foreign country.....

 

[Cruise]

My husband is British and, while not so concerned about the passport, we were *very* reluctant to surrender his Green Card. This little card has a lot riding on it and is worth more than it's weight in gold in some parts of the world.

The CM could see how reluctant we were and offered to make a copy of the card for us, which we kept with us in addition to the copy I kept in the room safe for the entire journey. I think if we had any problems off the ship, the copy would have gotten us through enough until we could get back to the ship for the actual card. If you're worried about not having your passport with you in a foreign port, this would be an option. Otherwise, it does seem we're all out of luck.

Julie

 

[LorraineinTO]

On both our previous DCL cruises we were required to surrender our passports (we are Canadian). While we were uncomfortable with this process, there was no alternative. However, they are very careful with the documents and our passports were returned to us on the last morning when we went through US immigration at 6:30 am in the lounge. You do not need your passport to leave the ship at any port - only your KTTW and more recently, some kind of photo id. I have not been on a cruise since 9/11 so I am not sure of the current requirements for id at ports of call.
Hope this helps,
Lorraine

 

[Sandiebean]

Our TA (Dreams Unlimited).. assured us that as Canadians we only need our photo I.D. along with a Birth Certificate. I'm trusting that that is true.

 

[HelenC]

I am Canadian (hmmmmm.....sounds like a song!!...or commercial jingle!) and when we last cruised with DCL (May 2000), we had to surrender our photo ID and birth certificates. Unless policy has changed, I believe that is still the case. ........at least I hope so because we cruise again May 4/02 and our TA did not say that we were required to have a passport this time.

 

[LorraineinTO]

I see that my previous post may have indicated that you must have a passport if you are Canadian. I did not mean to imply this. We always travel with passports even if they are not required. I suspect though that whatever documents you travel with (depending on the requirements of the countries you are visiting) that you will have to surrender them when you board the ship. Terribly sorry for any confusion I may have caused.
Lorraine

 

[magyar2]

We cruised in Sept., 2001. I am a Canadian citizen married to an American, and residing in the U.S. with a Green Card.

When we went on our cruise, I took passports for all of my family, including my children, as I figured passports were easier to replace than birth certificates (don't know for sure, but that was my thought). I also was told to take my Green Card, as it would have to be surrendered.

Before leaving, I made copies of all of our documents, and left one set with my parents, and one set in the ship's safe. While I do feel uncomfortable surrendering my Green Card, knowing that I have a copy of it makes it easier.

If only I had known to make copies 9 years ago! At that time, we were on a Carnival cruise, and there were a few people, me included, that had to wait until our Green Cards were retrieved. Apparently, somehow they were not placed whereever they were supposed to be placed, and there was some trouble finding them. I have no fear that the same thing would happen on the DCL, as that whole Carnival cruise was a fiasco and I have seen nothing but professionalism from the DCL people, but I take my copies with me, anyway.