CRUISE SHIP ID CARDS

When you check in for your cruise you will be issued a cruise ship ID card that will usually contain your picture.  Your ship is like a floating city that has a hotel, restaurants, casino, several lounges, children day care centers, fitness club, and stores all rolled into one. The ID card is vital when onboard for the purchase of any product or good that is not included in your cruise package, ie. drinks, in store goods, photos and more.

Cruise guests are given their ID cards when they check in at the embarkation desk or at check in.  When you proceed to your ship, you will be directed to insert your card into a small kiosk as you stand in a designated spot as a camera takes your image and imprints it onto your ID card.  This will now identify you as the individual belonging to that card. This ID card will be your key to getting on and off the ship at different ports of call plus charging anything to your shipboard account.

It doesn't matter what the cruise lines call their ID cards because they all do the same thing. On Carnival ships, passengers use their Sail & Sign cards, while Royal Caribbean cruisers are equipped with SeaPass cards. Most mainstream lines use similar names, but the general features and uses for the cards are the same.

The cruise ship ID cards that are issued to you are the size of a credit card.  Typically, the passenger’s name is printed on the card as well as their cabin number, dining time and table assignment. These are convenient cards for passengers to insert in a wallet or holder.  Passengers will want to sign the back of their cards, just like a credit card, for easier use when making onboard purchases.

The cards are also help record when you get on and off the ship.  This allows the security crew of the ship to know if you are still on shore or if you made it back to the ship from your land excursion.  All passengers will get a card, even the children.   When you leave the ship, you will insert the card into a kiosk similar to the one that first recorded your photograph, and this records that you have left the vessel. When you return, you will again insert your card into a kiosk to be recorded as back on board. This way, the cruise ship can immediately and account for all the cruise passengers.

Uses for Cruise ship ID cards:

• Onboard identification

• Verifying dining times and table assignments

• Verifying cabin assignments and personal identification for contest winners

• Onboard purchases in gift shops and boutiques

• Purchasing drinks in lounges, bars, and other venues

• Cabin keys

• Port identification

• Casino credit depending on the ship

The ID cards can be replaced and each ship will have different regulations that will have to be followed for a re-issue of any ship ID card.

The cruise ships take security very seriously and you need to act and behave accordingly on any cruise ship just like you would at any on land resort or secure area.