What to do with stuff while on excursions

[Cat25]

Hi everyone. I'm taking my first cruise ever this March. I am planning on doing excursions in most of our ports. Do you take your passport with you when you leave the boat. If so what do you do with it while you are doing the excursion. ie. snorkingling or cave tubing? Any advice on this would be much appreciated.

Thanks!!

[f-mattox]

Hello Cat25 and welcome to cruise-chat;
congratulations on your first cruise.
You didn't specify which cruise line or ship you are on, but most have safes right in the cabin. Not all agree with this, but my advice is to leave your passport in your safe and take a photocopy of the first page with you.
On most lines what you need to take with you is your cruise card and a photo I.D. (drivers' license, etc.).
You can buy small waterproof cases for these and what cash you take ashore that fit in your pocket or on a strap around your neck. You can get these in a dive shop, sporting goods store, or onboard.
Have a great first cruise!

[spoheat]

I have never taken my passport off the ship in 7 cruises, it stays in the safe. I have actually never taken a photo ID either, I take a credit card (shopping, equipment rental) and my ship/cruise card--I have only cruised RCCL and the ship's card is a MUST to reboard--your picture is encoded in the magnetic strip on the back and they insert it in a reader as you board. My daughter who looks young needed a license once and had to go back for it as she wanted to drive a wave runner and had to prove she as 18, and I assume you would need that to rent a car as well.

[Cat25]

Thank You everyone for the tips. I have been to Mexico before and always left it in the safe, but didn't know the best way to handle it on a cruise ship. This is our first one. We are sailing on the Norwegian Sun Leaving March 4th. So excited!

[Dave]

It is never a good idea to be in another country without some form of photo ID in your possession - even if it is good ol' Cozumel or Grand Cayman. Many ports require adults to have both their photo ID and cruise card checked before they can proceed to the pier and the ship. I recall on our cruise in 2004 on the Mariner that people who didn't bring along a photo ID were stopped from reboarding the ship by Bahamian police at their checkpoint.

[Cat25]

So it sounds like taking my drivers license and key card along with a photo copy of my passport should be good. I really appreciate all of your suggestions.

[spoheat]

Wow! Thanks Dave Beers. We have always thought we were playing it safe leaving licenses in the safe--we have cruised 7 cruises since 2001 and never been asked for any ID beyond the ships card (including the Mariner--makes me wonder if there was a problem that day?) but in light of what you experienced ( and I suppose we could be involved in an incident of some kind in a foreign country) I think we will start. Still plan to leave those passports on the ship! Laurie

[Cruise Specialist]

We have been on many cruises and I have to agree with Dave, always take a photo ID with you. Not necessarily your passport, but your drivers license. We have been stopped in Nassau before being allowed back on the pier to board. I guess it all depends on how the guard is feeling that day...lol..have been asked for it and other times not.

[Sonny V]

Nassau never let's you by without a picture I.D. Either your driver's license or passport, along with your seapass.

[spoheat]

Cruise specialist Carol: I see by your tickers you are going on a few "fall cruises" I would be interested in hearing people's experiences cruising anywhere in the Caribbean during the fall/rainy/hurricane season. Laurie