RE: Bringing Daughter's 18 yr. old friend on cruise

[cruzfvr]

We are taking our daughter and her best friend (both will be 18) on a graduation cruise to Alaska this June. Does anyone know if we will we need a notarized letter from her parents? I know she will be considered an adult, but do not want any surprises when we check in for our cruise.

Thanks! ~Debbi

[johnql]

AFAIK, an 18-yr-old is no longer considered a minor (in most states). Therefore, there is no need for her parents' consent. Here's what NCL's FAQ says about minors:

 

"If the accompanying adult is not the minor's parent or legal guardian a NOTARIZED PARENTAL/ GUARDIAN CONSENT LETTER that authorizes the minor's travel and further authorizes medical treatment in case of an emergency must be delivered to an NCL representative at the pier. Failure to produce this letter at embarkation may result in boarding being denied, with no refund of cruise fare provided."

 

Since she's not a minor, I don't believe this applies. Unfortunately, I could not find a definition for minor on NCL's web site. They do not specifically indicate that 18 is the cut-off. You might want to call them and see if they can clarify it for you.

[cruise vs work/]

We have went on two cruises with our children were they took freinds along that were 18 and all we needed was proper idenification for the kids.

[discjoker]

She is an adult therefore you won't need any documentation from her parents. She can travel anywhere she wants alone or with anyone she pleases, no consent needed.

[cruzfvr]

Thanks for all the replies. We thought the same (since she is 18, she is an adult). She has a passport, so we should be good to go!

[refman]

i would take a letter, we do it every year and it takes no time or effort to do. why take chances

[Marge106]

We are facing the same thing, with the exception being that our daughter's best friend will be 17 on the date that we sail. Is there a form that needs to be notarized?

[Cwolf]

i would take a letter, we do it every year and it takes no time or effort to do. why take chances

 

Because the letter is completely unnecessary. The girl is 18 so therefore no one will ask for any kind of letter. Why waste any time, effort or even paper on something that no one will ask for.

[2Cruise4Ever]

We are facing the same thing, with the exception being that our daughter's best friend will be 17 on the date that we sail. Is there a form that needs to be notarized?

 

Yes, you will. It'll need to be signed by both parents and notarized. You can go to cruise diva dot com to get a template to use.

 

Hapy Sailing! :D

[discjoker]

i would take a letter, we do it every year and it takes no time or effort to do. why take chances

 

Why? There is no point in getting the letter. She is 18. She is an adult. If she wanted to get on a plane and fly by herself to Zimbabwe she could. She wouldn't need her parents permission, she would need no ones permission. If am coming off as rude I don't mean to. I just don't get why some people don't understand that 18 is an adult. Parental permission is not required for that adult to do pretty much anything they please.

[Holg]

Yes, you will. It'll need to be signed by both parents and notarized. You can go to cruise diva dot com to get a template to use.

 

Hapy Sailing! :D

 

This can't be correct.

 

As another posters said, that 18-year-old could baord a plane to Rhodesia if she wanted to.

 

BUT! I assume your cruise will include Canada... she, and everyone else in the group, MUST MUST MUST have a passport, the birth cretificate/driver's license thing will no longer work.

[discjoker]

 

BUT! I assume your cruise will include Canada... she, and everyone else in the group, MUST MUST MUST have a passport, the birth cretificate/driver's license thing will no longer work.

 

That isn't correct. It will be true in 2008, but for now passports are required for air only and not land/sea travel.

[babyof8]

I believe that for NCL cruising you DO need the passports that was effective Jan 1st of this year. And for the other poster with the 17 year old you will need to get the form notorized

For the 18 year olds you might want to remember that they can legally drink beer and wine at that age on the ship so that is something you will need to talk about since you will be responsible for the girls....

 

Good luck

[cruzfvr]

I believe the 18 yr. olds cannot drink wine or beer on cruises in Hawaii and Alaska, but they can gamble in the casino. I know it is different on the other cruises, and if they have parent's permission they can have wine and beer. But, thanks for the suggestion to talk with the girls. We have a lot of rules for this cruise that we have already discussed with them. The most important is to always be together and not let anyone in their cabin, or go into anyone else's cabin. They will be with us at all times in ports. Since this is our daughter's 18th cruise, she knows the "drill" by now!

[restasured]

Why? I just don't get why some people don't understand that 18 is an adult. Parental permission is not required for that adult to do pretty much anything they please.

 

 

Guess it depends on what you mean by "pretty much". Non married person's under 21 can not stay in a cabin by themselves unless the cabin has a connecting stateroom with someone over 21 in that cabin. None of the cruises allow drinking under 21, with exception that for non US cruises 18 to 20 year olds can drink with parental permission. So 18 may mean you can go to war but it still don't make you a legal adult for privilage's just for responsibility.

 

NCL's FAQ's state:

 

Company policy dictates that a passenger under 21 years of age must be accompanied in the same or connecting stateroom by a passenger 21 years or older who expressly agrees to be responsible for the under 21 passenger throughout the cruise. This includes, but is not limited to, preventing under-age purchase or consumption of alcohol**, preventing under-age gaming activities and preventing violations of any ship's rules. Passengers must be age 21 to purchase or consume alcohol and age 18 to gamble on the ship. If the accompanying adult is not the minor's parent or legal guardian a NOTARIZED PARENTAL/ GUARDIAN CONSENT LETTER that authorizes the minor's travel and further authorizes medical treatment in case of an emergency must be delivered to an NCL representative at the pier. Failure to produce this letter at embarkation may result in boarding being denied, with no refund of cruise fare provided.

 

Note: Two people under the age of 21 may travel together in the same stateroom without someone over the age of 21 in the same stateroom if they purchased the cruise under the family plan and have at least one person who is 21 years or older in the adjoining stateroom. The age limit will be waived for married couples less than 21 years of age provided proof of marriage is presented to an NCL representative at the pier.

 

**With the exception of Alaska and Hawaii itineraries, NCL permits guests between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty (20) to purchase and personally consume wine and beer while on NCL ships with the consent of a parent or legal guardian (“Parental Consent”). Complete details and the Parental Consent form are available on board at the Reception Desk.

[2Cruise4Ever]

This can't be correct.

 

As another posters said, that 18-year-old could baord a plane to Rhodesia if she wanted to.

 

BUT! I assume your cruise will include Canada... she, and everyone else in the group, MUST MUST MUST have a passport, the birth cretificate/driver's license thing will no longer work.

 

The 18 year old doesn't need a notarized letter, but the 17 year old will. The friend is 17 according to the OP's original post.

[Cwolf]

I believe that for NCL cruising you DO need the passports that was effective Jan 1st of this year.

 

No, for NCL cruising you DO NOT need passports this year for Carib/Canada travel. That law will not become effective for cruise travel until 2008.

[Holg]

...Hawaii and Alaska, but they can gamble in the casino.

 

Too bad there's no casino on cruises that start and stop in Hawaii.

[discjoker]

The 18 year old doesn't need a notarized letter, but the 17 year old will. The friend is 17 according to the OP's original post.

 

No, according to the OP (cruzfvr), both her daughter and the friend will be 18.

 

We are taking our daughter and her best friend (both will be 18) on a graduation cruise to Alaska this June. Does anyone know if we will we need a notarized letter from her parents? I know she will be considered an adult, but do not want any surprises when we check in for our cruise.

Thanks! ~Debbi

[Sue21]

She will DEFINATELY need a notarized letter from her parents naming you as the responsible party.

 

NCL defines a "minor" as anyone under 21 years of age.

 

The notarized letter requirement and definition of a minor are in the the back of your NCL cruise booklet, and also in your ticket/boarding pass booklet.

 

Call the 1-800 NCL number and they can email you the .pdf document. You may have to call a couple times to find someone who knows what they're talking about. I had to! My travel agent, and some NCL people I spoke to on the phone, did not know much about young adults (18-21) traveling without parents. I found this out on my own. I am 20 years old and will be traveling with a group of 20-22 year olds soon. Us under-21 "minors" got the notarized letters to present when boarding.

 

Have lots of fun on your cruise!

 

~Sue

[Sue21]

She will DEFINATELY need a notarized letter from her parents naming you as the responsible party.

 

NCL defines a "minor" as anyone under 21 years of age.

 

The notarized letter policy and definition of a minor can be found in the back of your NCL cruise booklet, and also in your ticket/boarding pass.

 

Call the NCL 1-800 and ask for the .pdf Parental Consent form to be emailed to you. You may have to call a couple times to find someone who knows what they're talking about. I had to do that! I am 20 years old and am traveling soon with a group of 20 to 22 year olds. Us under-21 "minors" had to get notarized letters from our parents.

 

Have fun!

[KeystoneCruiser]

Let me weigh in here as someone with some experience in taking young people on trips. I have chaperoned numerous church trips and school trips with teenagers including some 18 and 19 year olds.

 

Even though they are adults, there is nothing wrong with getting a notorized letter granting you permission to act in her behalf in an Emergency. What if the unthinkable happens and she is injured to the point where she cannot communicate with medical personel? Her next of kin is thousands of miles away and may not be assesible. A notorized letter would give you permission to get her medical treatment and to speak in her behalf until her next of kin could arrive.

 

We require notorized emergency medical forms for all of our the young people on our church trips, even if they are 18. (many times 18 year olds can sign their own forms.)

 

It is better to be safe than sorry!

[refman]

cwolf and discjoker are exactly the people that come back on the site and complain that something went wrong and they`re gonna sue someone. it takes no time and no effort to have a letter, you never know!!!

[johnql]

NCL defines a "minor" as anyone under 21 years of age.

Out of curiosity, is this definition published anywhere (web site, brochure, etc.)? I looked and couldn't find it. Or was it told to you verbally by an NCL rep?

[Cosmopolitan]

I would do the letter.

Simple to do and no worries if there is a problem:)

 

Enjoy your cruise!