PW30

My friend and I will be travelling from Rhodes to Marmaris next year, and I've read that there's a requirement to hand over passports the night before boarding the ferry (the same for hydrofoil?).
Can anyone tell me why this is necessary, and how the process works?
We are very exciting about seeing Turkey for the first time - I'm just a bit uncertain about handing over my passport (which probably sounds silly to you seasoned travellers, but please, indulge me).
Thanks

Queenie

Handing over a passport is never silly business.

I have taken the hydrofoil from Rhodes to Marmaris and only handed my passport to the immigration officer at the Marmaris Port. Bought my visa there too. They are set up for this. Have never heard of turning the passport over the night before. Just my experience...

brotherleelove2003

If I remember correctly, that's only for taking a day trip. Of course if you're planning to stay in Turkey for any length of time you'll be keeping your passport with you. I'm pretty sure there are 2 different procedures for day trips and long stays.

GeoffHamer

I did the crossing from Marmaris to Rodos several years ago. I bought the ticket the evening before and the agent kept my passport. Before the ship sailed in the morning, the passports were returned to the passengers on the quay, after being checked by Turkish officials. On boarding the ship, the passengers' passports were collected by the crew and were handed to the Greek police on arrival in Rodos. They were returned to the passengers after being checked. I've not sailed from Rodos to Marmaris, but I've been from Hios to Çesme and from Samos to Kusadasi: in both cases, I bought my ticket and had my passport checked at the Greek port on the morning of the sailing, so my passport was not kept overnight. On a day trip, I think passengers' passports are kept at the port and passengers are issued with a landing card which acts as a receipt for the passport - this, I believe, is the normal procedure on cruise ships visiting foreign ports.

Jed

This may be so obvious as to be silly, but I would suggest making sure you have a copy of your passport.

elina

I have gone twice from Marmaris to Rhodes on a daytrip. On both occations I left my passport to Turkish customs officials the day before the trip, and got it back before the ferry left next morning. Don't worry, you will get it back, they are customs officials, not mafia. But I don't know how it goes the other way around (Rhodes-Marmaris)

newyorkais

Does the $100 visa requirement for American citizens visiting Turkey apply for day-trips from Rhodes? I would assume it does, though some have told me otherwise.

Thanks.

Ross.

PW30

Thank you all for your replies. I feel reassured!
We'll actually be touring from Marmaris to Istanbul, so hopefully brotherleelove's memory is correct, and I won't have to worry about handing it over all.
And yes, I will have photocopies of all my paperwork.
Thanks again.