Another minor document question

I am sailing in 2 weeks on oasis with son and 2 grandchildren (letter from x’s... same mother different fathers.

My son is bringing a girlfriend and son. I prepared for her “the letter” with all the requirements for the child’s father to sign. She said he signed, but it was not notarized when she picked the child up from timeshare holiday ( 4hr) drive. She has a court agreement that says “either parent may take the child out of the country by providing two days notice and providing dates and itinerary. So, I told her to bring that document. I have also typed a letter for her to send registered to him that states the date, itinerary etc., what the agreement says. I want to bring a copy of the letter and the receipt showing he received notice. There is no disagreement just stupidity.

Thoughts.

I would call the cruise line, they are the ones who will decide if the documents are sufficient.

I would call the cruise line, they are the ones who will decide if the documents are sufficient.

I have read the boards long enough and learned from everyone on here don’t believe what you are told, and if you don’t like what You are told try someone else.....plus the person giving the information will not be the person at check in.... I guess I’ll keep plugging along here . I’ll let u all know.

You might try to get a document(s) exactly he way the cruise line wants. I personally would not expect the people at embarkation point to read a divorce decree and the supporting documents. They are not lawyers.

FedEx works wonders for moving documents around.

I traveled on Royal in April, with a child who was not my own. We had all the necessary (notarized) documentation from her parents and Royal never even questioned the fact that her last name was different from ours, or that she was listed in a cabin with my husband (we had 2 cabins, one adult/one child in each, which we switched once on board). They didn’t even ask for any of the paperwork. I’m not suggesting you go with no paperwork - I would make sure you have what they are asking for, just in case -but I thought it was concerning that they never even asked for anything at all.

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IN YOUR case only RCI or port authorities can give you the true answer for your situation.

Notarization* is not required by Homeland or CBP, as long as the document has the proper verbiage to allow the child to sail without the other joint custody parent. HOWEVER if the cruise line wants (not just recommends) that the document signatures be witnessed by a notary you will need to draw up a new document and tell the land bound parent that the signature MUST be witnessed by a notary (often free at an account holder's bank but most recommend using an appointment).

Another work around will depend on how the child in question's, birth certificate is drawn up. It's possible if the father's name is not on it many states preclude that as the mother having full custody. Other than that use of court records (divorce or paternital right agreement) along with the proper notification (an acknowledged email or text message can serve in lieu receipt of mailing). Either of these options could be used IF the cruise line allows it but be prepared for a long wait in the port terminal's security office for a government official to go over the paperwork to give the OK.

* all notarization means is an individual (accept by a state's government) has matched a photo ID and witnessed the addressee's signature on a document. In a sense verifying the identity of the signature as being truly from the individual mentioned in the paerwork.

Thanks for everyone's response. I'm going to talk to sons girlfriend again and see if she can get the father to go to a notary and mailed back to us b4 Father's Day cruise.

One granddaughter is "through" my sons previous marriage the girls half sisters. With the exception of one time, they have always asked for documentation for the one child who's name does not match ours, and never on the other one. I would rather have things right.

I would hate for my son to see his girlfriend and son not be boarded while the 4 of us sail on. I'll do the standard speech to all parents not traveling to stay by the phone just in case.... I'll keep you posted

IN YOUR case only RCI or port authorities can give you the true answer for your situation.

 

Notarization* is not required by Homeland or CBP, as long as the document has the proper verbiage to allow the child to sail without the other joint custody parent. HOWEVER if the cruise line wants (not just recommends) that the document signatures be witnessed by a notary you will need to draw up a new document and tell the land bound parent that the signature MUST be witnessed by a notary (often free at an account holder's bank but most recommend using an appointment).

Another work around will depend on how the child in question's, birth certificate is drawn up. It's possible if the father's name is not on it many states preclude that as the mother having full custody. Other than that use of court records (divorce or paternital right agreement) along with the proper notification (an acknowledged email or text message can serve in lieu receipt of mailing). Either of these options could be used IF the cruise line allows it but be prepared for a long wait in the port terminal's security office for a government official to go over the paperwork to give the OK.

 

* all notarization means is an individual (accept by a state's government) has matched a photo ID and witnessed the addressee's signature on a document. In a sense verifying the identity of the signature as being truly from the individual mentioned in the paerwork.

Thank you.

Fathers name is on it. The child's last name is hers and the fathers.

I.e.: John Thomas Jones Smith!!!

So... Court order reads " either party may travel with the child inside or outside of the United States, during his/her time share. The parent traveling with the child shall give other parent 2 days notice"..

I will bring agreement , certified receipt letter , and hope after doing four check ins they want us to be gone!

Update to my original post .... the father finally came through with notarized letter. Looks like a little food spill on it .. the notary stamp expired on June8th, however, it was signed and notarized before expiration date. 😩

We leave Sunday, and it cannot be soon enough. I am responsible for 5 other people two of which are “adults” still asking me surprisingly stupid questions, like I am driving too? No, we are going to strap the kids to the roof.

For the heck of it, I’ll let you know what I had to prove when I return.

We have my son, his daughter 8 yrs. his step-daughter 14 yrs. letter from xwife, mother of both girls, letter from biological father to cover the one child.

Sons girlfriend with her son 5/yrs) and letter notarized from the father.

Only my son and I have passports, rest are birth certificates .

I see a large pina colada in sights.

Has the cruise line said they are ok with only the two passports mentioned?

Do any of the countries you are visiting require passports?

I would think your son's girlfriend really should have her own passport, what if she has to fly back. Same with the children.

Personally I would not travel outside the US these days unless everyone in the group had passports.

P.S. The fact that the notary license expired after the document was notarized should not matter (no one will probably ever notice) HOWEVER you never know what someone will do.

:eek:

Update to my original post .... the father finally came through with notarized letter. Looks like a little food spill on it .. the notary stamp expired on June8th, however, it was signed and notarized before expiration date. 😩

 

We leave Sunday, and it cannot be soon enough. I am responsible for 5 other people two of which are “adults” still asking me surprisingly stupid questions, like I am driving too? No, we are going to strap the kids to the roof.

 

For the heck of it, I’ll let you know what I had to prove when I return.

We have my son, his daughter 8 yrs. his step-daughter 14 yrs. letter from xwife, mother of both girls, letter from biological father to cover the one child.

 

Sons girlfriend with her son 5/yrs) and letter notarized from the father.

Only my son and I have passports, rest are birth certificates .

 

I see a large pina colada in sights.

Good luck. I need a drink just reading that list! :eek:

Have fun! We took 2 of my daughter's friends at different times, always had the docs and they were barely looked at. Took one of the girls for a second time in April and they repeatedly asked for the docs. Which we did not have because she was 18! Had to remind them we did not need them LOL. But as stated, always better safe than sorry!

I took my two kids on their first cruise a few years back and had the signed documents from my ex. Cruise line never asked to see anything like that. However my biggest concern would be if you had less than sufficient documentation and were at port and God forbid something happens to one of the kids. At that point, questions may possibly start to come up. Long and short of it all, i would plan for the worse case scenario given that children are involved and make sure all required documents are in line. chances are, no one will ever want to see them but if they do, and you aren't completely in compliance, could cause you a loss of some major vacation time trying to explain everything. Or even worse, a vindictive ex spouse contacts the authorities...

I would always err on the side of being prepared. I travel with show cats who are required to have a valid health and rabies certificate to fly. In over 30 years, I’ve only been asked to produce them maybe 4-5 times. Do I still make sure I have them? You bet! Last time I drove to Canada I had paid for a last minute vet visit. Border guard asked the purpose of my visit but never mentioned the papers. Do you want to see their rabies certificates? Are they up to date? Yes. Then I don’t need to see them. Grrrr.

Our oldest has a different last name than me and his mom, and mom has a different last name than all of us. Our youngest has my last name, so 4 people with 3 different last names (confusing, yea? Lol)

I always bring a notarized form signed by our oldest’s father. They’ve never asked for it. We sailed Anthem a couple of weeks ago and it was the first time anyone had mentioned him having a different last name, but that was the end of it.

But.....better safe than watching the ship sail standing on the pier! I’d do what I could to get it notarized.

Thanks all... leave Sunday🛳. Will report back on my experience. Hardest part is on and off. Time to pack patience and best behavior.

I went on Harmony with my 18yo son and his 16yo girlfriend.

Nobody asked for anything when we checked in, and nobody asked for anything when we got off the ship at the end of the cruise.

The only time anything was ever discussed was when my 18yo son took his 16yo girlfriend ashore in Puerto Rico. I left the ship with them when we were in St. Maarten, and nothing was said when the kids went ashore without me in Labadee.

We did have a signed and notarized letter from her mother (mom has a hyphenated last name mixing her previous last name and her current last name) which gave permission to both me and my son, and the ship personnel did give them a bit of a hard time in San Juan because there wasn't an "adultier adult" with them. My name and my son's name were BOTH listed as having permission to supervise the 16yo, and the ship's personnel kept asking, "Where is Mrs. brillohead?" and my son had to keep saying, "It doesn't matter where Mrs. brillohead is, because I'm 18yo and I'm listed on the form as being able to escort GF off the ship."

They did ultimately allow them to leave the ship without me. When I left with the kids the day before in St. Maarten, all I did was say, "She's with me" when she dinged as a minor, and the staff was fine with that -- didn't even notice/care that her last name and my last name weren't the same. And if my son had been older-looking when leaving with her, they wouldn't have looked at the paper at all, either.

But I still would never ever in a million years consider trying to take a minor on a cruise without a notarized letter from the parent/legal guardian granting permission.

As promised, I am reporting back on my document experience. The two children that had parents cruising we were not asked for anything. The one grandchild w/o parent, I was asked permission letter. Now getting off, the customs agent, while she confirmed who were the parents of what kid, she asked for permission letter for all the three children.

Just as an extra comment.... I chose boardwalk balconies for the children. I thought it would be fun. I expected not to enjoy it, but this wasn’t about me. I had cabin 14311 and 14313 connecting staterooms. It was not noisy for me, who is noise sensitive. Kids loved watching practices in the aqua theater and activities going on. Great location for kids one up to pool. Zip lined right in front of us. Fun, fun fun.

As promised, I am reporting back on my document experience. The two children that had parents cruising we were not asked for anything. The one grandchild w/o parent, I was asked permission letter. Now getting off, the customs agent, while she confirmed who were the parents of what kid, she asked for permission letter for all the three children.

 

Just as an extra comment.... I chose boardwalk balconies for the children. I thought it would be fun. I expected not to enjoy it, but this wasn’t about me. I had cabin 14311 and 14313 connecting staterooms. It was not noisy for me, who is noise sensitive. Kids loved watching practices in the aqua theater and activities going on. Great location for kids one up to pool. Zip lined right in front of us. Fun, fun fun.

Glad to hear it went well. And that you all enjoyed the BW balconies.

Thanks for coming back and reporting what you experienced. Hope you had your Pina Colada. I am with Merion Mom, when I read your two main posts I was in need of a drink, trying to keep track of all of the relationships. ;)

As promised, I am reporting back on my document experience. The two children that had parents cruising we were not asked for anything. The one grandchild w/o parent, I was asked permission letter. Now getting off, the customs agent, while she confirmed who were the parents of what kid, she asked for permission letter for all the three children.

 

Just as an extra comment.... I chose boardwalk balconies for the children. I thought it would be fun. I expected not to enjoy it, but this wasn’t about me. I had cabin 14311 and 14313 connecting staterooms. It was not noisy for me, who is noise sensitive. Kids loved watching practices in the aqua theater and activities going on. Great location for kids one up to pool. Zip lined right in front of us. Fun, fun fun.