Cruise Documentation for a child

[stroh33]

Hello all. I love cruise critic and I know it opens up doors to resources that can't be found anywhere else. So here is my unique situation that I would like some insight on.,,,

 

My wife and I and our three year old son will be traveling on the Oasis in June and we all have our passports so there isn't an issue there, however we will also be traveling with a 2 year old foster child who the state of Florida has granted custodianship to my wife and I. A little bit of backstory the child is 1 of 5 and has been removed from the parents because they are both incarcerated in jail. We took the two year old girl at the request of the state and have all intentions to adopt her but the process will be a lengthy one as the state moves very slowly in these situations.

 

What I have... We have the child's original birth certificate. We also have certified court documents naming my wife and I legal non relative custodians. The birth parents both objected to her going on the cruise but thankfully the judge saw differently and allowed us to take her so I also have original courts docs allowing us to leave the state of Florida for the said week of our cruise. Finally because she is a dependent of the state I have a notarized letter from the children's home society handling her case granting us permission to go on the cruise, acknowledging that we are leaving the country, listing all dates and ports of call, and granting us permission to make medical decisions on behalf of the child while we are away.

 

What I don't have. The parents permission hence the above said. A passport (we have her social security card but because of the parents objections obtaining a passport is not possible). A signed letter from the parents.

 

Please do not flame me for not reading the policies and procedures that deal with taking a child that isn't legally mine. I have read so much and searched boards but have been unsuccessful to find a clear answer that is relevant to my situation. I promise you I have done my due diligence, I have called customs, I have called homeland security, I have called the port authority at port Everglades but I want to make sure I exhaust all resources available to me. There would be nothing worse than getting down there the day of the cruise and be denied boarding because we forgot to cross a t or dot an I. Thank you very much for your help!!

 

 

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[waterbug123]

We also have certified court documents naming my wife and I legal non relative custodians..... I also have original courts docs allowing us to leave the state of Florida for the said week of our cruise..... I have a notarized letter from the children's home society handling her case granting us permission to go on the cruise, acknowledging that we are leaving the country, listing all dates and ports of call, and granting us permission to make medical decisions on behalf of the child while we are away.

 

What I don't have. The parents permission hence the above said.

 

I'm not an expert in family law, but I'm pretty sure that since you have legal custody of her, YOU get to make all the decisions, not her birth parents. That's what legal custody is all about, and it's really no different than if she was in the custody of her birth mother and her birth father had been stripped of his parental rights... the mother could take her on whatever trip she liked and the father wouldn't have a say. Only difference here is that they've both lost their rights.

You've got three pieces of documentation that say you not only have custody, but specific authorization to take her on the trip. I think you're covered, and can't imagine what else you could possibly need. :)

[Debitoo]

I have no answer to your questions but I just wanted to say thank you for taking on the responsibility of this child. I wish there were more people like you in the world.......:)

[spookwife]

 

 

 

What I don't have. The parents permission you don't need it since you have the court documents granting you permissionhence the above said. A passport (we have her social security card but because of the parents objections obtaining a passport is not possible) . A signed letter from the parents.

 

 

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seriously I am 99% sure you are fine. you have legal court documents granting you in loco parentis everyone who has a legal vested interest has given the go ahead. Mumsikins and daddykins have forfeited their rights so do not get any say in the matter.

[Daghis]

I think it sounds like you have all your documents in order. We did the same thing with our foster son many years ago. We got permission from the court and simply carried all the documentation with us when we checked in. I don't recall which documents they actually checked, but I do remember that it seemed to be less of an issue than I had feared it might be.

[Theredofshaw]

I'm not an expert in family law, but I'm pretty sure that since you have legal custody of her, YOU get to make all the decisions, not her birth parents. That's what legal custody is all about, and it's really no different than if she was in the custody of her birth mother and her birth father had been stripped of his parental rights... the mother could take her on whatever trip she liked and the father wouldn't have a say. Only difference here is that they've both lost their rights.

You've got three pieces of documentation that say you not only have custody, but specific authorization to take her on the trip. I think you're covered, and can't imagine what else you could possibly need. :)

 

This.

 

I have no answer to your questions but I just wanted to say thank you for taking on the responsibility of this child. I wish there were more people like you in the world.......:)

 

and most definitely this.

 

 

 

If all else fails, call RCI and double check but I don't see an issue either.

[cb at sea]

If the Judge says it's ok, it's ok!

[TravelerThom]

I often post tell people that to be safe you need more documentation (such as the bridging documents [eg Marriage License] connecting the birth certificate name to the driver's license name, or the notarized letter from a non-sailing parent authorizing the other parent to sail). While not an expert I would say that it looks like you are well covered, especially so since I am guessing that you are sailing from Florida, and the State of Florida has said okay. May all four of you enjoy your cruise.

[Caribbeansunrise]

I have no answer to your questions but I just wanted to say thank you for taking on the responsibility of this child. I wish there were more people like you in the world.......:)

 

DITTO!!! And for introducing the child to the finer things of life.

[setsail]

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&pnav=5&pnav=2&faqType=faq&faqSubjectId=329&faqSubjectName=Cruise+Documents&faqId=2814

 

 

 

Call the people you are sailing with as no one on cc will be checking you in at the port or a judge

Edited April 5, 2014 by setsail

[TravelerThom]

...Call the people you are sailing with as no one on cc will be checking you in at the port or a judge

Nor will you be checked-in by the person that you talk to by calling RCI. Answers on CC are NOT infallible, but they are generally a lot more reliable than what you get by calling RCI.

[stroh33]

Thank you all for your help. I do appreciate the kind words and quick response. And yes I have called RCI but of everyone I have talked to they have been the least helpful. I knew we were on the right track I just didn't want to miss anything obvious :)

 

 

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