But What If I Lose My Passport?

One of the things that I am asked most often by people who are new to cruising is, “Do I really need to have a passport?”. I understand that there’s an added expense involved in applying for a passport, and the fact is that many cruise itineraries don’t require you to have a passport with you to travel.

But I always answer the same way. “Even if you don’t NEED it, I highly recommend that you have one because if there’s any kind of emergency that forces you to cut your vacation short to fly home, you will need the passport to return to the United States by air.”

That answer is almost always countered with this very scary question: But what if I lose it?

So here are some steps that you’ll have to take to replace that passport while on your trip. Hopefully, knowing what to do will make it less scary.

1. Before you leave home, make a photocopy of your passport.


The US State Department recommends having an expired passport or a photocopy of your current passport to expedite the replacement process. So once you’ve made the copy, you can either leave the photocopy with someone you trust who is not traveling with you (but make sure you can contact them in an emergency) or keep the photocopy in the safe in your stateroom.


Or if you’re lucky enough to be a Pioneer Valley Cruise Planners client, you can upload the photocopy to your My Trips account for easy access later through our website or through your smartphone app!


2. Go to the local police.

Making a police report does several things. First, it documents the loss or theft in case you need to make an insurance claim for its replacement or for non-refundable costs relating to travel that you are no longer able to take. Second, it helps prevent your passport from being used illegally by someone else. And third, it will help (although it’s not necessary) to process the application for your replacement passport.

If the time required to file the police report will cause you to miss your departure, then you should skip this and move on to the next step.

3. Go to the nearest US Embassy or Consulate.


The location of every US embassy and consulate can be found quickly and easily at this website:https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country.html . Simply type in the country of your current location, and you will find the address, phone number and website for each consulate. 


If you don’t have internet access (maybe your phone was stolen, too!), you’ll have to do a pre-Google search. That’s right, find a phone book. Or ask a local.


4. Apply for your new passport.


You’ll need a few things in order to complete the application; but if you have all of them, it’s possible to get a temporary passport the next business day. So what should you bring with you to the consulate? The State Department recommends the following:


· A Passport Photo (one photo is required; get it in advance to speed the process of replacing your passport)

· Identification (driver's license, expired passport etc.)

· Evidence of U.S. citizenship (birth certificate, photocopy of your missing passport)

· Travel Itinerary (airline/train tickets)

· Police Report, if available


And now you know why Step #1 above is so important! You’ll need some kind of proof of citizenship. So carry that photocopy with you (or upload it to your My Trips account, provided free by Pioneer Valley Cruise Planners!) and get a Passport Photo taken on the way to the consulate.


Once there, you’ll have to fill out the application and a report about the circumstances surrounding the loss of your old passport. (This is where the police report comes in handy, if you have it.)


There’s no doubt that losing your passport is traumatic, and adds stress to what is supposed to be a great vacation. But it’s not cause for panic if you know what to do about it. 


For information on other travel topics or destinations, visit Pioneer Valley Cruise Planners online at
www.TheConfidentTraveler.com