The following is from the Radisson Website:

However, each time Radisson has not only asked for the passport upon embarkation they have actually taken it from me.

Do you need a passport? Can you just use birth certificate and id for those itineraries mentioned above? What will Radisson do if I refuse to hand over passport for their "safe keeping?"

Interesting question, Marc. And if you don't present a passport, do they take possession of your driver's license?

When we were approaching Cabo, they announced that we would have to have a picture ID to get back onto the ship. Since they had our passports, some people were going to use a credit card with their picture on it; they didn't have a driver's license. I didn't witness how that went, because we didn't get off the ship.

Marc, I think you can use a drivers license and a birth certificate. When I was thinking about going on MINT at the very last minute and my passport was within the 6 months time frame before the expiration date, Ngaire said they would accept my drivers license.

Don't forget, if you use your birth certificate, it has to be one of the ones with the raised seal on it.

I know on other cruises that we have taken to the Caribbean, a DL and certified copy of birth certificate was all that was needed. Except just recently in Barbados because of the change. We also never had to relinquish our passports on any cruise except on the Silver Whisper. Not sure why. We also didn't have to give up our passports when we did our Med cruise. Some people even carried their passports with them when they disembarked the ship, but after having ours stolen in London, we never carry the actual passport on our persons when we disembark, we just carry a reduced laminated copy.

Don:

You bring up an important point to consider while traveling...well, anywhere. But more important when abroad, I think.
Theft of important stuff.

We just spent Christmas in Paris and rode the Metro a lot. I watched one attempt to pick a guy's pocket for his cell-phone, a successful grab by a gang of youths (ok, not 100% successful. He went for her cell-phone and got merely the case.), and one (failed) attempt on my wallet.

My guy failed merely because I had nothing in the pocket he went for...back left aka 'the wallet pocket'. Had I been carrying my wallet? He would have gotten it & I would have been off on a merry chase to try to get it back!

My advice? 1. carry as little as you can when out and about (in cabin or in room safes are a great place to store stuff.) 2. invest the $10 or $20 in one of those under your clothes wallets. There is one that hangs around your neck and under your shirt.... but I have been told by women that it doesn't fit too well for them. There is another that has a loop that goes thru your belt & tucks into your pants. Cheap insurance in my book.

Oh, yeah, I finally followed my own advice on this last trip and had a photocopy of my passport made and stored away from my original. I'm told that a copy will save one HOURS and HOURS should a passport ever be lost or ..... well, you know.

Doug

I presume the rules are different for non-US residents as a passport would automatically be required for us (my son and I are doing the New England cruise). If Radisson take my passport off me (does anyone know why they do this), wouldn't I need it to enter Canada? Perhaps I should bring my NSW (State) licence with me (not that you would recognise me from that photo anyway - it's a shocker!) but I doubt they would accept that. I don't possess a credit card with photo ID . I always keep a copy of my passport, credit cards, airline information etc separately.

Talking of driver's licences - a funny thing happened to my son in Portland, Maine, when applying for a US licence (local?). They asked for his American birth certificate (wouldn't accept his Australian one) and it took him quite awhile to convince them that not everyone is born in the US!

My understanding is that those passports (or other id) are used by the ship to clear immigration on arrival, so their keeping your passport does not raise issues for your New England trip. There's sometimes a port on some cruises where you need individual clearances (I remember needing it in St. Petersburg--Russia, not florida), and they return your passport to you for those. Otherwise, they're keeping it for the purpose that you usually carry one for--immigration clearance.

When we were in Vancouver, there were several people who had a problem that did not have passports. Had to do with Canadian Immigration. In Mexico, you need more than a Driver's license. I have always had a notarized statement that I took to Mexico before I had a passport. Now I always use my passport. It works the best... I also have a special holder/ safe "wallet"I got a the travel store that has straps that snap to your bra straps and then can be put thru the bottom band of the bra. It holds credit cards and a small bauble or two.

If you give the ship your passport then immigration at each port can clear the ship as a whole (not the US). If not, you may be awakened at 5:00 am to produce your passport. When we got to San Diego we were each required to collect our passports and appear before immigration. Not sure about non US citizens as they were in another room. Since we disembarked the next day, we just all kept our passports until LA.

I hope to post one last report on our trip and I'll tell you a little about immigration and customs in the US. IT is tight these days.

When we went to Alaska on RSSC Mariner we embarked in Vancover and disembarked in Seward. Of course we needed passports since we began in Canada. They took them from us upon embarkation. The passengers who did the White Pass Railroad excursion (back into Canada from Skagway, I think) had to pick up their passports from Reception for that excursion and then return them when they got back on the ship.

I have always worried if I'm running around in some port and something happens to me. If the ship has my passport and goes sailing off while I'm in some hospital, Could be a mess. Depends on what country your in.

When I was a little kid I was taught always leave your passport and wallet in your front pants pocket. When in a crowded place rest your thumb on them as you walk and be aware of anyone close to you. Never show wealth. My Father's old belief was never look like an American, an impossible task for him.

Colleen, other cruise lines don't collect passports. All passengers don't have to show up there for immigration at each port.

I am trying to figure out why Radisson collects passports and what they will say if you refuse to hand it over on embarkation.

Also, besides Karen's experience with MINT, has anyone actually sailed on any Radisson cruise without a passport?

Sorry about all the questions; this has turned into a matter of pride (or hubris if you prefer ;) )

thanks,

BASIC RULES RE; PASSPORTS.
Citizens or permanent residents of foreign countries must have passports to enter foreign countries.
Many countries waive this requirement for many citizens or permanent residents entering as visitors.
Most cruise ships hold passports to enable immigration authorities to facilitate the entry of all types of nationalty passengers to enter the country.
Visas are required for those countries who do not have reciprocity, unless passengers disembark with accredited tourist agencies who do not require visas .(The cruise ship, for example)

That actually happened to some people that we were sailing with. It wasn't the ship holding the passports, it was left in their safe. They intentionally decided between the six of them to spend more time in Rome and take the train to Naples and catch the ship there the next day. Only one problem with their plan, weather prohibited us from being able to dock in Naples. So the ship headed on to its next port, which was Malta. Malta is not a EU country so they couldn't fly to Malta to catch the ship, they had to fly to Barcelona and wait 3 days for the ship to return to port so they could get their belongings off the ship

Lee, yes, as an Australian, you would need a passport to enter Canada. For the most part, Canadians and Americans can travel between the two countries without a passport, just a driver's license and birth certificate. But a passport always makes the most sense.

Don't know why RSSC collects them. Did they always? I remember them doing it in 2003, but not sure they did it in 2000. Anybody remember? I always assumed it was 9/11-related.