Minor traveling with mother

My 15 year old is going on a cruise this Friday with us.... Hopefully...On previous cruises we had a notarized letter giving permission, but his dad has agreed from him to go this time, but will not get it notarized for lazy reasons. I have custody of our son and no passport (none of us do). It's an Alaskan cruise with one stop to B.C. I've never been asked for the notarized statement in the past, so if I have a signed statement from his father but not notarized, I am wondering if he can still cruise with us?? We have to fly to our port this time so it makes me nervous not having this piece of paper....Anyone have any experience with this issue?? Basically, an ex who will not cooperate because he is an ***! Son can go, have voicemails and text messages stating so, just won't cooperate with notarizing anything....Won't even meet me (and we are in different states, but I'm willing to drive to do this) because he is an ***! What do I do???? Airfare, cruise, excursions all paid for.....

Call the cruise line and see what they recommend doing.

Do you have a mobile notary where you live? They are very expensive, and I don't think their prices are regulated, so ask first, but they will go to you (or him) to get something notarized. Banks also have notary's on staff that you can inquire into.

I'm sure he won't be willing to pay, but if you want to go hassle free on your cruise, I'd be sure I had a notarized copy of consent. My parents had to get this for us kids when we were young and they were divorced. It is a pain, but they make these rules to protect the child. My husband and I are married, and we get a notarized letter "just in case" someone asks for it or needs it when only 2 of us travel out of the country (parent and kid, not the whole family).

Good luck, hope you all enjoy your cruise.

Here is what I have found out. My wife and I are traveling in July, with two of our grandkids without their mom(our daughter). We have a notarized letter from our daughter; listing the flight numbers, cruise line, cruise itinerary, and hotel info. We also have a medical power of attorney for the kids; plus a copy of their insurance card. We are on Princess Cruiseline. While Princess says they do not require a notarized letter, they say each country wants you to have all the proper documentation. In our case, both the United States and Canada. The grandkids both have valid passports. The ship has a stop in Canada, and then clear customs back to the US. There are problems with kidnappings, and smuggling children across the border into Canada. My wife and I have tried to cover all our bases. Princess's website says everyone must have passports. Hope this helps

How does a cruise line/airline know that you are divorced and have/do not have custody of a child? I have traveled a couple of times with just my children and never once has anyone asked me for a notarized letter. Just curious.

My 15 year old is going on a cruise this Friday with us.... Hopefully...On previous cruises we had a notarized letter giving permission, but his dad has agreed from him to go this time, but will not get it notarized for lazy reasons. I have custody of our son and no passport (none of us do). It's an Alaskan cruise with one stop to B.C. I've never been asked for the notarized statement in the past, so if I have a signed statement from his father but not notarized, I am wondering if he can still cruise with us?? We have to fly to our port this time so it makes me nervous not having this piece of paper....Anyone have any experience with this issue?? Basically, an ex who will not cooperate because he is an ***! Son can go, have voicemails and text messages stating so, just won't cooperate with notarizing anything....Won't even meet me (and we are in different states, but I'm willing to drive to do this) because he is an ***! What do I do???? Airfare, cruise, excursions all paid for.....

Since you have custody of your son, bring the custody papers as well as the non-notarized permission letter. Shouldn't be any problems.

Not sure how it will work out for you. I do know when my brother and sister in law lived overseas and flew back to the States to visit family, they had a little trouble in the Vancouver BC airport. My Sister in law had work in NYC and after the arrived in Vancouver they went to different flights, my brother tried to clear customs with their 2 daughters to fly to Seattle (which you clear US Customs in Vancouver before boarding a flight to Seattle). They stopped him and asked where the Mother was and if he had written permission. They had to catch her before her flight to NYC and have a Customs agent confirm with her in person that my brother has permission to bring their daughters to the US. Crazy but they were able to make it work. I would do as much as you can to make sure that there are no problems. Check with the Cruise Line about the issue of Port in Vancouver BC. Also, bring what you can in documentations for the trip about custody. Wish you luck.

If you have a court order granting you full custody of your son, just bring that. If you share custody and are flying to/from Canada (not clear from your post), you'll need the notarized letter. Paying for a notary that will go to your husband is a great idea.

For a US domestic flight, the airline doesn't care.

I love these people that say "don't worry about it". Why? Because it isn't their money that is going to be lost. Anybody can write a letter and sign it with you ex's name on it. You MUST get it notarized or it is useless. Canada is very strict on this issue. I have been asked every time I've taken the grandkids with us.

I have tried to copy and paste but I Pad not cooperating. Princess states all children traveling with only one parent must have a passport (includes travel to Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean and Mexico). We, as grandparents, have also had to make sure our grandson had a valid passport when we have taken him on cruises. On Princess we have been asked every time for notarized letter from both parents. On our last cruise with RCCL daughter was present but not grandsons father (who is now deceased) and she needed proof of that. Fortunately she had thought to bring a copy of death certificate. We have found the cruise lines seem to be getting stricter about custody and travel permission. Grandson was even held up from getting off in one of our ports. He is 17 and was about four people ahead of his mom in line. They would not let him off until she was at his side.

I have tried to copy and paste but I Pad not cooperating. Princess states all children traveling with only one parent must have a passport (includes travel to Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean and Mexico). We, as grandparents, have also had to make sure our grandson had a valid passport when we have taken him on cruises. On Princess we have been asked every time for notarized letter from both parents. On our last cruise with RCCL daughter was present but not grandsons father (who is now deceased) and she needed proof of that. Fortunately she had thought to bring a copy of death certificate. We have found the cruise lines seem to be getting stricter about custody and travel permission. Grandson was even held up from getting off in one of our ports. He is 17 and was about four people ahead of his mom in line. They would not let him off until she was at his side.

We are taking our grandkids to Alaska in July. We have passports, letter notarized, medical power of attorney, but our grandson died in 2002; so our daughter has been widow since then. Do we still need death certificate?

We are taking our grandkids to Alaska in July. We have passports, letter notarized, medical power of attorney, but our grandson died in 2002; so our daughter has been widow since then. Do we still need death certificate?

Sorry for your loss, but I am confused. Do you mean your son in law passed away?

Sorry for your loss, but I am confused. Do you mean your son in law passed away?

Yes

My 15 year old is going on a cruise this Friday with us.... Hopefully...On previous cruises we had a notarized letter giving permission, but his dad has agreed from him to go this time, but will not get it notarized for lazy reasons. I have custody of our son and no passport (none of us do). It's an Alaskan cruise with one stop to B.C. I've never been asked for the notarized statement in the past, so if I have a signed statement from his father but not notarized, I am wondering if he can still cruise with us?? We have to fly to our port this time so it makes me nervous not having this piece of paper....Anyone have any experience with this issue?? Basically, an ex who will not cooperate because he is an ***! Son can go, have voicemails and text messages stating so, just won't cooperate with notarizing anything....Won't even meet me (and we are in different states, but I'm willing to drive to do this) because he is an ***! What do I do???? Airfare, cruise, excursions all paid for.....

Perhaps I am wrong, but you mentioned no passports as well as the notarized statement question, I thought you had to have a passport to travel to Canada.

We are taking our grandkids to Alaska in July. We have passports, letter notarized, medical power of attorney, but our grandson died in 2002; so our daughter has been widow since then. Do we still need death certificate?

I would take a copy just to be on the safe side. Some of the shore side personnel were more "aggressive" with questions regarding custody issues and permission to travel. We did a family cruise on March 2015 and daughter was asked about permission slip and when stated father deceased, they asked if she had proof. Prior to fathers passing (during divorce) we had issues with his father regarding travel permission and had to get the courts involved.

A$$hole that father was, he called and reported our grandsons passport stolen. Imagine a young teen being escorted to a private room with immigration officials and not know what is going on.

Perhaps I am wrong, but you mentioned no passports as well as the notarized statement question, I thought you had to have a passport to travel to Canada.

Children under 16 need only present proof of U.S. citizenship for entrance to Canada. I think Birth Certificate is enough. But I think OP is flying to an US port and there is one stop in BC on the way to Alaska.

The last few times my wife took our son out of the country, I got her the notarized letter even though we are happily married. We are a mixed race couple, our son looks more like me than her and sometime they asked.

When I take the grandkids to Canada I require certain things from the parents. First, you can have a notary friend fake the mother's signature. I know someone who did that. How are they to know the signature for travel is allowed. Along with the above I require proof of signature letter. I make them take a copy of their passport and have it notarized. After all, they are there anyway. This document proves the signature. Since we live is So Cal my DD does everything in her power to get me what I want. She does not want them returned early. This is her vacation too.

So, I require: a passport, notarized letter giving permission to travel with them REGARDLESS of where we are going, notarized copy of their (my son and daughter) passport. None of my kids want the phone call that says "come get them". I require it for travel inside the US as well. When we drove into Canada I hand the guys my kid's package. He asked why my son's letter us so much smaller then my daughters. I told him, DS lives in Seattle so not that long of a drive but the other two kid's parents live in LA and they DO NOT want to have to come get them.

There is one excursion that you take a train up and enter Canada. Because you are entering Canada you need to bring your passport and for the kids you also need their permission letter. There is an active CC member that has been traveling with her kids since they were toddlers. She has been asked for passport and information. In her case, dad is dead so she brings a copy of his death certificate as well. She has been asked many times for passports, and in her case, the death certificate.

I am a notary, and you can lose your license and face criminal charges for this. That's just insane.

And, for that confusing post, if a parent has died, you need to bring the certified death certificate.

Every US citizen needs a passport to fly to Canada, no matter their age.

I am a notary, and you can lose your license and face criminal charges for this. That's just insane.

And, for that confusing post, if a parent has died, you need to bring the certified death certificate.

Every US citizen needs a passport to fly to Canada, no matter their age.

I didn't say it was right or what I would do, I just heard about someone that did it. Just because you are honest doesn't mean every notary is. Just like any profession or responsible person situation, there are good and there are bad. If the bad is looking to make a quick buck then I can see them doing it. Or your wife's brother's cousin needs it and they do it for family.

There is one excursion (the train ride) that goes up and crosses into Canada. You are told that if you book this excursion you must bring your passport and if you have minors traveling with you must bring the proper documentation, their passport, permission to travel and if a parent is deceased the Death Certificate. The one that says this has cruised and traveled all over the world with her kids. They travel quite a bit. She is very active on the family board. I can't remember her CC name at the moment (brain fart) by her actual name is Mia.