Exiting Australia on a cruise.

[irv]

First time in April, how different is it to flying out from Sydney, (our departure port) and are there any tips, tricks we should be aware of. Cruising with Carnival Australia.

Thanks in advance.

 

[asterix]

Make sure you've looked at the deck plan and check what is above and below your cabin. We like to get one of the earlier boarding times so that we can get onboard, enjoy the ship, the views and have lunch before the rest of the passengers board.

 

[love_the_life]

You will do check in for your cruise and hand over your passport which will be kept and you will collect it on the last day. You will then move through immigration, security which is similar to the airport and onto the ship. Depending on the line, your photo will be taken either when you check in or as you board the ship (same for domestic cruises). This is linked to your sea pass and cones up when you are getting off and on the ship at ports. If you do not have priority check in the queues may be quite long so be prepared for a bit of a wait.
Enjoy the cruise.

 

[asterix]

You will do check in for your cruise and hand over your passport which will be kept and you will collect it on the last day. You will then move through immigration, security which is similar to the airport and onto the ship. Depending on the line, your photo will be taken either when you check in or as you board the ship (same for domestic cruises). This is linked to your sea pass and cones up when you are getting off and on the ship at ports. If you do not have priority check in the queues may be quite long so be prepared for a bit of a wait.
Enjoy the cruise.

We went on a Carnival cruise to the South Pacific from Sydney in March, we handed over our passports for immigration but got them straight back.

 

[love_the_life]

We went on a Carnival cruise to the South Pacific from Sydney in March, we handed over our passports for immigration but got them straight back.

That's interesting - have never done a South Pacific cruise or one on Carnival. For all the ones I have been on (international ones) the ship has held the passport. In SE Asia we were staying off the ship (RCI) overnight and had to arrange to have our passports returned to us but when we were reboarding the security machine beeped with a pop up for us to give them back.

 

[pootle]

They give you back the passports usually unless they have to do a blanket visa , RCI tend to keep hold of them,along with celebrity

most ports now take your photo as you check in so you don't block getting onto the ship

basicallly it works as follows, your pre Reg credit card will need to be swiped in check -this is your room key as well as your "payment" for on the ship, all ships are cashless, you will use the card everywhere, including in the slot machines in the casino , so look after it! Most people have them on lanyards, on check in have your info ready passports etc, they will return them to you, you will all have your photo taken and attached to the card, you need to ping on and off of the ship. They are easily demagnatised, so don't put them near phones.

You can drop your bags off from around 8am, check in onto the ship is done is stages usually , most ships you can't get into rooms til after 1, you can have lunch the first day. So drop off and go for a walk and come back later.
Just a couple of hints n tips have heaps let me know if you need more I don't want to blog the page

 

[Major]

Departure is usually late afternoon. Weather depending, you should pick a good spot near the stern for some great sunset photos with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge as backdrops.

Daylight saving finishes April 2nd so if your cruise is after that good photos looking back through the Heads maybe limited

 

[love_the_life]

They give you back the passports usually unless they have to do a blanket visa , RCI tend to keep hold of them,along with celebrity

most ports now take your photo as you check in so you don't block getting onto the ship

....

I have mostly sailed RCI, Celebrity and Cunard for anything international so guess that explains why they have always kept the passports.

Brisbane did the photo as we actually boarded though I have had it taken at check in at other places (except for small ships where they did it all on board).
Not sure if irv has cruised domestically and looking for info on actual international departures or whether this is all new for them.

 

[irv]

I have mostly sailed RCI, Celebrity and Cunard for anything international so guess that explains why they have always kept the passports.

Brisbane did the photo as we actually boarded though I have had it taken at check in at other places (except for small ships where they did it all on board).
Not sure if irv has cruised domestically and looking for info on actual international departures or whether this is all new for them.

This is our first cruise hence the request for information. Thanks to those who responded.

 

[fairbasa]

I assume it's not a return itinerary? I wish I knew when we went on a Celebrity South Pacific cruise that customs wouldn't look at anyones luggage on return. Would have packed in twice as much duty free booze

 

[straitman]

You will do check in for your cruise and hand over your passport which will be kept and you will collect it on the last day. You will then move through immigration, security which is similar to the airport and onto the ship. Depending on the line, your photo will be taken either when you check in or as you board the ship (same for domestic cruises). This is linked to your sea pass and cones up when you are getting off and on the ship at ports. If you do not have priority check in the queues may be quite long so be prepared for a bit of a wait.
Enjoy the cruise.

We went on a Carnival cruise to the South Pacific from Sydney in March, we handed over our passports for immigration but got them straight back.

I suspect it varies with where you are going and the Visa requirements. My experience with a NZ cruise for example is that they don't keep the passport where as to/from other countries they do.

 

[Major]

We arrived back from a HAL cruise around NZ yesterday. After Immigration we boarded the ship and kept our passports (Australian) with us. HAL were not interested at all.

 

[love_the_life]

I suspect it varies with where you are going and the Visa requirements. My experience with a NZ cruise for example is that they don't keep the passport where as to/from other countries they do.

True - in Europe and Asia the ships have collected our passports but for 'local' (i.e. to NZ) they hand them back.

 

[Pushka]

Its very inconsistent. Three times on a Med cruise and passports handed back on embarkation every time.