Your passport is your most critical travel document, and its handling on a cruise depends on the ship's protocol and your specific itinerary. Upon boarding, some cruise lines—especially on international routes with multiple border crossings—may collect and hold your passport to facilitate faster customs processing at each port. In these cases, you will receive a receipt, and your document is safely stored in the ship's secure vault until the end of the voyage. If the ship does not collect it, the gold standard for safety is to lock it in your stateroom safe immediately after check-in. You should carry a high-quality color photocopy or a digital photo of your passport when going ashore. However, in certain countries, local authorities may require you to carry the original document for identification. It is vital to check the daily "cruise newsletter" provided in your cabin, as it will explicitly state the requirements for each port of call to ensure you aren't denied re-boarding or delayed by local police.