passports on cruises
#4
Flyertalk Evangelist and Moderator: Coupon Connection and Travel Products
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We just got back from Alaska yesterday.... when we got to Canada and got off.... Canada immigration did not even ask to see our passports.
#6
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Where are you going? On some trips, they hold it for the trip so that the customs people can come on board in each port and clear everybody at once from the passports. On other trips, they just check to see you have it, and you can leave it in the room safe for the rest of the trip.
#7
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: PHX
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I don't like that at all and would strongly object. It's hard enough trusting myself not to lose it. But somebody else? I guess if they say that's the way they do it, we wouldn't really have a choice.
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
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#9
Join Date: Oct 2002
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Where are you going? On some trips, they hold it for the trip so that the customs people can come on board in each port and clear everybody at once from the passports. On other trips, they just check to see you have it, and you can leave it in the room safe for the rest of the trip.
US citizens were allowed to keep their passports and we took ours to the different ports of call to have them stamped. Otherwise nobody ever asked to see them nor were they stamped coming back to the US.
Note that since the non-US citizens didn't have their passports, they needed some other form of photo ID (national ID, driver license etc) along with the Key to the World card (stateroom key) to board the ship.
#10
Join Date: Jun 2008
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I am going on a cruise to Costa Maya, Mexico and Belize City Belize in January and I assume that I have to have a Passport. Where do you get them stamped at? It will be my first time out of the country and I am kind of a geek to get a passport stamp of my travels.
Last edited by InkedParrot; Jun 4, 2008 at 4:50 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 282
Where are you going? On some trips, they hold it for the trip so that the customs people can come on board in each port and clear everybody at once from the passports. On other trips, they just check to see you have it, and you can leave it in the room safe for the rest of the trip.
a bit unsure about people holding my passport. but if that's what has to be done, then i guess that's fine. would not be fun for the person who has to give it all back to everyone. lol
i was thinking at the ports. not sure.
#12
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The cruise line will need your passport at embarkation. They save the passport data in their systems. When you arrive at port, the local customs/immigration authority clears the boat enmasse. You don't have to go through customs/immigration individually at your ports of call.
The only thing you have to do is present your cruise id/key and a photo id to get back on board. I always use my drivers license since its easier to carry.
When the curise is over, US Immigration will look at/scan your passport when you disembark. They typically don't stamp it, but will if you ask.
The only exception is if you cruise the Caribbean and stop in St. Thomas. In this case, you have to clear US Immigration on the boat, the day you dock in St Thomas. Everyone has to present themselves, and its a royal pain. When you arrive back in Miami or San Juan, you just have to clear customs when you collect your bags.
#13
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We did Seattle RT and we could not have asked for better weather.... it kept getting mentioned by the staff.
We only had one evening where I noticed the sea conditions. Pretty smooth most of the time.
Only downside: We were not able to go completely into the Tracey Arm Fiords due to the number of broken ice islands due to the warm weather.
#14
Flyertalk Evangelist and Moderator: Coupon Connection and Travel Products
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#15
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We took two cruises in May, one SFO/YVR and the other LAX/YVR. In both instances we had to show our passport before we boarded and the had to go through customs, and, of course, show our passports, in Vancouver.
We also had to show our passports to board the plane in Vancouver and to go through American customs. I got four passport stamps--three were automatic and one time I asked.
We did disembark once in Victoria last year and I don't think we had to show passports.
We also had to show our passports to board the plane in Vancouver and to go through American customs. I got four passport stamps--three were automatic and one time I asked.
We did disembark once in Victoria last year and I don't think we had to show passports.