Travel with 16 year old

[Clayswife]

My husband, my 16 year old son, and I are sailing to the Western Caribbean on Freedom of the Seas October 25 th. It's my son's first cruise and he is VERY excited !! However, here is my concern - My son and I have different last names. I am SO worried I am going to have problems at the Pier when they see my last name differs from my son's . I called Royal Caribbean and get a different story every time I call ! I checked their website and it says for parents who have a last name that differs from that of their child, a passport, birth certificate, and "bridging" documents must be shown. Now I am just guessing here, but I am thinking that bridging documents would be proof linking us together somehow ? I figure the birth certificate should take care of that - And maybe my marriage certificate as proof that we had the same last name and now it's legally changed due to remarriage ? We also all have military ID's (my hubby is active duty) with his name and ours listed on each ID. Has anyone else experienced this ? Should I be concerned or am I just making a mountain out of a molehill ? I would love some input and would like to hear if anyone else has had this experience and how they handled it ... I am SO looking forward to this and would be devastated if we didn't have proper documentation at the pier !!

Thanks !!

Jackie

[Toto2Kansas]

Actually, if only one parent is traveling with a child (any child under the age of 18), you are supposed to have a written consent from the other natural parent, unless you have full custody of the child, which you need to prove with court papers. If there is any way for you to email this form to your childs father and have him sign in and have it notoraized, that would be the perfect solution. Along with the BC and your marriage license,etc. You have to prove the child is yours, and then prove that the other parent knows you are taking them out of the country, and have their permission to take them.
Here is a link to a consent form. http://miniurl.com/13155

[Clayswife]

Getting a notarized letter is not an option, as there has been no contact for many years - But, I do have court documentation stating I have sole custody. I will bring those papers, also ... Hopefully, that will suffice !

Thanks,

Jackie

[caribsun]

Bring all the legal paper work that you have.Here is my personal experience and is only intended for information only. We took our granddaughter on 3 Carnival cruises at age 2,4 and 6. We had a letter of consent from only her mother and our surnames are different.
We also flew to the port and not one service rep asked for a consent form.

[Toto2Kansas]

Originally Posted by Clayswife

Getting a notarized letter is not an option, as there has been no contact for many years - But, I do have court documentation stating I have sole custody. I will bring those papers, also ... Hopefully, that will suffice !

Thanks,

Jackie

The court papers saying you have sole custody and BC with proof you are the childs mother will be all you need. But don't forget those custody papers, they are very important. Enjoy!

[Clayswife]

Thank you !!

Jackie

[Lionesss]

If you used a travel agent why don't you have them do the leg work for you? you paid for the services.
I just feel you are doing so much and getting frustrating results.

How-ever it sounds like you have adequate information to travel safely.

By the way, take a picture of your son, you will never see him, he will have so much fun with the others his age on board, and this way you can remember what he looks like (speaking from experience).

Good Luck.
Safe travels.

[just G]

I have never had the slightest problem. I taken my granddaughter on cruises, the last being in January 2008, and they have never asked one single question. She also has a different last name from mine. I presented her passport when we checked in - at the airport, cruise terminal, customs, etc - no one asked why her name was different from mine - they never raised a question at all.

Not sure if anyone else has had a different experience, but in all the year's I've been cruising, I've never encountered a problem.

[Toto2Kansas]

The problem here is that they are supposed to check for the signed and notarized permission letter. (which also for you taking a granddaughter, should include a medical release form for treatment, should the unforseen happen). Glad to hear you were never asked to present it, but it doesn't mean next time you won't.

Would it be worth the chance you take to not have it and be denied boarding? It is always best to be totally prepared, then to have your cruise or flight ruined becuase you 'didn't need it last time'.

[sbartist]

16 year old son, different last name than myself and when I divorced his father I went back to my maiden name so new MC lists my maiden name. My DH is also retired military and "sponsors" my DS so he has military ID as well.

I have an ex that would not do anything to help me (or his son for that matter) in signing a consent form for him to travel on vacation (no less) with myself and my DH. I dug out all my legal paperwork and will definitely be bringing that with us.

What do they do if non-traveling parent (ex-spouse) is deceased? They certainly aren't going to sign anything! LOL

All I can say is be prepared and good thing that you are reading/thinking ahead about the possibilities.