Do I have all the right documentation?

[Traumajunky]

I will be sailing in about 2 week with my 9 year old daughter to the Bahamas. We both have passports although I do realize we do not need them for this trip. I also have the NCL travel authorization form signed and notarized by both her father and myself. I also have my daughter's birth certificate packed since we have different last names to prove I am her mother.

 

Do I need anything else? I am a little paranoid as we do not look alike and she is a different race. What should I take off the ship when at port to make sure we don't have issues getting back on the ship? Am I being overly paranoid (yes, I think, maybe)?

 

Also, I noticed on the passport page that has your info, the page above that has a place to sign. I assume I need to sign mine? Do I sign my daughter's or does she sign hers?

 

Thanks so much for the help in advance!

D

[nets33]

It sounds like you have all the right documentation to me.

 

While passports may not be required they are definitely the best way to travel. Because you have the passport I don't think you would need the actual birth certificate - a copy would be just as good.

 

If you are still concerned you can contact NCL but I think you'll be fine. Enjoy.

[youngestof9]

It's funny when we were boarding the ship back from the bahamas the man checking the passports looked at my oldest and said "you're 12 now - you can sign your passport" LOL! We hadn't had her sign it (no reason - she just didn't sign it).

 

So if you want you can have her sign it. It does sound like you have everything you need.

 

Have fun!

[cruisincarly]

I will be sailing in about 2 week with my 9 year old daughter to the Bahamas. We both have passports although I do realize we do not need them for this trip. I also have the NCL travel authorization form signed and notarized by both her father and myself. I also have my daughter's birth certificate packed since we have different last names to prove I am her mother.

 

Do I need anything else? I am a little paranoid as we do not look alike and she is a different race. What should I take off the ship when at port to make sure we don't have issues getting back on the ship? Am I being overly paranoid (yes, I think, maybe)?

 

Also, I noticed on the passport page that has your info, the page above that has a place to sign. I assume I need to sign mine? Do I sign my daughter's or does she sign hers?

 

Thanks so much for the help in advance!

D

 

If she can sign her name, she can sign it. If not, you should print your child's name on the signature line, and then sign next to it. After your signature write "mother" in parentheses. So, like this:

 

Child's Name your signature (mother)

 

These are the State Department instructions for passports for minors who are unable to sign their own passport.

[Sea Monster 2]

If she can sign her name, she can sign it. If not, you should print your child's name on the signature line, and then sign next to it. After your signature write "mother" in parentheses. So, like this:

 

Child's Name your signature (mother)

 

These are the State Department instructions for passports for minors who are unable to sign their own passport.

 

I am a former consular officer for the State Dept. These are the correct instructions.

[mfinster007]

I'm getting conflicting information from the printed information from NCL and a representative at NCL. Can I just travel on a closed loop trip from FL to Eastern Caribbean with My daughter and I and only our passports? My daughter is 16, is there any reason to bring the 'parent consent' form if providing your passports as ID?.

[melligene]

I'm getting conflicting information from the printed information from NCL and a representative at NCL. Can I just travel on a closed loop trip from FL to Eastern Caribbean with My daughter and I and only our passports? My daughter is 16, is there any reason to bring the 'parent consent' form if providing your passports as ID?.

 

I think your passports will be fine as it is a document proving your identity. While really not needed on a closed loop trip, as I understand it, the only problem that may arise is if you miss the ship and try to leave that particular port. We always keep ours with us any time we disembark.

[slidergirl]

There is one thing I'm thinking about here. You have that notarized NCL authorization form. That is good for NCL. Now, on the way back into the US, what happens? Does NCL keep that form? Only asking because the CBP has this on their website:

 

"Due to the increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and as possible victims of child pornography, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, the adult have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating "I acknowledge that my wife/husband/etc. is traveling out of the country with my son/daughter. He/She/They has/have my permission to do so."

 

CBP also suggests that this note be notarized.

 

While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if we do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed. If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (deceased, sole custody, etc.) any other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, death certificate, etc., would be useful."

 

Just wondering out loud for those parents traveling solo with a minor child.

[DinaS]

I'm getting conflicting information from the printed information from NCL and a representative at NCL. Can I just travel on a closed loop trip from FL to Eastern Caribbean with My daughter and I and only our passports? My daughter is 16, is there any reason to bring the 'parent consent' form if providing your passports as ID?.

 

Your daughter is a minor at age 16, and so from what I understand, you NEED the parental consent form from BOTH parents. The passports are only providing identification as to who you are, it doesn't provide proof that you aren't taking your daughter out of the country without her father's knowledge. (Yeah - some parents in custody disputes will do ANYTHING to get full custody, including kidnapping their child and leaving the country.)

 

The fact that you are in a closed loop cruise doesn't prevent you from remaining in a foreign port when the ship leaves if you truly wanted to.

[rajones007]

Hmmmm, when I booked our cruise I was told we didn't need that form. That form downloaded from NCL is for anyone taking a child WHO ISN'T THEIR OWN CHILD on a cruise. Like, for example, if I wanted to take our sons best-friend on our cruise we would need that form signed by both of that kids parents because neither of his parents are accompanying him on the cruise.

 

In my case, I'm travelling with my GF and her two children, 15 and 13. We don't need the NCL form because my GF is their mother. We do, however, have a notarized form (NOT the NCL form) signed by their biological father which gives us permission to travel with them on such-and-such date and on such-and-such cruise. We used the template that the Government of Canada provides, and just filled in the blanks, and had a lawyer notarize it.

 

Please, somebody correct me if I'm wrong. I've had 2 different NCL reps, and they both told me the same thing: that I do not need the NCL form in my situation because the minors are boarding the ship with their mother.

[DinaS]

Hmmmm, when I booked our cruise I was told we didn't need that form. That form downloaded from NCL is for anyone taking a child WHO ISN'T THEIR OWN CHILD on a cruise. Like, for example, if I wanted to take our sons best-friend on our cruise we would need that form signed by both of that kids parents because neither of his parents are accompanying him on the cruise.

 

In my case, I'm travelling with my GF and her two children, 15 and 13. We don't need the NCL form because my GF is their mother. We do, however, have a notarized form (NOT the NCL form) signed by their biological father which gives us permission to travel with them on such-and-such date and on such-and-such cruise. We used the template that the Government of Canada provides, and just filled in the blanks, and had a lawyer notarize it.

 

Please, somebody correct me if I'm wrong. I've had 2 different NCL reps, and they both told me the same thing: that I do not need the NCL form in my situation because the minors are boarding the ship with their mother.

 

Technically, you don't need it if no one asks for it and no one questions it.

 

The only problem is what happens if something unforeseen arises - such as getting stranded at a port, or missing a connection, or ANYTHING that causes you to be in a foreign country.

 

Here is a link to US Customs regarding THEIR suggestions:

 

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/268/~/traveling-with-children---child-traveling-with-one-parent-or-someone-who-is-not

 

Here is the important part:

 

"If a child (under the age of 19) is traveling with only one parent or someone who is not a parent or legal guardian, what paperwork should the adult have to indicate permission or legal authority to have that child in their care?

 

Due to the increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and as possible victims of child pornography, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, the adult have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating "I acknowledge that my wife/husband/etc. is traveling out of the country with my son/daughter. He/She/They has/have my permission to do so."

CBP also suggests that this note be notarized."

[rajones007]

Technically, you don't need it if no one asks for it and no one questions it.

 

The only problem is what happens if something unforeseen arises - such as getting stranded at a port, or missing a connection, or ANYTHING that causes you to be in a foreign country.

 

Here is a link to US Customs regarding THEIR suggestions:

 

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/268/~/traveling-with-children---child-traveling-with-one-parent-or-someone-who-is-not

 

Here is the important part:

 

"If a child (under the age of 19) is traveling with only one parent or someone who is not a parent or legal guardian, what paperwork should the adult have to indicate permission or legal authority to have that child in their care?

 

Due to the increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and as possible victims of child pornography, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, the adult have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating "I acknowledge that my wife/husband/etc. is traveling out of the country with my son/daughter. He/She/They has/have my permission to do so."

CBP also suggests that this note be notarized."

I'm well aware of all that. That's why I said that I have a form giving us permission to travel, signed by the father and notarized.

 

I was asking about the NCL Parental Consent Form. Others in this thread seem to think it's a necessity when I was told different.

[rvsullivan]

The parental consent form is, as you said, for someone traveling with other than their own child, i.e., grandparent, etc. Your notarized letter from your spouse/other parent is what you should carry just in case. There are several threads floating around here about this subject. You've done due diligence and should be fine.