Question (I posted this on the main posting board also - sorry for the duplication):
Last year, although embarrased to say, I got off the plane, packed my jacket in a suitcase and forgot the passport was in the jacket pocket.
The luggage was packed and they would not let me on until my brother got on the boat, found the luggage (what a miracle - took an hour and a half) and brought it to me.
What would have happened if he didn't find it (I had no birth certificate with me)??
I am sure this has happened before in a few situations. Thanx. jlk
No identification..fortunately it was only 1 1/2 hours What you should do is photostat your passports and keep a copy in your luggage and each traveling companion should have a copy of yours and you have a copy of his/hers. Sadly, they are discovering that cruise ships are being used for illegal comings and goings... who would look the most innocent...cruisers...not anymore and the cruise lines now must submit their passenger list I think 48 hours before sailing... Interesting in that the cruises we have been on that we have gone through Immigration on the ship before docking..usually the day before. Immigration boards the ship the day before as it's coming into the U.S.
Hey, good idea carrying copies of each others passports. Thanx.
Also, you are right about illegal comings and goings - as I posted before, I was on the Summit in March when the Coast Guard boarded and took off a crime boss as we were heading for Puerto Limon, Costa Rica - this happened at 4:30 a.m., so hardly anyone saw it.
Heard on several ofour trips to Bermuda that the crew smelled "grass" and upon docking the Bermuda Police came on board and escorted the 'guests" off..
JLKoag, I would check into this further. With security what it is today, I doubt very much that a copy of your passport would be an acceptable for of identificcation for you to board the ship. The cruise lines will not accept photocopies of birth certificates; if a birth certificate is not the original, then it has to be a certified copy with a raised seal. A copy of your passport would, however, be handy if you lost your passport and had to have it replaced.
Not for nothing but .... Your Passport is NOT something to lose! It's something to guard with your life. I pay as much attention to keeping track of my passport as I would to keeping track of my child. It's your ticket back into the good ole USA!
It may not be acceptable..but at least you have your passport # on it...and perhaps you could be given more slack..An American passport is the most valuable thing you own. I notice on my recently received renewed passport the "security" holograms or whatever they are.
WHEW!! for a second I thought you were posting that for me..lol I know it sounds tacky, but my husband wears one of those important paper holders (pasports,tickets, receipts, etc). that goes around your neck or belt (Eagle Creek). Since I use the same carry on bag for all trips...that is one spot I put the copies of our passports. On a trip to Peru many years ago a gentleman on the last day went to see the "changing of the guard"... somebody picked his pocket and he lost his passport. When we had our new passport pictures done at a local pharmacy, the gentleman was kind enough to make enough on one sheet that I am now going to add an extra picture of both of us.
Connect with Facebook
Loose Passport - What Happens If?
Linear Mode
