Daughter's 19 year old boyfriend. Chinese citizen. Can he cruise with us (connecting cabin)?

[The Fun Researcher]

Sorry if this post seems excessive, but I just want to feel sure of our plans...

 

I just called Celebrity and they said that we are good to go,  but... I just don't want any surprises when we arrive to the port. They said the fact that he's 19, and in a connecting cabin to ours, solves any issues.

 

We have (what I consider) and pretty unique situation and just want to ask you experts.  I trust Celebrity, but want to verify if any of you have had a similar situation.

 

My daughter's boyfriend has been in the US as a student since since 2018.  He is 19 years old and a citizen of China.  He has a valid Chinese passport good through 2033.

 

Our cruise next month is to Cozumel Mexico and Nassau Bahamas, leaving from Ft. Lauderdale.  We have verified that no visa's are required for him.  He is booked in the connecting cabin to my wife and I.  He (19), my daughter (19) and son (16) are in one cabin connected with my wife and I.

 

Do 19 year old's in connecting cabins require any sort of notarized signature from the parents?  I know there are requirements for minors... but he's 19.  It just never occurred to me that we may have an issue.  I just wanted to run it by you good folks to confirm what the Celebrity rep told me that we're good.

[Shiba_Lover]

Not commenting on any visa requirements, but typically, guests must be 21 to occupy their own rooms.  Under 21 is fine if they are sharing a connecting room with parent or guardian.  If you are acting as guardian, you are within the policy.  I suspect you would be totally fine, but just in case - if not a big deal, you may be best to have his parent(s) send over a note that says you are acting as guardians for the trip.  Reason - usually involves medical care if needed.

[Nachosdelux]

you will not need anything from the parents.  your friend is 19 - that is a legal adult.

[The Fun Researcher]

15 minutes ago, Shiba_Lover said:

Not commenting on any visa requirements, but typically, guests must be 21 to occupy their own rooms.  Under 21 is fine if they are sharing a connecting room with parent or guardian.  If you are acting as guardian, you are within the policy.  I suspect you would be totally fine, but just in case - if not a big deal, you may be best to have his parent(s) send over a note that says you are acting as guardians for the trip.  Reason - usually involves medical care if needed.

Thank you.  That’s exactly why it gets so confusing.  He’s in that middle zone 18-20 years old.  Not a minor but not able to sail alone.  
 

Do 19 year olds need a guardian?  Doesn’t he make his own medical decisions now that he’s 19?  I know cruise lines make their own rules which is the only reason I’m asking.

 

His parents are in China so it’s not super easy to get something signed.  He’s a super kid.  Been dating our daughter for four years.  Very “Americanized” by now 😂.  We finally caved and allowed him to start coming along on some of our vacations. It’s nice for him to experience some of the wonderful things we get to see and do on our vacations 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 28, 2023 by The Fun Researcher

[cruisestitch]

22 minutes ago, Nachosdelux said:

you will not need anything from the parents.  your friend is 19 - that is a legal adult.

Not to Celebrity

 

 

[Shiba_Lover]

38 minutes ago, The Fun Researcher said:

Thank you.  That’s exactly why it gets so confusing.  He’s in that middle zone 18-20 years old.  Not a minor but not able to sail alone.  
 

Do 19 year olds need a guardian?  Doesn’t he make his own medical decisions now that he’s 19?  I know cruise lines make their own rules which is the only reason I’m asking.

 

His parents are in China so it’s not super easy to get something signed.  He’s a super kid.  Been dating our daughter for four years.  Very “Americanized” by now 😂.  We finally caved and allowed him to start coming along on some of our vacations. It’s nice for him to experience some of the wonderful things we get to see and do on our vacations 

 

 

 

 

I'm not implying he needs a "guardian" or that he is not a great kid. According to Celebrity, he's not an adult, he's a minor. Yes, he can sail in an adjoining room.  You will likely not be asked for any documentation at all regarding you being guardian.  He is likely not to need any onboard medical care.   If he does, you may be asked to act as the "guardian" for him (and then you MAY need a document).    In the world outside Celebrity - yep - adult/makes own decisions.  In Celebrity's world - it's different.

 

 

[prmssk]

The Cruise Contract @cruisestitch posted a screenshot of clearly defines a minor as someone under 18.  So he isn't considered a minor by Celebrity.  I don't see how the requirement for a notarized letter would apply here.  He just can't stay in a cabin without someone 21 years or older and he can't drink.  So if you are truly concerned, why not book him in your cabin (I imagine you are over 21) and then just go to Guest Services when you board to get him access to the other room where he will sleep.

 

Since you are the actual parent of the other two, the connecting room shouldn't be an issue for them.

[The Fun Researcher]

31 minutes ago, Shiba_Lover said:

I'm not implying he needs a "guardian" or that he is not a great kid. According to Celebrity, he's not an adult, he's a minor. Yes, he can sail in an adjoining room.  You will likely not be asked for any documentation at all regarding you being guardian.  He is likely not to need any onboard medical care.   If he does, you may be asked to act as the "guardian" for him (and then you MAY need a document).    In the world outside Celebrity - yep - adult/makes own decisions.  In Celebrity's world - it's different.

 

 

Yeah, I just threw in the part about him being a good kid.  Didn't mean to suggest anything having to do with the travel requirements. 🙂

 

Celebrity does not consider him a minor.  A minor is under 18.  This I verified with Celebrity.  In the same way, Celebrity doesn't wait until someone is 21 to consider them an adult.  A minor is a minor (<18) and an adult is an adult (18+). Celebrity just makes their own rules on the documentation requirements and ability to cruise alone based on age segments.  The problem is the 18-20 category is more nebulous.  

 

In the case of a minor, the requirements are very clear and does have to do with the text you highlighted.   However, he is in an adult, just not able to sail in his own cabin.  Celebrity needs to be more clear for those ages 18-20, hence the whole discussion.  Celebrity says I'm good to go when I asked specifically about this (because he's 18+ and in a connecting cabin.)  I should believe them but the representative and her supervisor just didn't exude confidence to me.  🙂  Hence just seeing if anyone has experience.  I just don't want to get to the cruise terminal and have a surprise. 

Edited November 29, 2023 by The Fun Researcher

[The Fun Researcher]

7 minutes ago, prmssk said:

Since you are the actual parent of the other two, the connecting room shouldn't be an issue for them.

Thanks for the suggestion. 

 

My wife and I have the "all in" package for our room including the drink package, Wi-Fi and gratuities, so I can't transfer a minor into our cabin.  The connecting room does not have the all-in plan since it would have added a significant cost and mainly gone unused.

 

We have sailed many times with our kids (when they were minors) in the connecting cabin.  An adult didn't need to be booked in the kids cabin since the rooms are connecting.

[The Fun Researcher]

1 hour ago, cruisestitch said:

Not to Celebrity

 

 

This is not defining an adult as someone 21 years or older.  

[prmssk]

6 minutes ago, The Fun Researcher said:

Thanks for the suggestion. 

 

My wife and I have the "all in" package for our room including the drink package, Wi-Fi and gratuities, so I can't transfer a minor into our cabin.  The connecting room does not have the all-in plan since it would have added a significant cost and mainly gone unused.

 

We have sailed many times with our kids (when they were minors) in the connecting cabin.  An adult didn't need to be booked in the kids cabin since the rooms are connecting.

Makes complete sense.  I think you will be fine the way you have it but I completely get why you would feel more comfortable hearing from someone who has done it before.

[Essiesmom]

What kind of visa is he here under?  Does it allow leaving and reentering the US?  EM

[The Fun Researcher]

24 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

What kind of visa is he here under?  Does it allow leaving and reentering the US?  EM

Thanks for asking. We are checking on it.

[sanger727]

Certainly the safest way to book this cruise would be to put you and wife each in one cabin and then split the kids up any way. You can exchange all the room keys on board and people can sleep in the same arrangement you have today. 

[Ferry_Watcher]

Like @Essiesmom said, look into whether your daughter's BF needs a visa.  I do check-in for Alaska cruises in Seattle, and if this was an Alaska cruise (with a stop in Victoria, BC Canada), unless this young man had a Canadian visa, he would be denied boarding.

 

Also, have him check his US visa to see if he has multiple entries. 

[Shiba_Lover]

14 hours ago, The Fun Researcher said:

Yeah, I just threw in the part about him being a good kid.  Didn't mean to suggest anything having to do with the travel requirements. 🙂

 

Celebrity does not consider him a minor.  A minor is under 18.  This I verified with Celebrity.  In the same way, Celebrity doesn't wait until someone is 21 to consider them an adult.  A minor is a minor (<18) and an adult is an adult (18+). Celebrity just makes their own rules on the documentation requirements and ability to cruise alone based on age segments.  The problem is the 18-20 category is more nebulous.  

 

In the case of a minor, the requirements are very clear and does have to do with the text you highlighted.   However, he is in an adult, just not able to sail in his own cabin.  Celebrity needs to be more clear for those ages 18-20, hence the whole discussion.  Celebrity says I'm good to go when I asked specifically about this (because he's 18+ and in a connecting cabin.)  I should believe them but the representative and her supervisor just didn't exude confidence to me.  🙂  Hence just seeing if anyone has experience.  I just don't want to get to the cruise terminal and have a surprise. 

Yes, it's really confusing.

[chemmo]

14 hours ago, The Fun Researcher said:

I just don't want to get to the cruise terminal and have a surprise. 

Why not email Celebrity and ask for confirmation in a return mail that you are good to go and take a copy of it with you. Much better than getting to the port and ending up with staff  discussing the situation.

 

Whilst we have never been in a situation like yours if ever there is anything we feel could be a reason for dispute in terms of cost or provision of service we never rely on a phone call, we always ask for an email.

[The Fun Researcher]

1 hour ago, sanger727 said:

Certainly the safest way to book this cruise would be to put you and wife each in one cabin and then split the kids up any way. You can exchange all the room keys on board and people can sleep in the same arrangement you have today. 

In many cases we've done just that with Royal Caribbean, however it didn't work for this cruise.  When we originally booked, my wife and I wanted the "all in" package, and the kids not.  This meant she and I in one cabin and kids in connecting cabin.  It wasn't until later that that we decided to allow our daughter's boyfriend to join.  So, we booked our 22 year old daughter solo in her own cabin, since that's allowed.  We then replaced our 22 year old in the connecting cabin with daughter's boyfriend.  No red flags were flown when we adjusted the occupants in the connecting cabin.

 

56 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

Like @Essiesmom said, look into whether your daughter's BF needs a visa.  I do check-in for Alaska cruises in Seattle, and if this was an Alaska cruise (with a stop in Victoria, BC Canada), unless this young man had a Canadian visa, he would be denied boarding.

 

Also, have him check his US visa to see if he has multiple entries. 

He does not need a Visa for the ports we are stopping at, Cozumel and Nassau.  That we have confirmed, however we are checking now on his i20 and getting the appropriate signatures for departure and reentry to the US.  I have to say this is WAY more complicated than I expected, and I'm typically a big planner.  🙂  Hopefully we can get this sorted before our cruise in a few weeks, but if not, it's not the end of the world.  He just won't be able to go (which is a bummer) and we'll be out some cost for his portion of the cruise but that's life.

 

41 minutes ago, chemmo said:

Why not email Celebrity and ask for confirmation in a return mail that you are good to go and take a copy of it with you. Much better than getting to the port and ending up with staff  discussing the situation.

 

Whilst we have never been in a situation like yours if ever there is anything we feel could be a reason for dispute in terms of cost or provision of service we never rely on a phone call, we always ask for an email.

Excellent suggestion, having the written confirmation to have on hand at the cruise port.  Thank you!

[The Fun Researcher]

2 hours ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

Like @Essiesmom said, look into whether your daughter's BF needs a visa.  I do check-in for Alaska cruises in Seattle, and if this was an Alaska cruise (with a stop in Victoria, BC Canada), unless this young man had a Canadian visa, he would be denied boarding.

 

Also, have him check his US visa to see if he has multiple entries. 

So...  He has a valid passport, He has a valid I-20 with approval to travel.  He has his I-94 record.  His F-1 visa expired since he's been in the US for so long without leaving.

 

However, there is a provision for this regarding travel to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean Islands (including the Bahamas).  It's called Automatic Visa Re-Validation. See below.

 

So complicated.  I have an email in with Celebrity about the basic question if he is able to sail with us based on age, connecting rooms, valid passport, and proper documentation.  Even if they say it's o.k. it looks like I'll have to get into the nitty gritty with this Automatic Visa Re-Validation question as well.  Want to make sure we have ALL the t's crossed and i's dotted.  Don't want him denied at port.

 

Automatic Visa Re-Validation

Returning from Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands
You usually must have a valid visa to return to the U.S. from abroad. However, there is a special provision called Automatic Visa Revalidation that applies to some travel. If you are in F-1 status and your F-1 visa is expired, you may still return to the U.S. from a trip to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean Islands even with an expired visa, if you meet all of these conditions:

• your passport is valid
• you have a valid I-20 with a valid travel signature (if you are on OPT, the signature must be signed within the last six months)
• you have your EAD (OPT) card (if you have graduated and have applied for OPT)
• you have an expired F-1 visa
• you only go to Canada, Mexico, and/or the Caribbean islands (except Cuba) and do not stay outside the U.S. for more than 30 days
• you do not apply for a new U.S. visa while abroad (otherwise you have to wait for it to be approved and use it to reenter)
• you keep your I-94 card or record (print this at the Customs & Border Protection website) when you depart the U.S. (i.e., don’t give it up)
• you are not a citizen of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea, or Cuba

 

[wrk2cruise]

1 hour ago, The Fun Researcher said:

In many cases we've done just that with Royal Caribbean, however it didn't work for this cruise.  When we originally booked, my wife and I wanted the "all in" package, and the kids not.  This meant she and I in one cabin and kids in connecting cabin.  It wasn't until later that that we decided to allow our daughter's boyfriend to join.  So, we booked our 22 year old daughter solo in her own cabin, since that's allowed.  We then replaced our 22 year old in the connecting cabin with daughter's boyfriend.  No red flags were flown when we adjusted the occupants in the connecting cabin.

 

He does not need a Visa for the ports we are stopping at, Cozumel and Nassau.  That we have confirmed, however we are checking now on his i20 and getting the appropriate signatures for departure and reentry to the US.  I have to say this is WAY more complicated than I expected, and I'm typically a big planner.  🙂  Hopefully we can get this sorted before our cruise in a few weeks, but if not, it's not the end of the world.  He just won't be able to go (which is a bummer) and we'll be out some cost for his portion of the cruise but that's life.

 

Excellent suggestion, having the written confirmation to have on hand at the cruise port.  Thank you!

 

Yes and this may be a case were it would help to direct at the executive office.  They have a team of experienced customer service people respond to inquiries.  I would just outline what you have confirmed with the reservation agents and request a confirmation in writing.

 

LBethge@celebrity.com

[The Fun Researcher]

1 minute ago, wrk2cruise said:

 

Yes and this may be a case were it would help to direct at the executive office.  They have a team of experienced customer service people respond to inquiries.  I would just outline what you have confirmed with the reservation agents and request a confirmation in writing.

 

LBethge@celebrity.com

Thank you so much for the contact!  I was going to ask if anyone knew of a contact that could help validate this for sure.  Very much appreciated!!  I will email them this afternoon.

[Ferry_Watcher]

1 hour ago, The Fun Researcher said:

So...  He has a valid passport, He has a valid I-20 with approval to travel.  He has his I-94 record.  His F-1 visa expired since he's been in the US for so long without leaving.

 

However, there is a provision for this regarding travel to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean Islands (including the Bahamas).  It's called Automatic Visa Re-Validation. See below.

 

So complicated.  I have an email in with Celebrity about the basic question if he is able to sail with us based on age, connecting rooms, valid passport, and proper documentation.  Even if they say it's o.k. it looks like I'll have to get into the nitty gritty with this Automatic Visa Re-Validation question as well.  Want to make sure we have ALL the t's crossed and i's dotted.  Don't want him denied at port.

 

As I mentioned, my knowledge is limited to folks traveling to Alaska with the mandatory stop in Canada.  I appreciate your research, but I have to mention that what you have posted has to do with what the US gov't requires, not what a foreign country requires (i.e. visa).  Just because he has an American visa, it doesn't mean that neighboring countries (like Canada) will allow him to visit.

 

While I can't speak to a Chinese national (and a non US permanent resident) cruising from a US port with stops in Mexico and some Caribbean Islands, I can say that this person would be denied boarding for an Alaska cruise if he did not have a Canadian Visa (exception would be if he was a US permanent resident - Green Card holder).

 

I would suggest that you look into the visa requirements for Chinese passport holders who plan on visiting Mexico, and the other Caribbean Islands your ship will be visiting.

[DaKahuna]

Maybe I am old and lazy but I'd be tempted to tell my daughter to find a new boy friend as this is sounding like it is a whole lot of time and trouble.     🤣

 

[The Fun Researcher]

18 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

I would suggest that you look into the visa requirements for Chinese passport holders who plan on visiting Mexico, and the other Caribbean Islands your ship will be visiting.

I provide a lot of information in this thread, so it is easy to miss, but I did mention earlier that we did confirm that he, as a Chinese citizen, does not need a visa to enter Mexico, or the Bahamas on a cruise from the US

10 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

Maybe I am old and lazy but I'd be tempted to tell my daughter to find a new boy friend as this is sounding like it is a whole lot of time and trouble.     🤣

 

Good stuff. Love the sense of humor. Made me laugh out loud.

[MamaFej]

@The Fun Researcher, it's not that I want to make things more complicated, it's just that I might do it anyway. Sorry????

 

I have no helpful knowledge to advise you on the legal travel requirements, but the mention of medical care got me thinking. It might be a good idea for the BF to have a temporary Medical Power of Attorney for the trip, and maybe longer, while he is residing in the US. If he becomes sick or injured and cannot communicate his desires, it might be very helpful if your daughter, you, and/or your spouse can direct his care the way he would want it directed. 

 

Much like insurance, one hopes it isn't needed, but it sure is good to have when one does need it.