Surrendering your passport DCL...

[mbb]

There's a thread over on the Cruise Board...a lady from the UK and her family are cancelling their cruise portion of their vacation because they have to surrender their UK passports for the duration of the cruise...

As Canadians - we do too...

Just wondering how you feel about handing over your citizenship documents..?? Curious to hear your opinion...

 

[usetheforceluke]

When it's the only game in town, you play by their rules.

I wasn't thrilled about turning over my passport, but (just in case) we photocopied it and had other government-issued identification with us (also photocopyied and stored separately).

We wouldn't have cancelled because of it.

 

[Lisa Anne Colling]

We didn't think it was a big deal. We have done the cruise twice now with no problems. The passports were returned to us in the same condition they were in before. It was quick and painless. The painful part was getting up early for customs! None of that would stop us going again!

 

[DutchsMommy]

I totally don't think it is a big deal. As for cancelling your trip - is that woman crazy?! Even if the document gets lost (which I highly doubt) it is replacable - memories of a great family vacation aren't. My opinion of the whole debate is:

Mountain meet Molehill

 

[CdnMom2]

Yeah, I'm rather uneasy about doing that too. Those 6 passports for our family were mighty troublesome & expensive for us after buying the necessary long form birth certificates, almost having our Sears-done passport photos rejected, extra trip to out-of-town passport office, etc., then paying for expensive pre-screen & courier service. But this surrendering process is how it's done. I knew this when we went ahead & booked (thanks to this board).

Mind you I get anxious giving my teen her OHIP card for school trips, etc.

usetheforceluke: Thank you for some helpful advice to help calm my nerves about it. We'll do the same.

 

[Scratch42]

They way I look at it.........

One less thing to worry about losing!

Just keep a photocopy of all pertinant information. If you feel better bring a copy with you while on shore but if you are doing DCL excursions, it's their responsibility to get you back to the ship. And if you do an excursion on your own, have that copy if it will make you feel safer.

Oh, and don't forget your photo ID!

To get on and off the ship all you need is your KTTW card and photo ID for ports! Simple process!

Also, they take an elastic band to bond all the family passports together and have a white sheet of paper separating each group! Very well organized!

I for one would not cancel a cruise for this reason only!

Come to think of it, can't think of a reason I would want to cancel a cruise.....Unless of course DCL goes to the Med in 2007 then our 2006 Xmas Cruise gets canned........... But don't tell DD, she'll kill me!

janet

 

[chasbos]

No problems at all handing them over! We travel as a family of 6 as well and Disney or any other cruise line for that matter may as well keep them safe as me!

It is a part of the cruise and travel rules. Accept them or don't.

But I would not quit travelling over something so silly.

 

[CharlesTD]

I have heard of some people actually getting to keep them they handed in another piece of ID and a photocopy of the passport.

 

[Mortlives]

I would imagine that it has a lot to do with arranging for passage into different countries when you reach the ports of call. The immigration requirements are probably different for people who "transited" through the US to get to the cruise, and people who originated there. My assumption is that DCL is handling a lot of PITA stuff for us, so we can enjoy the cruise instead of having to clear customs everywhere. Also, it means I don't have to worry about losing our passports.

I'm just looking forward to our cruise.

 

[marylou]

We had to do this for Holland America as well so it isn't just DCL where this is required.
Since i forget my name some days, im just as happy if they keep it. I do make photocopies though

 

[Cruiser1969]

I, too, had no problem handing them in. The first time, of course, I was caught off guard and did have a funny feeling about it, but everything turned out fine. I do appreciate not having to report to customs at every port of call where the passports are required.

 

[PhotobearSam]

I know I will have to next year on our cruise. I can deal with it even thought I don't like it.

Why do we have to do it? I have always wondered why it was required.

I wonder is it because they are afraid we will lose them? Are they worried about theft in the cabins? any other reasons?

If you have any idea, please share it.

 

[cdnmickeylover]

I believe that the passports have to be handed in so that they can be shown to immigration at each stop. Twenty years ago when I was traveling in Europe for the summer my brother and I had to surrender our passports to the train conductor if we were traveling on an overnight train somewhere that crossed a border. We were told it was so that the train conductor could produce the passport to immigration and not wake us up. Btw in that instance everybody had to give up their identification cards/passports. I don't know if this is still done though.

You get a receipt for your passport and it's really not that bad. I certainly would not have cancelled the cruise over it.

 

[Toad]

I have been on the Disney Cruise twice. Both times,with passport in hand (i.e. not hiding it....), I asked if they would let me keep the passport and take my birth cert and DL instead. Both times, they said yes. No additional explanation required.

I still waited with everyone to pick up my documents at 6am, I showed my passport to the officials, and everything was fine. They handed back my birth cert and DL and I went on my way.

 

[nerdy_grrl_t]

The reason *is* so they can show the passports to the proper authorities when necessary (can you imagine them trying to round up the entire compliment of the ship to show their passports? It would take hours...) And actually... the passports are probably in less danger of being lost or stolen in the care of DCL than if we kept them ourselves...

When we cruised for the first time we felt it was strange at first but it does make a lot of sense when you think it through... if you keep a copy of your documents you should be all set in case something happens but I've never heard of anything going wrong in this dept.!